Forum Topic

LTNs

I love a good transport thread; it is the thing that keeps me coming back to this forum.  That’s why I’ve added a couple of new ones.A lot has been said about the LTNs and the Cycleway.It has been sarcastically suggested that if the new LTNs and Cycleway are to be removed then all of them should be removed.  If one is not fair, then they all are not fair.I think the issues is the perception of how the new ones have been implemented.Correct me if I am wrong (no worries there) but did all the LTNs go in in the same way, or was the process longer and more consultative for the older ones?I think the amount of push back is caused by how they have been implemented.  Some may be beneficial but if the perception is they have been forced in, then it is so much harder to accept them.Also, shouldn’t all of these schemes be considered a reconfiguration of the road network to allow it to be as efficient as possible, taking the whole area into consideration.Doesn’t the ‘LTNs’ label suggest one area is more important than others.  Surely if we have ‘LTNs’ we also end up with ‘HTNs’?

Kieran Fox ● 1959d1 Comments

Kieran,The process wouldn't have been consultative for the older traffic filters in Chiswick because many pre-date legislation that introduced consultation as part of the process.  Complaints are nothing new too... this article covers complaints in Hackney in the 1970s and doubtless the charioteers complained about measures to stop them going down certain streets in Roman cities.https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2020/08/26/uks-low-traffic-neighorhoods-nothing-new-ancient-romans-blocked-city-roads-to-carriages/?sh=21cc697c5b60It is a mistake to think that consultation produces consensus. The point about Low Traffic Neighbourhoods is that some roads should be designated for through traffic because they are designed for it.I think you will find that the council do have a good view of the roads that should be used for through traffic and the roads that shouldn't but implementation is a totally different issue.So for traffic going north on the A316 heading out of London on the A4, then yes it should use the A316 and A4 rather than cutting through Grove Park.  Large chunks of Chiswick housing were demolished to build a road precisely for this.The problem with many people opposing LTNs is they have absolutely no alternative proposals.  They complain about too much traffic on minor roads then when something is done about this, they complain about more traffic on main roads (which is likely traffic displaced from main to minor by satnavs in the first place...)

Michael Robinson ● 1959d