What is a low traffic neighbourhood?
Low traffic neighbourhoods make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using quiet streets as shortcuts. Over time, LTNs can encourage people to switch from driving to more sustainable ways of travelling, like walking, public transport and cycling. This is one of the ways we can tackle the climate emergency in Lambeth.
Everyone can still access streets using a car, but traffic filters are used to stop through-traffic
Local residents and people visiting or making a delivery can still access any street using a motor vehicle, but some streets have traffic filters at one end which only cyclists and pedestrians can pass through. This is to prevent traffic from driving straight through the area. Vehicle access includes:
- Emergency Services
- Buses and pedal cycles
- Rapid response healthcare providers
- Category 1 Responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004
- Refuse collection vehicles
In Lambeth, we have announced that blue badge holders and accessible transport providers, including accessible taxis, will be able to apply for an exemption from some of these filters. Emergency services are already permitted to pass through.
The following can automatically drive through traffic filters without incurring a Penalty.
Above, an example of a temporary traffic filter in the Oval to Stockwell LTN.
We introduced five trial LTNs in 2020
Low traffic neighbourhoods are a part of our long-term transport strategy which was launched following consultation in 2019. They were introduced more quickly than planned because of the Covid-19 pandemic; we needed to help people travel safely and sustainably as capacity on public transport was dramatically reduced.
The five permanent LTNs in Lambeth are: Oval to Stockwell, Railton, Ferndale, Tulse Hill and Streatham Hill.
We have also announced plans to introduce two more LTNs, Streatham Wells and Brixton Hill and trials will begin soon. We continue to engage with communities on proposals for Slade Gardens LTN, Stockwell Gardens LTN, and West Dulwich LTN.
View a map of the LTNs in Lambeth via the Transport Strategy Appendix B.
We are not consulting on each LTN. We are currently engaging on Slade Gardens and Stockwell Gardens. Statutory consultation for the current Trial LTNS (i.e. Streatham Wells and Brixton Hill) LTN and gathering data on their impact, to help us decide if they should become permanent
Since they were introduced, we've been monitoring the impact of each trial LTN to find out if they're successfully reducing traffic in and around the areas they cover. We have been using this data and resident feedback to make changes to the layout and design of our trial LTNs. We've published a monitoring strategy which has more detail on what we're measuring and how.
If the data show that an LTN is successfully reducing traffic in and around the area, we then consider whether to make it permanent. To help us make this decision, we consult local residents and people who travel through the area to find out their views and experiences.
As a result of this process, we decided to make the Oval to Stockwell and Railton LTNs permanent in December 2021.
Visit the pages about each LTN below to read more about them and view the published data for each scheme.
Low traffic neighbourhood dispensation
To support disabled people who rely on cars, individuals with a Blue Badge who register for a dispensation will be allowed to pass through one of the ‘traffic filters’ in Lambeth without being issued a Penalty Charge Notice (traffic fine). To find out more and apply visit the Low traffic neighbourhood dispensations webpage.
Certain other motor vehicles can apply for dispensation that allows them to pass through a specified traffic filter in the neighbourhood.
Dispensation is available for Blue Badge holders, a Blue Badge holder’s appointed driver, or nominated visitor. This could be a family member, friend, or carer, for example. Both individual Blue Badge holders and organisations who qualify for a Blue Badge (such as SEN transport providers) can apply for the dispensation. Read details of Lambeth’s dispensation policy.