The review should look at, but not be limited to, possible benefits and disbenefits they might have to the local and wider area where they are introduced. This should including pollution, road safety, mental wellbeing, effects on the vulnerable, and congestion. Both inside and outside an LTN.
More details
Many residents that live on the boundaries of these LTNs experience increased congestion, road traffic accidents, pollution, damage to their mental wellbeing, and feel like they are not being listened to or consulted.
Government responded
This response was given on April 25th 2023
The Government is already carrying out an evaluation of active travel schemes funded in 2020/21, including LTNs. It has no plans to commission a further review until this has concluded.
Responsibility for traffic management on local roads rests with the relevant local authority as they are best placed to consider how local needs can be effectively met. It is entirely a matter for individual authorities to decide on the nature and scope of policies. The Government, through the Department for Transport, is responsible for setting legislation and for providing guidance to local traffic authorities but has limited direct influence over locally managed roads. Ultimately, Ministers will make decisions relating to matters of Departmental policy.
To help local authorities make safe provision for pedestrians and cyclists during COVID-19 and to mitigate the lack of capacity on public transport due to social distancing, the Department launched the Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF). This funding was designed to help local authorities create an environment that is safe for both walking and cycling, allowing people to get around whilst maintaining social distance while also aiding longer term increases in walking and cycling along with the associated health, air quality and congestion benefits. Some local authorities decided to implement temporary LTNs as part of this programme. Many of these were made permanent as part of later funding rounds, where authorities considered that the schemes were working effectively. A number were also removed.
The Government has been clear that traffic management schemes should always be developed through consultation and engagement with local communities. As a condition of receiving funding provided by Active Travel England (ATE), all local authorities are required to undertake consultation, and monitoring and evaluation work, to ensure that schemes meet the needs of the local area and the people that live there. ATE is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport.
In order to better understand the impact of this funding, the Department has appointed contractors to undertake a review of schemes funded through the second tranche of active travel funding, including a deep dive into the impact of segregated cycle lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods. This is being delivered through a call-off contract let in February 2021 after a fair and open competition run in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Until this work is completed, the Government has no plans to commission a further review.
The results of the review will be published in due course. Once research has been conducted, policy decisions will ultimately be for Ministers to take.
Department for Transport
This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/632748)
Related activity:
Original Government response
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Parliament will debate this petition
Parliament will debate this petition on 20 May 2024.
You’ll be able to watch online on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.
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TV programme seeks traders…
TfL speed map
London Digital Speed Limit Map* – Transport for London
London Digital Speed Limit Map Keywords: London Digital Speed Limit Map Created Date: 20231128143018Z …
From nextdoor social media:
Check out this TfL speed limit map. Green is 20mph and Blue is 30mph.
Now tell me that this about safety and not about increasing journey times and instilling a false sense of overwhelming congestion combined with all the other measures introduced recently that prohibit the use of many roads and turns forcing all traffic down a limited number of routes that have themselves been reduced down to a single lane.
The conclusion people are being deceived into drawing is that the roads are so busy that an alternative should be used or that the increased charges for driving and parking are all justified and even need to be increased.
If it’s about safety, why do the pedestrians in the predominantly Blue/30mph areas not deserve the same level of safety as those in the Green/20mph areas? Do the kids who live there not matter?
Please open your eyes to the deception that is being perpetrated against you and stop the acquiescence with the curtailing of your rights.
*Unable to copy map image – Ed.
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…and why has an old NFCP post on ULEZ suddenly become popular?
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News From Crystal Palace readers regularly dig out old stories of ours to read – such as the three-hour free parking outside the rear of Sainsbury’s store on Westow Street, Crystal Palace Triangle; the former Grape and Grain pub at the top of Anerley Hill (Wetherspoon’s have just taken it off the market) ; a 2013 story on The Lodge in Crystal Palace park (still nothing happening – Ed.) and, sadly, the obituary of one-time Bridge House Penge West theatre actor Ben Woods.
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So we were left wondering why our story Political diary: Too much Conservative presence in anti-ULEZ groups?… and why Lambeth council need to check their official website links posted on September 22nd last year had suddenly attracted a flurry of interest (18 hits yesterday, 17 so far today and prior to that only one occasion – September 22nd – has it ever attracted more than ten hits on the same day when it attracted 11.)
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Until our very persistent troll – now calling himself ‘Brenda’ and revealing himself as a reader of The Guardian – sent NCFP another of his deranged communiques:
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Anti LTN ******s like you – you’re a Tory, a racist and a scum****. (Words redacted by NFCP)
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The headline and opening paragraph in this story from The Guardian read as follows:
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Tory staff running network of anti-Ulez Facebook groups riddled with racism and abuse
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Investigation finds groups hosting Islamophobic attacks on London mayor Sadiq Khan, white supremacist slogans and antisemitic conspiracy theories
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NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE 