FFDF London News

Number 79—April 2021 FFDF London News

Click on any index item below to go directly to the article in The Mayor has very wide dictatorial a digital edition. Editorial powers and Transport for London (TfL) who develop his policies is an In this Edition Next month is when London goes to unaccountable body stuffed full of the polls to elect a new Mayor and a public transport enthusiasts ever More Changes at Bank new London Assembly. We cover since Ken Livingstone was in power. most of the Mayoral candidates on Why LTNs are Failing page 13. When TfL depends on income from bus and tube fares, it is irrational that Times Covers Delays to I have been covering transport issues they should have control of the road Emergency Services in London since the directly elected network in London and be able to

London Mayor was first installed in impose taxes on road users. They Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics and School Streets the year 2000. We first had the car have no interest in improving the road hating Ken Livingstone, then the cycle network and reducing congestion but LTNs Force Vehicles into enthusiast Boris Johnson and lately would prefer to force people onto Poorer Roads the incompetent Sadiq Khan. Mr public transport. Khan has used scaremongering over The Safety of LTN Roads air pollution to raise millions of This situation will only change if a pounds in taxes from road users. Mayor is elected who wishes to have High Court Hearing on JRs The result of these three regimes a revolution. That person is certainly and Camden Road Closures has been a degradation of the road not Sadiq Khan so my recommenda-

tion is “vote for anyone than Khan”. Greenwich LTN and Opposi- network with more traffic congestion, tion to Enfield “Regime” and limited improvements in public As regards the other candidates, transport. The finances of TfL were Horn Park and Weigall Road put on a knife edge and hence there are certainly some who would LTN in Greenwich/Lewisham caused a major deficit when the scrap Low Traffic Neighbourhoods Covid epidemic hit. (LTNs) and the ULEZ FOI Request Ignored expansion. But it’s Road users have been paying a lot your choice so please Albemarle Road, Bromley more in taxes already from the make sure you vote if Congestion Charge (a.k.a. tax) and you live in London! A Better Deal for Bus Users? the ULEZ tax. And they will be paying Roger Lawson even more soon with the expansion of Profits from Parking, Black- (Editor) wall Tunnel Fire and Police Bill the ULEZ if Khan is re-elected.

Towing Away of Vehicles Quotes of the Month

London Elections “They don’t even want bollards with keys as it takes too long. When it comes to strokes or heart aacks, every second counts”….. Emergency Service Change of Name and Address Worker on LTNs ‐ see Page 4.

“Five minutes probably doesn't seem long to whoever came up with the idea See the last page for of the barriers, but to a London Ambulance Service publisher and contact (LAS) crew trying to get to a cardiac arrest paent information. and give that ﬁrst shock, it slashes our chances of a viable resuscitaon”….. Leer to Private Eye. See P.4

More Changes at Bank

The City of London Corporation have been working assiduously to remove all traffic from London’s streets in the last few years regardless of the impact on residents, businesses and visitors. Bank Junction has already been subjected to severe restrictions on all vehicles except buses and cycles, thus effectively closing this key junction in the centre of the City. Even taxis - The closure of Queen Victoria It includes proposals for widening have been excluded much to the Street between Bucklersbury and pavements around the junction annoyance of taxi drivers. The Bank Junction for motor vehicles, which the road closures will Corporation are now proposing to except those vehicles exiting enable (artist’s impression go a step further and close more Walbrook in a westbound above). Bus routes will also of the roads, even to buses. direction. have to be changed. The latest changes include the following: - Closing Princes Street except For more details and to respond for buses and cycles northbound; to a public consultation go here: - The closure of Threadneedle and except as a route for servic- https://tinyurl.com/5h5hmwpf Street to motor vehicles that runs ing to Cornhill in a southbound along the south of the Bank of direction. England.

Comment: It was certainly the The latest changes do not The support for LTNs comes case that Bank Junction was a improve matters but will make from a desire to reduce traffic, problem on two grounds: 1) the things worse. For example if particularly on residential streets. volume of pedestrians using the Threadneedle Street is to be This is promoted by their support- junction with the station being closed it should also be closed to ers as a way to reduce air pollu- enlarged when pavements are cyclists to avoid conflicts with tion and to tackle climate change. very narrow (at least until the pedestrians. recent epidemic); and 2) as A number of London councils regards road safety with frequent Please respond to the public have declared “climate emergen- casualties including fatalities. The consultation if you have an cies” which they say justifies an complex nature of the junction interest in these roads. attack on the use of vehicles, with many buses passing through particularly internal combustion it and high pedestrian traffic were Why LTNs are driven ones. But this has extend- partly to blame. ed to halting the use of all vehi- Failing cles which it is argued will reduce It therefore was not unreasonable traffic accidents, enable children to look at simplifying the junction to play in the streets and encour- Low Traffic Neighbourhoods to enable more pedestrian space age people to walk and cycle, (LTNs) are still spreading over and improve the environment. thereby making us healthier and London but opposition to them is However, the removal of all traffic live longer. Even those who own growing. Some have even been was very damaging to the road vehicles (about 50% of London removed or substantially reduced network in the City of London, households own a car) would like already due to local opposition. and has caused traffic to simply to see less traffic as high traffic It’s worth reviewing why they move to other roads with levels cause congestion and have failed or generated such additional congestion. hence extended journey times. opposition, and why they are even being installed in the first Continued on next page. place.

Those roads become more are frequently ignored by council Why LTNs are congested and as the traffic is planners who tend to be young slow moving or stationary, it and unsympathetic – indeed the Failing (Cont.) creates more air pollution for Equalities Act which protects residents of those roads, not minorities is often not properly Many residents who own cars less. considered. want to drive via the shortest and least congested routes possible LTNs do not reduce the demand Of course it does depend to but don’t want folks from for travel. They might encourage some extent on how well adjacent neighbourhoods the use of walking or cycling by designed is an LTN. It has been driving down their street. the healthy and young cohort of long standing practice to close the population but there is very some minor roads to avoid There are undoubtedly good little evidence of a significant excessive traffic which should be arguments for encouraging change in the habits of existing on major roads. At least that is healthy life styles not just for your car drivers. In other words, the the theory but in London even personal benefit but because it claimed “modal shift” generated major roads are commonly roads reduces the cost of the NHS by “modal filters” and such like is on which people live in apart- which we all pay for out of taxes. frequently a mirage. The traffic ments, i.e. they are residential However the introduction of LTNs does not “evaporate” as claimed roads also. as a solution to excessive traffic but gets redistributed or delayed has followed the law of unintend- as circuitous routes are taken. Other roads such as major shop- ed consequences. Firstly they The elderly and disabled are ping “high streets” have been tend to simply redistribute traffic particularly disadvantaged as pedestrianised to the from minor roads onto surround- they may be unable to walk or advantage of shoppers ing major roads. cycle far, if at all. But their needs and retailers.

