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The main objectives of the LTN programme are to achieve:

• A reduction in through motor traffic within LTN areas; and
• An overall reduction of motor vehicle movements across the area, when considering boundary roads and the inner area together

Reducing Traffic has many benefits, including:

• Cleaner air and less noise

• Fewer emissions contributing to climate change

• Safer streets, which support people to walk/wheel and cycle when possible

• Less congestion, making journey times quicker for buses and essential motorised journeys

Improving walking/wheeling and cycling conditions benefit the community by supporting people to make active journeys that improve health and wellbeing, when possible.

Active travel is affordable, delivers significant health benefits, has been shown to improve wellbeing, mitigates congestion, improves air quality and has no carbon emissions at the point of use.

The government therefore expects local authorities to make significant changes to their road layouts to give more space to cyclists and pedestrians. Such changes will help embed altered behaviours and demonstrate the positive effects of active travel.

You can read the latest guidance here.

You can find all the background data, as it becomes available, for the Slade Gardens low traffic neighbourhood here. 

Low traffic neighbourhoods are a part of our long-term Lambeth Transport Strategy which was launched following consultation in 2019. 

The first LTNs delivered formed part of our Transport Strategy Implementation Plan for LTNs.  They were introduced more quickly than planned because of the Covid-19 pandemic; we needed to help people travel safely and sustainably as capacity on public transport was dramatically reduced.

This LTN was selected as part of a 2022 review of the LTN prioritisation prompted by Lambeth’s 2019 Climate Emergency Declaration and subsequent Climate Action Plan, Lambeth’s ambitious Air Quality Vision set out in 2021, and updated national policies such as The Cycling and Walking Plan for England (2020).

A modal filter is a traffic management measure that stops vehicles passing but allows pedestrians and cyclists through. 

Your suggestions for within or outside the LTN will be logged and analysed. Your feedback will shape the design proposals.

We will also consider ideas as part of our review of our Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and Road Safety programmes, dependent on securing further funding. 

The largest study of how equitable London’s low traffic neighbourhoods are is available here. Lambeth’s LTNs are found to have populations with slighter higher levels of deprivation than the borough average. The study concludes that across London as a whole ‘LTNs are clearly pro-equity in relation to area deprivation, and neutral to slightly positive in relation to ethnic diversity… Micro-level equity is reasonably good, in that there do not seem to be large systemic differences between the demographic profile of those living in LTNs and those living in adjacent areas that touch boundary roads’. 

While areas may be most affected by through traffic during rush hour there is likely to still be a need to reduce traffic at other parts of the day. Once implemented the majority of restrictions including modal filters and bus gates will be 24hrs a day 7 days a week. 

We consult on the proposed LTN trial with statutory consultees such as the Police and Fire Brigade and respond to any feedback received. This is a three-week preiod.

An Experimental Traffic Order is made to cover the prescribed routes in the LTN area. At this stage, anyone can lodge a formal objection to the trial LTN being made within six months of the day that the experimental order comes into force.

During this period we will monitor the trial, consider feedback and potentially amend the scheme in response.

Filters will be trialed using planters, which are low-cost temporary structures.

Minor Street Improvements are are small-scale, quick-win interventions.

Minor Street Improvements include:

• Tree planting in existing tree pits or where pavement space allows

• Installing cycle hangars where demand has been identified

• Implementing parklets together with the local community

Minor Street Improvements could also include:

• Provision of dropped kerbs

• Placing more bins and street furniture at some locations

• Addressing severe pavement issues

Major Street Improvements are large scale interventions on certain roads.

Major Street Improvements aim to:

• Reduce vehicle speeds and road danger by design

• Improve greening and tree canopy cover

• Reduce the risk of flooding

• Create more space for pedestrians, businesses, and communities

• Increase cycle parking, seating, lighting, etc...

Major Street Improvements include:

• Replacing car parking with sustainable uses (e.g. greening, cycle parking, pavement space, raingardens, trees, etc...)

• Creating new pedestrian and community spaces

• Building chicanes to reduce vehicle speeds

• Widening pavements to make them accessible for people who walk and wheel

Filters are enforced by 24hour Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These work by issuing a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) to motor vehicles that pass the filter (except emergency, waste, and vehicles with registered dispensation). Cameras are used, instead of physical barriers, so that emergency vehicle response times are unaffected.

A bus gate is a closure point which buses can pass through, along with the other vehicles that are exempt, such as emergency vehicles.

The “No Motor Vehicles” sign indicates that no motorised vehicles can go through a closure point/modal filter. This includes motorbikes, personal vehicles, vans and trucks, unless specifically exempted, such as emergency vehicles. Specific dispensations are available for blue badge holders, fully accessible taxis and private hire vehicles.

Enforcement will only start once the LTN trial launches.

The following can automatically drive through traffic filters without incurring a Penalty.

