Islington LTNs “have delivered huge successes”

Islington Council has announced the Highbury low-traffic neighbourhood scheme has been made permanent, after monitoring data and resident feedback showed it has helped to create greener, healthier, more welcoming streets for all.

The decision means that all seven of the low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) that were introduced between 2020 and 2022 as trials have now been made permanent.

The council says LTNs are central to its mission to reimagine streets, to help improve air quality, to make it easier for local people to enjoy the health benefits of walking, cycling, and wheeling, and to make the borough’s streets safer.

Since its introduction in January 2021, the Highbury LTN has seen traffic fall both within the neighbourhood and on surrounding roads. Meanwhile, in a 2022 public consultation local people told the council that they’ve walked and cycled more to local businesses, and that they feel their streets are nicer.

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s executive member for environment, air quality, and transport, said: “For many years, local people told us they wanted to see action to create greener, healthier, more welcoming streets – and that’s why we’ve been delivering low-traffic neighbourhood trials since 2020.

“Three years on, it’s clear that the schemes have delivered huge successes. Traffic has fallen in neighbourhoods and on surrounding roads, it’s easier for local people to enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of exercise, and air quality has improved.

“We know, though, that there’s still much more for us to do. We’re going to be working to improve our low-traffic neighbourhoods further, and have ambitious plans to continue to work hand-in-hand with local people to transform the borough’s streets in pursuit of a greener, more equal Islington for all.”

Islington Council has also revealed that the number of privately owned cars in the borough dropped from 37,372 to 34,217 between 2016 and 2021. The council says this reflects its work to create more space for walking, cycling, and wheeling.

Despite the positive effects of Islington’s LTNs, the council adds that there’s still more work to do to create greener, healthier, more welcoming streets for all.

Therefore, it will continue to make improvements in its LTNs, including introducing new greening and taking steps to make it even easier for people to travel.

The council has also committed to bringing a network of ‘liveable neighbourhoods’ to the borough. Like LTNs, these aim to make it easier for all to walk, cycle, wheel, and use buggies and wheelchairs.

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