Sadiq Khan admits LTN is ‘causing huge problems’

Sadiq Khan has admitted that a controversial low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in London is “causing huge problems” after buses were caught in hours-long traffic jams.

The scheme, at Streatham Wells, was implemented last year as part of an 18-month trial that Labour-run Lambeth council says is meant to improve air quality.

Yet the Mayor of London has now spoken out against the LTN, marking the first time he has criticised one of the schemes.

The Labour mayor said on his Speak to Sadiq LBC radio show on Thursday: “The LTN in Streatham is causing huge problems.

“Yesterday I was in touch with Lambeth council to see what my team can do to resolve the issue and so we’ve asked the council to look at it urgently in relation to the consequences of a very well-intentioned LTN.”

He added: “The unintended consequence is less use of public transport. So you’ll get news very soon about changes that the council are going to make to that LTN because the evidence is that, just in the first few months, it’s not been great.”

Mr Khan’s comments come after significant opposition to LTNs, amid huge traffic congestion caused by the schemes.

One London bus reportedly took 121 minutes to travel just 2.9 miles across Streatham after the A23 arterial road, which runs along one side of the LTN, became heavily congested with traffic trying to avoid the scheme.

Local campaigners, including the Streatham LTN Watch group, have said the schemes merely displace traffic onto neighbouring roads and worsen congestion around their fringes.

A spokeswoman for Lambeth LTN Watch said: “We appreciate Mayor Sadiq Khan’s honesty about the challenges of the Streatham Wells LTN. Unlike local leaders, who have been silent for four months, the Mayor’s acknowledgement is a positive step.”

“Residents are eager to know the proposed changes and wish to participate actively in the decision-making process.”

Lambeth Council did not comment on suggestions that Mr Khan has ordered the scheme to be scrapped.

A council spokesman said: “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 discuss changes to the LTN.”

‘Residents were gaslit’

Neil Garratt, the City Hall Conservatives’ leader, said: “I pointed out the LTN traffic chaos in Streatham to Sadiq Khan in December. He denied all knowledge of the chaos and refused to intervene. He arrogantly ignored and gaslighted local residents, commuters and motorists.

“As the mayoral election approaches on May 2, Sadiq Khan has finally woken up to this issue. We need to see urgent action.

“LTNs should not be imposed without the support of local communities. The chaos in Streatham and the impact of this LTN on people’s lives shows us why.”

More than seven million penalty charge notices were issued by Transport for London and the capital’s 32 councils in 2022-23. Of those, three million were given to drivers caught on CCTV cameras disobeying road signs, like driving through LTNs.

Lambeth was one of the top five London authorities for road fines after issuing 354,832 penalties.

The current wave of LTNs began to be introduced during lockdown. Councils from across the country took advantage of empty streets to start blocking off roads with bollards and large flowerboxes, claiming that the closures would help improve air quality and road safety.

Energy minister Andrew Bowie said last summer that LTNs should be removed from places where locals do not want them.

Speaking about encouraging the take-up of electric and hybrid cars, Mr Bowie told ITV’s Good Morning Britain in July: “We also recognise there are huge cost-of-living pressures on people in Britain right now, which is why we must do more to support those people and which is why we think that where they are not working or where there is not local support, low traffic neighbourhood projects should be looked at again.”