Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has announced a review of the rollout of low-traffic neighbourhoods as part of his efforts to pitch the Conservative Party as a pro-motorist party. The move is seen as a response to growing concerns among some Conservative MPs that the measures are attacks on motorists. Sunak has emphasized his support for car owners, stating that “the vast majority of people in the country use their cars to get around and are dependent on their cars”.
According to Sunak, the review will focus on the impact of low-traffic neighbourhoods on emergency services, as well as their overall effectiveness in reducing traffic congestion. The Prime Minister has also indicated that he wants to ensure that people are aware that he is on their side in supporting them to use their cars for all aspects of life.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper has also weighed in on the issue, stating that the Tories are “about giving people more choice on how they travel, not banning you from driving your car”. Harper’s comments are seen as a clear indication that the government is willing to challenge the idea that low-traffic neighbourhoods are necessary to reduce traffic congestion.
However, some have criticized Sunak’s decision to review the rollout of low-traffic neighbourhoods, with Labour accusing the government of “pure hypocrisy”. Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh pointed out that the Conservatives had previously accelerated and funded the use of LTNs, and that measures to improve road safety around schools and in residential streets are often demanded by local communities themselves.
The review is seen as a response to growing concerns among some Conservative MPs that the measures are attacks on motorists. The party’s narrow victory in the Uxbridge and Ruislip by-election earlier this month, which saw the Tory candidate tap into local concerns about the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), has also contributed to the push for a review.
Rishi Sunak (Via Rishi Sunak/Twitter)
The Local Government Association has also weighed in on the issue, with transport spokeswoman Linda Taylor stating that a nationwide review is “unnecessary” and that councils need “long-term certainty of funding” and “consistency” in policymaking to invest in transport schemes.
The controversy surrounding low-traffic neighbourhoods is just the latest in a series of issues that have pitted the Conservative Party against Labour. The party’s position on net zero has also come under scrutiny, with some Conservative MPs urging Sunak to reconsider the UK’s ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Rishi Sunak’s decision to review the rollout of low-traffic neighbourhoods is seen as a major departure from the government’s previous stance on the issue. The move is intended to appeal to Conservative voters who have expressed concerns about the impact of low-traffic neighbourhoods on motorists. However, the review has also been criticized by Labour, which has accused the government of “pure hypocrisy” for its decision to review policies that it has previously accelerated and funded.