This writer certainly has no Even public transport has Follow the Blog objection to such measures become heavily congested while which remove traffic to other buses are delayed and become The FFDF London region has a roads as long as the needs of the less attractive to use because of blog where many of the articles disabled are taken into account. the traffic congestion. The rise herein first appeared. It is present of deliveries of internet orders by here: Although overall vehicle owner- LGVs has also increased https://freedomfordrivers.blog/ ship and traffic volumes have markedly leading to higher use To get the latest news as it actually not been rising in of minor roads which has also appears, follow the blog. London in the last few years, the been supported by the use of closure of roads, the addition of Satnavs. Reducing the population of cycle and bus lanes, and other London would relieve the prob- measures such as removal of What can actually be done that lem of traffic congestion, public gyratories, more traffic lights would really reduce traffic in transport congestion and housing with reduced timings and more London and cut air pollution? insufficiency. Why does no pedestrian crossings have result- Here are some more realistic politician advocate it? ed in more congestion. The ideas: growth of ride hailing apps such Investing in expanding and as Uber have also contributed to Reducing air pollution by improving the road network more congestion in some parts of obstructing traffic (a typical would also help while putting in the capital. focus of LTNs) simply does not LTNs does the opposite. work. The solution is to produce The population of London has vehicles that generate less pollu- Note that none of those been rising rapidly, encouraged tion. In fact this is well on the way measures will actually do by Mayors of all political com- to being achieved by Govern- anything about climate change, plexions. This has put more ment regulation and taxation, whether you believe in man- pressure on transport and on and by improved diesel/petrol made global warming or housing provision. engines. not.

Continued on next page.

unless we cut vehicle use, he In the meantime all LTNs are Why LTNs are needs to go tell it to Joe Biden et doing is creating enormous al. inconvenience for many of Failing (Cont.) London’s residents to no The UK is already focussed purpose. It’s like a religion where The contribution of road transport on achieving net-zero carbon supporters of LTNs claim bene- to CO2 emissions globally is only emissions and is well ahead of fits which are unproven but they 18% and is falling while emis- other countries in that objective. think all you need to do is believe sions from aircraft and shipping But whether it is economically in them and the world will be a are rising. Meanwhile other practical to achieve that, or wise better place. No it will not be. sources such as home/office to even aim for it, has yet to be heating, industrial processes confirmed. But it is certainly the Roger Lawson and construction are very big case that putting in LTNs in local contributors. These emissions boroughs will have absolutely no do of course directly relate to impact on the outcome. Times Covers population levels so that’s another reason for reducing the Regrettably many local council- Delays to population. lors seem to think they got elect- Emergency ed to save the world rather than But global emissions are domi- sticking to their job of listening to Services nated by the big and populous their local electorate and improv- countries such as the USA, ing their borough by practical The Times newspaper covered China, India and Russia. The UK steps. Even central Government the delays to fire services only contributes about 1%. So politicians have fallen into this caused by the introduction of when local councillors such as trap, hence the encouragement Low Traffic Neighbour- Councillor Scott in Croydon with funding from Grant Shapps, hoods (LTNs) on suggest we are all doomed Transport Minister, for LTNs. 29/3/2021.

They reported that slowed The following letter from a emergency responses caused by paramedic was recently traffic calming have jumped by published in Private Eye. more than one third in London boroughs. The article suggested Dead-end roads that frontline workers were Sir, concerned that management was ignoring the problem due to I saw the cartoon (Rotten political pressure. The Times Boroughs, Eye 1538) notes that one serving officer, depicting "low traffic who asked not to be named, neighbourhood” barriers said: “The bosses are controlled in Ealing preventing by Sadiq Khan and don’t want to ambulance crews from upset him as he controls the getting to jobs. These are budget”. Another quote supplied now pan-London and in was “They don’t even want Lewisham and Crystal Palace Five minutes probably doesn't bollards with keys as it takes too have caused severe delays seem long to whoever came up long. When it comes to strokes or getting to cardiac arrest calls. heart attacks, every second with the idea of the barriers, but counts.” On a recent job we were literally to a London Ambulance Service at the end of a street adjoining (LAS) crew trying to get to a Many examples of delays to the road the cardiac arrest was cardiac arrest patient and give ambulances, police and fire on. Due to the barricade we had that first shock, it slashes our service vehicles caused by road to take an almost five-minute chances of a viable resuscitation. closures, road narrowing by cycle detour around the side streets Continued on next page. lanes and modal filters have before we found our way to the been reported across London. address.

PARAMEDIC (name supplied), Delays to London.

