Exeter LTN debate has 'turned ugly and left a community divided'

As protestors stood guarding the Ladysmith Road bus gate from rulebreakers, tensions surrounding Exeter's low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme reached boiling point once again. The behaviour I witnessed while I was there on Tuesday (February 20) absolutely stunned me.

Even before the Heavitree and Whipton Active Streets Trial began in August 2023, all of us at DevonLive were well aware that it was going to be controversial and we waited with baited breath for the heated debate to ensue. Within days, bollards were ripped out, videos emerged of emergency services trying to get to grips with the new system and local Facebook groups were flooded with a seemingly constant stream of angry posts and comments.

A new Facebook group was set up, calling itself Heavitree and Exeter Community United, where it would appear many of the active members are strongly opposed to the trial. Currently the group stands at 10,747 members with posts discussing the LTN every day.

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Members from all walks of life have joined the fight to have the scheme scrapped. Some are delivery drivers left to take longer journeys, some have disabilities that can make walking, cycling or using public transport difficult and many are simply outraged at the idea of being told they should drive less.

But as time has gone on, the name of the group has lost its meaning. Is it really fair to say that Heavitree is united? Or just this group?

Having read this far into the article, labelled as 'opinion', I've no doubt you're already trying to suss out whether I'm for or against the LTN or perhaps you already think you have me figured out. As did one woman who marched up to me while I was interviewing 'Safe Streets Now' campaigners on Tuesday (February 20) and demanded to know: "Are you on their side or our side?"

My answer to that question now is the same as the one I gave to her on Tuesday. It is part of my job, as a journalist, to be impartial. But I have seen a number of comments online suggesting our coverage of the event hasn't been.

We have covered all angles from the very beginning, whether that be legal challenges, 'Stop the Block' protests, ambulances doing three point turns at the bollard on Vaughan Road, the suspected impact on local businesses, supporters saying the streets feel safer or 'human bollards' trying to stop people from flouting the rules. I guess you can't please everyone.

On a more personal level, the LTN really doesn't affect me and, outside work, I don't pay much attention to it. I don't live in Heavitree or Whipton, I don't drive or cycle - in fact, I've never driven in Exeter at all. I do believe that less traffic on the road is better for absolutely everyone but I don't know the best way to achieve that.

I can see the appeal of quieter residential streets. In my home city of Worcester, my family live on a mainly residential road that sits a few streets away from a main route into and out of the city centre. Our road is regularly used as a shortcut by rat-runners who have sadly been responsible for the deaths of two of our cats. We asked Worcestershire County Council if speed humps or other traffic-calming measures (not necessarily an LTN) could be installed but they told us their data didn't show speeding to be an issue. The family cat is kept inside now.

At the heart of the LTN debate is whether its achieving its aims. A report submitted to Devon County Council's Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) last month said traffic flow on Polsloe Road and Hill Barton Road had increased by up to 20 per cent and that there had been an increase on Heavitree Road and East Wonford Hill which are already known to be highly polluted areas. Meanwhile, roads within the trial area have seen a decrease.

The report added that the trial only had two out of 10 indicators of success: a reduction of traffic on residential roads and increased cycle trips. However, HATOC concluded that it was too early to make a final decision and allowed the trial to continue.

Supporters of the scheme breathed a sigh of relief at this news and, when we spoke to some of them this week, many said it would be "a huge disappointment" if the LTN wasn't made permanent. However, I was more interested, and quite frankly alarmed, by some of the other things that they said.

Almost none of the 'Safe Streets Now' protestors were comfortable to give last names or be photographed. They said news of councillors and Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw receiving death threats and poo through their letterboxes had left them fearful of being identified.

A man, who only wanted to be referred to as Dan, told us: "I've had threats of poo through my letterbox, I've been called all sorts of names under the sun. I had a lovely, rational conversation for five minutes with an Uber driver. We're happy to chat to anybody if it's a normal, courteous conversation.

"But some people come over and swear at you or call you a kiddie fiddler or say you're photographing children. On the Facebook groups, some say 'let's go find where they live' or 'I bet they wouldn't like it if I meet them at night'."

They said that the discourse online had become toxic and I can't help but agree. Heavitree Community Network, a local community Facebook, has now decided to ban all posts discussing the matter, saying they have "had enough". They have already been accused of running a "dictatorship" for doing so.

Heavitree and Exeter Community United says it takes a different view, with admins saying discussion "will not be censored" and they won't turn comments off because of the controversial nature of the LTN.

Regardless of whether there is a genuine threat to those expressing support or not, the fact that people feel this fearful at all speaks volumes about the chaos that this debate has descended into.

While I was on Ladysmith Road, I did witness a car drive through the protest group standing in the bus gate. I watched in horror as their banner was pulled over the top of the vehicle and the driver seemed to show no regard for the people standing just inches from his car. Thankfully, no one was injured.

The 'human bollards' say this happened again on Thursday (February 22) and, in this instance, the campaign's leader Caspar Hughes says a banner holder was hit by the vehicle. Police were called to the scene. They say no offences were committed but that a motorist had become involved in a "minor altercation".

Police called out as one driver hit a banner holder (no lasting damage).

Cars 80
Taxi’s through 18
cycles 12

6
1
1 front page headline#SafeStreetsNow https://t.co/QiGdqks3vm

— Caspar Hughes (@countcaspargh)

A spokesperson for Devon & Cornwall Police said: "Police were notified at around 9am on Friday 23 February following reports of protesters blocking cars at Ladysmith Road in Exeter.

"It was reported that a motorist became involved in a minor altercation with protesters before leaving the scene. Police attended and the group dispersed by 9.30am. No offences were committed."

I'd like to think, or at least hope, that no one would condone this sort of behaviour. I particularly hope 'Stop the Block' protestors don't claim the driver I witnessed drive through the banner on Tuesday as one of their own, even if you disagree with the 'Safe Streets Now' protest or think they have no right to stand there. It's a bit like when a pedestrian misjudges crossing a road and walks out in front of your vehicle. You have a responsibility, as the operator of what is essentially a two tonne weapon, to stop.

Whatever your opinion, you should be free to express it without fear of intimidation or aggression. Before even knowing who I was or what my views were, the abrasive attitude of the woman who demanded to know what "side" I'm on did not reflect what is supposed to be a "united" community.