Low Traffic Neighbourhood road closures (LTNs) were first introduced by the Southwark Council in May 2020. They were implemented as experimental traffic orders during the first lockdown to support social distancing measures, as well as to increase active travel and improve air quality locally. 

 

Domestic transport accounts for 27% of the UK's carbon emissions, with private car use emitting the most in that percentage. Despite more people buying electric cars, carbon emissions have only decreased by 1% since 2011, due to higher levels of traffic and the popularity of SUVs. 

 

The aims of LTNs proposed by the Southwark Council were to significantly increase the numbers of cyclists and to increase the reduction of car journeys in the local area, but are emissions being reduced or simply relocated?

 

The residents of Dulwich have divided opinions on the viability of the road closures. Local resident of Croxted Road states, "The traffic on Croxted has been intolerable. Standstill traffic when children are leaving their homes and walking to school is not ok. Croxted Road is 98% residential and freedom of information request to TFL has shown that the number 3 bus has never been as slow moving. We support active travel and reducing cars but not the displacement of traffic to already busy roads." 

 

Over in the Village, some local residents support the cause. A local air pollution campaigner counters, "The sudden realisation that children are dying and our planet is over-heating means we have to re-evaluate our relationship with cars. LTNs are just one tool in our armoury to reduce car-use. None will be perfect and none will be popular, but we need to do them if we are going to reduce our carbon emissions and give our children a future worth living."

 

These arguments continue to simmer and go way beyond lockdown and the original intentions of the LTNs. Whilst both sides of the debate have valid points, no compromise seems to be on the horizon. Whilst there's no doubt pollution needs to be reduced across London, displacing the traffic does not appear to be the answer.