Fresh proposals for traffic measures in Hoxton face local backlash

‘Feedback generally positive’: Cabinet member for climate, environment and transport, Cllr Sarah Young

Hackney Council’s proposals to cut pollution and improve road safety in one of its neighbourhoods have stoked fresh concerns it will make congestion worse.

After wrapping up its consultation in 2025, the council has updated its new Liveable Neighbourhood scheme, ‘Connecting Hoxton’, which includes measures like traffic filters to stop drivers from using residential streets as rat-runs.

The council also wants to plant new trees, widen pavements and create a new ‘school street’ around St Monica’s Catholic Primary School, which will ban vehicles during drop-off and pick-up hours in a bid to make the area safer.

Other controls include a ‘bus gate’ on Hoxton Street, which will make parts of the road only accessible for buses, cyclists, taxis and emergency vehicles.

The entrance to Hoxton Street market. Photograph: Andrew Fawthrop

But locals are divided on key parts of the scheme, and the council this week faced fresh demands to scrap some of its mooted traffic controls.

A petition signed by 836 people was brought to the Town Hall on Monday (23 March), where resident Sandra Stewart said feedback from locals was being “ignored”.

Though supportive of the “common sense” school street, Ms Stewart questioned the council’s rationale for restricting vehicles on certain roads.

She said the proposed traffic measures were “driving anxiety” about worsened congestion, delayed or missed hospital appointments, and the negative impact on local businesses.

“Ultimately, Hoxton has never had a problem with traffic or pollution,” she said.

Rather, an existing Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) which installed a cycle superhighway to the area had made it more dangerous for pedestrians and created a “haven for crime”, she said.

Ms Stewart added that despite the council’s “green” ambitions, film crews were regularly idling in the area for several hours.

The council’s survey of residents showed support for traffic measures was generally highest among property owners and people who did not use cars.

The strongest opposition came from car users who lived within the scheme area, caregivers, disabled people and renters.

Cabinet member for climate, environment and transport, Cllr Sarah Young, said feedback was “generally very positive” about the wider project, but added that the council was still reviewing specific measures which had stoked concerns: on Stanway Street, Fanshaw Street and Hoxton Street.

She said the council was “not rushing” the process and would gather more traffic data before reaching a final decision on those streets later this year.

The council website states these proposals would be “further developed” by the autumn.

Meanwhile, the local authority is pressing on with smaller improvements across the area including more wayfinding, tree planting and installing new gazebos on Hoxton Street Market.

The latest petition against traffic controls comes weeks after hundreds of protestors showed up to the Town Hall to protest the council’s wider policy of introducing LTNs across the borough, forcing a cabinet meeting to a halt.

Hackney has one of the highest numbers of LTNs in the capital. Since 2020 the council has rolled out the controls across the borough, which now cover 70 per cent of “all eligible roads”.

Residents can read the full list of proposals on the council’s website.