‘LTNs are in principle a good idea, but Islington Council’s implementation of them is often ill-conceived’

• LTNs, low-traffic neighbourhoods, are in principle a good idea. Islington Council’s implementation of them however is often ill-conceived. While they keep out external traffic, they also trap local residents in.

Take the proposals for St Mary’s – the quadrant between St Mary’s Church, Highbury Corner and Essex Road station – on which the council is currently seeking comments.

By closing cut-through roads they would also deny residents direct access to all but one main road (Upper Street, Essex Road, Canonbury Road).

That would force those who need to use a car to take roundabout routes through gridlocked main roads, increasing traffic, air pollution, and carbon emissions on those trips.

So how about the following compromise? Why not allow local residents, but not through-traffic, to drive through the “traffic filters”, that is, camera-enforced road closures?

That way through-traffic would be eliminated without impinging on locals’ mobility. Enforcement would be simple.

The council would issue locals with specific permits, as it does for those who live near the Emirates or those who live just by schools where roads are closed during opening and closing times.

Politically this would take the sting out of the issue. Rightly or wrongly most of the protesters against LTNs care about their own car access not that of others.

What do you think Rowena Champion?

PHIL LEGRAIN, N1