From SEJ
Social and Environmental Justice (“SEJ”), a grassroots community not-for-profit group, is writing to each Mayoral candidate to ask their positions on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).
You will no doubt be aware that there is considerable controversy surrounding LTNs (particularly those implemented under temporary/emergency measures during and since the pandemic) mainly due to councils ignoring the (perhaps unintended) negative consequences of their schemes, e.g. displacement of traffic onto surrounding residential/community roads and difficulties for people with limited mobility who rely on cars.
As you will also be aware, the Department for Transport recently published its LTN review. As a result, it is expected that in future there will be tighter regulation around their implementation with councils being required to carry out more thorough consultations and to consider the impacts of LTNs on communities as a whole.
We appreciate that it is councils who have powers to install LTNs but that the Mayor and Transport for London have considerable influence, including the discretion to award more LIP and housing funding to those boroughs who withdraw schemes where there is a clear negative impact and/or lack of local consent.
We would be interested in your answers to the following questions:
· Would you set up a review of all Covid and post-Covid LTNs installed in London?
· Would you support or oppose the installation of further LTNs in London?
· If you would support more LTNs, what conditions, if any, would you set out?
· Would you be prepared to withhold money from boroughs which have installed or propose to install LTNs where there is a clear negative impact and/or lack of local consent?
With our thanks,
John Stewart
(on behalf of the SEJ Committee)
Green Party Response
Dear John and the SEJ Committee,
Thank you for getting in touch, and for the work you do. Whilst I’m sure we have points of disagreement, I know we all want a cleaner, safer, healthier London.
As you have said, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are fundamentally the responsibility of local councils, and whilst yes there is influence from the Mayor, I believe as a core principle that decisions need to be made as locally as possible. That does mean as Mayor, I would want to ensure that councils go about exploring, planning, delivering and reviewing their LTNs in a way that genuinely captures all the views of the people affected. Of course councils shouldn’t push through, nor reject anything, regardless of the wishes of their communities; instead they need to find genuine solutions.
At the same time, I believe councils have a responsibility to do their part. We know for a fact that Londoners want and need clean air. Air pollution doesn’t respect boundary lines, and as Mayor I would act to ensure that every council is doing their part to tackle the air pollution emergency our city is in and to do that fairly across the city so that everyone benefits. I'm passionate about tackling inequalities and have spent my working life addressing health inequalities through senior roles in public health and in the NHS.
That does mean fewer and cleaner vehicles on our roads. At the same time, I don't accept that there is one single way a neighbourhood reduces its traffic; different communities will have different ways that they can and need to look at their traffic, air pollution and street safety.
I want to work with councils to look at what they can do, be that by improving public transport and making it more affordable, to infrastructure changes that help cyclists, wheelchair users and walkers move about. That means wider pavements, cheaper, safer cycle storage and more space on buses for parents with buggies, and wheelchair users, so they can travel with friends. There is no one size fits all model; as long as we are reducing air pollution, the specifics must be determined locally.
Thank you again for reaching out.
Yours sincerely,
Zoë Garbett
Zoë Garbett
Green Party candidate for the Mayor of London
