a day ago
Labour drops plans to restrict LTNs in ‘secret war on motorists'
Labour has renewed its ' war on motorists ' by dropping plans to limit new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20mph zones.
Ministers have quietly ditched reforms that would have curbed council powers to restrict traffic and levy 'unfair' fines and parking charges.
The Conservatives, which drew up the changes, branded the move 'a kick in the teeth to motorists' and warned it would hit struggling high streets.
But Labour ministers dismissed the proposals as 'speculative suggestions' and said they 'would have made no positive difference for drivers'.
Sir Keir Starmer has been repeatedly accused of pursuing heavy-handed policies against motorists, most notably in London and Wales.
In the latest example, Labour-run Southwark council on Sunday was forced to admit it illegally fined thousands of people for driving in bus lanes.
Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, said scrapping the Tory plans represented a 'secret war on drivers' that was not in Labour's manifesto.
'Labour has been caught red handed as it steps up its targeted war on motorists,' he said.
'Conservatives led the charge against unfair and over-zealous enforcement but our work has been ripped up in underhand attacks without any public consultation or manifesto pledge.
'This is a kick in the teeth to motorists, set to punish beleaguered local high streets and will slam the brakes on the economy even more than Rachel Reeves has done so far.'
Rishi Sunak announced a 'Plan for Drivers' in October 2023, which would have made it harder for local councils to introduce anti-car schemes.
It included draft guidance on the introduction of LTNs, which would have forced councils to focus more on the views of local residents and businesses.
As a 'minimum' authorities would have had to hold a series of public meetings with residents and to leaflet every household in the affected area.
The changes were planned over concerns councils have been railroading through LTNs on the back of support by green and pro-cycling groups.
Ministers have now confirmed that the draft guidance, which was not formalised in time for last year's general election, has been effectively shelved.
Lilian Greenwood, the roads minister, said that as a result, work had been 'put on hold and the Government is now considering appropriate next steps'.
'As has always been the case, local authorities are responsible for managing their roads and are accountable to their communities,' she said.
Lord Hendy, a transport minister, also suggested that the Government does not plan to change the current guidance in force on LTNs.
'Traffic management measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best,' he said.
The last Tory government had planned a series of pro-driver reforms, including new guidance to 'prevent inappropriate blanket use of 20mph zones'.
The Tories sought to roll out more pro-driver policies in the wake of the Labour administration in Wales controversially enforcing a default 20mph zone across all formerly 30mph areas in 2023.
Following a huge outcry the Senedd is now reviewing the policy, with the architect of the scheme admitting 'more common sense' should have been deployed.
Ms Greenwood said the Government has 'no current plans' to review the guidance around the setting of 20mph speed limits in England.
'We believe that traffic authorities are best placed to decide where lower limits will be effective on the roads for which they are responsible, and that consultation and community support should be at the heart of the process,' she added.
Other planned Tory measures that would have limited the use of '15-minute cities' have also been ditched.
Under those measures, Conservative ministers would have revoked council's access to DVLA data, which they use to enforce traffic filters.
The 15-minute city concept were designed so residents could access all basic services within a quarter of an hour walk or bike ride from home.
It has become controversial with some on the Right who see the car as pivotal to freedom and attempts to curb driving as the spread of state control.
'No positive difference'
Mr Sunak also pledged to reduce 'unfair' traffic fines, such as yellow box penalties, including by restricting councils' ability to raise revenue from them.
Under the measures new guidance would have been brought forward giving residents the formal right to challenge their council's parking policies.
Labour ministers confirmed that all three proposals had been dropped.
'Those policies in 'The Plan for Drivers' that would have made no positive difference for drivers have been discontinued,' Ms Greenwood said.
Mr Holden said that Sir Sadiq Khan would be 'licking his lips now he has been given the green light to hammer drivers even more'.
The Mayor of London has overseen a rapid expansion of LTNs in the capital and the introduction of blanket 20mph limits across the city.
The Department for Transport was approached for comment.
