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

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