Enfield Council is proposing a series of new traffic restrictions in both Edmonton Green and Bowes, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

A bollard blocking access to motor vehicles within the Bowes Park LTN — An existing LTN in Enfield

Feedback from consultations on two proposed new low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) schemes show many residents remain unconvinced over their effectiveness.

Following the second round of public engagement in January and February on the Bowes East and Edmonton Green LTN proposals – dubbed ‘quieter neighbourhoods’ by Enfield Council – feedback has shown some residents do not believe they will create “safer streets”.

In total 226 people provided feedback on the Bowes East LTN. The council’s report on the engagement shows residents were concerned about accessibility to and from the area, particularly due to some proposed banned right turns.

When asked, on a scale of one to five, how effective the proposal would be at creating safer streets, 66% of respondents selected one. When asked about enabling people to walk, wheel, cycle and access public transport, 67% of the respondents said one.

In terms of banning right-turns on to Wolves Lane and Melville Gardens to reduce “excessive through traffic” within the proposed Bowes East LTN, 72% of respondents said they thought this would not be at all effective.

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However, some people supported the proposed ‘school street’ on Tottenhall Road and Grenoble Gardens.

The council also reviewed traffic data and identified that while traffic volumes in the area were “lower than anticipated, large vehicle queue lengths were evident on Grenoble Gardens especially during peak afternoon hours”.

In light of the feedback the council is revising the LTN design and will not proceed with banning right-turns eastbound onto Wolves Lane/Melville Gardens, while prohibiting right turns westbound into Green Lanes will be reviewed.

The Edmonton Green LTN consultation saw 128 people provide feedback.

Interest was shown in speed limits, parking and the arrangement of one-way streets, school streets, and the timings of the proposed modal filters.

Following the feedback, as well as a review of traffic data in the area, the council is revising the layout and directions of proposed one-way roads, adding proposed double yellow lines at intersections to improve visibility at junctions, and proceeding with timed modal filters as opposed to operating them 24/7.

In terms of survey responses on the Edmonton Green LTN’s effectiveness at creating safer streets, 58% of respondents did not believe it would be “at all effective”.

When asked whether the proposal would improve the physical health of people living in the LTN, 63% of respondents put “not at all”.

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