Originally Posted by
sweeney
Me too, but I don't think the much vaunted 'traffic evaporation' will happen. We are currently in an LTN 'consultation zone' which means we have an LTN trial effectively pushing traffic onto boundary roads and increasing pollution. Including at the local primary school which is on the A406 - already one of the most congested roads in the country. They've seen their independent pollution monitors record 20% increases since September 2019 (the one year trial has been lengthened to Jan 2022 'because of Covid 19'). Of course, the smaller affluent, quieter streets love it and lobbied hard under the very emotional banner of saving their children's lungs (admirable but misguided as it hasn't happened). The increases in property prices has been nice for them too.
Freedom of Information requests to our local council asking about things like air quality and increased emergency vehicle response times have been met with silence. Apparently they didn't think to consult and give the relevant authorities keys to the wooden barrier posts and the Ambulance, Police and Fire Brigade say they wouldn't carry them anyway. They also claim their pollution monitors show no discernible increase but won't tell us where they are or how they're monitored.
I believe in cleaner air and responsible vehicle usage, but don't see how making cars idle longer on boundary roads achieves this. It also disproportionately disadvantages poorer people with older vehicles who live on the boundary roads like the A406 which has seen a surge in residential developments (mostly for rent) since the widening of the road for the 2012 Olympics.