The opposition to “temporary” road closures in London grows daily. These are being put in by a number of London boroughs, using the Covid-19 epidemic as an excuse. The argument is that road closures help with social distancing but it is very unclear how. Widening pavements and cycle lanes may assist but road closures do not – they just divert traffic onto other roads thereby creating more congestion, or encourage people to use public transport where the risks of infection are very high.
Gridlock is happening all over the place as normal routes used by delivery drivers, social care workers and those elderly and disabled who need to use a car or taxis find the roads blocked. It’s clearly the intention to make these measures permanent in due course in many boroughs, driven by those ideologically opposed to the use of vehicles of all kinds.
You can join the opposition to the closures by signing all the relevant petitions some of which are given below – there may be others in your local area if you search for them.
Lewisham: There is a petition on Change.org created by Roger Lawson which has already collected 1,500 signatures – see http://chng.it/ft4KcrVM . Please sign it if you have not done so already. There is also a petition against the specific closures in Lee Green ward created by a local resident – see http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=46 and against the closure of South Row near Blackheath – see http://chng.it/PNWJWG57Sn
Lambeth: Opposition to road closures in the Oval Triangle: http://chng.it/wywrxJVmz2 . There is also a council e-petition for Lambeth residents here: https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?Id=478 . And there is a specific petition against closures of Railton Road and Shakespeare Road on Change.org here: http://chng.it/hf5MdDmX9W . Plus one on the St Matthews Road closure: http://chng.it/YKwqY6tWVH . Web sites are also present here: https://www.oneoval.co.uk/ and here: https://www.onerailton.co.uk/
Islington: Opposition to road closures in Prebend Street, Colebrooke Row, etc, in the St. Peters Ward: https://www.change.org/p/islington-residents-stop-islington-councils-closure-of-local-roads
Waltham Forest: A petition against road closures in the borough: https://www.change.org/p/cllr-clare-coghill-walthamforest-gov-uk-stop-road-closures
Southwark: A petition against road closures in the Walworth/Kennington area: https://www.change.org/p/southwark-council-no-to-cooks-road-chapter-road-carter-street-closures , plus a petition against road closures in Dulwich: http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=500000049&RPID=773103676&HPID=773103676
Croydon: A petition against the closure of the Southern Avenue/ Lancaster Road Junction, in South Norwood: https://www.change.org/p/croydon-council-reopen-southern-avenue-lancaster-road-junction
Sunbury: A petition against an “Active Travel” scheme including road closures in Sunbury: https://www.change.org/p/surrey-county-council-cancel-active-travel-scheme-in-lower-sunbury
Wandsworth: Opposition to a “Low Traffic Neighbourhood” in Heaver/Balham South: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no-heaver-ltn-1
Ealing: Opposition to plans for “Low Traffic Neighbourhoods” and the failure of the Council to disclose those plans: http://chng.it/wncQVWDbsG
Enfield: Objection to Low Traffic Neighbourhood: https://www.change.org/p/london-borough-of-enfield-objection-to-low-traffic-neighbourhood-and-immediate-opening-of-roads-to-traffic
Hammersmith & Fulham: Local M.P. Greg Hands in Hammersmith & Fulham has created a petition calling on LBHF to cancel its SW6 traffic scheme. See: https://www.greghands.com/campaigns/SW6petition
Greenwich: Opposition to road closures blocking east-west routes: http://chng.it/jTNxZhVhBS and opposed to Hills and Vales closures: http://chng.it/2qWywzpfxP
Newham: Immediate removal of Newham’s LTN schemes: http://chng.it/WzY7F2Ys58
Hackney: Reverse the road closures and have a public consultation: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/hackney-road-closures
Camden: Opposition to Arlington Road closures: http://chng.it/PrvZvscwZw .
Harrow: Petition opposing road blocks: http://chng.it/h4BHLrDsyP
There are also road closures taking place in these London boroughs: Tower Hamlets and Kingston. If you live or work in those boroughs, why not create your own petition against them? It’s very easy to do so on Change.org.
Postscript: Note that this page is not maintained but the above list has now been placed on this page of our web site where the information is maintained and additions made: https://www.freedomfordrivers.org/london-road-closures.htm
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Drivers_London
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Should we sign all of them to show countrywide support?
Great idea, I’ll be signing all, this is madness. Please also sign for Fulham https://www.greghands.com/campaigns/SW6petition
Thank you! Oval resident@
This is unacceptable
Ridiculous number of closures adding to gridlock on main roads .
That what they want then they will up the congestion charge
More emissions 🤢
I’d like to know what these councils are smoking.
Absolutely ludicrous
Should make the roads wider and more of them. Not close. Billions more on the roads now due to the government letting everyone into the country in spite of being small compared to France and Germany,
Need to act fast… as we may lose even more as the weeks go on.
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I went to Chiswick this afternoon, and came home feeling furious. The road closures make it almost impossible to do the most routine food-shopping for people not in the first flush of youth. I’ve now got blisters on my feet from having to walk miles to my car with heavy bags. For someone with hip problems this is unacceptable. Public transport is out for me due to Covid. It’s like councils actually want shops to close.
Best of luck from TORONTO CAR PEOPLE in Canada.
Please also sign for Fulham: https://www.greghands.com/campaigns/SW6petition
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