The Royal Borough of Greenwich has been told to reconsider plans to implement a network of low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) across West and East Greenwich. This recommendation came after Cllr Averil Lekau, the decision-maker for the scheme, faced scrutiny during a meeting on Wednesday evening.
Lekau (pictured above, right) was questioned by three councillors, including scrutiny committee chair Lauren Dingsdale, Ivis Williams, and Pat Greenwell. This followed challenges from Conservative councillor Matt Hartley and Labour councillors Lakshan Saldin, Leo Fletcher, and Maisie Richards Cottell, who opposed plans in her decision to enforce the traffic measures. After deliberation, she was advised to reconsider her decision based on several points raised by both councillors and members of the public.
Councillor Dingsdale requested that Lekau reflect on comments regarding the impact on boundary and residential roads outside the proposed LTNs. She was also asked to consider amendments proposed by the opposing councillors and to ensure the adequacy of past and future consultations, particularly if the scheme is trialled via an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO).
Additionally, Lekau, who serves as deputy leader for the council and Cabinet member for climate action, sustainability, and transport, was told to ensure adequate monitoring of the LTN’s impact on neighbouring areas and boundary roads should the ETO proceed.
During the meeting, councillors who called in the decision, including Cllr Hartley, pictured, voiced their concerns. Hartley criticised the reintroduction of LTNs, comparing it to previous implementations in West Greenwich from August 2020 to February 2022, which caused significant disruption, stating it was 'history repeating itself'. He argued that the new scheme would similarly disrupt Charlton residents and be costly to the council’s efforts, finances, and reputation.
Hartley highlighted the council's neglect of new government guidance on LTNs, which recommends implementation only with majority public consent. He noted that 79 per cent of consulted residents rejected the proposals before Lekau decided to proceed, suggesting that the consultation outcome seemed predetermined. This, he said, created a perception of an insincere listening exercise by the council.
In response to Hartley's questions, Lekau more often than not read directly from her decision report or delegated questions to transport officers Ryan Nibbs and Rich Udemezue, leaving some in attendance to question her expertise, preparedness, as well as confidence in her own decision-making abilities.
Members of the public were given two minutes each to speak, with a total of 10 supporters of the scheme going first. Most of those present represented Maidenstone Hill and Winforton Street and advocated for static bollards to stop cars passing through so that their children could play in the middle of the road, despite emergency services' continued concerns about potential impediments to response times.
Several Green Party candidates, both current and past, including one previously caught vandalising a telephone exchange box, were also present.
Colin Humphreys, from East Greenwich, made controversial statements against those opposing the scheme, commenting those who supported the scheme must 'stand together against the extreme right-wing who would rather our children die, and our planet burn rather than have a minute longer drive to the shops.'
Notably, his own company's website, below, mentions delivering ‘solutions’ to Volkswagen, which previously faced legal penalties for installing emissions-cheating devices in their vehicles.
Many more residents spoke against the scheme than in favour, including the parent of a special educational needs and disabled (SEND) child. During her speech, she was reportedly heckled by an audience member with Green Party affiliations, who mocked her appearance and questioned the validity of her daughter's disability.
A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, described the incident as shocking and indicative of disrespect from the scheme’s supporters, saying: 'I couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth.
'Most of the people who were in favour of the scheme were all huddled together in their own little corner at the back and were really disrespectful of what other people had to say.
'How someone can laugh and question the validity of another person's disabled child is beyond words.'
Concerns raised by opponents included the impact of displaced traffic on surrounding roads, the legality of the Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) report, prepared by the scheme's own design agency, pollution, and the lack of evidence supporting Cllr Lekau's decision to proceed with the scheme on the grounds of safety.
Lekau (above) was seen to laugh and gesticulate when racial disparity was mentioned by one resident and appeared not to know about the existence of a local brain injury rehabilitation hospital located on Blackheath Hill. She used her mobile phone during public speeches and left the room multiple times throughout the course of the meeting, citing medication side effects.
The scrutiny meeting, originally scheduled for 15 May, was delayed twice due to a local bye-election and the snap general election on 4 July.
Despite the scrutiny and opposition, the trial scheme, set to last up to 18 months, is likely to proceed. It will close all hills in West and East Greenwich to through traffic on weekdays between 7-10am and 3-7pm.
You can watch the full meeting below.