Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Environment and Resident Experience. To be presented by Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment & Transport

The Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport introduced the report. It was explained that the Bruce Grove West Green Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) had delivered significant safety improvements since its implementation, noting that the December 2024 Cabinet report showed that road traffic collisions had halved across the area. However, the Council recognised that the unique geography of Broadwater Farm (BWF) created particular challenges for residents. Located centrally within the borough’s largest LTN and with some of the lowest public transport accessibility levels in Haringey, Broadwater Farm residents faced longer diversionary routes than most when accessing services to the south via Philip Lane.

It was explained that this targeted proposal addressed equity concerns while preserving the environmental and safety benefits that LTNs delivered for communities. With only 41% of Broadwater Farm households on average owning cars—below the borough average—this measured exemption was designed to benefit those who needed it most without undermining traffic reduction objectives. The proposal ensured that this “LTN within an LTN” did not inadvertently disadvantage residents who relied on private vehicles for essential journeys, while maintaining the integrity of the wider network that had made streets safer for everyone.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1. Approved, subject to statutory (traffic order) consultation:
   a) Changes to the existing traffic filter in Gloucester Road as set out in Appendix A.
   b) Introduction of a new Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) exemption allowing residents of Broadwater Farm to apply for one permit entitling them to drive a single motor vehicle (of which they were the registered keeper) through the traffic filter defined in 3.1(a).
   
   
2. Approved the commencement of statutory (traffic order) consultation associated with the recommendations in 3.1, in accordance with The Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996 (the “Regulations”), with consultation to begin only after the conclusion of the call-in period following this decision.
   
   
3. Delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Environment and Resident Experience, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport, and subject to key decisions being considered by Cabinet, to:
   a) Consider any objections arising from the statutory (traffic order) consultation and decide whether to make the associated traffic order(s).
   b) Approve the amendment to the LTN exemption criteria, taking into account any objections arising from the consultation.

Reasons for Decision

The reasons for the recommendations were set out in detail in Section 6 of the report.

Alternative Options Considered

Do nothing:
This option would have retained the current status quo, whereby most motorists living on Broadwater Farm accessed their homes via roads leading to and from Lordship Lane or Bruce Grove. Due to the current location of traffic filters—mainly to the south of Broadwater Farm—most residents could not directly access their homes via Philip Lane. This option was considered and discounted.

Remove the Gloucester Road traffic filter:
This option would have enabled Broadwater Farm residents to access Philip Lane by motor vehicle. However, it would have created a “leaky” LTN, allowing any motorist to drive through, thereby undermining one of the key principles of the LTN. This option was therefore discounted.

Alternative traffic filters:
Two other existing traffic filters were considered for improving access for Broadwater Farm residents but were discounted for the following reasons:

• Diagonal traffic filter at Higham Road and Dongola Road: The Council did not provide exemption permits for diagonal filters due to the increased risk of collisions.
• Mount Pleasant Road, south of its junction with The Avenue: This filter currently allowed exemptions in a southbound direction only. Due to the proximity of a zebra crossing and the road’s previous one-way designation, the location was not considered suitable for two-way exemptions