LTN extension plan: Motor vehicles to face restrictions on three quarters of Hackney’s streets

‘We have had quite a journey’: Low Traffic Neighbourhoods scheme set to expand

Motor vehicles will face restrictions on three quarters of Hackney’s roads in a plan to extend low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and school streets.

Cabinet member for the environment and transport Mete Coban unveiled plans to extend the LTNs, which currently cover half of the borough, in a move to further lower carbon emissions across Hackney.

He said: “It’s a really ambitious plan to reduce pollution in Hackney. We have had quite a journey and seen traffic on main roads has gone down.”

Transport contributes 21 per cent of the carbon in the borough and  Hackney council said: “We would like to see all motorised traffic transition to low emission vehicles or electric vehicles. Electrifying transport will have one of the largest impacts on carbon emissions generated within the borough.”

The council said it has seen a 38 per cent drop in traffic in LTN areas.

Dalston, Shacklewell, Chatsworth Road, Hoxton East and Stamford Hill wards are on the cards this year after the scheme won the green light from Hackney Cabinet (Monday 23 Jan).

More will be on the way in Craven Walk, Southwold Road and Cazenove Road the following year and transport bosses will monitor Cassland Road.

It is looking at plans for segregated cycling on Well Street and Cassland Road

The council is also drawing up plans to improve  Cricketfield Road, Pembury Circus, Lordship Park, Graham Road, Manor Road, Dalston Lane, Pembury Circus and hopes to get funding to keep them on track.

The school streets scheme will also be expanded to  secondary schools across Hackney.

It follows a similar move by neighbouring Islington council, which has also unveiled plans to cut traffic on 70 per cent of its roads.

There are currently 48 school streets in Hackney which are closed to motorised traffic at the start and end of the school day.

Other plans include 3,000 charging points for electric vehicles by 2030, up from the current 303 places  people can charge their cars and vans.

There will also be  cargo  and dockless bikes and car clubs to help cut the use of motor vehicles.

Cllr Coban said there will be 600 new  bike hangers by 2026 to help cut the waiting list.

Residents had called for more secure places to secure their bikes and some people who live in flats said it was difficult to store them inside where space is at a premium.

LTNs have proved controversial in Hackney with campaign group Stop Horrendous Hackney Road Closures taking the council to court on an unsuccessful bid to stop them.

Residents living outside LTNs say they have seen increases in traffic.

Responding to the expansion of the schemes campaigners at Residents Together said the moves are “exacerbating problems on other (outside LTN) roads. There is no justification for safer, quieter roads for some at others’ expense.”

Update: this article was amended at 11.16am on 26 January 2023 to remove the word ‘ban’ in reference to LTNs and replace it with ‘restrictions’.