• Emergency Services
• Buses and pedal cycles
• Rapid response healthcare providers
• Category 1 Responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004
• Refuse collection vehicles

Both individual Blue Badge holders and organisations who qualify for a Blue Badge (such as SEN transport providers) can apply for the dispensation. Details of Lambeth’s dispensation policy can be found here.

The following can automatically drive through bus gates without incurring a penalty:

• Accessible private hire vehicles
• Taxis

All PCN enquiries should be directed to the appeals process outlined in the warning letters received.

Traffic and air quality will be assessed and reported on transparently, so everyone can see whether the scheme is meeting the objectives set out within the monitoring strategy at the review stages. The full monitoring strategy can be read here. 

Monitoring of traffic counts to be used as baseline date will be taking place in June.

Our monitoring strategy explains how and when decisions will be made regarding the scheme. The decision to implement a permanent LTN will be made on review of the trial scheme and feedback gathered over the experimental period starting with the date the Experimental Traffic Order came into force.

Road layouts can be trialled for up to 18 months so that residents can see how the changes work in practice and share their feedback. Objections are collected during the first six months following the date of the ETO and will be used to inform the decision making process.

A statutory consultation will take place before considering whether an LTN should be made permanent or not. Please sign up for news updates here. 

As with any change we understand there might be initial increase of traffic on some roads. We are in the process of monitoring this. We know from experience and research that as people get used to avoiding the zone and travelling in different ways, traffic reduces for neighbouring areas by average of 10%. Initial figures from the Walthamstow Village area show traffic levels on main roads have increased by between 3% and 11%, but the number of vehicles in filtered roads has decreased by 56%. This means that across the overall area, there are around 10,000 fewer vehicles every day, an overall reduction in traffic of 16%. This is called “traffic evaporation". 

We appreciate the changes in road layout may lead to some longer journeys and proportionally, shorter trips within the area have been most affected.  However, the additional time taken is marginal on a comparative longer journey and, in a study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Imperial College London and the University of Westminster, it was found that the daily driving distance of cars registered within the LTNs was reduced by 6.4%.  This means that people who live within the LTNs are, on average, driving less.

We are excited about these findings and hope more of our residents will choose to make local trips, where possible, by more sustainable modes such as walking, cycling or public transport.  Doing so will further help to reduce congestion and pollution.

We notify navigation systems of the closure details. Once companies have incorporated the closure details into their mapping systems, journeys will be diverted around closures and follow more direct routes. 

Direct access to all properties will be maintained but what may be affected is which route you and any associated deliveries will need to take to your property or business. It could be an opportunity to review your deliveries to see if you could reduce the frequency or change the method of delivery to help us to make this a success. 

During the design phase the emergency services - the ambulance services, police, and fire brigade - are consulted on any proposed road changes and have the opportunity to feed into the design to ensure essential access can be maintained.

Gaps are maintained on some roads and ‘No motor vehicle’ signs have been used rather than ‘No entry’ signs to allow exempt emergency vehicles to pass through.

The council does not support dangerous driving and drivers are encouraged to follow the Highways Code. We are actively working to create better designed streets to achieve this through increased liaison with the police and their ground support as well as introducing traffic calming measures where necessary. 

The vandalism of the cameras, installed to support the scheme whilst the LTN schemes are in place, sadly reflects badly on the vast majority of law-abiding people in Lambeth. As a team we are investigating a process to handle future instances and working with the police to get support on the ground. Please continue to report vandalism where you see it occurring. 

We are committed to making sure everyone feels safe on our streets. We hope the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) will increase the number of people using the street, increasing the amount of eyes on the street, reducing the amount of vehicles and leading to a more pleasant street environment.

If there is a specific location you feel is unsafe, options can be considered including added lighting and surveillance. We will be gathering data about crime across the whole of the LTN to identify areas for improvement. If there is a location you think we should consider please provide details such as a description of the area (name of road, specific part ie underpass and how you think it could be improved).

We work closely with our colleagues across the council to ensure we work collaboratively to tackle violence and crime. Below are links to some of our services:

Lambeth Made Community Forums - Lambeth Made Community meetings are open to all and allow residents and community groups to work with organizations that provide local services, like the police and the council. The aim is to build community resilience, improve community safety, and reduce violence.

The MET Safer Neighbourhood Team

Violence against Women and Girls

Lambeth Safer Children

Report a hazard on the street to the Council

A School Street is where the road directly outside the school entrance(s) is closed to traffic for a short time just before the start and the end of the school day. This provides a safe and calm environment for the students of the school, while encouraging sustainable modes of transport for the school drop off and pick up. You can find out more here. 

If you would like to find out more about the project you can contact us via:

Email:

lowtrafficneighbourhoods@lambeth.gov.uk

Post: 

Low Traffic Neighbourhood Team, Transport, Winchester, PO Box 734, Winchester, S023 5DG