Mixed feelings as latest low traffic neighbourhood takes effect in Stoke Newington
Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are getting used to a new low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in Stoke Newington which came into force today.
It is the latest LTN created in Hackney since the pandemic began, joining 20 others across the borough.
It means a bus gate outside the Red Lion on Stoke Newington Church Street will operate from 7am to 7pm.
The road will be open to buses, blue badge holders, cyclists, and waste and emergency vehicles.
Hackney Council said homes and businesses in the area will remain accessible by car, van or lorry.
Cllr Mete Coban, Hackney’s cabinet member for energy, waste, transport and the public realm, said: “This new low traffic neighbourhood will transform Stoke Newington by drastically reducing polluting traffic in the area, and encouraging more of us to walk, shop and cycle locally.”
He said there might be some disruption whilst motorists get used to the new rules.
The Twitter account of Stoke Newington LTN said: “We need to be patient and give people time to adjust and the benefits will emerge over the months after it starts.”
Shopper Suzy Owen, who cycles and drives, said she was in favour: “The pollution in London is horrendous. We have got such good public transport and we should use that.”
She thought the LTN would “definitely” improve things for cyclists.
Another cyclist said he was all in favour and the LTN would make getting around more pleasant.
Florist Oya Adem was not so sure. She runs the Green Roof Café and said: “I do not know how I am going to get my deliveries in. I’m concerned about Christmas time when I have articulated lorries bringing trees.”
She added: “I think it will kill the midweek trade. We rely on people driving past, spotting us and stopping.”
Premier Cars manager Ikky Cam also feared that businesses would lose out.
He said he thought the LTN would “push cars towards the north of the street, creating more traffic and more pollution”, and warned that journeys will also take longer.
Resident Annie Johnston, 85, uses the taxi firm regularly but said the changes might mean she limits her trips out.
“I think there’s too much of an emphasis to get people walking or using bikes without thinking about people with mobility issues,” she said.
A taxi journey in Stoke Newington which takes her five minutes is predicted by cab firm boss Cam to increase by 40 minutes.
People can share their views at hackney.gov.uk/stoke-newington-ltn.
Update: this article was amended at 16:09 on 20 September 2021 to make clear that the prediction about the time increase for taxi journeys was made by Premier Cars manager Ikky Cam.
This is radically different from previous LTNs as it is a closure of a long distance (B104) commercial road. Usually, a closure of this type would only happen after a lot more consultation and traffic measurement. there’s been a lot of discussion about what is going to happen to Lordship Park and Manor Road which are residential roads (although also a bus route and the B105) but a major impact may also be on the High Street.
It’s not open to “blue badge holders”. The only BB holders who are exempted are those whose electronic card is linked to a specific car registration number.
I’ve also heard that it only applies to those users if their car is registered in the same CPZ though I’m not sure if that’s true.
Those who depend on someone else to drive them (family, minicab and so on) are NOT exempted.
Minicabs company manager says LTNs are bad, shocker
LTNs aren’t a complete solution, but until we get a ban on (petrol-powered) cars in London, they are part of the solution, as they have been demonstrated to reduce overall car use (so-called ‘traffic evaporation’). Cars kill. They kill by causing air pollution, by knocking people down and by exacerbating climate change. For people to say that their convenience is more important than someone else’s life is utterly repugnant. It is shocking that there are people in Hackney who are so morally bankrupt.