Nearly 300 businesses in Highbury have swung behind a petition opposing council changes to the roads

• I WAS somewhat surprised at Green Party councillor Caroline Russell’s response to the petition to Islington Council from shop owners opposed to the LTN, low traffic neighbourhood, in Highbury West ward, (Traders: Low traffic scheme does not deliver, June 11).

In council meetings Cllr Russell has been a strong supporter of the Labour-led council’s LTNs and people-friendly streets policy.

In your paper, however, she appears to also be trying to curry favour with the businesses opposed to the operation of LTNs in their area rather than being straight with them about the very serious challenges the council and our community face here.

Cllr Russell is fully aware that the council’s LTN policy is a proportionate response to the Covid-19 health crisis and the climate change emergency. She knows things have to change in Islington to help tackle these twin threats to the health and wellbeing of our people.

And that means reducing vehicle journeys and related carbon emissions in the borough; and instead encouraging active travel by walking and cycling to help achieve net zero carbon by 2030.

The council only directly controls 4 per cent of carbon emissions in the borough, with indirect control over another 5 per cent related to its housing stock. So we need others, including businesses, to step up to help us reduce the remaining 91 per cent of emissions.

LTNs are being introduced under experimental traffic orders that include monitoring and allow for changes to be made to schemes. In St Peter’s ward changes are being made to the LTN there following resident feedback.

I have attended four meetings on the Highbury West LTN and have been assured by council officers that traffic volumes displaced onto main road and air quality will be monitored, including in my Finsbury Park ward.

This will allow for the impacts to be assessed, and for mitigation measures to be implemented. Council officers are in fact already working with businesses to utilise more sustainable delivery methods.

To make our borough safer and more environmentally friendly we all need to work together on solving the health and environmental challenges that we face.

CLLR GARY HEATHER
Labour, Finsbury Park ward