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Conservatives call for 'indefensible' road closures to be scrapped

Conservatives call for 'indefensible' road closures to be scrapped due to more congestionBy Luke ChillingsworthPUBLISHED: 07:04, Wed, Nov 11, 2020 | UPDATED: 07:10, Wed, Nov 11, 2020 CONSERVATIVE MPs have demanded that Low Traffic Neighborhood (LTN) and road closure schemes to promote cycling are scrapped after claims they after eating" into city centres.A total of 14 Tory MPs have written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps demanding that the government “withdraws” the new road blockades installed across local council. The MPs say that the schemes are a “high-priced idealistic formula” which would generate “even more congestion” and increase pollution. They have called the scheme “indefensible” and claimed the new programme has left “small businesses ruined”.MPs to have signed the form include Tory headliners such as Steve Baker, Andrew Bridgen and Robert Halfon.Chair of the All-party Parliamentary Group for Fair Fuel, Craig Mackinlay, also signed the letter after claiming the government needed to stop a “war on the motorist”.He said: “Low taxes on fuel are a benefit to us all, unlike poorly thought through road schemes – of which there have been too many.“We are calling on the government to stop the uncalled-for war on the motorist.”The schemes have so far cost around £400,000 a day to implement with Mr Shapps set to release extra funding for new schemes.The proposed road closures were first launched in the summer as part of the Emergency Active Travel Fund.The proposals aimed to take advantage of a surge in interest for cycling and walking in major cities as residents desperately avoided public transport due to coronavirus fears.Speaking to Express.co.uk, motoring lawyer Nick Freeman warned that the new schemes were a “huge mistake” and needed to be ended immediately.He claimed that the schemes had disproportionately aided cyclists which had led to “mayhem” on the roads.He said: “They've made a huge mistake, a cataclysmic mistake which was so obvious. It's got to stop. It needs to stop sooner, it needs to stop today.“They are about to invest another £250million into these sort of measures."They can't make knee-jerk, what appears to be populist reactions. They need to govern on the basis of accurate information.“They must know before they do anything, well actually what are the effects of taking all this road space from motorists and freeing it up to cyclists who comprise like four percent of the roads.“You don't need to be Einstein to work out you're going to cause mayhem because you're going to take away double lanes and you're going to make them single lanes.“You're going to double already congested traffic and that is going to cause massive problems that we are trying to eradicate.“The priorities need to be free up road space, do everything in your power to keep traffic flowing steadily.”To combat against the heavy backlash to the changes, Mr Shapps has revealed councils will not be able to proceed with any plans unless they can prove that the new measures have local support.Mr Shapps has also warned that he would “not tolerate” any badly designed road closures and cycle lanes.RAC Simon Williams said: “The fact that the Government gave authorities just weeks to introduce schemes for the reallocation of road space is a reason why some schemes aren’t working.“Councils were told they did not need to consult – yet if they didn’t take the cash on offer, they risked missing out on it altogether.“As the lockdown has eased, councils now have an opportunity to consult properly and we believe the Government should require that they do so for new schemes."This is important so local authorities can understand the impact that schemes will have on all road users and residents, and can improve the design of any new scheme accordingly."The Department for Transport (DfT) claims that cycling and walking schemes are popular and boost local businesses when they are properly implemented.They claim that the scheme could increase retail spend by up to 30 percent as those who cycle along streets are more likely to visit than drivers.DfT experts say the majority of residents also support plans to reduce road traffic and the reallocation of road space.A spokesperson added: “No one should be in doubt about our support for motorists. This Government is investing £27 billion to upgrade our roads in our largest road improvement programme.“We are at the same time promoting cycling and walking as they are beneficial to people’s health and wellbeing.“But we have been clear we expect local authorities to engage constructively with residents to make sure any changes are right for everyone, including motorists.“We will not hesitate to withhold funding from councils who do not demonstrate their schemes will offer genuine improvements – and we will be providing more information shortly on the conditions we will be attaching to future funding for Active Travel Schemes.”Original Article https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1358446/conservative-party-low-traffic-neighbourhood-road-closures-cycle-lane-congestion-traffic

Bernard Allen ● 2176d52 Comments

Is the tide beginning to turn?

Adrian Irving ● 2176d

🙏🙏🙏🙏

Jayne Thorburn ● 2176d

Look at the date of that article and then look at the date and content of the DfT press release on the £175m Active Travel Fund. Those 14 MPs got their answer today.

