Agenda item

Resolved to RECOMMEND(To Cabinet)

That

(1)          the schemes be removed with immediate effect;

(2)       the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder

for Environment

a. worked towards introducing speed reductions in roads and

    streets with identified road safety issues where budget and

    enforcement constraints allow;

b. conducted a review of the Francis Road width restriction.

(3)          the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment , reviewed the Council capital programme in order to ring-fence dedicated additional funding to promote relevant walking, cycling and road safety measures and schemes.

Reason for Recommendations:  The four schemes were implemented in October 2020 on an experimental basis for 6-months in neighbourhoods with longstanding and ongoing concerns around safety, speeding and high levels of traffic and pollution to test the effects of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the four areas.

The details in the report highlighted that whilst the residential roads within the LTN had benefitted from reduced levels of traffic, speeding and vehicle damage, surrounding roads had experienced an increase in levels of traffic, longer journey times and waiting times at junctions, and increased vehicle emissions thereby reducing air quality.

With the need for social distancing to continue for the longer-term, alongside the return of schools and easing of lockdown restrictions it was expected that levels of car usage would remain high, if not increase, in the short term, thereby putting further strain on the highways and junctions, and further impacting air quality for those residing on these already busy roads.

The engagement and consultation over the experimental six-month period had highlighted that a strong majority did not agree with the LTNs, did not feel that they were working, and did not agree with the proposal to retain the LTNs using ANPR and virtual permits.

The original Transport for London (TfL) funding for the schemes had been exhausted and any new scheme would require new funding. In respect of the considered option of using of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras there would be a capital purchase cost of £172,000, in addition to this would be the full year operational costs of £93,500.  There was no funding for this option in the Parking Services budget.

There remained support from residents to retain the 20mph speed limit introduced as part of the LTNs and the need to ensure the Francis Road width restriction met the requirements of reducing large vehicular traffic and through traffic.