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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