Emergency Services Residents who live within LTNs may have quieter roads but they (Cont.) need to bear in mind that their lives will be threatened if they In this case the patient did not suffer a medical emergency. survive. Clearly the “modal filters” used in We’re not able to call attention to so many LTN schemes are not the issue because our internal advisable such as those used problem-reporting software only in Lee Green. Such objections allows us to report equipment or may be why Councils are now personnel failures within LAS; installing camera systems to there is no way for us to quantify’ close roads instead. But that just the number of fatal delays creates complaints about the caused by the council’s arbitrary number of PCNs generated Lies, Damn road closures and no structure in through inadvertent mistakes. place for us to report this. With Lies, Statistics the huge spike in Covid-related It is very obvious that the supporters of LTN schemes are cardiac arrest calls we've seen in ignoring the clear evidence of the and School the past few months, these barri- impact on emergency services. cades are literally killing patients. Streets Private Eye is the first publication I've seen so much as mention it. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has claimed in a tweet that “closing roads around schools to traffic The Mayor even claims that Mayor’s Press Release: at pick-up and drop-off times “18% of parents are driving to https://tinyurl.com/yemm3ejh has reduced polluting nitrogen school less during the pandemic, dioxide levels by up to 23%”. He helping to clean up London's air”. has also issued a press release That’s surely hardly surprising as LTNs Force saying the same thing and giving the schools have been closed! more details – see below. Vehicles into This looks like a good example of But the study on which this claim selecting the statistics and the Poorer Roads is based was only launched in surveyed population that suit September 2020 so the period your argument while ignoring the A good article in the Times on covered is one where traffic was bigger picture and the truth. Saturday 13/2/2020 reported on much reduced due to the pan- how Low Traffic Neighbourhoods demic and when schools were School Streets are allegedly so resulted in vehicles being closed. It is hardly likely to be popular that Lewisham Council directed into streets where representative of the normal have introduced road closures on poorer people live. Traffic is conditions. roads where there are no schools diverted onto boundary roads under the name of School which already have high traffic The press release also claims Streets, simply to stop people levels and where residents often that School Streets are popular driving through the Lee Green live in low-cost housing such as with parents but those affected LTN area. The Council seems to flats. by the road closures who do not think they can fool people into have children were not included supporting the LTN by such Continued on next page. in the survey. dubious sophistry.

‘Our local LTN is in the more Over the course of my 40 years LTNs and affluent part and it is pushing spent living on Burnt Ash Hill, I traffic on to the surrounding have walked home from the train Poorer Roads roads that are less affluent. station or the bus stop after a These policies have completely night out many, many times. To quote from the article: “The advantaged the wealthier people figures will fuel concerns that the where I live including a senior Advice to women who are walk- policy of sectioning off certain figure in one of London’s main ing home alone recommends that areas of cities to through traffic is cycling groups. I find it absolutely they should try to stick to well lit, dividing communities and dispro- disgusting’”. busy streets. In this regard, I portionately benefiting middle- count myself lucky to live where class homeowners. I do because there is always The Safety of traffic. This may well give a false Residents who live on the edge sense of security because not of the zones say their lives have LTN Roads every driver will stop if they see been blighted by increased an incident happening in the traffic, pollution and noise. They Have Lewisham’s Road street but there is always the point out that many of the cycling Closures Made Our Streets hope that the approach of a car and environmental activists who a Predators’ Paradise? will deter or at least disturb a have campaigned for LTNs live in potential attacker and may lead There has been much debate of areas that have benefited from to someone intervening to pre- late about the safety of women the schemes at the expense of vent something bad happening. their neighbours. when walking the streets of But what is it like to walk at night London. The following article is on the roads that have been Ediz Mevlit, a bus traffic control- written by a resident of Lewisham closed by Lewisham ler from Enfield who has become and gives her views on the Council on the pretext of a campaigner against low traffic subject and the impact of Low the Covid pandemic? neighbourhoods, said: Traffic Neighbourhoods:

Their justification is that it will The further I walked along this I was more concerned with improve the ability to socially road the quieter it became as the getting out of the closed roads in distance. But does it really make traffic noise decreased almost to one piece. I would not want to the streets safer? nothing. From the start of this do this walk, alone, after catching road to the end just one car the last train home. To answer that question, I decid- passed me and the family travel- ed to walk along two streets that ling in it parked up and went into Of course, the flip side of living have been closed. Admittedly, their house. Further along, a on Burnt Ash Hill is that when when I left home at 6.45pm it woman was collecting her child lockdown finishes these road was not completely dark, but it from the minder. She got into closures will once again lead to was close enough as I didn’t her car but had to turn around in queues of traffic outside my front want to be out much later. the road so would not be driving door for three to four hours a past me. Just one cyclist rode day. It is not the virus that will kill Walking down Burnt Ash Hill it by. I emerged and turned right me now that I have had the jab. was reassuringly busy and cross- onto Manor Lane and then right It is the toxic air that is created by ing over the South Circular and onto Holme Lacey Road. By the traffic jams. In the meantime, down to the shops where the now, the light had faded, and it potential predators seem to have lights from the shop fronts was fully dark. No vehicles been given a helping hand for allowed me to make out the passed me there. I was happy to which I am sure they are colour of the jacket worn by the get back to the bright lights of extremely grateful. man in front of me allowed me a Burnt Ash Road. measure of confidence. This Christine Warwicker changed when I turned left into When I was doing the walk, Holme Lacey Road. catching the virus was the last thing on my mind. At the road closed sign, I turned into Dallinger Road.

Experimental Traffic Orders to This was truly a blatant attempt High Court replace older ones. This is what to sidestep the court case and that group had to say about this: being held to account for the Hearing on JRs clear deficiencies in the original Ealing Council shamefully side ETOs. They claimed that new and Camden steps High Court hearing but ETOs were needed because contributes towards our legal there were 'substantial changes' Road Closures costs. to the original ETOs, specifically, adding of ANPR cameras and An initial hearing of the legal The decision has been reached allowing Blue Badge holders challenge by several groups over NOT to attend court today. We access to their own LTNs. These road closures in London took were left with little choice as changes clearly did not need new place in the High Court on the Ealing Council sought to side ETOs, as they had already 12th of February as part of the step the proceedings by replac- swapped out bollards for judicial review process. Accord- ing the old ETOs with new ETOs. cameras in some of the LTNs ing to a report on social media, with no amendments to the On Wednesday, Ealing wrote the hearing by Justice Tim Kerr existing ETOs. to our judge advising that the gave permission for the Lambeth, hearing should not go ahead Hounslow and one of the two We took legal advice and it was because they had made new Hackney cases to proceed. clear that going to court today ETOs that day, meaning the old faced with this new situation was The other Hackney case was ETOs that we challenged would pointless. dismissed as out of time (there cease to be in operation as of are strict limits on the time 17th February. This would mean Ealing continued their disgraceful allowed for filing judicial reviews). us battling in court over ETOs shirking of responsibilities right A case filed by the group due to expire in 5 days after the up until yesterday by OneEaling was withdrawn preliminary hearing. telling the court that we because the council filed new needed to request a hearing for our costs and they However, just so we are clear, Camden Schemes would respond at a later date. In this is NOT the end of the road the end, having pushed Ealing, for the legal process. A cycle lane scheme for we demanded that our legal Haverstock Hill appears to have costs were met and they agreed We appreciate that whilst secur- been halted but it is unclear to cover a substantial amount in ing our legal costs is a positive whether it has been abandoned the region of our legal costs step, this does not get us to or is simply being reconsidered. incurred to date. where we want to be with the removal of all LTNs. Hence we There is wider opposition to LTN To be clear, whilst not the day in are reviewing the new ETOs with schemes in Camden and a legal court we wanted we see, this a view to what further action fund has been created to oppose was an acknowledgement they should be taken. We are already them. got the ETOs wrong. One only mobilised with a great legal team had to look at the new ETOs to in place and believe that there See Camden legal fund: see all the changes they have are still significant issues with the https://gofund.me/ba5156b1 for made (whilst not enough) stem schemes. They are still unsafe, more details. from issues we have raised. discriminatory and do not Please support it. achieve their objectives”. The decision to vacate the hearing today was not taken lightly. Note that Rook Irwin Sweeney We are as disappointed as you LLP were the solicitors instructed are to be denied the chance to on the Lambeth and Hackney have the evidence heard and cases – see Ealing held to account. https://tinyurl.com/4bc4fd8f

