LOCALS have revealed they can’t open their own windows as their road stinks so much from horrific traffic caused by a controversial council plan.
Families in East Dulwich, London, blasted the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme for pushing cars onto their roads after other posh areas were closed off to traffic.
And they blasted the scheme as “inhuman” for local kids as it forced them to walk through a “fug of pollution” to get to school each day.
One resident, called Liz, told The Sun that she had recently tried to sell her property on East Dulwich Grove but that the road was the “main problem” with finding a buyer.
She added: “It stinks, you can’t open your windows because it just stinks.”
Locals also argued that the restrictions have delayed emergency vehicles and that the council only recently granted an exemption which meant ambulances and fire engines no longer had to go all the way around the neighbourhood to get to where they were needed.
They add that, even when emergency services can get there, there has been an increase in accidents in the area as drivers get frustrated with the long jams.
One recent incident saw a motorist cut out of their upturned car after a serious collision along East Dulwich Grove, the main filter road out of the LTN.
Under the scheme, which began in August 2020, some roads are permanently closed off to vehicles, while others are restricted at certain times and monitored by cameras.
It means that the traffic is pushed onto other roads – leaving the locals furious.
Motorists caught going along these roads at restricted times are slapped with a £65 fine, which residents say disproportionately impact strangers to the area who don’t know about the restrictions.
Maggie Brown, who has lived on East Dulwich Grove for 40 years, said: “We were never consulted…nobody was asked about it.
“We have a couple of councillors trying to establish their green credentials at the expense of residents
“It’s really wrong what’s happened here.”
She went on to say that the local residents’ group had paid for a poll of East Dulwich Grove residents which found that 84 per cent were against the current system, but the council “completely ignored it”.
She added: “We feel we’re living in a one party state…It’s a Labour council that doesn’t listen to us at all.
“It’s been very much a project of a few people who have blindsided us with their schemes.”
And fellow resident Bridget Furst told The Sun: “Many of us think the council took advantage of Covid rules to have more restrictions put in.
“You’re encouraged to walk or cycle but you’re breathing in all this pollution.
“They’ve made nearly £9 million in fines from four cameras…it’s a cash machine.”
Dulwich Village, where Bridget lives, is the site of one of the permanent road closures, with brightly coloured benches, apparently made from recycled wood, block off what was once a usable road.
She also criticised the council over doing nothing to improve public transport in the area and a lack of clear signage about the restrictions
She said: “We have a very low priority in the council’s eyes.”
Both Maggie and Bridget, who have campaigned against the LTNs made the point that nearly 4,000 school children walk to school every day along East Dulwich Grove and the surrounding roads.
They point to a recent TFL report which identified the LTN’s as the “root cause” of increased congestion in the surrounding area, contradicting a council commissioned report which said the rise in traffic was “not evidenced”.
Councillor Catherine Rose, Southwark Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks, Streets and Clean Air, said: “We are working to reduce traffic across Southwark as we know this is a priority for local people.
“I’m very glad to say we have made real progress in Dulwich, with monitoring data showing an overall reduction in traffic.
“We have worked closely with local people in Dulwich over the last two years, consulting with them at every step. We have also made adjustments to traffic reduction schemes in response to local feedback.”
She added: “One such example would be the road signs. These were legally compliant with national guidance, however we enhanced and enlarged them in response to feedback from local people.
“We believe that reducing traffic creates healthier, greener streets. It reduces harmful pollutants in the air and encourages people to make healthy choices, like walking and cycling for short journeys, such as to school, local shops and high streets.”
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On the issue of emergency vehicle delays, Councillor Rose said: “We work closely with the emergency services, they are fully aware of our revised road layouts and know that their emergency vehicles are permitted to pass through all camera enforced road closures in Southwark that are signed no motor vehicles, as opposed to no entry. Most London boroughs take the same approach.
“We had monthly meetings with the emergency services as the changes were introduced and have monitored, amended and audited our traffic reduction measures, to help the emergency services and other road users.”
