• DISABILITY Action in Islington (DAII) is a charity that supports disabled people to access services and challenge exclusion and discrimination both within Islington and nationally.

Since low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) trials were introduced, DAII has heard story after story from disabled residents about the devastating impact that the road restrictions are having on them.

Many disabled Islington residents are appalled that there has been no consultation with them. It is well recognised that some people with disabilities are reliant on car travel, and that accessing public transport can be difficult or impossible for them.

The main Islington tube stations are inaccessible and only one wheelchair user can access a bus at a time.

This is, however, just one aspect. In reality, both the nature and extent of disability are nuanced, which is mirrored in how these trials are impacting, including on family, friends and carers.

We understand that some people left the recent Highbury East Ward meeting with the impression that Islington Council has consulted with DAII, our name having been specifically referenced by Islington Council’s Ayanda Collins. That is not correct.

There has been no consultation with DAII either prior to implementation or since. One presentation to us in October 2020, mainly about housing, is neither consultation nor engagement in any meaningful sense.

We therefore invite Ayanda to clear up any confusion created, however unintentional it may have been.

We also invite her to promptly say what timed steps the council will urgently take to involve groups like DAII in consultation on adjusting these trials. We have emailed the council about this but are also going public as the situation is critical.

To be 12 months into LTN trialling with no robust disability consultation/trial adjustment for disability impact that we are aware of is unacceptable, and unforgivable from a council that says it has equality high on its agenda.

Disabled people who are severely affected cannot wait 12 to 18 months for the trials to be made inclusive. Suffering cannot be allowed to continue. The trials need to be immediately adjusted to be sufficiently inclusive or suspended until they are.

Those who say that some disabled people benefit from the trials are missing the point. If other disabled people are severely impacted then the trials are not inclusive and are not working.

That ought to be a very grave concern for all of us, including Islington Council.

EDWARD CRIPWELL
Advice, Case & Project Worker
For and on behalf of Disability Action in Islington