The London Borough of Green- wich are proposing to close a number of roads in the West- combe Park and Maze Hill area to form a new Low Traffic Neigh- bourhood. This is the area to the east of Greenwich Park – they have already closed roads to the west. See map left of the proposed closures.

Some of the closures will be “modal filters” (i.e. via bollards) such as on Maze Hill and Vanbrugh Hill which will be particularly inconvenient as these are key north/south roads between the A2 and Trafalgar and Woolwich roads. More traffic will be forced onto the main roads which are already heavily Greenwich LTN to Enfield congested. and Opposition “Regime” The Council is using a Commonplace web site to get feedback (and a badly Indeed information received from In summary, Commonplace is a designed set of questions at Lewisham Council about their system that can be used by that), but that is not a proper way feedback on the Lee Green LTN Councils to claim they are to do public consultation. This is said that they received 9,200 “listening” to residents when in some of what we have said comments but they were from reality it is not a fair and honest before about that system: only 3,490 respondents. way to collect the views of all residents. It is not an alternative The system is not an unbiased Many of the comments are to a proper public consultation platform in that typically it is used repetitive and there is no attempt and is more designed to promote to promote what a Council is to stop duplicate comments so the views of scheme promoters planning to do – and that means the system can be exploited by than collect unbiased infor- after decisions have already organised activist groups such as mation. been made to implement cyclists. schemes. But I would encourage anyone Wildly inaccurate comments can affected by this scheme in It also has the problem that also be made on the platform Greenwich to post their com- unlike a conventional public with no “rebuttal” possible – you ments anyway – go to: consultation only people who are can only “Agree” with comments, https://tinyurl.com/4z5xh4tu internet enabled, and are even not “Disagree” with them and aware of the platform, can you cannot comment further in respond. This excludes a large response. Clearly there are many Enfield LTNs number of people such as the people commenting who are not elderly who are not internet directly affected, and those that There is strong opposition to the connected or don’t spend much are affected just give very polar- LTNs in Enfield. A report on time on it. So it tends to be domi- ised comments. The comments Guido Fawkes web site says the nated by young activists and are not helpful in determining a following: those active in local politics, i.e. sensible compromise to meet the the comments on it are unrepre- needs of the majority. Continued on next page. sentative of the wider population.

Commonplace web site where Enfield LTNs LTN in Green- you can post your comments: (Cont.) wich/Lewisham https://tinyurl.com/k86pckrt This scheme will cause many “The leader of loony left Enfield In addition to the Low Traffic residents to take long circuitous Council has reported the opposi- Neighbourhood (LTN) schemes routes and create problems for tion to the police for calling her in other parts of the London delivery drivers and other service regime a regime”. Apparently a Borough of Greenwich providers. It is completely unnec- tweet said that the Conservative mentioned above, they are now essary as the volume of traffic on Councillors had repeatedly called proposing a scheme in the Horn these roads has never been very Enfield Council a ‘regime’ – Park Lane and Weigall Road high. insults with islamaphobic under- area. tones it was claimed. It is important for residents of the This will include closures of Borough of Greenwich who are Guido Fawkes suggests this is Weigall Road, Abergeldie Road opposed to these proposals to regular political language and and Westhorne Avenue using send in objections. that the complainant, Nesil Cas- cameras and will significantly liskan, is a complete idiot. This affect residents of the triangle of Send them directly to the writer agrees with Guido. When roads between the South Circular Council, and also send them to there is a deficit in democracy, and the A20. your local councillors. You can as there is in Enfield and many look them up here: other Labour controlled That is particularly so as https://tinyurl.com/jbb5puke boroughs, then calling it a Lewisham Council have already

“regime” is very appropriate. closed Upwood Road. This scheme is being imposed Horn Park and with an Experimental Traffic

Order and you can find more Weigall Road details plus a map on this

But they now claim they have no Temporary Traffic Orders used to FOI Request information on the subject. implement the LTNs and I simply I consider their response to be do not believe that the Council Ignored disgraceful. has no information on this subject. How Many Objections has I specifically worded my request Lewisham Council Received so that they could give estimates Roger Lawson to the LTNs? They Claim Not of the number of objections if to Know. exact figures were not available. But it is clearly a nonsense Follow us on How many objections has the when the Council invites people London Borough of Lewisham to send comments to Twitter received to the road closures and [email protected] about To get the latest news and other aspects of the Low Traffic the LTNs but does not record comment on traffic and transport Neighbourhoods in the borough? how many of the comments issues in London, you can follow Nobody knows apparently. received are objections. Even if us on Twitter. not recorded at the time there is We submitted a Freedom of nothing stopping them from Information Act (FOI) request in Our Twitter handle is reviewing past comments early November in which we @Drivers_London received by council officers and asked for the numbers and have councillors. The number of objec- finally received a response. Any new FFDF London blog posts tions received is clearly vital are notified by Twitter and you That’s way past the legal limit for information when the Council is responses for which they have can of course respond with your considering the impact of the own comments. apologised.

