Just a little over a month after the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme was first put into action, due to the fierce opposition from residents the decision has been finally made to shut them down.
The LTN scheme began on September 14th and had plans to remain till roughly the end of the year, with temporary traffic barriers installed on certain roads in order to encourage residents to walk or cycle more, attempting to reduce pollution and make the streets quieter and safer.
However, this decision has caused more harm than good, leading it to becoming a point of controversy for those who live in Redbridge and are most affected by this scheme. There have been troubling instances where the closed-off roads have made it more difficult for people to get to their destinations, especially in cases of an emergency. There is footage of a gridlocked Stanhope Gardens in Ilford, part of the LTN scheme, causing an ambulance to be stuck in the traffic jam and unable to reach an emergency patient.
Many local people have personally reached out to the Leader of Redbridge Council to complain about the recent Quiet Streets pilots. While there may have been some positive comments and significant support, the overwhelming negative responses have finally caused the withdrawal of the scheme. Residents claimed to have expected and deserved a thorough consultation prior to the installation of the schemes, and now the planters will be removed from the streets and repurposed, leaving the streets unblocked once more.
