Campaigner Jody Graber speaking to police at a low-traffic neighbourhoods protest

• FURTHER to your March 11 report (Road closures spark fiery clashes at Town Hall), as an Islington resident I am appalled at the council’s misinformation and bias.

At the council meeting on March 3 and according to the council constitution: “Where a Petition has received between 1000 and 2000 signatures, the member of the public presenting the Petition shall be entitled to meet with the Leader of the Council or the Executive member with the relevant portfolio responsibilities to discuss the issues raised in the petition at a mutually agreed time.” – https://democracy.islington.gov.uk/documents/s27018/Constitution%20Part%204%20January%202022.pdf

And yet a petition presented to the council contained almost 11k signatures, and the council did not make this meeting with the leader or executive member known or available to the presenter of the petition, who was allowed only three minutes to speak at the council meeting.

This is against the council’s own guidance and protocols as stated above.

Cllr Nick Wayne spoke at the meeting in support of the schemes. In his speech he ridiculed the petition saying that “signatories were from as far as Bicester, Oxford etc.”

Cllr Rowena Champion stated at the St James’ Church consultation event, when questioned regarding the evidence of the cycling campaign infiltration the Commonplace app, that consultation was open to anyone to comment if they passed through or utilised facilities in the borough, which seemed reasonable.

Residents have families that visit from far and wide, myself included, and many from outside the borough visit and utilise its vast facilities.

It was inconsiderate, inappropriate, condescending and disrespectful for Cllr Wayne to publicly mock the petition and liken and reference it to the “Dominic Cummings” incident during lockdown in his speech. This is utter contempt towards those that took the trouble to sign the online petition.

Councillors are voted into position to support and represent the electorate, not to drive their own agenda and ridicule and belittle a huge petition (one of three) against the LTNs, all of which are being ignored by the council.

Cllr Wayne must make a public apology for his unnecessary and biased behaviour. He is not in office to present his own unregulated and discriminative opinions, especially when the council has been found guilty and admitted publishing misleading and inaccurate data in regard to LTNs in Highbury.

All LTN reports must now be audited due to the numerous errors found (by residents) contained within the Highbury report produced by Project Centre Ltd.

A totally independent group should be appointed to undertake auditing of current reports and any going forward.

PATRICIA NICLAS
Grantbridge Street, N1