In reality it is a However the introduction of scheme that favours traffic lights on the Westgate cyclists when very Road Bridge and removal of the few of them use this bus lane before Shortlands may road, while disad- make sense. vantaging vehicle users. The London Borough of Bromley has run a public consultation on The former two-way the scheme even though traffic road, which is a key volumes have not returned to route between Beck- normal. You can see the consul- enham Junction and tation questions and the resulting Bromley town centre, report here: has now been https://tinyurl.com/23k67p3j reduced to a one-way street Albemarle westbound so as to make way for Respondents in the local catch- a cycle lane (see latest photo ment area answered as follows: Road, Bromley above). Vehicles wanting to go Continue trial with amendments - east from Beckenham now have 227; Revert to pre-trial arrange- Another Unnecessary Covid to use Bromley Road. Residents ments - 161; No preference - 12. Scheme of Albemarle Road and adjacent This is hardly conclusive. roads now have tortuous and Albemarle Road in Bromley is longer routes to many destina- But at least Bromley Council did spend money on doing a consul- one of those roads where an tions, or to get to their properties. experimental traffic scheme has tation which is more than many been introduced using the Covid- This was a road that worked well London Councils have been 19 pandemic as an excuse and before the changes and there is doing of late. As it is still an for which funding has been no justification for the proposals “experimental” scheme a provided accordingly. which are in essence a waste of final decision will be money. taken later.

Transport Most bus lanes actually carry Minister less people than they would if Grant they were left to carry all traffic Shapps has because the frequency of buses announced is low and passenger loading is “A better also low. deal for bus users”. He Bus traffic has been falling claims “fill a across the UK for some years – double- for example passenger numbers decker with were down by over 6% in motorists 2018/19. See Reference 1 below. and it’s The only part of the country possible to where bus journeys have been remove 75 rising (until the recent decline cars from caused by the Covid epidemic) is the road”. London which accounts for over That is clearly not true on most 50% of all bus journeys. London roads because it does not take buses are massively subsidised A Better Deal into account the density of such and congestion on other public traffic. Very few roads see nose transport services such as the for Bus Users, to tail bus traffic with full buses underground and on the that would maximise the volume roads has encouraged Or Is It? of people carried. usage.

Strategy and giving hand-outs to - Review of £250 million bus Better Deal for bus operators (or “grant funding” service operators grant to ensure as it is euphemistically called). it supports the environment and Bus Users improved passenger journeys. He also intends to ensure that (Cont.) buses are given priority in new - Over £20 million investment in road schemes (i.e. more bus bus priority measures in the West The use of concessionary fares lanes). The Government will be Midlands. such as the Freedom Pass in providing taxpayers money to London has also promoted bus fund such schemes. - All new road investments use at the expense of rising local receiving government funding to taxes to pay for them. The Government will also provide explicitly address bus priority more funding to assist the measures to improve bus journey Why do people in the rest of the purchase of all-electric or hybrid times and reliability. country choose to own and drive buses so as to improve air cars when a bus would be quality. This is a positive move - Refreshing the government’s cheaper? Because buses are not as diesel buses are still a major guidance to local authorities to door-to-door services and you contributor to air pollution, partic- provide up to date advice on have to fit in with their schedules ularly in London and other major prioritising those vehicles which rather than pick your own travel cities. While cars have got much can carry the most people. times. Also anyone who uses cleaner in recent years, buses - Investing up to £50 million to buses will have experienced the have not with too many old problem of standing in the cold diesels still in use. deliver Britain’s first all-electric bus town or city. and rain for the next bus only to A summary of what is proposed find it never turns up because it’s - Improving information for bus is as follows: been cancelled. passengers through new digital services and at bus stops. How does Grant Shapps aim to - National Bus Strategy focussed make buses more attractive? By on passenger priorities. developing a National Bus

- Challenging industry to deliver a - £20 million to support demand Spending money on bus priority campaign to attract people to responsive services in rural and measures rather than improving buses suburban areas. the road network for all vehicle users is simply a mistake. In - Incentivising multi-operator But it’s worth pointing out that the summary this looks like another ticketing with lower fares. level of investment and subsidies misconceived policy from Grant is still quite trivial in comparison Shapps’ Department rather like - Trialling new ‘superbus’ network with that spent on rail services the recent encouragement of approach to deliver low fare, high (for example £106 billion on LTNs. frequency services and funding building HS2 alone). 4-year pilot of a lower fare Ref. 1: Bus Statistics: network in Cornwall. Grant Shapps’ announcement https://tinyurl.com/4rdy9t7y looks like a canard to win political - Ambition for all buses to accept support in some areas rather Ref. 2: Shapps’ Announcement: contactless payment for passen- than something that will have a https://tinyurl.com/45bhapcy ger convenience. real impact. Bus users will continue to be the poor relations - £30 million extra bus funding to of other public transport users, be paid direct to local authorities and this writer does not see it to enable them to improve encouraging people to get out of current bus services or restore their cars and onto buses. lost services.

However they can from off-street This year we’ve committed to parking – this is one reason why roll our borough wide CPZs. Westminster is the top earning Increased income should mean borough in London with profits we can reinvest in cycle hangers of £58 million as they own or & public realm. Totally get that operate a number of off-street cheap safe storage is key”. car parks. But other high earning Clearly she thinks that permit inner London boroughs have no parking charges are a source of such excuse. income when legally they are Profits from only supposed to cover admin- With council budgets under istration and enforcement costs. Parking pressure, increasing parking revenue is seen as an easy way Any surplus from parking Parking profits continue to rise to generate more income. Hence charges is supposed to be in London the increases in charges being spent on transport provision but made by such means as intro- it is typically currently used The news blog MyLondon have ducing emission-based parking mainly to subsidise the Freedom reported on the continued rise in charges and extending CPZs Pass and other Concessionary the profits made by London (Controlled Parking Zones). Fare Charges that TfL passes Councils from car parking. They onto local boroughs. But why report that in 2018/19 the profits For example, Lewisham has the should vehicle owners be paying were £454.4 million. That stated intention to have the for public transport fares rather compares with about £300 million whole borough covered by CPZs. than the general population? that we reported in 2010 (see This is what Councillor Sophie https://tinyurl.com/yznpt6hu ). McGeevor said recently on Want to find out how much your twitter: “Any surplus from parking local borough is making from Councils are legally not revenue is completely absorbed parking charges? Use this supposed to make profits from by concessionary fares for public template letter to do so: on-street parking but that law is transport. https://tinyurl.com/6h9n99kz widely ignored.

