A fiery clash has broken out over the effects of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods on local communities, based on their effectiveness in lowering traffic and their environmental impact.
Political consultant Emma Burnell and anti-Ulez campaigner Michelle Chisholm joined Eamonn Holmes and Pip Tomson on GB News’ Breakfast to discuss the controversial issue.
Burnell began with her own experience with LTNs: “So my street, we had a thing from the council saying we're going to close the end of your street. And I think they were expecting us all to massively object and get really cross.
“And actually what we did was get massively excited and said, well, instead of some bollards, could we have a garden. And the council was so happy that we weren't objecting to the LTN that we now have a really nice community garden at the end of our road.
There are more than 100 permanent LTN schemes around the UK PA“Our deal with the council is they would build it, we would look after it. So it's really improved how much we talk to each other on the street. It's changed enormously.”
Chisholm came back: “OK, the problem here is it's lovely for Emma, but what about the houses and the roads on the boundaries? You are basically pushing traffic onto other places, and it's all very well saying ‘oh it's lovely for me, it's wonderful, it's beautiful’.
“But I watch lots and lots of videos and see lots of real life situations of people that live on the boundaries and roads that were once relatively quiet are now exceptionally busy with ridiculous amounts of traffic.
“Because at the end of the day, if you're pushing everybody elsewhere, I basically feel that you're being exceptionally selfish, because you are not taking into account other people. So basically what we're saying is, it's all OK, but as long as it's not on my street.”
Emma Burnell and Michelle Chisholm discuss LTNs on GB News Breakfast
GB News
“I have literally no idea what Michelle means by the boundaries,” said Burnell. “I live in Zone 3 of London. My parents live outside of the A406 in Chingford. All of us are in favour of traffic management because we all live with the vital importance of making sure that our children can breathe, that we have a nice city that can continue to be a nice city.”
Isabel chimed in: “I think that was Michelle's point, is that it might be alright now in your neighbourhood, but because traffic can't drive down in your neighbourhood, the problem is being pushed elsewhere. So it is a bigger problem for other people than it was.”
Chisholm continued: “Let's look at now the lady who lost her child, the one child that died from air pollution, which I must add wasn't confirmed as car emissions. She lives on a boundary road.
“She campaigned and campaigned for clean air. She was pro-Ulez. She is anti-LTNs. Why? Because the asthma rates in her area are going through the roof.
The controversial Ulez expansion took place in August this year
PA“Because what has happened, the roads are being shut. All the traffic is backing up for miles and miles where she lives. The community are suffering from heavy asthma and increased medical problems due to increased traffic.”
“I am not in the posh bit of London,” raged Burnell. “I’m so sorry to break your stereotype, but I live in Leighton mate.
“We are also in a place which has really benefited from the fact that they've closed one end of our road. We have less antisocial behaviour, we have less drug dealing, we have less prostitution.
“That is what the LTN has brought us. I’m sorry if that breaks your fantasy of the posh middle class woman who's supposed to think that this is just benefiting me, but actually it benefits us in the lower end of London!”