Paul Campbell ● 2176d

https://practicalaction.org/helping-to-protect/

Philippa Bond ● 2176d

Paul. Campbell Your splitting hairs There Tory’s MP’s have realised their mistake, wouldn’t surprise me if a certain person  gets the boot after causing mayhem in many towns and cities in the UK.

Bernard Allen ● 2176d

Sincerely hope so 👍🤞🙏

Loraine Pemberton ● 2176d

Surely he's 'spitting hairs' or is it tacks ? 😉

Loraine Pemberton ● 2176d

Bernard have you seen the DfTs video today about walking and cycling? It gives a pretty clear steer on the Government’s current position and the extra funding they are making available. Interviews with Shapps and four Transport Ministers talking about their unwavering support. Every political party has its eccentrics. Our local rabble-rousing ones must find this a tricky watch. https://youtu.be/bwBIYmTE9UQ

Edward Seaton ● 2176d

Yes, Craig Mackinlay was shown a few times on BBC TV today in an item presented by an obviously pro-cycling journalist (clips of him on a bike). A couple of those interviewed were very much pro cycle lanes, a couple of angry drivers gave their views including one who said, "if it's like this in lockdown what's it going to be like later?" and Mackinlay was clearly outraged that daft people had imagined traffic would just disappear.  As he said, people aren't suddenly going to switch from cars to bikes to do their weekly shopping.  Good on him.

Claire Moran ● 2176d

Great timing, what a day to nail your colours to a spad project. Let’s see what the reshuffle brings.

Russell Pearson ● 2176d

Edward Seaton The Tory's are in a complete mess, have you seen Cummings just walk out of number 10.The £27 billion road upgrade is going ahead as well as promoting, Walking, Cycling.The government has realised  they have made a very bad mistake in the way Mr Shapps handled the first round of funding, in which a lot of Councils including LBOH has cause more problems with the LTN's.I think the next round will be handled in a very different way. with funding being withheld for the same stupid knee jerk way that LTN's were installed in Brentford and Chiswick.Although the way the government advises are leaving number 10, their successors may do a U turn on on Mr Shapp and kick him out to.

Bernard Allen ● 2175d

Shapps is in Gilligan’s pocket. He has no real power.

Russell Pearson ● 2175d

They both need to go.

Claire Moran ● 2175d

Yes. I had naive faith in Shapps for a while, to stick to his word. Not a good time to be seen as a spad’s tool.

Russell Pearson ● 2175d

Have you ever considered that they might actually be right about encouraging active travel? It might not just be Gilligan or Johnson or Shapps or Curran or Khan or Burnham or the cycle lobby or whoever’s agenda to inflict punishment. It might actually be a thing happening in cities all over the world because it makes sense.

Edward Seaton ● 2175d

Edward, have you ever considered that  here in Chiswick at least they might be making an unholy mess of a good idea?

Bruce Hammal ● 2175d

I’m with Bruce, it’s like being sold organic veg, only to find out it’s full of toxic pesticides. Then we kick up, and all we get back are surveys saying people prefer organic veg.

Russell Pearson ● 2175d

I’m broadly much in favour as you can tell Bruce. I’m sure there will be changes. There was a workshop that Peter Murray organised to come up with ideas to better redesign Turnham Green Terrace. I wasn’t involved with that but the output will be interesting. Better use could be made of that space. I strongly support most of the measures and look forward to them being improved and going further, with more school streets, and liveable neighbourhood schemes. Sadly the debate has been so polarised since the days of the trestle table campaigning against C9 and associated weird anti-cycling rhetoric that motivated me in the first instance. The Covid pandemic and the Government’s shift led to a statement from the local Conservative group that was quite conciliatory. I was actually  hopeful. I’m now disillusioned with both Chiswick’s Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors and, in fact, with local party politics in general. I always know that Joanna Biddolph hated cyclists and cycling. I held out a little more hope with others. It seems increasingly like rabble rousing than a willingness to lead a debate with constructive ideas

Edward Seaton ● 2175d

Edward Seatonlobby or whoever’s agenda to inflict punishment.Your profession certainly knows how to inflict Punishment.So now you start issuing threats to the local community, because they may just disagree with you, that the LBOH is catering for a very small percentage of road users by installing LTN's that are not working and creating more pollution and mayhem around the capital.You really have got in with a bad crowd

Bernard Allen ● 2175d

I think you missed the word 'not' in my sentence Bernard.

Edward Seaton ● 2175d

Did Peter Murray pay for the staged event to “come up with ideas to better redesign Turnham Green”?If not him, who did?

