Scene outside Islington West Library

POLICE were called to break up arguments between supporters and critics of Islington’s new traffic schemes on Tuesday.

A council meeting held at Islington West Library was designed to be the first in a series of public engagement events to discuss a new “Liveable Neighbourhood” scheme (LNs) in Barnsbury – which will include new road ­closures to cars.

But it ended in chaos after just 30 minutes after someone triggered the fire alarm. Earlier there had been chants of “Cancel the meeting” from some of the more than 100 ­people who had been unable to gain entrance to the small meeting room. They said they were angry about the meeting going ahead without them and called it “undemocratic”.

Islington’s environment chief Councillor Rowena Champion faced calls from the crowds to step down from her role. She told them: “I absolutely apologise for not getting a big enough room. I am very, very, very sorry.”

Her colleague Labour councillor Praful ­Nargund – who had also been at the meeting – criticised the behaviour of what he said was a “small minority”.

Pointing to the landslide council election secured by Islington Labour in May, he added: “We have a huge mandate from the people in the borough and [Liveable Neighbourhoods] was a key part of our manifesto and we’re doing exactly what we set out to do.”

LNs – as spelt out in their manifesto – will limit traffic on local streets to reduce “the impact of toxic air pollution for local people” as well as make it safer and more pleasant to cycle, walk and scoot.

Children from Offord Road taking their letters to the council after the meeting

But many who came to the meeting on Tuesday said they were worried the council had already “made up its mind” about closing off more streets, and said they should have ended the meeting when it became clear many would not be able to take part.

It follows the ongoing debate over Islington’s range of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), which include road closures and were brought in with what opponents say was limited consultation.

Steven Havens, who managed to get a spot inside the meeting room, said: “We’re being fed the same BS – they think they’ve got the right to close down our streets and tell us to walk and cycle. Who are they? They work for us, we don’t work for them.

“In my view it’s already been decided. They’re going to make it this wonderful place for us – it is a wonderful place, it’s my home, and they’re trying to tell me how to live in my own home.”

Frances Sieber, from Canonbury West, called the LTN in her area “an outright disaster” that has simply displaced traffic to the boundary roads.

David Lear, a filmmaker who recorded the evening’s events for his YouTube channel Islington Free News Media, suggested the decision on Barnsbury LN should be delivered by “a neutral steering group – judges and doctors and magistrates who have a long legacy of being able to make rationalised decisions about what should go ahead”.

There is support for the scheme too, however, and one group who want to see change in Barnsbury are the Offord Road Green Alliance, which started up in response to what they saw as an “inequitable” amount of traffic thundering down their residential road in comparison to neighbouring roads with none or nearly none since LTNs were introduced.

Sarah Reardon, who estimates her road sees 15,000 vehicles a day, said: “The Offord Road Green Alliance is looking for an equitable solution to traffic pollution and road safety in Barnsbury.

“At the moment our street is disproportionately affected by the traffic flow in the neighbourhood. “There were lots of people saying there’s not a problem with traffic in Barnsbury but there is a problem with traffic in Offord Road – because we take all the traffic in Barnsbury.”

Cllr Champion said “we must reimagine our streets” by making them less polluted. She added consultation will continue for a year before any changes are brought in and promised “we will work to ensure that as many people as possible can participate in future meetings”.

Children’s posters about the LN