More signs warning drivers of the low-traffic neighbourhood east and west of Greenwich Park are to be installed after residents asked the council why they were not there in the first place.
Greenwich Council’s deputy leader Averil Lekau admitted that the launch of the LTN, which began at the end of November but has only been enforced since January 2, had not been smooth and said the town hall was still “learning lessons”.
Some 7,000 fines have been issued since January 2, Lekau said at Wednesday night’s full council meeting.
The part-time LTN means most drivers cannot make north-south through trips on weekdays between 3pm and 7pm on a number of roads across Greenwich and Blackheath, from Westcombe Hill in the east to Point Hill in the west.
There has been an increase in traffic in some roads in Charlton, while enforcement was delayed because of problems with the signage, which remains minimal, with little advance warning of the restrictions.
Some advance warning signs were put up before Christmas but were quickly taken down again. Lekau said that signs were being reviewed to ensure they were clear.
The deputy leader was challenged on the low-traffic neighbourhood by Alan Pike, a Greenwich resident who said that drivers were doing U-turns in the road outside James Wolfe primary school on Royal Hill, which includes a centre for deaf children.
Following up a written response, he said: “In her reply, alternative routes and turning points are available to avoid committing a traffic contravention. Does the deputy leader appreciate that because of the signage issues, the only sign relating to this barrier is the camera sign itself.
“So by the time motorists have got to the school, they’re already within the contravention zone. Tonight I saw them driving on the pavement.
“What do you suggest motorists are supposed to do? By the time they get to the stop point, they are already in a spot where they’re not allowed to stop.”
Lekau responded: “It hasn’t been as smooth as… – I would admit that. But that’s precisely why we’ve taken on board the reaction of residents. We’ve taken on board what we are seeing as issues that are arising from this.”
Pike said that after nine weeks the council was “still talking about making changes to the signage” said it was related to “the over-complexity of the design of the scheme”.
Lekau replied: “I believe we’re learning lessons and I believe as we learn those lessons, we will continue to address them.” She did not give a date for when the new signs would be installed.
There were also concerns raised about a lack of air quality monitoring as well as traffic safety outside Fossdene primary school in Charlton, outside the LTN but on the junction of Victoria Way and Eastcombe Avenue, two roads which have become busier since the scheme was introduced.
A tired-sounding Lekau, who had crutches after recently suffering a foot injury, gave an answer about “cars turning round at that spot” which appeared to relate to the problems at James Wolfe, rather than addressing the issue at Fossdene.
She then added: “We don’t have to have air quality monitoring next to every building, it’s taken as a whole.”
Matt Hartley, the Conservative opposition leader, said: “Seven thousand fines and the correct signage not installed – this is not going well.
“There is more and more feedback coming back from residents on the impact of the scheme on boundary roads in Charlton and Blackheath, that the impact is materialising just as residents and we warned.”
Hartley asked if all the data that the council had been collecting would be published. Lekau said it would be published as part of the consultation process.
It was also revealed that the scheme would cost up between £300,000 and £400,000 – an increase on the £220,000 quoted in March last year.
The scheme is running as an 18-month trial, with a consultation running at greenersafergreenwich.commonplace.is.
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