Forum topic: So what is it that really delays the emergency services?

The conclusion of this report is bizarre to say the least – they say congestion delays ambulances, which of course it does. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods cause congestion therefore they delay ambulances but this Trumpian-style conclusion is that they don’t. Here’s this morning’s image of congestion on Bourne Hill, and there was similar on Winchmore Hill Road and High Street as people travel extra miles to get to their destination causing increased congestion, 19 months since LTN was introduced. So now we have confirmation that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods delay emergency services in two ways. The other way is the LTN bollards which London Ambulance Service repeatedly request should be replaced by ANPR cameras. The Council initially issued a Traffic Order to do just that but rescinded it a week later for reasons that have not been explained and now 5 life-threatening bollards remain.These bollards are responsible for 25 delays to emergency ambulances, the most recent just a few weeks ago. Yet pro-LTN supporters and Enfield Council want to retain these bollards on spurious grounds, including ‘to use roadspace for planters’ or as stated by Enfield Council’s Richard Eason to retain it for some communal use. These arguments are frankly a bit sickening. I have witnessed a blue light emergency ambulance fail to pass through these bollards and have to drive over 2km to reach its emergency patient. As we know every moment counts in an emergency. The other argument put forward is that these bollards are safer for children but that seems to ignore the fact that these roads are already busy with vehicles in this high car ownership LTN not to mention the service and delivery vehicles and motorbikes. Motorbikes, sometimes at speed, just go through the gap between the bollard now anyway -- which arguably they wouldn’t do if there was ANPR camera to stop them. It is also striking that Enfield Council and BSFE support school streets enforced by ANPR cameras. The Council is putting in 12 cameras at primary schools now. So ANPR cameras are considered safe enough for thousands of school children but not for the precious children on these special LTN roads. They would rather risk residents lives than give up their bollards. It is shameful. London Ambulance Service are the experts and they continue to request these bollards be replaced by ANPR cameras. Please let us not delay any longer.

I suspect this debate might be at the margin of the actual problem being experienced – a friend’s near 90 year old mother living on Aldermans hill falls, crawls to the phone and most likely has a broken hip. Quoted ETA for the ambulance was 4 hours. That was not bollards, or congestion, rather system issues which seem to have gone from bad to worse to intolerable over the last dozen years of this government.

The only cause of congestion is traffic - if people used their cars less there would be less traffic. Low traffic neighbourhoods have less traffic because they encourage people to consider other modes of transport. That's why Better Streets is campaigning for low traffic neighbourhoods throughout Enfield. Please let the party leaders know that we need to end high traffic neighbourhoods. https://lcc.org.uk/campaigns/climate-safe-streets/

I see the usual spin ….. imagine pushing congestion upon others for self gain and delay ES and then blaming everyone else …. It honestly makes me feel very uncomfortable that others are willing to use others as collateral damage just to get a quiet road. As a former 999 responder I can categorically say closures like this delay ES and increases crime. Thanks

Ediz
Whos family is currently choking due to LTNs and won’t reach the age of 50.

It's not spin - it's an evidence based, thoughtful and considered report. Would be good to see your data counteracting the evidenced arguments in the report please. At Better Streets we are campaigning to end high traffic neighbourhoods throughout the Borough as just one of several measures to reduce traffic and speed the journeys for emergency vehicles.

Well worth a read ahead of Thursday's vote. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/low-traffic-neighbourhoods-local-elections-edinburgh-london/