The Tunnel was quickly Hammersmith Bridge is also repaired but this is not closed and needs repair. Under the first time a vehicle investment in London’s road fire has occurred in the infrastructure by recent Mayors is tunnels. It shows how the cause. They have preferred important it is to build to spend money on grandiose the Silvertown Tunnel rail/underground projects. as there are few alternative routes to cope with current volumes of Is the Police traffic. Bill Dispropor- The older tunnels such Blackwall as the northbound Blackwall tionate? Tunnel and the Rotherhithe Tunnel Fire Tunnel are known to be very After the events over the week- dangerous and vulnerable to fires end in Bristol, which effectively A car caught fire in the Blackwall as they have no escape routes degenerated into a riot with Tunnel northbound on 9/4/2021. and limited fire prevention/control several police officers injured, Both tunnels were closed and measures. It’s symptomatic of it’s worth considering the issues gridlock spread over a wide area the ageing and archaic Thames raised. of South-East London as a result. River crossings in London that Continued on next page. these tunnels are still in use.

on the issue. This is some of Police Bill what I said: “These Towing Away [demonstrations] have caused (Cont.) very considerable disruption to of Vehicles traffic which the police have done The demonstrations under the nothing about apparently. Was Illegal banner “Kill the Bill” (a very Obstructing the public highway is provocative phrase as Bill is an offence, as presumably you The Daily Mail has reported that often used as a name for the are well aware, so why are the for many years the removal police), were aimed at stopping police not intervening to stop (towing away) of vehicles as part the passage of the Police, Crime, these demonstrations?” of parking enforcement opera- Sentencing and Courts Bill tions was not covered by legisla- through Parliament. This is a I got a long and complex reply tion. They say: “An incredible long and complex piece of legis- effectively saying the current legal gaffe could result in millions lation but you can read a sum- state of the law made it difficult to of motorists launching appeals mary of it by the BBC here: halt these events. The new legis- against parking penalties handed https://tinyurl.com/m3mx48hx lation is clearly aimed at giving out over the past 30 years. the police clearer powers which Apart from the fact that the is surely to be welcomed. Enforcement powers relied on by Bristol demonstrations were a police and local authorities were clear breach of the Covid regula- I don’t think anyone objects to accidentally deleted from the tions re public gatherings, this peaceful demonstrations that statute book, the Mail can reveal legislation to tighten up the rules enable protestors to bring issues today. Powers to charge motor- around public demonstrations to the attention of the public. But ists for removing and impounding was surely long overdue. In fact when they obstruct traffic, close vehicles were introduced in 1984 after the campaigns by Extinction roads, or otherwise harass but were 'inadvertently removed Rebellion which closed bridges people going about their normal due to a drafting error' in 1991 – across the Thames in London in business then it is time to step in and no one noticed until 2018, I wrote to Cressida Dick to stop them. now”. (head of the Metropolitan Police) Roger Lawson

Some London boroughs such as See https://tinyurl.com/yye78uf8 We have elections for the Hackney and Camden (Hackney for the Mail article. position of London Mayor in May, towed away 14,673 vehicles from plus elections for the London 2011 to 2015 alone) were very Roger Lawson Assembly. In addition there are a active in using this procedure. few bye-elections in the local boroughs although the main As someone who suffered from elections for those are not until this pernicious practice in circa 2022 so you won’t be able to get 2005 – towed away for slightly rid of those councillors who overstaying in a parking bay – I support the LTNs until then. The have sent the London Borough of main candidates for Mayor and Camden a letter requesting a their parties are as follows (in refund of the several hundreds of alphabetic order): pounds in charges. I will advise any result in due course. BAILEY Shaun, Conservative Party Candidate This practice has been abandoned by most councils except London BALAYEV Kam, Renew for extreme situations such as causing an obstruction, but it was Elections – BERRY Sian, Green Party always a very dubious proce- BROWN Valerie, The Burning dure. In my case the tow compa- Runners and Pink Party ny also caused damage to my Riders vehicle which they denied doing. Continued on next page.

