TWO new road proposals aimed at reducing traffic and making streets cleaner have been announced in Islington – to a mixed reception.

Islington Council’s ideas for liveable neighbourhoods – another term for low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) – are for Annette Road, off Holloway Road, and in Dartmouth Park, which is part of a joint project with Camden Council.

Measures could include restricting access to some roads to cars, with cameras enforcing the rules.

In Dartmouth Park, Andrew Sulston, chair of the Highgate Society, a residents group which opposes the scheme, said: “We want to reduce congestion and we are really concerned about levels of pollution, but we don’t think the Dartmouth Park traffic proposals will achieve that.”

Mr Sulston said this was based on the view that traffic being pushed out of the LTN would add to jams on already congested roads and what the society felt was a need for more data on how different routes were being used.

On this basis, Mr Sulston said: “We feel it is being rushed through.”

Nick Collin, a Barnsbury resident and member of anti-LTN group Keep Islington Moving, is also against the two new schemes.

He said: “[LTNs] discriminate against anyone who is reliant on motorised transport, for whatever reason: old people, disabled people, business owners who rely on vans for deliveries.”

Islington Council does grant exemptions for people with disabilities who need to use vehicles within its seven existing low-traffic zones.

But last month disabled business owner Andrew Martin criticised LTNs as “a road policy making it more difficult for disabled people to function in everyday life, and then offered the crumbs of equality by an exemption policy.”

Environment chief Councillor Rowena Champion, pictured cycling above, said: “We’ve already seen the huge benefit of our efforts, with Islington recently ranking as the top London borough in the prestigious Healthy Streets Scorecard. Furthermore, we’ve seen air quality improve overall within and on roads surrounding all seven of our low-traffic neighbourhoods, with traffic falling overall within neighbourhoods and on surrounding roads.

“Within each neighbourhood, we’re working directly with local people to understand the changes that they want to see. This involves a multi-step process, with many opportunities for local people, businesses, and groups to provide their feedback.”

Many other residents are in favour of both existing and newly proposed liveable neighbourhood schemes.

Steve Knattress, of cycling promotion group Cycle Islington, said he was excited to see a low-traffic initiative being discussed for what he refers to as Islington’s “frozen north”, because the borough’s other LTNs are concentrated in the south.

He said: “Some people were suspicious of [the LTNs] when they were first put in, but now they wouldn’t want it any other way.”