The Medway Conservative Group welcomes the recent announcement from the Department for Transport which will see local residents listened too when it comes to implementing new traffic schemes.
We were pleased to see The Department for Transport recently (17 March 2024) published draft statutory guidance for councils on low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), setting out that they must gain buy-in from local residents, businesses and emergency services when considering implementing new LTN schemes.
The new guidance raises expected standards for LTNs and will come into force this summer when local authorities will be obliged to consider it when shaping new and existing schemes.
Local authorities are expected to follow the guidance and ensure local people support their plans. Recent examples where councils have implemented these schemes without public support have been shown to cause disruption and have unintended negative consequences.
If local authorities fail to deliver sensible road schemes that work for local people they could see future funding withdrawn, and under powers from the Traffic Management Act, the government could ultimately take control of an authority’s roads where they are deemed to be widely mismanaged.
Separately, councils have received strengthened guidance on setting 20mph speed limits, reminding them to reserve them for sensible and appropriate areas only – such as outside schools – and with safety and local support at the heart of the decision. Local authorities are expected to consider this guidance, and as with the LTN guidance, this could have implications for the awarding of funding in the future.
Speaking on this Transport Secretary Mark Harper said
"We want local people to have their voices heard, and any traffic schemes to have the consent of those they impact, well thought out schemes, like 20mph speed limits outside schools, can make our roads safer, but we are raising the bar to help ensure all traffic schemes work for everyone in the community. We're on the side of drivers, and these latest measures show we're getting on with delivering what we promised in our Plan for Drivers.
Councillor Phil Filmer said
"It is vital that all traffic schemes have the consent of local residents before they go ahead, this is why I support the Transport Secretary's latest announcement. This latest announcement will force councils to listen to public consultation before making decisions that impact residents. I particularly look forward to the current administration listening to the overwhelming majority of respondents and rethinking the Rainham Red Route.
