‘People don’t just drive for fun. This isn’t the era of ‘Driving Miss Daisy”

• THE only thing I agree with in the letter (Liveable neighbourhoods, the divisive issue of today, July 28) is the very plain fact that LTN’s, people-friendly streets or liveable neighbourhoods are divisive.

From my experience of helping to organise the protests in Islington against what were called people-friendly streets, that were launched under the Covid-19 emergency measures (thus escaping full consultation) and sold as “a social distancing measure” & “an 18-month trial”, I see they have made life harder for our disabled residents.

They have made life worse for residents who have the misfortune of living on a boundary road. They have made life harder for residents and local traders who have to use a vehicle to earn a living.

Disabled residents were highlighted in the council’s own impact assessment as being most affected; yet this was ignored for 18 months and, even now, having a blue badge only allows unfettered access from their own LTN cell. They then have to sit in the traffic LTNs have created.

None of this is about the environment, as proven by electric vehicles still being denied access. It’s all about making it easier to introduce pay-per-mile driving which will swiftly follow once the full ULEZ, ultra low emission zone, expansion goes live.

People don’t just drive for fun. This isn’t the era of “Driving Miss Daisy”.

JODY GRABER
Address supplied