Impact data on Lee Green LTN to be released in November

Lewisham Council implemented the first of its LTNs in late June – it involves physical and camera-enforced barriers to stop motor vehicles coming through.  

LTNs aim to reduce car usage, with many being introduced across London under emergency measures to help social distancing and encourage more active travel in the wake of the pandemic. 

The scheme has been divisive, with some residents in the area experiencing higher levels of traffic after it was displaced from the blocked-off roads.  

Last week, the council published details of how it will be measuring the impact of the LTN.  

Hither Green Lane, one of the roads to experience a rise in traffic, will have an air quality diffusion tube, which measures nitrogen dioxide, installed in September.  

Officers will be monitoring the impact using data on traffic counts, traffic speeds, air quality, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera compliance levels, and feedback via councillors, Commonplace, and the public.  

They will also be working with other organisations to monitor the impact on bus journey times and emergency service response times.  

There are three air quality monitors within the LTN, where Longhurst Road meets Leahurst Road, where Manor Lane meets St Mildred’s Road, and on Upwood Road. 

Air quality diffusion tubes are in place in and around the LTN.  

There is one just outside the LTN on Whitburn Road, one on Lee High Road near Brightfield Road, one on Bonfield Road, one outside the LTN on Boyne Road, outside the LTN on Lewisham Road, and outside the LTN on Dacre Park.  

More will be installed in the area this September and will remain in place for at least a year.  

Two of those will be on Burnt Ash Road, three on Manor Lane, one on Westhorne Avenue, one on Springbank Road, two on Leahurst Road, one on Manor Park, one on Holme Lacey Road, one on Lee High Road, and one on Hither Green Lane where it meets Ennersdale Road.  

The council commissioned traffic and speed counts in March 2019 and further counts in June/July 2020.

“These counts were taken over a seven-day period and were recorded outside of school holiday time periods.  

“Although both these data sets are baseline measurements, the effects of Covid-19 on travel behaviour for these two time periods will need to be factored into the data analysis.  

“A range of factors will also need to be taken into consideration such as seasonality, as different modes of transport and the associated flows may differ between times of year.  

“We also know that traffic flows during the Covid-19 pandemic have been affected as a result of the introduction and subsequent easing of restrictions.  

“Due consideration will be made to TfL’s traffic data for a variety of modes of transport such as bus, car and train usage that have been published at regular intervals during the lockdown period so we can understand the wider London picture,” it said.  

More traffic and speed counts will take place from mid to late September.  

The data will be analysed in October and published on Commonplace by the end of November.  

After the data is published, the council will decide whether to introduce an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) for up to 18 months with a review period after six months.  

If an ETO is introduced it will include a public consultation.

The council said it is “committed to an extensive monitoring programme”.  

“Due to the speed at which Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) have asked boroughs to work at, we do not have all the baseline air quality data we would do in normal circumstances.  

“This is because at least three months continuous data is preferable to understand any regular fluctuations that occur under normal circumstances.  

“We do, however, hold all the baseline data for traffic counts and speeds.  

“We will have a full package of ‘after’ monitoring data which will give a comprehensive picture of the impact of the Covid-19 measures on our streets,” according to the council.