Greenwich Council Makes South London LTNs Permanent Amid Controversy

Key Points

• Greenwich Council has decided to make the West and East Greenwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) schemes permanent.
• The LTNs aim to reduce traffic, improve air quality, promote sustainable travel, and increase road safety.
• The scheme has resulted in a 6% overall reduction in traffic inside the LTN areas and minor improvements in air quality.
• Residents inside LTNs report safer streets and improved conditions for cycling and walking.
• Boundary road residents, especially in Charlton, experience increased traffic, aggressive driving, and safety concerns.
• Some councillors called for postponement or cancellation of the scheme due to negative boundary road impacts.
• Council promises to explore mitigation measures such as new crossings or junction changes but cannot act until LTNs are permanent.
• The Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Call-in Sub-Committee upheld the decision to make LTNs permanent after resident testimonies and debate.
• Calls remain for ongoing monitoring and public reporting on boundary road traffic conditions.

What Is the Greenwich Council’s Decision on LTNs?

As reported by Sophie Jamieson of MyLondon, Greenwich Council has resolved to make permanent the West and East Greenwich Neighbourhood Management Trial Scheme, a Low Traffic Neighbourhood initiative launched a year ago. This decision comes despite opposition from residents living on boundary roads who report feeling unsafe due to increased traffic spillover.

Why Does the Council Support Making LTNs Permanent?

According to the council’s findings presented at the meeting, the scheme decreased traffic by 6% in the affected areas and led to slight improvements in air quality, though these were described as “negligible”. Cllr Anthony Okereke, Council Leader, emphasised the importance of looking at the scheme holistically, stating, “We are beginning to change behaviour,” referring to an uptick in walking and cycling among residents.

Cllr Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, added that the scheme prioritises people over vehicles, promising a “deeply positive impact” on public health and air quality within two to five years.

How Did Residents Inside the LTNs React?

Residents living within the LTNs expressed strong support for the scheme. Colin Humphries, a Maze Hill resident, shared with MyLondon that his family feels safer cycling:

“In the last 10 months while the scheme has been in operation we have not been close passed once,”

contrasting with multiple dangerous incidents before the scheme began.

East Greenwich resident Kate Middleton added:

“Over 1,000 children walk to school more safely, more healthily and more pleasantly than they have done in the previous 6 years.”

Neil Robertson from the Greenwich Cycling Group also praised the LTNs for making cycling safer across the borough.

What Are the Concerns of Boundary Road Residents?

Boundary road residents voiced significant concerns at the council’s Call-in Sub-Committee meeting. Sarah Hornsey of the Charlton Central Residents Association reported:

“We are experiencing traffic jams and very aggressive behaviour from drivers which is compromising the safety of pedestrians.”

John Tierney, resident of Eastcombe Avenue—a road identified as a rat run—called for the council to “cancel this failed experiment,” describing the scheme as a “social injustice” due to its negative impact on Charlton residents.

Benjamin Dholakia-Wellens also expressed doubts about the effectiveness of proposed mitigations:

“We see more and more traffic on Eastcombe Avenue particularly and it’s not safe.”

What Mitigations Has the Council Promised for Boundary Roads?

Cllr O’Byrne Mulligan assured residents that the council will explore measures such as turning restrictions, new crossings, or junction alterations. However, he noted that “we do not yet know what the scheme is” until it is made permanent, after which legal steps to implement mitigations can begin.

What Did Opposing Councillors Say About the Scheme?

Cllrs Lakshan Saldin and Tamasin Rhymes, representing the Independent and Green Group, formally called in the decision to make the LTNs permanent. They argued the scheme failed to reduce traffic or improve safety adequately, particularly on boundary roads with increased traffic flow.

Cllr Saldin emphasised the negligible improvement in air quality, calling it “in the billionths” of a gram, and noted some boundary roads experienced higher traffic, especially during afternoon restrictions.

Tory Cllr Charlie Davis demanded an outright scrapping of the LTNs, describing the impact on boundary roads as “absolutely appalling,” affecting residents’ health and safety. He doubted that mitigation efforts could offset these harms:

“The thing that is going to make a difference to their life is removing the scheme.”

How Did Council Officers Address These Concerns?

A council officer explained that some of the increased traffic on boundary roads could be attributed to temporary roadworks at key junctions such as Blackheath Hill and Greenwich South Street. However, this did not fully allay concerns from residents and councillors.

Data presented showed a significant reduction in collisions and casualties after the scheme’s introduction: from 51 collisions and 58 casualties in the six months before to 29 collisions and 32 casualties afterwards.

What Was the Outcome of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Call-in Sub-Committee?

After hearing extensive testimony from residents and councillors, the sub-committee—composed of three Labour members—decided to take no further action, upholding the council leader’s earlier decision to make the LTNs permanent.

The chair, Cllr Lauren Dingsdale, urged continued monitoring of boundary roads and called for that data to be made publicly available promptly to ensure transparency and ongoing assessment.