Ealing Council To Remove Some of the Barriers in LTNs
ANPR camera enforcement to be used after consulting emergency services
Council says move made after consulting emergency services. Picture: Kim Newson
Ealing Council is to remove five barriers recently implemented Low Traffic Neighbourhood Schemes (LTNs) in the borough and will switch to camera enforcement at these locations instead.
The council says the move comes after it has been working with the emergency services to see how the trial schemes can be improved.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be placed in the following locations:
1. Junction Road / Murray Road Junction (LTN 32)
2. Acacia Road / Cumberland Road, Acton (LTN 25)
3. Grosvenor Road / Oaklands Road (LTN 21)
4. Leighton Road / Seaford Road (LTN 21)
5. Leighton Road / Coldershaw Road (LTN 21)
The cameras use technology that can detect car number plates so that warning notices or fines can be issued to unauthorised vehicles using no-entry points in the schemes. Only emergency services and refuse vehicles will be exempt. The council says warning notices will be issued at first, moving to fines if necessary after reviewing the impact. The council has already used camera technology at some locations to capture cars bypassing entry points.
The council says that the first two weeks analysis of parking enforcement data showed that more than 70% of drivers did not live within the LTN neighbourhood with 50% coming from outside the borough, showing that non-residential traffic in the area is significant.
Residents have complained that the barriers had created new rat runs in their area as cars were required to circle round and had significantly increased journey times. Earlier, we reported incorrectly that residents would be allowed to pass through the barriers.
While the council waits for the temporary cameras to be installed mobile car cameras using the same technology will monitor locations.
Cllr Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council said, “I want to thank all of the emergency services for the way in which they have engaged with us about these schemes. These schemes are genuine trials so hearing what would make them work better is an essential part of the process.
“We know that traffic changes can be difficult for drivers and it will take a few weeks for them to get to know the new routes and for people to switch from cars to other forms of transport. It is clear some people strongly dislike the schemes, while others fully support them, and others have yet to make up their minds. I would ask for patience as they bed in.
“I fully recognise that people may not like the speed in which schemes were introduced. The government asked councils to put these schemes in quickly and change normal consultation practice to a live trial where feedback is gathered after implementation. Funding was dependent on trials being in place by the end of September.
“I’m very sorry if the introduction of low traffic neighbourhoods has upset people. I want to assure you that we very much want to hear your views and are setting up an online engagement platform which will be available in the next few weeks, where you can leave your feedback and see what others think.”
Residents can visit the low traffic neighbourhoods' page of the council’s website for further information on the schemes.
Residents can email feedback to TrafficNotices@ealing.gov.uk, or post them to the Highways Service, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, W5 2HL, quoting reference ORD XXX.
The cameras will be operation from week commencing Monday, 21 September.
Two further low traffic neighbourhood schemes are planed for Loveday Road, W13 (LTN 30) and West Ealing North, W13 (LTN 20).
An online petition against LTNs in Ealing has been signed by over 8,000 people. A counter petition in support of the new schemes has, at the time of writing, over 500 signatures.
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September 21, 2020