Russell Pearson ● 2175d

Edward, as someone who says they are in favour of these schemes, I am interested what you think they have achieved. DR whenever I go past, including today, looks empty and desolate. A couple of tables were placed by the side of the road in the summer and that was it. I know most of the traders are very unhappy. Genuine question, what was the problem on DR and what is now better? I get the school streets and indeed the closure of Fishers Lane if it was part of delivering a local cycle route that actually served the local community. But it doesnt have that.Same with TGT, you talk about making better use of the space. What does that mean. Even with the partial closure it remains a vital artery for a local bus route that unites the geographically divided Chiswick, as all as access to the areas busiest tube station. Again what did the ban of through traffic achieve. I spent over 20 years vising TGT and rarely saw any traffic problems. Cs9 in its full form was tolerable as a non cyclist who often used buses. Its current form is horrendous and bus users lose out. This is a massively discriminatory move against the elderly and less mobile. The cumulative effect is to displace onto already congested and largely residential roads. The western end of Chiswick will see near permanent gridlock. Is this OK?The biggest traffic problem in Chiswick is the motorway running through its centre. Despite all the rhetoric, nothing has been done by TFL or Hounslow to address that. Nothing. Even if hundreds of locals shift to bikes, their impact is cancelled by the A4 and indeed the thousands of vehicles that will flood the area every time there is an event at the new Brentford stadium. Again showing the rank hypocrisy of Hounslow.

Paul Green ● 2175d

There were many comments from people who watched the Peter Murray 'workshop.'  Peter himself is an extremely well-off architect who lives in Bedford Park, nanoseconds walk from TGT and the High Road.  Apparently the others in the workshop had never visited Chiswick and only vaguely knew where it was and there were many shots of what they had done in other areas, not at all relevant to Chiswick.  Several people said it was ludicrous, not relevant and dropped off the session as a waste of time.  Frightening that our town centre could be in the hands of the clueless rich with architectural practices to rake in the money for.

Claire Moran ● 2175d

Edward, it's hard to have a meaningful debate when views have become so entrenched. Before all this I think most people would have agreed that active transport is a good objective; many still would. What I have yet to see is any hint of concession from the hardline cycling lobby (I don't like the term, but it's easy shorthand) that in the case of our local area some of these plans might just be unworkable. They would rather have a truly terrible implementation than helps no-one than concede an inch. Equally I read constant  platitudes from the council about how everything is temporary and subject to independent review, yet I never get a single answer to tricky questions about the nature of that independence or the availability of funds should the works need to be removed. Put bluntly I don't believe we are being told the truth.Since everybody else is doing it I might as well selectively quote from the latest DfT statement:"We have been clear we expect local authorities to engage constructively with residents to make sure any changes are right for everyone, including motorists." How is Houslow doing on that one? Another awkward question that won't get an answer.

Bruce Hammal ● 2175d

Peter Murray, organized the TGT 'Consultation' with Urban Movement, and prominent member of the Bedford Park Cycle Club, hosting an interview.

Russell Pearson ● 2175d

And also has a big Central London based architectural practice which needs feeding.  I was appalled to see the biased comments in The Chiswick Calendar re this.

Claire Moran ● 2175d

Folks, lots of questions here from people I know are very strongly opposed to entirety of the traffic schemes and any form of protection for cyclists on CHR. No offence, but I know it's not a good use of my time tonight to try and change your minds because I know I won't. The centre ground has shifted and is shifting. I stand by the points I made.

Edward Seaton ● 2175d

Fair enough Edward, that was a bit of an onslaught. Sleep well, tomorrow is another day.....

Bruce Hammal ● 2175d

“people I know are very strongly opposed to entirety of the traffic schemes and any form of protection for cyclists on CHR.”A straw man argument. Tilt at windmills in your dreams Edward..

Russell Pearson ● 2175d

So are you thinking of moving to the country, plenty of wide open spaces, quiet roads. A lot healthier than living in a London and a much better place to raise children.

Bernard Allen ● 2175d

Anyone who has lived in Chiswick for many years, as I have, and used to love shopping and travelling around this beautiful part of London, would be horrified to witness the absolute disgrace that the High Road and surrounding area has now become - congestion and roadworks everywhere, shops going out of business, and for what? Cyclists aren't even using the new path... It's a disgrace, and the sooner the whole shooting match is scrapped, the better. Let's keep making our voices heard and putting the pressure on - I am still hopeful we can get our High Road back.

Mark Edwards ● 2175d

I see that poor Edward has been left on his own to man the ramparts of W4.com this evening. Paul C Tom P and Ruth M have rounded up a few chums to seed the easier ground of Nextdoor with a feelgood endorsement of  the DfT fantasy video. Watch it - see if you can spot anywhere remotely  like where we live. It's feeble stuff but I suppose it might catch out a few innocents.

