Anti-LTN Protestors Stop Traffic in Ealing


Public demonstrations held as opposition to council road schemes grows


Anti-LTN demonstrators in Ealing. Picture: www.gillshaw.co.uk

A public protest against Ealing Council’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood Schemes (LTNs) was held in New Broadway this Sunday. Demonstrators against the proposals spilled onto the street and held up traffic.

They were attending a meeting addressed by Northfields Councillor David Millican and Kingsdown Residents’ Association’s Arthur Breens.

It was one of a number of street meetings that have been organised to express opposition to the proposals to restrict the flow of traffic through residential areas in an attempt to reduce rat-running. Other meetings have been held in Waldemar Avenue W13 and Coldershaw Road W13.

An online petition against LTNs has been signed by over 3,400 people.

LTNs involve blocking entry and exit of vehicles to neighbourhood roads using bollards and planters.

The demonstrators claim that rat-running is not a significant problem in many of the areas where the schemes are being imposed and they are unhappy about the lack of engagement and consultation with the community.

LTN supporters claim the schemes will reduce vehicle traffic, cut pollution and make cycling and walking safer. They are being introduced using Experimental Traffic Orders (ETOs) which means the council is not required to hold a formal consultation in advance of implementation and only needs to give a week’s notice. After the schemes have been in operation for six months they will be subject to a review.

Nine LTNs are to be implemented in the borough over the next eight weeks.

August 3, 2020