31 May 2022
E-scooters could play a role in ensuring a green and sustainable future for London, helping people to use private cars less. Yet many worry about their use, fearing an increase in accidents and reduction in physical activity.
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18 May 2022
As we transition towards electric vehicles that don't incur fuel duty, the Treasury faces a revenue loss of £30bn each year. Given the unpopularity of fuel duty, a report by Scott Corfe of the Social Market Foundation explores the case for introducing a nationwide road pricing system in the UK, setting out a model that is fairer than fuel duty, replaces lost tax revenue, and reduces the burden on low-income households.
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26 April 2022
The newly published results of a study by the environmental charity Possible shows that excessive car use on London's roads causes significant delays to fire engines and ambulances and is likely to contribute to deaths of patients. The researchers took advantage of the huge drops in traffic during the 2020 lockdowns to compare emergency service response times during these periods with response times and before and since. During lockdowns response times fell dramatically, particularly for inner London fire stations. The research does not support claims that cycle lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods cause delays to emergency services.
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23 March 2022
Enfield Council is planning to make changes to the Fox Lane and Bowes low-traffic LTNs, aimed at easing access for disabled people and emergency services. Some bollards will be replaced by camera-controlled restrictions and blue badge holders and dial-a-ride buses will be allowed to drive past them. In addition, the council is seeking views on the future of the restriction in Meadway and about possibly switching the access points for the Bowes LTN.
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23 February 2022
Following 'call-ins' by opposition councillors, Enfield Council's scrutiny committee will be discussing the council leader's decisions to make two active travel schemes permanent: the Fox Lane low-traffic neighbourhood and a small scheme in Bull Lane near the North Middlesex Hospital. The meeting on 28th February will also discuss a petition calling on the council to 'take down the flower beds and wooden blocks in the middle of the road for all of the palmers green and Winchmore Hill area'.
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29 January 2022
The report on trial operation of the Fox Lane LTN has now been published. Its recommendation to the leader of Enfield Council is that she should sign off making the scheme permanent in its current form. However, the report also states that the council intend to look at potential changes to the scheme that relate to issues which emerged from the consultation and the data collected during the trial.
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06 January 2022
Enfield Council leader Nesil Caliskan has approved making the Bowes low-traffic neighbourhood scheme permanent and the decision will come into effect on 12th January, subject to the outcome of a likely 'call-in' by opposition councillors. A neighbouring scheme to be trialled by Haringey Council, possibly as early as this month or next, will expand the scheme down to Bounds Green Road.
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15 December 2021
A report prepared for the leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, recommends that she gives the go-ahead for the low-traffic neighbourhood in Bowes ward to be made permanent.
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08 December 2021
At its meeting on Tuesday evening Haringey's Cabinet approved the creation of the borough's first three low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs). Work on the first to be built, Bounds Green LTN, will begin in early 2022.
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03 December 2021
Enfield Council's Healthy Streets Team are inviting residents to two community drop-in sessions and a Microsoft Teams webinar to discuss their plans for a new walking and cycling route between Enfield Town and the boundary with Broxbourne Borough adjacent to Capel Manor and the M25. Broxbourne Council is planning to continue the route further north.
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01 December 2021
Notes from the 23rd November meeting of Palmers Green ward forum, the first since January 2020. Issues discussed included: the one-way system in Windsor Road, Osborne Road, Lightcliffe Road and New River Crescent; continuing failure to stop dangerous rat-running at the bottom of Hazelwood Lane; and consultation on a controlled parking zone.
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24 November 2021
Residents of some Enfield wards - I'm looking at you, Palmers Green councillors! - would be grateful if they had more than a few hours notice of upcoming ward forums, while minutes of previous meetings would be looked upon as a wholly unrealistic luxury, but the Winchmore Hill ward forum has always been exemplary in both respects. This week it has outdone itself by publishing not one, but two versions of the minutes of its most recent meeting, on 4th November.
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24 November 2021
The size of Saturday's well organised and well behaved march shows what was already clear - that there is substantial opposition to the Fox Lane scheme, though it proves nothing about the overall balance of opinion among residents or about whether on balance the effects of the LTN are beneficial or harmful. It's also clear that there is a widespread view that Enfield Council is not listening to people's complaints about the LTN. Instead of just saying that all comments will be taken into account, the council would do well to be more ready to acknowledge people's genuine concerns, and to engage more readily about potential ways of mitigating problems.
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10 November 2021
Transport for London's parlous financial situation, brought on by a pandemic-induced catastrophic fall off in fares revenue, not only threatens big cuts to tube and bus services . Unless an adequate long-term solution is found, in place of the grudgingly given six-month government gap-plugging deals, the outcome will be even worse congestion on the roads than we are already experiencing, and other impacts affecting not just London. Anyone interested in London's future should read this important article by the chief executive of the Centre for London thinktank.
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09 November 2021
Following further collection of traffic data during September, after the return to school, Enfield Council is inviting further objections and representations about the low-traffic neighbourhood scheme in the Fox Lane Quieter Neighbourhood. The deadline for submitting comments (by post or email) is 11th January 2022.
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07 November 2021
Enfield's Council's deputy leader has revealed that a school street scheme will be installed outside Hazelwood Primary and should be in force by May. However, phase 2 of the Connaught Gardens LTN, which would solve chronic problems further along Hazelwood Lane, remains a more distant prospect.
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01 November 2021
Enfield Council is inviting 'final comments' on the low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) trial in the west of Bowes ward - formally referred to as the Bowes Primary Area Quieter Neighbourhood. Comments must be made by email or post and the deadline is 21st November.
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28 October 2021
Enfield Council is proposing to extend the operating hours of the northbound bus lane in Green Lanes just south of the North Circular Road so that it is in force from 7am to 7pm seven days of the week, rather than, as now, in the Monday to Friday evening peak only (4pm to 7pm). Only two parking spaces will be available (in the inset bay next to Zourtos butcher's shop), but the council say there is enough parking available on side streets to compensate.
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16 September 2021
As part of Enfield's Big Green Climate Festival, Enfield Cycling Campaign in association with Better Streets for Enfield will be hosting their popular Try a Bike event in Palmers Green on 19th September. There will be a myriad of bikes for adults and children to try for free. Don't miss the opportunity to have a go on a tandem, a cargo bike - or even bikes with child seats.
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15 September 2021
The official transport decarbonisation plan - a vital part of the government's climate plan - says that 50 per cent of journeys in towns and cities must be walked or cycled by 2030 - only eight years away. How can we make this big change in our travel habits quickly enough? What can the council and individuals do? An online event run by Better Streets for Enfield will address these questions.
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