‘It takes ages for the changes to be noticed, for the benefits to become clear, and the engrained habits to be replaced by new ones’

• THE ongoing discussions – some more civil than others – about the usefulness or otherwise of LNs, liveable neighbourhoods, need to take a few things into account.

The first is that the current council were voted into power in 2022 on a manifesto including: “Co-design and consult on the introduction of liveable neighbourhoods across the borough by 2026”.

And they are doing just that. Keeping to a manifesto pledge seems to me to be rather a good idea, something not necessarily followed by national politicians.

The second is that behaviour change, for this is what it’s all about, takes years. Nothing will change overnight; people won’t suddenly stop using their cars for short journeys, or start jumping on bikes to cycle to school or work, or getting on their walking boots.

It’s a gradual process, it takes ages for the changes to be noticed, for the benefits to become clear, and the engrained habits to be replaced by new ones.

And let’s not forget, the fewer cars on our roads, the more space for people who do genuinely need to use their cars and for our emergency services.

The third is that in Islington only 30 per cent of us have cars. We are a crowded, inner-London, borough with very limited space to be active in.

So why should we put up with polluting cars driving through our public realm? Answer, we shouldn’t, 60 per cent of Islington exceeds legal air pollution limits.

So let’s all be patient. Perhaps some of the existing LTNs, low traffic neighbourhoods, and LNs do need tweaking, in which case present your ideas to your councillors.

Perhaps some of the plans for new LNs are not quite what you wanted, in which case get involved in the engagement process and have your say.

And if you live in Barnsbury and Laycock, which will be our biggest LN and is currently being designed, get involved in trying to make it as good as it can be.

The Barnsbury and Laycock Community streets group would be a good starting point to understand what’s being proposed and why. See: https://www.barnsburylaycock.uk/

Just don’t expect the magic to happen right away.

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