‘The LTNs have proved crude and socially highly divisive, and the council’s claims on emission reduction are discredited’
• REGARDING Islington Council’s new push to impose a “Liveable Neighbourhood” (aka as an LTN, low traffic neighbourhood) on Barnsbury, I find the slogan strange.
Most of the people I know who actually live here have found it very liveable for many years. Barnsbury simply does not have a traffic problem.
So many roads round the Cloudsley Road area are closed off, and so many in Barnsbury are one-way, (so few points of entry from Liverpool Road and Cally Road) that we are already a sort of LTN. I live on perhaps the only “rat-run”, Thornhill Road.
Over the past 10 years the volume of vehicle traffic here has really dropped off. It’s no longer an issue for those of us who actually live there.
“Rush-hour” is a fast commuter cycling event now. The decline of private ownership of cars is evidenced by the often empty resident parking bays in the area.
The biggest problem facing us elderly – I am 75 and I walk everywhere in Islington, bus round London, and only use my car when getting out of London – are speeding and inconsiderate cyclists and e-scooters. Much more frightening than cars.
Pedestrians and cyclists (especially e-cyclists) do not mix, despite the happy imagery presented by the council. London’s indulged and uncontrolled young cyclists don’t make it Amsterdam.
Already the council have flagged up possible closures on Islington Park Street, Lower Barnsbury Street, and Theberton Street. But the closure of any or all of these will cut Barnsbury off from Upper Street.
Of the three, Islington Park Street is very much a main road, and often has traffic queueing back to Liverpool Road. Close the other two, it will be Barnsbury’s equivalent to Highbury Corner. And what a success that has been!
Islington Council is on an ideological mission, but Barnsbury traffic, with the possible exception of doing something with Offord Road (but is actually a bus route), is a problem that doesn’t need fixing.
The LTNs have proved crude and socially highly divisive, and the council’s claims on emission reduction are discredited.
If Barnsbury becomes another awkward, sealed, box, with huge congestion on the boundary roads, we shall not be able to readily access the Ubers, taxis, and deliveries that everyone depends on.
Let alone drive home reasonably easily, when we need to. Islington Council should focus its time (and our money) on other issues.
PAUL DALE, N1