NEIGHBOURS have claimed their street is ruined by Low Traffic Neighbourhood barricades.
Locals in Levenshulme and Burnage in Manchester say their streets fell under the scheme in 2020.
Neighbours have claimed their street is ruined by Low Traffic Neighbourhood barricades
STEVE ALLENAccountant Adeel Ahmad, 49, said parking is a nighmare[/caption]
Locals claim parking has made their lives a misery
Three years on, they claim barricades have made their lives a misery, with drivers still speeding and making parking a nightmare.
Dad-of-two Stuart – whose kids are aged seven and 11 – blasted the scheme for being implemented poorly.
He said: “It’s a good concept, though poorly executed by the council. It was done piecemeal and they plonked their barricades down in the middle of the night.
“They could have implemented it a lot better, so that was a negative.
“But before it was a really hostile environment for kids, with speeding cars, so now overall it is better.”
Across the road young mum Rebecca, 28, said barricades have meant larger vehicles struggle to get through.
She said: “I don’t disagree with it, but there are big vehicles, like bin lorries that sometimes fail to get round the corner.
“If it was a one-way system that would make sense and maybe having double yellow lines on the corner. People still drive too fast round that corner.”
Others have blasted the Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme for causing parking issues.
Accountant Adeel Ahmad, 49, said: “Before the scheme parking was very easy, now it’s an issue for the businesses and residents.
“Most of the residents on the street park here as they have to drive all the way round to park at the end of the road.
“We have had clients complaining about the parking and then sometimes residents get their drives blocked and they call here seeing if it is our clients.
“There is a load more traffic on this street – it’s a main through route.”
Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The successful delivery of the Levenshulme and Burnage Active Neighbourhood has long been a top priority for the Council.
“However, when dealing with a scheme of this nature, which elicits such passion and community feedback, it is vital that we get it right.
“I am pleased that in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester on behalf of the Combined Authority we have developed a scheme that will improve road safety and encourage people to choose active travel more often.”
Others said the LTN scheme has improved their neighbourhood.
IT worker Stephen Corrie, 34, said: “I grew up in Levenshulme and this was always a bit of a through road, but I didn’t realise how bad the traffic was with people racing up Slade Lane and Kingsway.
“Now it’s much quieter than it used to be and there are children playing football and cricket in the street – it’s beautiful.
“A return to a safer environment for them to enjoy.
“Kids playing in the street would never have happened before with the speed people raced down these roads.
“I know taxi drivers don’t like it, but when it was first introduced I had one drive on the pavement to get past the bollard.
“I told him I wasn’t impressed as I live on the road, but now they have blocked the road properly to prevent that.”
The Levenshulme and Burnage active neighbourhood scheme has now seen 14 permanent filters installed – blocking entry to all passing traffic that isn’t on foot or two wheels.
Last month, Rishi Sunak ordered a review of hated low-traffic neighbourhoods — but campaigners urged him to do much MORE to end the war on motorists.
MPs and motoring groups demanded additional action from the PM to target anti-car policies and protect cash-strapped drivers.
They also pressured Mr Sunak to push back the 2030 cut-off date for new petrol and diesel engines.
It came after the PM vowed to review hated low traffic neighbourhoods amid concerns about congestion surrounding them.
He said “The vast majority of people in the country use their cars to get around and are dependent on their cars.
“I just want to make sure people know that I’m on their side in supporting them to use their cars to do all the things that matter to them.”
But his MPs urged him to go further — and win the party votes.
Greg Smith, who chairs the Transport Committee, said: “Labour are weak on this.
“While they flip-flop, we must stand firmly on the side of motorists.”
Locals in Levenshulme and Burnage in Manchester say their streets fell under the scheme in 2020
STEVE ALLENStephen Corrie lives in the area[/caption]