Bruce Hammal ● 2175d

Don’t worry about me Bruce. I’m quietly enjoying the kaleidoscopic chunterings.

Edward Seaton ● 2175d

I thought you had gone to bed! I'm watching Newsnight - a lot of change going on in and around No10.....

Bruce Hammal ● 2175d

> I’m quietly enjoying the kaleidoscopic chunterings.It’s called an ANPR camera. Fines people.

Russell Pearson ● 2175d

The evil cycling lobby works on a rota system. I’m not scheduled until later next week.

Paul Campbell ● 2175d

Having a chat with some old rockers.Thinking of restarting spirt races along St Mary’s now it’s quiet.

Bernard Allen ● 2175d

Paul, I'm always astonished at how much time your band of brothers (and sisters) manage to devote to this business, particularly during the working day. Tom in particular must have an extremely understanding employer - and possibly a team of researchers beavering away on his behalf  given the sheer volume of statistics he regales us with every week. My excuse is that I've nothing better to do, especially since the virus has confined me to my cell now they don't let us use the exercise yard any more.

Bruce Hammal ● 2175d

I don’t know what “spirt” races are but you sound like a rebel. Rock on! You can pop into Russell’s for a cup of tea or whatever “rockers” drink these days.

Paul Campbell ● 2175d

Perhaps you align well with the demographic most likely to oppose reallocation of road space to walking and cycling Bruce. And you know what they say about birds of a feather.

Paul Campbell ● 2175d

If you mean old and tired and cross that I'm reliant on increasingly terrible bus services then yes I suppose I fit the bill. By the way please don't think of repeating the offensive tone that you just used on Nextdoor.  I will put it down to you being over-tired after a busy week. You're better than that.

Bruce Hammal ● 2175d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwBIYmTE9UQ&feature=youtu.bethis thread seems to be desperately clutching at straws - about 6 or 7 of the normally vocal crowd hoping the LTNs will go away. Fortunately even the majority of the Tory Party realise we need to address the traffic chaos and pollution in London - once the penny drops most sane people will realise the benefits and stop trying to stem the tide. Driving is optional tackling climate change sadly is not.

John Stroud ● 2175d

In your dreams sunshine.

Bernard Allen ● 2175d

Quite, Bernard. On another planet.

Claire Moran ● 2175d

"Our local rabble-rousing ones"Oh I dunno, Ed, I'd much rather have a bunch of passionate agitators representing us vs a bunch of disinterested sycophants.But that's just me.

David Lesniak ● 2175d

No team, Bruce, but I am currently teaching a course on data analysis to 200 undergraduates. Regressing a line to data is in the first week, and what I post here is pretty quick to do.Quite a few of the criticisms are actually unfounded speculation or miss the obvious point that we currently have a partially completed bike lane down the High Road. Of course it looks a mess - roadworks do! Once it’s open there’s a lot of data out there which should be able to provide some objective measures of the scheme’s success.

Tom Pike ● 2175d

Tom, more diversions. The major complaints are not about appearance as you well know. THere is no traffic modelling and TFL have no idea how bad traffic will be. There are numerous crucial differences between the full scheme and the one now built. The impact on traffic speeds and also the huge displacement of trafffic are genuine concerns. As well as those of businesses who fear people deserting the shops that already struggle.I have said this before, but it is interesting and insightful that many of the proponents of these schemes do not rely on transport modes that are worst impacted, be that buses or even the evil car. Most tellingly, they live in areas that are not suffering extra congestion or actually now have no traffic. Some live in nice quiet Bedford Park, an area with very quiet streets and no through traffic apart from a little along the Avenue. Most can still stroll down to TGT or the High Road. If needed they can sit on the E3 without worrying about floating bus stops or sitting in queues, as it speeds down to TGT. It is clear from your posts you have no knowledge of traffic patterns in other parts of W4 and dont seem to care.The major problem in W4 is through traffic. Not a single thing has been done or planned. Major rat runs off the A4 are untouched.It would be so great to see you actually engage with some of these issues. After 30 years of traffic management measures, and yet as many of the pro lobbyists acknowledge, nothing has really improved in W4. So what changes now? Lets not pretend that a segregated lane from Waitrose to Hammersmith is suddenly going to halve traffic on the M4 into London. Traffic will continue to divert through W4 as long as Google maps says its quicker. Only when W4 is sufficiently congested will maps say stay on the main route. Again, something that will not impact you in the least.

