Labour has been accused of waging a “secret war on drivers” after shelving Tory plans to restrict the spread of controversial low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and 20mph zones.
Reforms drawn up under Rishi Sunak would have forced councils to take greater account of the views of residents and businesses before introducing LTNs, with mandatory public meetings as a minimum.
But the government has now ditched the proposals, arguing they “would have made no positive difference for drivers”.
The move has sparked a furious backlash. Richard Holden, the Conservative shadow transport secretary, said: “Labour has been caught red-handed as it steps up its targeted war on motorists.”
He told the Times: “Conservatives led the charge against unfair and overzealous enforcement, but our work has been ripped up in underhand attacks without any public consultation or manifesto pledge.
“This is a kick in the teeth to motorists, set to punish beleaguered local high streets, and will slam the brakes on the economy even more than Rachel Reeves has done so far.”
The Sunak-era reforms followed growing public anger at LTNs, which ban or heavily restrict cars from using residential streets to encourage walking and cycling. A government review this year found that in 87% of cases where polling was conducted, residents opposed the schemes.
Introduced in London by mayor Sadiq Khan in 2020, LTNs have since been rolled out in Oxford, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield. Critics say they simply push traffic and pollution onto nearby main roads, creating longer jams for drivers.
By August 2023, Freedom of Information requests revealed at least 103 schemes across 21 boroughs, with dozens more added since.
Lilian Greenwood, the roads minister, confirmed Sunak’s plans had been “put on hold and the government is now considering appropriate next steps”.
She said: “As has always been the case, local authorities are responsible for managing their roads and are accountable to their communities.”
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, also a transport minister, added: “Traffic-management measures such as low-traffic neighbourhoods are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best.”
Ms Greenwood also rejected Conservative proposals to curb “inappropriate blanket” 20mph limits, insisting: “We believe that traffic authorities are best placed to decide where lower limits will be effective on the roads for which they are responsible, and that consultation and community support should be at the heart of the process. Those policies in the [Conservative] ‘plan for drivers’ that would have made no positive difference for drivers have been discontinued.”
The Department for Transport insisted Labour was “absolutely on the side of drivers”.
A spokesman said: “The government is absolutely on the side of drivers, focusing on making journeys safer and smoother, and saving motorists money.
“Over the past year alone, we invested an extra £500 million to help local authorities resurface roads and fix seven million potholes, reducing congestion and saving drivers up to £600 a year in repairs.
“We’ve also committed £1 billion to repair bridges, flyovers and tunnels, and greenlit over 30 road schemes to improve journeys. Meanwhile, we are making our roads safer to drive on and will set out the next steps for the first road safety strategy in over a decade in due course.”
