LTNs: Almost half of Londoners back introduction of schemes in their area, polling suggests

Almost half of Londoners back the introduction of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in their area, recent polling has suggested, with the rest of the country also showing more support than opposition for the schemes.

The research, carried out by More in Common, a campaign group established following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016, found that outside the capital, 38% of respondents were in-favour of LTNs, with 28% opposing. The rest either said they were neither for nor against (26%), or didn’t know (7%).

Support was even greater in London, where 46% of respondents said they back their implementation. A further 19% said they neither supported nor opposed LTNs, with 6% not knowing.

There were also some clear distinctions between who respondents voted for in 2019, and their enthusiasm for LTNs.

Green Party voters were most in-favour (55%), followed by Labour (50%) and the Lib Dems (47%).

33% of Conservative voters meanwhile backed the schemes, with 39% opposing. Just 22% of The Brexit Party voters said they support LTNs being implemented.

LTNs are designed to cut traffic and promote active travel, by encouraging walking and cycling. Measures often include travel restrictions, cycle lanes and timed road closures.

The schemes have proven controversial in some boroughs, amid accusations they push traffic onto nearby roads, and do little to reduce pollution levels.

Research published in January by the climate charity Possible however found the average traffic reduction within schemes in London was 46.9%, with little impact on boundary roads.

The More in Common polling, which surveyed 2,017 British adults aged 18 and over, including 269 Londoners, also produced data on ultra-low emission zones (ULEZ) across the UK.

The responses reflected the “partisan division” emerging over the schemes, said Luke Tryl, UK director at More in Common.

According to the data, support for ULEZ charges were most popular among those who voted for the Green party (49%), Lib Dems (42%) and Labour (40%) at the 2019 general election.

Those who voted for The Brexit Party (22%) and the Conservatives (25%), meanwhile, were far less likely to back the introduction of the schemes.

Mr Tryl said: “While visible and vocal opposition to ULEZ charges can often dominate the headlines, our polling suggests Londoners remain more likely to back the plans than not.

“The problem is that despite the broad consensus on the need to tackle air pollution, the mayor’s all-or-nothing approach appears to have totally polarised the debate, with Labour voters backing the plans but Tory voters dead against them.

“That level of partisan division over ULEZ suggests it will be a major factor in the next mayoral election, and mayors in other cities and regions will be looking closely at what happens before embarking on their own plans.”