Two Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Lambeth set to be made permanent

Two schemes to reduce traffic in Lambeth are set to be made permanent from the end of the month.

New proposals have been published that recommend the Oval to Stockwell and Railton and St. Matthew’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) be extended following data collection and a public consultation by the council.

Both schemes were introduced as temporary measures at the start of the pandemic to reduce through traffic, lower vehicle speeds and reduce road danger.

In addition, they were intended to improve air quality and enable more walking and cycling.

In order to make the decision, the council analysed data collected from in and around both LTNs before holding a public consultation in September. 

Laura Parsons, 43, who lives within the Railton LTN has welcomed the decision.

She said: “My family is delighted by the news that the low traffic neighbourhood will be staying.

“It has made a huge difference to our family’s lives, with our daily walks and scoots down Railton road with my toddler being so much safer.

“I also learned to ride a bike again when the LTN was introduced. It has been brilliant seeing lots more women and children on bikes around our community. 

“It seems to have really cut down on rat running and speeding in our street.”

But not all residents are pleased with the plans.

Simon Christophers, 51, who lives on St Michael’s Road, which is just outside the Oval to Stockwell LTN said that traffic has increased near his home.

He said: “I despair that Oval LTN is to be fixed in stone. My family’s life is worse for it. 

“The boundary roads are busier and the smaller local streets like mine that are outside have untold more traffic and are gridlocked at rush hours.”

He also said that the consultation had further isolated and divided people, adding: “It was a very frustrating process to even get the consultation and when it did come it was so unbelievable in its dialogue – so weighted for pro LTN.

“It was particularly disappointing for those without bags of free time and tech savvy means to get involved.”

There were 2,928 responses to the Railton consultation, but a further 1,626 responses were excluded from the analysis because they were deemed suspicious or a duplicate response by the council.

The Oval to Stockwell consultation received 3,395 responses. An additional 302 were decided to be invalid.

The data found 55 per cent of responses which were not excluded thought the Oval to Stockwell LTN was a positive change, while 54 per cent felt the Railton LTN was a positive change.

Cllr Danny Adilypour, joint Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport, Environment and Clean Air, said: “Since both LTNs were introduced we have been closely monitoring the data and speaking to residents and businesses to design streets that work for everyone.

“After considering both the data and public feedback, we believe this proposal to make these schemes permanent is the right thing to do as part of our drive to transform our neighbourhoods to make them safer places for people to move around and to ensure they are fit for the future.”

Cllr Adilypour added: “Residents in these neighbourhoods, and those that travel through them, have been able to experience what a future neighbourhood might look like, where all people are able to move around their local area safely.

“If we are to take meaningful steps to address the climate crisis, it is important to develop new, sustainable ways to travel. This was a key recommendation from Lambeth residents who took part in the council’s Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Crisis.

“The proposed changes would build on this, enabling more people to travel more sustainably, while acknowledging feedback and with changes in place that reflect local needs.”

The proposals will now be subject to the council’s decision-making procedures ahead of potentially being adopted on December 30.

Pictured top: Cllr Adilypour in Railton Road, Brixton