Leeds Council issues update on Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes

Planter boxes in the road were put in place to reduce rat running and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists in various areas of Leeds towards the end of last year.

The boxes - which are designed to show that streets are still open to anyone not on motorised vehicles - can be used to close roads or make them one way.

There are low traffic neighbourhoods - also called active travel neighbourhoods - in Hyde Park, Beeston and Chapel Allerton, with Lincoln Green also under consideration.

Leeds City Council is in charge of the scheme, with LTNs having popped up across the country, often to considerable controversy, over the last year.

The Hyde Park scheme in particular has attracted vocal opposition, with more than 1,200 people signing a petition calling on the council to scrap it.

Some planter boxes were vandalised and cars were seen driving on to pavements to get around them.

Boxes on Royal Park Road and Alexandra Road were removed a short time later, but the rest have remained.

Leeds City Council said in December that the LTNs would be in place for a trial period of a minimum of six months.

Earlier this month, the council said the trial would be continuing for the time being.

A spokesperson said: “In November, we unveiled trial active travel neighbourhoods (also known as ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’) with a range of measures designed to make these residential areas of the city much more child, pedestrian and cycle friendly.

“We would like to thank people who have responded directly to the consultation and provided their views on our active travel neighbourhoods.

We promised to listen closely to local residents and their experiences, the positives and the negatives while they are in place.

“The trials are still on-going and the council through officers and local ward members continues to engage with the local community, groups, businesses, police and emergency services.

"After the local elections, reviews of the schemes will take place and as yet no decisions have been taken on their future.

"Residents can please continue to have their say on https://leedscovidresidentialstreets.commonplace.is/”

Yacob Ahmed, who started the anti-Hyde Park LTN petition, said: "The month of May marks six months since the roadblocks (I'm not going to call them planters they're roadblocks and they're divisive) were installed without consultation.

"They said it was a six month 'trial' back then.

"Then they said it's a trial but they're not going to be removing them.

"How is that even a trial? How is it even democracy if they're being shoved in our faces without consultation?

"The only way we're going to get rid of the LTN is by getting rid of Labour but the majority of the transient demographic of Hyde Park are strong Labour voters but us long term residents remain to suffer their effects.

"Looks like we’re stuck with this failed experiment forever.

"Our councillors do not represent us in any shape or form."

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