Forum topic: Fox Lane quieter neighbourhood: More information published as consultation is extended to July
Fox Lane quieter neighbourhood: More information published as consultation is extended to July
PGC Webmaster
12 May 2021 18:38 6038
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[Original article]
Fox Lane quieter neighbourhood webinar - recording now online
PGC Webmaster
04 Jun 2021 23:33 6039
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A recording of the 26th May Fox Lane quieter neighbourhood webinar is now available to view.
Fox Lane quieter neighbourhood: Consultation period ends on 11th July
Basil Clarke
05 Jul 2021 20:01 6089
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Just a reminder that the consultation for the Fox Lane quieter neighbourhood ends on 11th July. More details higher up this discussion thread.
If you've already responded, you can do so again, if only to confirm that your views haven't changed.
Click here to respond.
It's not just people living in the QN who can benefit from it, as it's now a brilliant area for other people to walk or cycle through. I don't live in the Fox Lane area, but I pass through it on foot three or four times a week, either on my way to somewhere (Broomfield Park, Grovelands Park, Southgate Green, Arnos Park or further afield) or I just go for a walk for exercise and enjoyment. It's now so relaxing walking up Fox Lane, whereas before it was noisy and stressful. The contrast is a clear sign of how overuse of cars has spoilt simple pleasures, like walking through leafy streets, stopping to chat to neighbours. The number of people walking along Fox Lane has shot up, and there are plenty of people on bikes, including kids having fun.
So some of the roads around are getting congested, with traffic queuing? Well, main roads throughout London are full of congestion and traffic queues, even if there's no LTN in the area. The reason? There is far too much driving for the capacity of the road system. The North Circular through Edmonton was widened at the cost of much money and disruption, but traffic is frequently at a standstill in both directions. Increasing road capacity only works for a short while before traffic levels increase and we're back to queues. And in many places there's no possibility of adding road capacity without large-scale demolition.
The fact that there was too much driving for the main road system in the PG area was to a degree hidden away before the LTN, because there was the possibility of cutting through residential areas - in effect, brushing the problem away under the carpet. Remove the LTN today and the peripheral roads will become a bit less congested, but it will only be a matter of a year or two before Southgate Circus is overwhelmed, as the amount of traffic is growing inexorably (and cars are getting bigger and taking up more space).
It's time we faced up to the fact that there is too much driving. It doesn't require people to give up driving, it just needs people who can (which is probably most drivers) to use their cars less.c
The LTN gives people an opportunity to use alternative methods of getting around without being exposed to the noise, stress and danger that was the Fox Lane area before for cyclists and walkers. And let's not forget that many people in and around the LTN can't drive anyway - because they can't afford a car, because they're too young or too old, because their eyesight is failing, or simply because they don't want to drive. But we've been treating these thousands of non-drivers as second-class citizens by not providing them with a safe and pleasant environment to move around in, even though they're not the ones who creating the danger and unpleasantness.
And then there's the most pressing reason of all for us to reduce car usage - the climate crisis, which is already upon us. Just look at the horrendous temperatures in the US and Canada, and the heatwaves in the Arctic and Antarctic. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions starting now.
"Disabled say No to LTN"
Ann Jones
08 Jul 2021 16:57 6091
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your readers might like to see the attached from Enfield Independent.
Threat of legal action against Fox Lane LTN
PGC Webmaster
15 Jul 2021 00:20 6097
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The Enfield Dispatch and Enfield Independent both carry a report by local desmocracy reporter Simon Allin about a threatened legal challenge to the Fox Lane low-traffic neighbourhood scheme from a group called One Community Against Fox Lane LTN on the grounds that a document stating the reasons for the scheme was not published on time. The report quotes Enfield Council as stating that "a formal decision report [...] will be produced once the consultation closes and other monitoring data is reviewed and analysed. This report will provide a response to any objections raised.”
https://enfielddispatch.co.uk/legal-threat-over-low-traffic-scheme-consultation
Fox Lane quieter neighbourhood: More information published as consultation is extended to July
Karl Brown
15 Jul 2021 14:23 6098
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A document allegedly not available for the first two months of a pilot, but which was itself extended by five months – and remains ongoing, if no longer subject to consultation – would seem more than enough time for even the slowest reader and assessor to still make their mark. But I guess most will not be surprised by legal noises given active travel’s history.
In the wider world, today the Department of Transport announce changes to address, “chronic road congestion”, which will focus on reducing single occupancy car journeys. Guidance will be issued to local authorities on supporting “shared occupancy schemes”, ie give someone a lift if they are going your way rather than have them use their own car.
Separately the IPRR’s cross-party commission announce their findings from citizen’s juries, including a call for better public transport networks, and for these to be free by 2030. Surely a better use for national resources, be it (road) space or personal savings.
And directly from the world of cars, the RAC identify cars as having increased in size by a third in the last few decades. The RAC’s director says, “not only are cars getting bigger, there are also more of them.”
With road space not increasing, especially in London, is the pressure of congestion really such a surprise, and does anyone really think that current transport policy (at all levels) including the hierarchy with cars in bottom place of importance is due to change?
I would be looking to sense which way the wind is blowing ever harder and seriously think about saving the lawyers’ fees.
In the wider world, today the Department of Transport announce changes to address, “chronic road congestion”, which will focus on reducing single occupancy car journeys. Guidance will be issued to local authorities on supporting “shared occupancy schemes”, ie give someone a lift if they are going your way rather than have them use their own car.
Separately the IPRR’s cross-party commission announce their findings from citizen’s juries, including a call for better public transport networks, and for these to be free by 2030. Surely a better use for national resources, be it (road) space or personal savings.
And directly from the world of cars, the RAC identify cars as having increased in size by a third in the last few decades. The RAC’s director says, “not only are cars getting bigger, there are also more of them.”
With road space not increasing, especially in London, is the pressure of congestion really such a surprise, and does anyone really think that current transport policy (at all levels) including the hierarchy with cars in bottom place of importance is due to change?
I would be looking to sense which way the wind is blowing ever harder and seriously think about saving the lawyers’ fees.
Fox Lane quieter neighbourhood: More information published as consultation is extended to July
Karl Brown
20 Jul 2021 09:11 6099
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“The government has pledged to push ahead with their (LTN) expansion”, pointing to its own polling which suggest twice as many people support them as oppose them.
The Department of Transport say “more of the zones would be introduced" (on top of the more than 200 so far in place), adding, “There is clear evidence that the provision of segregated cycle lanes and other measures such as LTN’s drives significant increases in cycling and, after an initial period of adjustment, reductions in motor traffic, both locally and more widely”.
Reports serious w/e press.
So while the government cannot even agree with itself on Covid never mind with rail providers, shops, and other levels of the political hierarchy, on LTN’s and segregated cycle lanes we have the government, London’s Mayor and our council in harmony.
The Department of Transport say “more of the zones would be introduced" (on top of the more than 200 so far in place), adding, “There is clear evidence that the provision of segregated cycle lanes and other measures such as LTN’s drives significant increases in cycling and, after an initial period of adjustment, reductions in motor traffic, both locally and more widely”.
Reports serious w/e press.
So while the government cannot even agree with itself on Covid never mind with rail providers, shops, and other levels of the political hierarchy, on LTN’s and segregated cycle lanes we have the government, London’s Mayor and our council in harmony.
Threat of legal action against Fox Lane LTN
Ann Jones
22 Jul 2021 13:55 6106
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This version might be easier to read.
Also attached iss a letter from this week’s Enfield Independent in response to that article both interesting.
Also attached iss a letter from this week’s Enfield Independent in response to that article both interesting.
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