Decision Details

1.         Noted and considered the information provided in the main ‘West Greenwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood experimental scheme report (“the Main Report”) and the addendum report (“the Addendum Report”) about the operation of the West Greenwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) experimental scheme, the results of the engagement exercise until 18th February 2022, and the options set out for its future.       

2.         Approved the removal of the West Greenwich LTN (and the return of the streets to how they were before the trial) by allowing the existing Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to expire on 25th February 2022; and to authorise Council officers to begin the process of developing an alternative LTN traffic scheme for West Greenwich (Option 3 in the Main Report)

 3.         Noted that the figures quoted in the Addendum Report supersede all other figures previously used. 

The West Greenwich traffic reduction scheme was implemented under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) which was made on 25th August 2020. Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are legal documents that enable a local highway authority to prohibit, restrict or reduce the use of a road by traffic.

An ETRO can stay in force for up to a maximum of 18 months while the effects are monitored and assessed, this period ends and the ETRO expires on 25th February 2022. The Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996 allow for the modification of experimental traffic orders, no more than 12 months after the order was made otherwise the option to make the order permanent is lost. Informed by the results of the consultation undertaken at that point, in August 2021, the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Transport took a decision to amend the ETRO.

If the Council wishes to convert the ETRO into a permanent TMO at the end of the experimental period, it will be necessary to take a decision on the West Greenwich experimental scheme after the consultation closes on 18th February 2022 and before the ETRO expires on 25th February 2022.

The Council, therefore, needs to consider now whether to make the experimental scheme permanent.

For the reasons set out above, there are clear grounds for urgency, and it would not be prudent, nor in the public / taxpayer’s interests to wait for call in to expire.

For the reasons set out above and in accordance with paragraph B10 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules in the Constitution, the Chief Executive has agreed both that the decision proposed is reasonable and is to  be treated as a matter of urgency because any delay likely to be caused by the  call-in process would prejudice the public interest.