Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and accessibility
Petitions debate
The petitions
Mark and Mike started petitions about Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). Over 17,000 people signed them.
Mark, who created a petition calling on the Government to 'Carry out an independent review into Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).'
Mike, who created a petition calling on the Government to 'Exempt Blue Badge drivers from Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.'
Petitions debate
The Petitions Committee scheduled a debate on the petitions in Westminster Hall.
It was led by Marsha De Cordova MP on Monday 20 May 2024
Survey
To inform the debate, the Petitions Committee ran an online survey asking for people's views on LTNs and accessibility.
There were 7,349 responses to the survey.
During the debate, Marsha thanked the petition creators and people who responded to the survey:
"I thank not only the original petitioners for creating the petitions but the thousands of people who took the time to sign them, and the many thousands who responded to the Petitions Committee’s survey on low-traffic neighbourhoods and accessibility."
She raised several issues:
"Although LTN schemes are different everywhere and councils have different policies for blue badge holders, disability is not a geographical issue. The lack of exemptions has led to there being a postcode lottery."
"Given the sometimes routine exclusion of disabled people from decision making, the existing approach to policy development has had and will have a wide impact. Poor consultation on low-traffic neighbourhoods and their imposition in a time of national crisis has allowed controversy to arise."
The Government's response
The Minister for Roads and Local Transport, Guy Opperman MP, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government.
He spoke about the petition calling on the Government to 'Carry out an independent review into Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)', highlighting that a review of LTNs has been completed.
It was published alongside draft guidance to local authorities on implementing low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).
The Minister said that amongst other things, the review outlined concerns about:
- the impact on disabled residents
- the cost of the LTN schemes
- how many disabled residents, as well as groups representing the views of disabled transport users, felt inadequate consideration had been given to their needs and the impacts of LTN schemes on disabled people.
- how several LTN schemes reported by local authorities to the Department for Transport had not carried out equality impact assessments.
The Minister went on to say:
- The draft guidance to local authorities on implementing LTNs, “sets out clear expectations for comprehensive and in-depth local engagement and full consideration of the needs of all road users in such a scheme.”
- The Government "will not support LTNs in future unless they are designed and delivered having had regard to the new statutory guidance, which will apply to new and existing schemes."
- The Government "are committed to improving transport accessibility and supporting disabled people to have the same access to transport as everyone else."
The Minister also spoke about the petition calling on the Government to 'Exempt Blue Badge drivers from Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.'
He responded to the petition’s request to add a flag to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) records to identify vehicles belonging to blue badge holders, so that they can be automatically exempted from any restriction and not attract enforcement activity. The Minister said that “currently that is not a viable solution” as “badges are linked to the individual and not the vehicle” and “a badge holder may travel as a driver or a passenger in any vehicle.”
However, he also stated that the draft guidance "makes it clear that local authorities should always consider exemption from restrictions for blue badge holders, as well as for deliveries and other essential services."
Watch the debate
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