Lambeth Council is proposing to make one of its Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) permanent and to introduce a number of improvements.
The Ferndale LTN was introduced as an emergency measure during the COVID-19 pandemic to limit motor vehicle traffic.
Throughout the trial period the council measured key objectives such as reducing road danger, encouraging active travel, supporting the local economy, making high streets more pleasant and improving air quality.
Lambeth Council is now planning to make the LTN permanent after a public consultation held earlier this year found the majority of respondents felt positively about the scheme.
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, cabinet member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: ‘The proposals to make Ferndale Low Traffic Neighbourhood permanent are very welcome.
‘Throughout the trial phase we have seen the level of vehicle traffic reduce. However, we want to be clear in saying there is still more to do across Lambeth.’
Included in the proposal to make the LTN permanent are a series of improvements aimed at supporting residents and businesses. These include the launch of an e-cargo bike rental scheme, sustainable travel improvements such as cycle training and more bike hangars, and the introduction of dropped kerbs to make the area more accessible.
In June last year, Sofia Sheakh launched a legal challenge arguing that the schemes had 'negative impacts' on those with disabilities and that the council had failed to consult with residents about the measures.
However, the judge ruled that the borough’s six LTNs were a 'a genuine experiment' in response to the pandemic following guidance from the Department of Transport encouraging councils to take 'radical and almost immediate measures' to promote active travel.
Lambeth’s LTN’s were also vandalised last year.
Cllr Chowdhury continued: ‘We are committed to listening to feedback to build on the success of the LTN in the future.
‘The current LTNs alone will not solve traffic issues across the borough so we are looking at making further improvements in neighbourhoods and with our partners at TfL [Transport for London] on main roads.
‘We believe we can all do our bit to raise air quality by leaving our cars at home for short trips and consider walking or cycling instead.’
This article first appeared on localgov.co.uk.