REID Mandu, Vote Women’s I will cover the policies of the London Equality Party main candidates as published in their manifestos as regards Elections ROSE Brian, London Real Party transport issues only. I have omitted those candidates for Sadiq Khan is well ahead of (Cont.) which I could not find any details Shaun Bailey in the opinion polls of their manifestos or policies with other candidates not appear- CORBYN Piers, Let London Live related to transport. ing to have much chance of FOX Laurence, The Reclaim Par- winning at this point in time. The Shaun Bailey – He aims for a ty BBC has been saying that only transport network fit for a global candidates from the main parties city by restoring order to GAMMONS Peter, UKIP have ever won the Mayoral elec- Transport for London's finances tion but they are forgetting that HEWISON Richard, Rejoin so we protect the services Ken Livingstone won the position Londoners rely on. To achieve HUDSON Vanessa, Animal Wel- after standing as an independent. this he plans to introduce corpo- fare Party He only later rejoined the Labour rate sponsorship on the tube, Party. You should also bear in and retain the concessionary KELLEHER Steve, Social Demo- mind that the Mayoral vote is a fares for the under 16s and over cratic Party primary/secondary vote system. 60s. This will also enable him to scrap the proposed rise in Coun- You get to chose two candidates KHAN Sadiq, Labour Party cil tax arising from the Mayor’s and your secondary vote will be precept. He will use revenues KURTEN David, Heritage Party counted if your first choice does from the ULEZ to replace old not get an overall majority. This buses with zero-emission buses. LONDON Farah, Independent means you can vote for “less Cutting harmful emissions by popular” candidates as a first OBUNGE Nims, Independent 17%. And Shaun will provide choice without detracting from an interest-free loan to backing the one you expect to PORRITT Luisa, Liberal Demo- every black cab driver so have a chance of winning. crats they can switch to electric cabs (he claims this is equiv- TfL” (the latter is of course one Valerie Brown – She would alent of taking one million diesel reason why Khan’s policies have scrap the position of Mayor and cars off London’s roads). resulted in TfL’s financial difficul- replace it with “citizen assem- ties). blies”, i.e. the undemocratic Shaun will set up a London Infra- system of selecting people in a structure Bank. This will be kept Sian Berry – She would “Reduce way other than by a simple vote. in public hands, attracting money traffic and cancel the Silvertown Not a candidate to be seriously from a mixture of private and Road Tunnel, investing instead in considered I suggest. public sources. The Bank will be healthy streets, walking, cycling, used to fund long-term transport better buses and new public Piers Corbyn – He recently sent projects. Like repairs to Hammer- transport links”. me this email: “I am a candidate smith Bridge and Crossrail 2. for Mayor of London and as you She would expand the ULEZ may have noticed I am totally He will also reverse the conges- scheme to cover the whole of opposed to the ULEZ extension. tion charge hike, scrap the ULEZ London and also introduce a I also agree with all (or almost all extension and the proposed out- road pricing plan. as far as I can see) your other er London road tax. He also says policies. If Mayor - and this is She will cancel road projects and he will listen to Londoners and truly possible, we are finding introduce a workplace parking suspend every single unwanted massive support - I would also levy. Plus there will be more LTN. review the existing ULEZ for funding for Low Traffic Neigh- which I cannot see justification. Kam Balayev – I was unable to bourhoods. Clearly a candidate find a detail manifesto but he not likely to be popular with our Continued on next page. says he will “Revise the conges- readers! tion charge and freeze fares on

got any experience of managing emission. I want to convert these London a large organisation? disused spaces into walkways, safe cycle lanes, and create the Elections Peter Gammons – He says: “I world’s first underground ‘Pod’ want to get London moving transport system. This ambitious (Cont.) again. There are over 2 million project will speed up the city and miles of unused tunnels, streets, clear up London’s congestion – An important issue is extra and chambers beneath London. an issue that consecutive Con- journey lengths of people from This abandoned network was servative and Labour administra- outside zones for avoidance. secretly built by the Ministry of tions have failed to solve”. This increases pollution. I've read Defence, Post Office, and BT”. Certainly some interesting ideas your superb document on ULEZ from this candidate. extension”. He certainly seems to He also says: “As mayor, I will be a candidate worth considering put a stop to Khan’s war on Richard Hewison – Campaign- therefore. motorists. I am passionate about ing on a platform to rejoin the EU supporting London’s taxi drivers over which the Mayor has no say Laurence Fox – He plans to and will launch a full review into so surely a vote for him would be “GET LONDON MOVING”. He reopening roads which Khan has wasted. proposes free tubes and buses closed. Park Lane is one such for six months (but the cost and road that needs urgent review. Vanessa Hudson – She is how he might pay for that is I’m tired of hypocrites like Sadiq primarily a single-issue candidate unclear) and to scrap all Low Khan trying to make everybody focussed on animal welfare but Traffic Neighbourhoods and walk or cycle whilst he swans she does say that she would: unnecessary cycle lanes. He around London in a £300,000 “Incentivise public transport use, proposes to scrap “lock-downs” five litre Range Rover. Whereas demand increased funding from and would put up statues to Khan is tearing up trees to build Government to ensure affordabil- London’s heroes and heroines – new bicycle lanes, I am propos- ity, reliability & safety – improving not tear them down. Clearly a ing a new tree-planting initiative. air quality”. “populist” candidate, but has he This is a strategy supported by ecologists for combating CO2

Steve Kelleher – He would intro- revolution in walking and On LTNs, he has this to say: duce free public transport for cycling”. “Last year, TfL and the London people in the three years running boroughs rapidly rolled out up to their 25th birthday to help His manifesto of over 100 pages measures to make our streets start new businesses and the is mainly a celebration of his safer for walking, cycling, and search for work. He will intro- alleged achievements in the role social distancing, such as low- duce a 'London Citizen Card' of Mayor and you can expect traffic neighbourhoods. Most of for those who have lived in the more of the same no doubt. these schemes are temporary capital for five years consecutive- and implemented under emer- ly - entitling them to benefits such But this writer has frequently gency Government guidance. criticised his management of the as occasional free tube travel. finances of TfL and I am opposed Other policies are not clear, I will work with London boroughs to the ULEZ scheme, particularly perhaps because he seems to to ensure communities and the extension to the North/South have changed party recently. stakeholder groups are properly Circular which he clearly intends consulted on these schemes, Sadiq Khan – His main points to proceed with. The Mayor’s refining them where necessary, are: “Continuing to invest in Transport strategy as previously and making them permanent public transport to ensure it is adopted has resulted in an where they are successful”. safe, affordable and reliable, enormous waste of money and keeping fares as low as possible, a degradation of the transport Continued on next page. working to put TfL on a sound, network in London (see sustainable financial footing after https://tinyurl.com/cmk9my88 for more information). the pandemic, and supporting a

