Exeter LTN opponents 'living in hope' after Newcastle scheme scrapped

Those in Exeter who are opposed to the current low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) trial say they are "living in hope" after it was announced that a similar scheme in Newcastle would be scrapped.

Earlier this week, Newcastle City Council announced that LTN restrictions, which were intended to prevent drivers using residential streets as cut-throughs, would be lifted when the trial period expires on April 23. It's reported that local opinion on the measures had been "evenly split" but officials concluded that it had resulted in too many vehicles rerouting to other residential areas and back lanes.

Traffic data from the north eastern city found that more than 700 vehicles are day were using back lanes during the trial, the local authority said. They also said that there was "no data to suggest that there had been a significant shift to walking and cycling during the trial".

The news rapidly travelled down to Exeter, where the Heavitree and Whipton Active Streets Trial has become a contentious issue. With the closing date for the statutory consultation period fast approaching, opponents say the axing of an LTN up-country has given them hope for a similar outcome.

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Ian Frankum, who has been a vocal member of the Stop the Block protest group, told DevonLive: "The Labour MP Ben, his successor Steve Race and the current crop of candidates for the upcoming May 2 elections have a pretty stock answer to enquiries about the LTN trial and that is to complete the official consultation which closes May 8.

"I hope that this feedback, when released, is acted upon alongside the data of course, which early indications show success measures are failing, the latest guidance from the Department of Transport puts great store in consultation, consensus and the will of the community, something many of us feel was flawed; we live in hope."

Members of Facebook groups known to oppose the Exeter trial shared similar views. One said: "We'll keep fighting it. Have a vote on it then we will see, total waste of our money". Another added: "So where they realise they will lose votes, they are coming around. Just shows pressure works".

The Heavitree and Whipton scheme has already come close to facing the axe, following a report submitted to Devon County Council, which suggested it was only performing well in two out of its 10 targets. It said that conditions for walking and cycling had improved inside the trial area but that traffic had increased on some boundary roads. It also said that the results were so far inconclusive on other measures.

While some councillors called for an end to the scheme, others raised concerns that the data was too limited to make the "massive" decision. The Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) concluded that more information was needed and allowed the trial to continue.

Supporters of the LTN welcomed this decision, saying it has achieved its aims of making residential streets safer and quieter. Some of them acted as 'human bollards' in February as they stood in the bus gate on Ladysmith Road, calling for it to be better policed. They said some drivers had been flouting the rules and passing through the bus gate, which is only meant to be used by buses, emergency vehicles and taxis.

One local mum at the protest told DevonLive: "You can't trial a scheme effectively unless it's actually being followed. It's all very well traffic monitoring but if there's 50 cars driving through the gate an hour then you don't really know what impact the scheme is having.

"I think it would be wonderful to get to a time where, in residential areas, you can let your children play in the street without feeling like they're going to be run over. The main reason we're here is that it needs to be enforced better."

Following the protest, Devon County Council and Devon and Cornwall Police announced they would be cracking down on LTN rulebreakers, following "unacceptable" behaviour by some drivers. Police officers have been carrying out "random and unpredictable" enforcement at the bus gates.