Sadiq Khan admits for the first time one of his favourite Low Traffic neighbourhoods is 'not great' after problems with gridlock and bus services ruined by the project

Sadiq Khan has admitted for the first time one of his favourite Low Traffic neighbourhoods is 'not great' after it was riddled with gridlock problems and bus services being ruined.

The London Mayor revealed today that his team had been in touch with Lambeth council to try and resolve the issues being created by the Streatham Wells LTN, which has seen buses travelling as slowly as 1.5mph.

The Labour politician, who is seeking re-election in May, told LBC: 'It's not working and we've asked the council to look at it urgently.'

He told listeners on the London radio station that the LTN was 'causing huge problems' and having 'unintended consequences' such as people avoiding public transport.

The comments mark a change in Mr Khan's public stance on the controversial traffic scheme. Up until now, he has batted away criticism and continued to vouch for the scheme despite concerns from locals.+++

He told a listener affected by the south London LTN: 'You'll get some news very soon about the changes the council are going to make to that LTN because the evidence is that in the first few months, it's not been great.'

The comments may come as a surprise to Lambeth's Labour councillors who have insisted that roadworks and rail strikes are in the area to blame to traffic chaos on the borough's roads.

LTNs, which became increasingly popular for some councils over the pandemic, have previously been slammed for pushing traffic onto boundary roads and increasing congestion - in turn adding to pollution and driver's miles driven.

It comes after the Times found that it was taking buses in the LTN area up to two hours to travel less than three miles.

Transport for London (TfL) data shows that last week the A23, which runs along the western side of the LTN, became so bogged down in traffic that it took the bus 121 minutes to travel 2.9 miles.

Three quarters of another bus route were diverted around the LTN during rush hour while another route forged a path straight through it, Department of Transport data shows.

Since 2020, hundreds of LTNs have been introduced across the country but there is growing controversy about the schemes.

And last summer, Rishi Sunak ordered a review into LTNs which the Transport Department is yet to publish any findings or guidance on.

Lambeth Council blamed 'ongoing roadworks' and 'recent rail strikes' for the congestion.

The Streatham Wells LTN has caused 'chaos' since it was first introduced last October, with residents, local business owners, and motorists branding it a 'nightmare'.

Harriet De Wolff, 57, who owns a gift shop called 'The Indigo Tree' on Streatham High Road, said: 'It is an absolute nightmare.

'It's definitely not good for pollution. It's made it worse.

'I can taste the fumes in my mouth as I walk down Streatham High Road. That didn't use to be the case, but now, all the cars and buses stopped in traffic – it's causing more and more pollution.

'People who live on this street will never be able to open their windows again.'

The shop owner added that one 'often-ignored' impact of the LTN has been the change to safety on the streets.

Bus driver John Monroe, 48, said the LTN has doubled his journey times.

'What was once an hour journey now takes over two hours. It's definitely quicker to walk or cycle than take the bus, but not everyone can do that.

'It kind of defeats the purpose of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood, because it's not stopping the congestion – it's creating more. There's more pollution.

'Passengers hate it too. We're not allowed to open the doors apart from at bus stops, but I have people asking all the time if they can get off – because we're stuck in traffic, and they know they'll get there quicker by walking.'

Another bus driver, Elliot Braham, has had a similar experience.

The 38-year-old said: 'It makes things impossible because I have a schedule to stick to – but it's now taking around an hour to travel just a couple hundred metres.

'It's awful when you see ambulances getting stuck in the traffic too. It's just made the congestion so much worse.'

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said previously : 'We are aware of concerns regarding bus times in Streatham relating to the trial of Streatham Wells LTN, ongoing roadworks by utilities and recent rail strikes.

'We are working closely with TfL to monitor the situation and will make changes as needed.'

MailOnline has contacted Lambeth Council for further comment.