Motorists in London have been warned they could face permanent driving restrictions after a Labour council pushed to reduce access to certain roads.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich published proposals to establish the West and East Greenwich Neighbourhood Management Scheme permanently, following a trial that has restricted vehicle access along 13 roads during weekday rush hours.
The scheme, which operates from Monday to Friday between 7am and 10am and 3pm and 7pm, came into effect in November last year and affects thousands of residents and commuters travelling through the borough.
Council leaders point to traffic reductions in some areas and improvements in air quality indicators as justification for making the temporary measures permanent.
The council explained that a final decision is expected no sooner than October 3, pending review by the council leaders.
The trial, which is expected to be in place for 18 months, restricts through-traffic on certain streets during morning and evening peak periods, though certain groups have been exempt.
This includes Blue Badge holders registered in Greenwich, taxi drivers, private hire vehicles, emergency services, and community organisations, who can still use the roads during restricted hours.
The council has proposed doubling the vehicle allowance for eligible Blue Badge holders from one to two cars. Plans also involve repositioning enforcement cameras currently stationed at Royal Hill and Blissett Street to different locations.
The council will vote on October 3 on whether to make the LTNs permanent
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GETTY/PA
The road restrictions prohibit vehicle access during peak rush hour times
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PAThe restrictions apply solely during weekday rush hours, leaving roads open to all traffic outside these times. Weekend access remains unrestricted throughout the affected areas.
Independent monitoring revealed significant traffic reductions within the trial zones, with West Greenwich experiencing a 66 per cent decrease, East Greenwich seeing a 52 per cent, and Charlton falling 15 per cent during restricted hours.
Vehicle usage also dropped by 30 per cent in West Greenwich and 20 per cent in East Greenwich outside peak times, the council report detailed.
Air quality measurements showed mixed results across the borough, with 54 per cent of West Greenwich locations recording a fall in nitrogen dioxide levels, though 11 per cent saw increases.
East Greenwich was found to perform better, with 66 per cent of areas showing improvements and no locations experiencing rises in pollution. Charlton saw a 77 per cent of areas maintaining or reducing NO2 levels, while 23 per cent recorded increases.
Overall, motorised journeys across the entire area, including boundary roads, fell by six per cent. Transport for London reported no concerns regarding bus journey times through the affected zones.
More than 4,000 residents participated in the consultation process, with 273 attending six local feedback sessions and over 50 joining online discussions. The extensive engagement spanned three phases, from initial traffic concerns through to real-world testing of proposed solutions.
Survey results indicated 23 per cent of respondents increased their walking and cycling activities compared to before the trial. Some boundary areas experienced slight traffic increases, which council officials pledged to address with affected residents.
The road restrictions that came into force in November 2024 were supposed to last for 18 months
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ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH
The recommendations emerged from combining consultation feedback with monitoring data rather than relying on single metrics.
Any approved measures remain subject to a potential call-in process, whereby councillor groups may request further review of the decision. Should the proposals proceed, implementation requires a Traffic Management Order through formal legal channels.
The council explained that revenue from penalties raised in the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods would be used to fund transport and highway improvements benefiting the entire borough.
This includes allocating funds to contribute towards Freedom Passes for elderly and disabled residents. But the council confirmed that it had no plans to introduce resident exemptions, maintaining the current system, limiting access to specific groups with demonstrated needs.