Having seized a number of councils in May’s local elections, Reform UK have now declared war on low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).
The party have committed to ending the schemes in every council they control, as well as stalling the introduction of any new ones, The Telegraph reported.
LTNs were introduced in 2020 and have been championed by politicians like London mayor Sadiq Khan as being positive for pedestrians and cyclists.
It was also claimed that they would help slash pollution and make roads safer by closing off the majority of side roads to vehicles.
But the schemes have also led to a backlash from drivers and bus passengers due to an increase in delays on roads around the areas and the impact on the disabled.
At present there are more than 100 of the schemes operating inside the UK.
Zia Yusuf, the Reform party chairman, said: ‘LTNs have proliferated too quickly and there are far too many of them.
‘We view these schemes with the same suspicion as mass immigration and Net Zero. They are policies which are supported by and made to benefit more affluent people, who are then insulated from the negative consequences.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has pledged to put an end to low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the councils run by his party since their dramatic election victory earlier this month
London’s oldest LTN (pictured) is in Hackney, East London, with many of the side roads blocked by bollards
Councils cracking down on car drivers and installing unpopular Low Traffic Neighborhoods (LTNs) are spending tens of thousands of pounds on taxis for their own staff
A sign is vandalised on a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) barrier on August 1 in London
This picture from November 1 shows volunteers protesting against Lambeth Council’s Streatham Wells LTN – and warning motorists against driving down the road
‘You can expect, if you live in a Reform council, for there to be a much higher bar for any proposals for LTNs and for the large-scale reversal of these existing LTNs.’
Mr Yusef said that the 10 Reform-run councils would soon become ‘islands of freedom for motorists’.
LTNs were a big issue for Reform UK candidates in the May local elections, where they took control of 10 councils and racked up 677 councillors.
However the schemes have been a benefit for property owners, with prices booming inside the zones.
Properties inside London’s controversial low traffic neighbours (LTNs) are worth up to 108 per cent more than the borough average, research last year showed.
The average house price within 20 LTNs analysed by estate agent Benham and Reeves is £529,391, which is 5 per cent above the typical London value of £502,690
But while the research suggests LTNs are boosting house prices for homeowners who already live within them, experts warned the additional strain the areas place on surrounding roads from increased congestion is a deterrent to many buyers.
