The traffic signals around Highbury Fields

• AFTER 18 months of discussion, arguments and acrimony, the consultation on Highbury West’s LTN, low traffic neighbourhood scheme has ended.

And what was the question that one would have expected to be at the forefront of such an important process?

Do you want the scheme to continue – Yes/No. Was it included? It was not.

What did we get? “The streets look nice – More/no change/less”.

Or “To support you (and your family) to walk, wheel, cycle or take public transport would you like street parties?”

And then there was, “Would you like to see more rain gardens?”

There were many other questions of this kind, but none close to asking the most searching question: should LTNs be retained or removed?

Even while the council is having to apologise for false claims in its monitoring results, the consultation was introduced by a summary of findings that glow with appreciation of LTNs.

And the sections were illustrated with sun-bathed pictures of bike storage and pedestrianised streets. (The street illustration in the survey also bears no resemblance to anywhere in Highbury and is, in fact, from a street in Balham).

This was not seeking genuine, diverse, opinions. It was designed to persuade people to stick with “people-friendly streets”.

Whether you support or oppose the LTNs, or indeed, if you would welcome them if they were modified to show some regard for businesses and all residents, the least one would have expected from a consultation was an opportunity for the public to give an opinion without such absolute bias towards the result that Islington Council wants.

RICHARD SMITH
Highbury Hill, N5