The End Of The LTN ?

[Scott_F]

Well not yet at least but Open Our Roads (a group of very annoyed local residents) is bringing a case before the High Court in a bid to scrap six LTNs introduced by Croydon Council:

MSN

The group is arguing that the schemes were introduced despite widespread opposition, have done nothing to reduce overall levels of traffic in the area and have simply been a measure to try to plug a very large gap in the Borough's finances (they went bankrupt two years ago - for the third time !). The Council are clearly worried but last week they failed to have OOR's case thrown out and it will go before the High Court in the new year.

However, they are continuing to insist that LTNs are nothing to do with raising easy cash even though the Mayor has now said that a pre-election pledge to scrap them can't be honoured as "£20m of future income....would have to be replaced". But apparently they are still definitely not about revenue-raising !

Legal papers going before the High Court see things very differently and will argue that the LTNs are a "revenue-raising exercise with no environmental benefits that unhelpfully dispersed traffic to surrounding roads” and are driven solely by “anticipated income from enforcement fines”. OOR's lawyers will also argue that “there is a disingenuousness in claiming the motive, or primary reason, for the permanency of the scheme is environmental benefits to residents" and that the Council "expects the [LTN] scheme to be contravened to a material degree by motorists who enforcement cameras will catch… The projected amounts are in the millions of pounds.”. In other words, the success of the whole scheme is dependent upon lots of people failing to comply with it.

Of course, exactly the same arguments are used by those who are cynical about speeding fines, congestion charges, parking enforcement etc. etc. whilst those that administer them will always insist that they are nothing to do with raising money.

7-4 says Croydon Council wins in court......

 

[markjay]

While LTNs are a right pain in the back side, they can't possibly all be 'about the money', because quite a few road were physically closed on one end to prevent through traffic, and where the cars can't physically go, there's no fine to pay.

Regarding those LTNs that are only part time (near schools etc), yes you get fined if you drive through them at the wrong time of day, but to be honest having less cars on the road when pupils arrive and leave the school must be a good thing for the children, safety wise.

I don't know which 6 LTNs in Croydon the court case is about, and quite possibly these particular ones are indeed all effed-up, but in general I don't think that LTNs are a bad idea.

I do think, however, that some people are still in the old mindframe that says that we should all have cars, and drive them everywhere, all the time. Well, read the room, guys - or the world, rather - because this ain't gonna happen

 

[Scott_F]

Now it's Lambeth Council who are having problems with one of their LTNs being declared unlawful in the High Court last week (although not before it had been used to extract £1million from the public in just six months):

Our council made £1m from driving fines in six months - we took them to court and won

When Lambeth Council trialled a low traffic neighbourhood scheme to cut pollution, a group of residents said it was having the opposite effect - and launched a lawsuit

inews.co.uk

The Council are “carefully considering the implications of the judgment”.

So that's alright then......

 

[markjay]

Now it's Lambeth Council who are having problems with one of their LTNs being declared unlawful in the High Court last week (although not before it had been used to extract £1million from the public in just six months):

Our council made £1m from driving fines in six months - we took them to court and won

When Lambeth Council trialled a low traffic neighbourhood scheme to cut pollution, a group of residents said it was having the opposite effect - and launched a lawsuit

inews.co.uk

The Council are “carefully considering the implications of the judgment”.

So that's alright then......

It's only a temporary win though... the high court ruled that Lambeth Council didn't carry out proper consultation. They'll just go back and do a consultation..... LTNs aren't over yet.

 

[Scott_F]

One interesting aspect of this case is that West Dulwich Action Group (who took Lambeth Council to court and won) are suggesting that all those unlawful penalties should be refunded.

Now that I would like to see......

 

[philnewmerc]

We were in the minority on our street when it became an LTN. We loved it, was like lockdown, could hear the birds sing, could walk in the middle of the road, it was lovely. However, at the time I could walk or cycle to work and only used the car at the weekend so it didn't affect me negatively at all. Those that were setting off for the rat race and having to drop kids at school thought it was a nightmare. I just think thousands of people dropping off kids at school by car all within a 15-minute window, or driving to the shops when you can walk easily enough, is madness, and besides local side streets were never meant to be tributaries for the flow of cars - that is what trunk roads are for. However, as I say, we were in the minority and the residents got their way and had it removed. It did seem paradoxical that the people with kids, who you think would want nice peaceful streets for play, were the ones who wanted all the frantic scurrying commuters in their shitboxes back.

 

[Scott_F]

On top of their LTN problem it really hasn't been a great week for Lambeth Council.

They were planning a series of music festivals in one of their parks (which like the LTNs were doubtless a nice little earner) but were taken to court by a group of local residents called Protect Brockwell Park (just like they were regarding one of their LTNs) and on Friday they duly lost the case (just like they did with the LTN).

You do have to wonder just who is making the decisions there and how much the ensuing court cases have cost the taxpayer:

Music festivals in park ‘have to be cancelled’ after court decision, lawyers say

Solicitors for campaigners have written a letter addressed to Lambeth Council, asking to confirm Brockwell Park will now be opened to the public.

www.standard.co.uk

The Council are “currently assessing the impact of this judgment”.

So that's alright then......

 

[Fastcar155]

If you live in an area where LTN are in place they are good for the local residents.However , I have to travel a 3 mile detour to get to his house.

I drive at the 20 mph only to be sworn at , threatened and cut up.