Streatham LTN trial suspended after lengthy bus delays

Lambeth Council said its decision was "in response to concerns" and due to upcoming construction on the A23

A south London council is suspending a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme after months of delays to buses.

Lambeth Council said the combination of the Streatham Wells scheme and "frequent roadworks by Thames Water and other bodies" had caused a "significant strain on bus services" on the A23.

It added the LTN would pause due to the concerns and upcoming construction.

But the council's Liberal Democrat group leader said it was an embarrassing "climbdown".

One image taken by a Streatham resident on Monday afternoon and sent to BBC London showed a line of more than a dozen buses queuing in traffic along the A23 Streatham High Road.

In a statement, Lambeth Council said its decision to suspend the trial LTN was made "in response to concerns about public transport delays and anticipated disruption from planned Transport for London (TfL) construction works on the A23 starting later this spring".

'60% less traffic in LTN'

The council added it was now working with TfL to implement "a comprehensive package of bus priority measures... and help prevent bus delays in future", while an additional £9m TfL upgrade to walking and cycling was set to start at the end of spring.

However, the council defended the LTN's impact, stating there had been "an average 60% decrease in traffic within the LTN", although there had been "an 8% increase in traffic on boundary roads".

It also cited a 2% net reduction in traffic across the area and a 68% fall in the number of vehicles breaking the speed limit compared with pre-LTN levels.

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Deputy leader at the council, Councillor Rezina Chowdhury, said: "We've listened to the concerns raised by local people and recognise the major disruption coming as part of transport improvements on the main road running through Streatham.

'An embarrassment'

"We always said that this was a trial, and we would be led by the data - and the monitoring report makes it clear that the scheme met our objectives to reduce traffic and road danger."

But the council's Liberal Democrat group leader, Councillor Donna Harris, said the announcement amounted to a "climbdown" and the "ill-conceived scheme" is "an embarrassment".

She continued: "We are now back to square one, after months - and untold money - wasted.

"The council must now go back to the drawing board and consult residents properly across the whole of Streatham and the surrounding area about solutions that improve the lives of all who live here, both now and for future generations."

It comes after the Mayor of London was asked if he was aware of problems with bus delays during Mayor's Question Time on 21 December.

A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said: "The mayor has always been clear that if road schemes need to be changed or adapted to better work for the local area, then that is the right thing to do, working with local partners and residents."