Approved: Greenwich LTN confirmed after call-in
A Low Traffic Neighborhood (LTN) scheme in Greenwich will proceed after three Labour councillors dismissed challenges to the project.
The long planned Hills and Vales scheme – as it was once known – sees cameras monitor traffic either side of Greenwich park, though the project has caused concern over greater traffic around the boundary as well as through Charlton’s road to the east.
The LTN is in operation between 7am-10am and 3pm-7pm on weekdays with exemptions for blue badge holders. No physical objects block the roads unlike earlier schemes enabling emergency services to pass through.
Roads in Charlton such as Marlborough Lane saw a 40 per cent increase in traffic after the schemes introduction.
As a call-in meeting two opposing arguments were heard. One from former Labour councillor Lakshan Saldin (who quit Labour last month) and Green councillor Tamasin Rhymes (who won a by-election this year after another Labour councillor quit the ruling party and supported the Greens) sought to delay a decision the LTN until traffic levels became better known following Silvertown Tunnel’s opening.
On the opposite side of the political spectrum was Conservative Charlie Davis who wanted it scrapped altogether.
At this point I may add both Davis and the Greens are FAR more receptive when I contact them than many in Labour who have a bunker mentality (who often ignore) which may explain why a few have quit the party recently.
The same can be said for Labour Greenwich Council. Contact them for info? Nothing. Such a contrast to Labour Lewisham and Tory Bexley to give two examples. Or TfL, who responded to a query this week in their usual prompt and efficient manner. They may have issues in places, but they aren’t as bad as Greenwich.
As someone who worked for Greenwich and knows people who still work there, it’s a deeply troubled place politically and in the council itself. And believe me I’ve worked and know people in other councils. Greenwich has a lot seriously wrong at all levels.
Anyway, I digress.
Mitigation
Cllr Saldin criticised Greenwich’s proposed mitigation, which seems a fair call. Greenwich have proven to be hapless at mitigation generally when it comes to traffic not just here but with Silvertown. Out of the Silvertown tunnel project they secured less than a million from TfL as unwilling to contribute. And they still havn’t spent a penny.
North of the river Newham secured many millions from TfL when agreeing to contribute to street schemes, (anathema to Greenwich) with developer funds with more than £20 million then allocated between the two. Night and day compared to Greenwich in the peninsula and nearby areas.
In terms of the LTN one Charlton parent stated “My kids go to Sherington primary school. I can’t speak for all the parents there but the ones I connect with feel similarly to me.
“We don’t really feel very convinced that there are good mitigations. It is all very well sort of waiting and seeing what will happen, but we see more and more traffic on Eastcombe Avenue in particular.”
Getting it done (badly)
Much like their bodged “Sustainable Streets” scheme Greenwich’s hapless implementations seems to please few, which is typical of their unfit for purpose Transport Department aided and abetted by many councillors who defend to the hilt but rarely question.
Another objection came from a shopkeeper on Royal Hill who complained trading had reduced.
The sad thing about Greenwich is they’re so flawed at fundamental levels in transport that whatever is done appears half-arsed and broken. This scheme could work but communication hasn’t been the best. It was also obvious far more thought was needed in Charlton and displaced traffic past schools there.
Contentious schemes like an LTN and parking zones will always arouse strong emotions but they really make life hard for themselves. Ever more self inflicted wounds. Mind you this is a a council that cheered on bus cuts across much of Thamesmead. A bafflingly odd decision.
In the end three Labour councillors Lauren Dingsdale, Joshua Ayodele and Dominic Mbang all agreed to proceed.
Anyway, I’m off to have a chinwag with staff in the council to hear the latest.
As an aside, don’t let me start on the utter shambles that is the street cleaning department at the moment. A “money saving” scheme in the department involving a reorganisation has gone badly wrong and details of that are starting to emerge in the public domain at last week’s council meeting.
It’s a deeply unhappy department on the front line. More on that soon.
