In 2019 Tower Hamlets council introduced a number of Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes, here branded 'Liveable Streets'. They hoped that blocking off a few roads, making others one-way and allowing buses to slip through would improve road safety, ease pollution and discourage ratrunning.
It would be true to say they weren't universally popular. When Bow's original proposals were trialled an army of car-driving naysayers came out to protest, and were vindicated when the manual bus gate proved so shambolic that it was abandoned within hours. But projects in other neighbourhoods were duly introduced, and in some cases boosted during lockdown, so looked to be here for the long haul. Not so. They're all being withdrawn, and it's all because our new Mayor says so.
Lutfur Rahman, the disgraced yet re-elected Mayor of Tower Hamlets, led his manifesto with a pledge to end the Liveable Streets road closure program. Now he's in power he's dived in with a growing set of consultations designed to step back previous changes, and in one case to go ahead and stop fining motorists tomorrow anyway. Residents are invited to contribute their views but I have no doubt that the reversals will go ahead whatever's said because the underlying argument has fundamentally changed.
It's still about lowering pollution, but previously it was also about walking, cycling and not getting knocked down. Now it's all about shorter car journeys, enhancing mobility and the loss of passing trade. I've checked the new documents and the words 'pedestrian' and 'cyclist' don't appear once.
Previously: "Closing this road permanently to motor vehicles will improve road safety, air quality, and reduce noise pollution" Now: "The increased congestion caused by the closures has worsened air quality and resulted in significant delays to bus services"
Previously: "By reducing traffic volume on this road we can create a cycle and pedestrian friendly environment" Now: "Concerns have been raised on the impact on residents who have limited mobility and rely on travel in licensed taxis and private hire vehicles"
Previously: "Survey results showed this road is used by drivers who are cutting through Bow; they are not stopping and spending time in the area" Now: "For many residents, the closures have created longer journeys which directly increases emissions and costs"
It's quite the about face.
One intended loss is the bus gate which for several hours a day divided Wapping into two entirely distinct parts. I wrote in November 2019 that I thought the signage was far too easy to overlook, leading drivers to risk a whopping fine, and that if you're going to introduce something called a 'bus gate' it ought to have at least some gatelike properties. But it was easy to see how this simple intervention would greatly reduce ratrunning and many's the lockdown walk that was made safer thanks to greatly reduced traffic. The Wapping bus gate consultation ends on 27th July.
Another proposed loss is of two short closures on Brick Lane. These currently apply on Saturday afternoons and most of Sunday, making driving along the full length of the street impossible, but are intended to be cut back to Sunday market hours only. Lutfur's long had a powerbase amongst businesses in Spitalfields and they'll be delighted to see bans on traffic end. The Brick Lane consultation doesn't have a published end date.
Another change is at Arnold Circus where the intention is to remove all the planters and reinstate the roundabout. I wrote about the closures when I walked the B122 in January, because they'd essentially made this B road undriveable. It does look a bit odd to see a conservation area with great big wooden boxes everywhere, but I'm not convinced that bringing back through traffic and reinstating a ring of parking spaces is the right option. The Arnold Circus consultation ends on 31st July.
I'm more baffled by proposed changes to the western end of the B118 where four separate blockages and alternating one-way sections have pretty much nullified a full mile of road. Of all the changes this did look the most like motorist-hating, but only because it's incredibly difficult to block off all possible through routes without making a topological mess. The most blatant improvement was the pedestrianised pocket park by the shops on Old Bethnal Green Road, previously a two-way street and now somewhere you might choose tolinger. But the flower beds, benches and shared surfaces are all destined to be unceremoniously ripped out, and local non-driving residents are incensed. The Old Bethnal Green Road consultation ends on 7th August.
One minor blockage on Antill Road in Bow is being nullified tomorrow anyway. The 'No motor vehicles' signs will be removed and the constriction returned to a one-way filter, which will both help local residents to drive around more easily and reinstall the shortcut others previously enjoyed.
You may be sighing at the abandonment of simple schemes promoting active travel or you may be cheering at the restoration of freedom and choice. It is amazing how polarised the debate on low traffic neighbourhoods has become, and how both sides can view the same situation and come to entirely contradictory conclusions.
Personally I'm with the 70% of Tower Hamlets households who don't have access to a car and am happy for some people to have to drive a bit further if I can get round more safely. I'm also sad that this is the nail in the coffin for any future cycling and pedestrian improvements that might upset a few drivers, so now won't even reach the drawing board. It's often difficult to strike the right balance between complexity and practicality, and not every bike-friendly scheme hits the right note, but here in Tower Hamlets a populist four-wheeled agenda has won out because you get what you vote for.