Paul Green ● 2175d

John, seeming as others will not answer. Can you explain to me how closing TGT and DR address the 'traffic chaos and pollution' in London. I keep repeating this, we know the main problem in W4 is through traffic. We see the traffic flood in on the A4 and along the High Rd from Chiswick roundabout every day. Of course, a good chunk is trade and commercial plus taxis, so I am never sure where that is meant to go.I get school streets and closing major rat runs, though I note none of latter have been addressed. I am still at a loss to understand what TGT closing achieves. It certainly created traffic chaos for diverted traffic onto already busy and polluted roads.Ken, Ruth and others helpfully point out traffic has been terrible in W4 for years. But in the last 20 years we have seen lots and lots of what we might call LTN and traffic management measures. CLosing rat runs, extending bus lanes in length and operation, bus gates, traffic signal prioritisation etc. We have also seen how many of these measures created congestion where there was none, the Stamford Brook bus garage bus gate a good example.Yet according to Cllr Lambert in Hounslow the distance travelled by vehicles has shot up in recent years. Why, and how do these piecemeal schemes stop that?Any scheme would need to part of a coherent plan to have any chance. YEt we know Hounslow do not talk to Ealing, and nor do they talk much to TFL. TFL does not coordinate itself, so local plans are not supported by any wider review of traffic and signal priorities on major arteries. So John, really interested in an answer. And lets be clear, it cannot be the magic 'traffic evaporation', as the last 20 years shows us that does not exist.

Paul Green ● 2175d

According to the Telegraph, who might just know, several senior ministers are highly critical of Shapps’ incompetent performance. I can see both he and Gilligan, ‘doing the Dom walk’  before long.

Russell Pearson ● 2174d

Let's hope it's before they inflict even more horrendous damage than they have already done.

Claire Moran ● 2174d

His time has to be numbered. Last thing Johnson needs now is the self inflicted debacle of a knob on a bike posing in videos on YouTube, while London gets gridlocked.

Russell Pearson ● 2174d

Very critical article of LTNs in yesterday's Times, and this from the Telegraph (courtesy of OneChiswick:-Police are scouring social media to try to spot 'green' road closures, inspector's email revealsA newly released email from the Metropolitan Police reveals concerns over road closures intended to promote a green transport revolutionBySteve Bird and Edward Malnick, SUNDAY POLITICAL EDITOR14 November 2020 • 6:00pmPolice are finding out about council road closures through Facebook and Twitter, an inspector has warned, as senior ministers are becoming increasingly critical of Grant Shapps’ green transport revolution.An email seen by the Sunday Telegraph from the Metropolitan Police Service’s roads and transport policing command to local authorities reveals the extent of growing concern so-called ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’ are having on 999 emergency response times.Hundreds of roads across the country have been blocked off with planters and bollards or had cycle lanes introduced in an attempt to promote social distancing and healthier forms of travel.However there have been numerous reports that police, ambulance and fire engines are finding routes blocked meaning critical response times for emergency callouts are being hampered.Now, a letter released under Freedom of Information Act, shows an inspector based in North West London has written to councils and traffic authorities to stress the importance of consulting police, fire and ambulance services to prevent “risks to the public”.The officer, whose name has been redacted, writes: “My most major concern is that emergency services are becoming aware of a lot of the projects, either on the day or after works have started.“Sometimes a few weeks after they have been completed and often through scouring social media.”It adds how the Met is “not being given suitable time” to provide “detailed consultation”, a process requiring between three and 14 days.In a stark warning, it says any input the force provides is based on the road closures and cycle lanes being “temporary measures solely for the purpose of providing a safer environment … in response to the Covid pandemic” adding how ant councils failing to give “due notice of the works” will mean the “full risk and associated responsibility will sit with the Local Traffic Authority”.Although the letter, sent in June, says it supports promoting social distancing and cycling, it adds how officers have to consider “emergency services response times … as well as the realistic risk to the public.”It adds how police “want to ensure that it doesn’t further risk through the hindering of all the emergency services getting to calls and performing their core business.”A spokesman for the force said it does not “sign off” the street closures councils propose, but is “merely a consultee”.Last week Mr Shapps, the Transport Secretary, announced the second £175 million phase of the controversial scheme, unveiled in May.Meanwhile, the Sunday Telegraph can reveal several senior ministers are highly critical of the scheme in private.One said: "He [Mr Shapps] should try driving around London a bit more"  Keep up the pressure, chaps and chappesses, we can win this  Take to Twitter in your thousands.

Claire Moran ● 2174d