Brixton low traffic neighbourhood welcomed by residents, new survey

A resident powered Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Brixton has been welcomed by 75% of local residents, according to a new survey. 

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) are groups of residential streets where ‘through’ motor vehicle traffic is discouraged or removed. 

If approved, the Railton LTN will see that vehicles can drive to the closure points from one direction or the other, but cannot drive through. This means that every single property can be accessed by a motor vehicle but the streets will no longer be available as a traffic cut through.

The Railton LTN is one of seven launched by Lambeth council as an emergency measure to encourage active travel in order to cut pollution as more people return to work. 

According to a survey conducted by Railton LTN, 3 in 4 of residents are in favour of the scheme.

When residents were asked for their views, 7 in 10 thought there was too much traffic in their neighbourhood and 2 out of 3 people thought that their road was too polluted. 

However, the LTNs have been divisive with protests taking place outside of Lambeth town hall last Saturday (September 12). 

23% of people said they didn’t like the scheme at all.

Adam Keelan, a local resident who designed and carried out the survey said:’There is a huge support for the LTN with many people including comments about how it has already transformed the neighbourhood and their everyday lives in the short time it has been in existence.

‘There’s been lots of publicity and heated debate about the LTN and I wanted to move away from all the sound bites, claims and counter-claims and gather some solid statistical evidence about what people are really feeling and thinking.’

Railton Low Traffic Neighbourhood, launched in late June, is expected to undergo an 18-month trial period before the council consult again with local residents to decide whether to make it permanent.