How many objections has the London Borough of Lewisham received to the road closures and other aspects of the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in the borough? Nobody knows apparently.

We submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request in early November in which we asked for the numbers and have finally received a response. That’s way past the legal limit for responses for which they have apologised. But they now claim they have no information on the subject.

I consider their response to be disgraceful.

I specifically worded my request so that they could give estimates of the number of objections if exact figures were not available.

But it is clearly a nonsense when the Council invites people to send comments to traffic@lewisham.gov.uk about the LTNs but does not record how many of the comments received are objections. Even if not recorded at the time there is nothing stopping them from reviewing past comments received by council officers and councillors. The number of objections received is clearly vital information when the Council is considering the impact of the Temporary Traffic Orders used to implement the LTNs and I simply do not believe that the Council has no information on this subject.

I believe they are deliberately trying to avoid responding to my FOI request. Just like Mayor Damien Egan did in reply to a similar question in a Council Meeting.

It would seem that Councillors and Council staff are deliberately trying to conceal vital information from the public on this issue, when we know that there have clearly been a very large number of objections – for example we have collected over 12,000 signatures on a petition requesting removal of the road closures.

Councillors are turning a deaf ear to complaints in the hope that people will come to accept the LTNs. But they will not.

Our complaint about the failure to respond to the FOI Act request will be pursued further.

Croydon LTNs

The neighbouring Borough of Croydon have at least undertaken a survey of residents’ views on their Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Crystal Palace and South Norwood. There was overwhelming opposition to the LTN but the Council is still proposing to retain the LTN. See https://abdlondon.wordpress.com/2021/01/10/croydon-ltn-supported-by-council-despite-overwhelming-opposition/ for more details.

There may be a decision on the matter at a Council Committee meeting this evening. Let us hope they listen to the electorate and opt to remove the LTN, but don’t count on it. Labour dominated Councils frequently decide to choose what they think is good for you, not what you want, overturning democratic principles.

I wonder what has happened to the proposed survey of residents in Lee Green in Lewisham which was promised before Xmas. Has it been delayed because of expectations of a similar result to that in Croydon?

Roger Lawson