So yep, Greenwich again are often not getting it done (copyright the £120k communications director they hired while cutting spend elsewhere such as cleaning). But then when such a hapless Transport Department’s leadership acts with impunity, who is surprised?
Every Article i read, and every person i speak to, objects in one way or another to the LTNs (particularly as they apply to local residents which seems a nonsense), so why are the plans approved? Who actually wants them to apply in the way that they do? I haven’t seen or read any articles or explanation from Greenwich as to why these LTNs were working. They don’t reduce congestion, pollution or overall traffic as all that they do is push traffic to areas just outside the LTNs, and/or increase the length of journeys as people will need to drive around the LTNs. The LTNs do not and will not stop vehicles using the roads around Greenwich – deliveries need to be done, school runs need to be made, local amenities and services need to be accessed. I would like to see the results of the Canvassing that Greenwich undertook. They may well have spoken to “hundreds” of people, but i doubt that hundreds of local residents who [have no alternative than to] use their cars on a daily basis for commuting, school runs, shopping, visiting local amenities and services, etc voted in favour of the LTNs. And why are there so many of them? Why not just have one LTN for the whole of East Greenwich and West Greenwich.
Jon Lovitt, could it be that you’re seeing this mainly from your own perspective? Cities across Europe are making car use more difficult, and the benefits of doing so have been well documented.
I understand that you might really need a car, and these schemes can make life more complicated for some residents. But it’s worth asking is driving really a right?
I used to live on a side street in Hackney that didn’t have much traffic most of the time, but during rush hour (and sometimes even late at night), cars would tear down the road as a shortcut, causing a lot of noise and pollution. Once the LTN scheme was introduced, the whole street changed. It became much more peaceful, and children started coming out to play, riding their bikes and kicking balls around. It was wonderful to see.
I just want to share that perspective not everyone is against these schemes, and in some cases, they really do make a positive difference to local life.
Greenwich know perfectly well that by far the majority of residents are against their mad LTNs.
Their own consultations show this. The contempt they have shown to once loyal voters is a disgrace.
Well said Chris. You are so right they take liyal voters for granted. But times are changing..
Next local elections are in May 2026. Let’s see how this gets reflected in the results. I know what I will be asking the canvassers.
Amazed this scheme has been confirmed .
Experience with the previous scheme, which was pulled, should have shown a newer bigger scheme was going to cause more trouble over a larger area.
LTNs just move traffic around , they don’t solve congestion.
Is this the same Greenwich Council that are cheerleading bus cuts with the 472?
If you’re going to push LTNs don’t then support bus cuts nearby. No credibility
Absolutely Anon. Greenwich Council did support the cuts to route 472 which will see the route axed from.January 2026.
If you want to reduce car usage etc than you need to invest in local bus services. Superloop routes ate okay for longer journeys but the majority of bus journeys are local. Also if they want people to walk and cycle more Gteenwich Council need to invest in public realm improvements, improve street lighting and create more crossings for pedestrians to be able to cross busy roads safely. But year after year they chose to ignore people’s views and comments. So consultations are a huge waste of public money and people’s time. As they will do what they want anyway.
Beggar thy neighbour in terms of traffic management.
I’m sure the initial £2.5million “income” from the scheme tempted them into keeping it. Be interesting to see where that income figure settles, because you only fool the people once.
Really though, Lewisham are the leaders in this type of money grab. It’s not just Greenwich.
Absolutely Chris. Lewisham are terrible when it comes to money grabbing from their LTN schemes.
Ere are didn’t know you was at the meetin. I was there meself. Never thought I’d say it meself but the Indies, Green n Tories all spoke well n I’d never vote Green but their councillor done well. Wot I liked abahrt it was the detail the spoke abahrt ow traffic as shot up on many boundary roads. Juss goes to show we ave other choices to labour now n I do ope them Indies defend their seats, at this rate there gettin my vote on ere. As for them cyclists don’t get me started on ere, they ride on pavements, paths even in the foot tunnel thass why when I’m walkin I ave to ave my wits abahrt me.