health in our communities. He No more LTNs. Stop ULEZ and London will explore options for future Congestion Charge expansion”. car-free days in central London. He also says: “UNBLOCK OUR Elections ROADS. Remove Khan’s pop-up On road safety he will continue cycle lanes and traffic barriers. (Cont.) with his Vision Zero Plan despite No more cycle superhighways on the fact that it has failed to have trunk routes. End road blockages He also says “Building on the a significant impact on the loss between neighbourhoods. Un- introduction of the 24/7 bus lanes of life and injuries. He will accel- block the Embankment. Build the trial last year, I will undertake a erate the roll out of 20mph speed Silvertown tunnel” and “END programme of bus priority limits on the TfL road network THE WAR ON MOTORISTS. schemes, improving reliability of and improve the safety of the Scrap evening and weekend con- the bus network across the city”. most dangerous junctions, gestion charging. No ULEZ or So clearly he plans for more bus including a programme of new congestion charge expansion. No lanes. pedestrian crossings at those LEZ charge increases. No pay- junctions currently lacking them. as-you-go road pricing”. He will push forward with the Healthy Streets agenda with His solution to the problem of He would also scrap HS2 but more funding for cycle lanes, TfL’s finances is to introduce an complete Crossrail. He is a cycle parking and the Santander outer London tax for those who founder member of the Heritage scheme. He will continue to sup- drive into London from outside Party that believes in “free port the innovative use of timed (which they won’t get a vote on of speech and liberty, traditional changes to streets across the course), to ask the Government family values, national sovereign- capital through ‘School Streets’, for more money and to have ty, and financial responsibility”. ‘Summer Streeteries’ and Vehicle Excise Duty given to him. ‘Lunchtime Streets’ — supporting Farah London - She will the return of the hospitality sec- David Kurten – He wants to Get introduce 100 days of free tor. Play Streets in residential London Moving. Policies include: travel across London “as areas will be important in helping “Remove pop-up cycle lanes and an important first step to tackle isolation, improving mental road blockages. reinvigorate the city’s economy as the COVID pandem- sure how much she knows about managed in a fiscally responsible ic retreats”. She would “reverse it as she alleged recently that manner by avoiding further gov- the road restrictions and remove it will be a motorway which is ernment bailouts due to historic LTNs, plus bring back high street surely not true. The recent poor financial management; Build parking. She has been actively closure of the Blackwall Tunnel a transportation system of the campaigning against LTNs in due to a car fire which brought future that promises to lead the some of the boroughs. gridlock to a wide area of London world in technology, customer demonstrated the need for experience, and environmental She would abolish time travel additional Thames crossings. friendly practices to deliver a restrictions for Freedom Pass world-class transportation service Holders and introduce a QR code She says: “Drivers would be to all citizens. plate on all bicycles to identify charged based on much they riders and cycle owners for drive, how much pollution they This will be accomplished by lev- control of traffic offences plus create - with fair exemptions and eraging the innovation, expertise, make helmets with a QR code discounts for special needs and and accountability of the private mandatory. In effect she has a work use. This will clean up our sector with the long- term plan- number of interesting ideas. It’s air and raise funds for our public ning that only the public sector worth reading her manifesto as transport network in a fairer way can provide; Freeze fare increas- she is one of the more credible than the congestion charge”. es for children, vulnerable independent candidates. groups, the elderly and disabled; Brian Rose – He would scrap Luisa Porritt – She would intro- the Congestion Charge and his Continued on next page. duce road pricing and scrap the manifesto says this: “Ensure that Silvertown Tunnel. But I am not Transport For London (TfL) is

their policies and their past track London records and experience. The Tories Mayor of London has a massive Elections budget so preferably the chosen Abandoning candidate should have both (Cont.) political and business experi- London? ence. Otherwise simply look at Remove the physical friction that their manifestos and decide There was a good article in the prohibits unimpeded movement whether you can trust them to Telegraph by Allister Heath in the capital by abolishing all implement the policies you like. recently about the Tories restricted access for taxis to abysmal showing in London major carriageways, removing As regards the London Assembly politics. This is some of what he pedestrian social distancing elections, there seem to be few said under the headline “The barricades and rethinking empty details available on individual Tories have abandoned Sadiq cycle lanes by proposing mixed manifestos but presumably they Khan’s London to a doom-spiral use zones to allow the traffic flow will follow their party’s policies as of permanent decline”: of both cars and cycles”. declared for the Mayoral role. “The reality is that while the Comment: he might have wider More details may be available Tories will happily take your tax appeal if he does not appear in nearer the date of the elections money, they won’t lift a finger to photographs wearing a pin- (the 6th of May). But bear in mind help you. They prefer to help striped suit. that regrettably the London Khan: refusing to criticise the Met Assembly has minimal power to Police’s deplorable performance, Conclusion: How to select the control the Mayor who acts as a which the mayor is ultimately right candidate(s) to choose for dictator. responsible for; handing over tactical voting? I would suggest billions for Transport for London, the following approach: But do make sure you vote! chaired by the mayor, without seizing genuine control; Ignore the race, gender or party Roger Lawson and promoting Low of the candidates – just focus on Traffic Neighbourhoods”.

perate and ill-judged posts by the blog account Change of Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) (https://freedomfordrivers.blog/ ) on social media I am no longer and twitter account ( Name and associated with that organisation. @drivers_london ) have not changed. Addresses My activities will now be done under the banner of “Freedom for You can read about our latest As you are probably aware, I Drivers Foundation” and this activity and comments on have been writing and publishing newsletter has been rebranded transport and traffic news in this newsletter for many years to accordingly. London on our blog. highlight the irrational attacks on car drivers by the Mayor of As a result the email addresses IMPORTANT: If you wish to be London and many London of [email protected] and removed from our mailing list boroughs. The latest manifesta- [email protected] no longer please click on the unsubscribe tion of this is the promotion of work and you should use this link in the emails we send out. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods web page to contact me: You are in our mailing list as a (LTNs). We would all like less result of some contact on past https://tinyurl.com/33wdfp9e traffic congestion and less air campaigns or specific registra- tions but if you no longer have pollution but LTNs are not the Web and other addresses an interest in roads policies, way to achieve it. unchanged. please opt out. This note is to advise you that The web site address of Roger Lawson because of a difference of www.freedomfordrivers.org and opinion on policy and the intem- phone number, postal address,

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The Freedom for Drivers Foundation (FFDF) is an independent organisation which represents the interests of private motorists in the United Kingdom. We campaign to protect the rights of individual road users and believe that road transport is a beneficial and essential element in the UK transport infrastructure. We oppose excessive taxation of motorists and are against road tolls. We also campaign for more enlightened road safety policies. More information on the FFDF is available from our web site at www.freedomfordrivers.org

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This Newsletter is published by the Freedom for Drivers Foundation, PO Box 62, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5YB and is distributed free of charge to registered supporters and to anyone else who has an interest in traffic and transport issues in London. All material contained herein is Copyright of the FFDF or of the respective authors and may only be reproduced with permission. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author of the article or that of the Editor which do not necessarily represent the official policies of the FFDF. The FFDF also publishes a blog which can be found here: https://freedomfordrivers.blog/ or you can follow us on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Drivers_London

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