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Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The moment desperate drivers realise they've been snared by London's most-hated low traffic neighbourhood that pulls in £16,500 in fines a day
These are the chaotic scenes when drivers try to avoid an 'absolutely ridiculous' Low Traffic Neighbourhood that is raking in fines of £16,500 a day for a council. The camera-enforced LTN roads in East Greenwich, south-east London are making it difficult for locals to go to the shops, drop their children to school and get to work, they say. And our video shows the lengths drivers are forced to go to in order to avoid a dreaded £100 fine. MailOnline footage shows one grey van braking abruptly before hastily turning around and a Waitrose truck making an awkward diversion. Other clips show a laundry delivery lorry driving down a restricted road before quickly backing out in a panic, cars approaching hesitantly to read the signs then re-routing and even some oblivious drivers hurtling straight through. Between January and the end of May, the council has made £2.5 million from 47,836 notices penalty notices issued over rush-hour restrictions on Westcombe Hill, Vanbrugh Hill, Halstow Road and Maze Hill. Irene Asah, 48, was once able to drop her nine-year-old son right outside the school gates, but is now forced to park up before Halstow Road and let him walk the rest of the way on his own. The mother-of-two doesn't have time to take the diverted route as she also has to drop her daughter to secondary school and get to work. 'I wish I could drop him straight to the school entrance, it would be easier and more secure, but I don't have time,' she told MailOnline. Ms Asah said the LTN is 'really horrible' and 'bad for people who drive', adding: 'It does make our journeys longer. I work in central London, so when I come back after 3pm I can't go this direction. I have to go all the way past Shooters Hill, it's a long way.' If she was able to use the road when she finishes work, it would only take her 15 minutes to get to her son's school and pick him up at 3.30pm. However, it now takes her 45 minutes which means she often arrives 15 minutes past the collection time. 'The school are always calling me because I'm late and can't get there in time,' she said. Colin Gifford, 55, lives at the top of Vanbrugh Hill and mentioned how the build-up of traffic can add an extra 20 minutes to his commute. He told MailOnline: 'My quickest and easiest way to the Blackwall Tunnel is down Vanbrugh Hill through the LTN, but I'm forced to go all the way round during rush hour with everybody else and that's making those roads so much busier.' Mr Gifford acknowledged the LTN is good for the people living on the restricted roads, but said it 'doesn't make sense' for other locals. 'I don't think it stops people driving, they just go in a different direction,' he added. Elsewhere, Kirsty Dunlop explained how Greenwich has always been a 'pathway to the Blackwall Tunnel', but the easy access they once had is now blocked. The 46-year-old said: 'The LTNs sound great in theory, but for us residents it's absolutely ridiculous and there's no help what so ever.' She added: 'I live the other side of Amber Hill, so for me to get to the Blackwall Tunnel I have to go all the way up, over and around to get somewhere that would have taken me two minutes. 'I understand there's the whole rat-run thing with people coming in, but it's just so unhelpful.' Ms Dunlop said her neighbour recently received a £100 fine after she drove through Halstow Road at 6.59am. But, when her friend appealed it and pointed out she had gone through just one minute before the controls start, she was told it 'doesn't matter'. The build-up of traffic has also made bus journeys longer and even impossible at times because they can't 'physically turn down' some congested roads due to how narrow they are. She said: 'It's a mile to my son's school and sometimes we don't want to walk in the pouring rain and get wet, so then you're waiting on a bus. 'The bus will say it's going to be 10 minutes and next thing you know it's 20 minutes. That's putting pressure on all of us and it's just not fair.' She mentioned how teachers are unable to park on the road where they work and end up late because they have to search for a spot further away. Ms Dunlop said: 'It's just really put us at a disadvantage. I do think something needs to happen, but I don't think this is the way forward. 'I don't think they have really thought this through for the people living here.' The mother is 'not surprised' the council make so much money from fines, adding: 'As much as they package it up as fighting pollution and helping us, it is a money-making scheme.' Marianne Chapman, 39, lives on Eastcombe Avenue, the first road past the Westcombe Park LTN, and believes they are 'just putting everyone in more traffic'. She told MailOnline: 'It means everyone comes down my road and it's completely blocked. 'We've got the 380 bus and it can't come up the road because of the amount of people coming down and it's really narrow. So, the busses physically can't do the turn.' Ms Chapman shared concerns about how the money from the fines is being used. 'Where is this money Greenwich Council are collecting from fines going? They're making this much money, but are they showing us it's going into doing something about the environment and pollution? 'Is it even being spent on something or is it just going into the councils budget? It should go towards something relevant to what it is meant to be stopping.' Gareth Morgan, 46, said he is having to be 'very conscious' of the routes he takes and is 'yet to have met someone in favour of the idea'. The Halstow Road resident revealed how he has to use public car parks because he doesn't currently have a parking permit for outside his property. He added he might have been caught out by the unclear signage had not seen the consultation. Other residents noted they avoid talking to some of their neighbours who like the LTN because of how divisive the topic is, with some asking to give their comments anonymously. One man said: 'They have to stop this game. London is not Amsterdam. Is this some kind of money making scheme? 'The neighbourhoods that benefit from this system are the ones with beautiful houses. The square meter is way more expensive here.' Another complained: 'I think it's a waste of time. I've had situations where taxis are not wanting to turn into this area to drop me off at home, so I'm being dropped off at the bottom of the hill. 'People are not very clear on the rules. It seems very complicated. 'I'd rather see the council spend money on actual things that are going help us with reaching net zero, like more cycle lanes and investing in better public transport, rather than these kinds of punitive measures that are there to punish motorists. 'It's damaging the council's relationship with local residents.' Meanwhile, a few homeowners in East Greenwich - who also asked to remain anonymous - said they 'love' the scheme before hurrying away from any more questions. Donald Reid, who is in favour of the LTN, was unafraid to declare his opinion that it is a 'good thing'. The 65-year-old said: 'It has reduced congestion, reduced pollution, and it makes the area nice to walk around.' 'We need to get more people off the roads and using bikes or walking. There are a large number of unnecessary journeys being made by car. 'People need to change behaviour to get closer to net zero.' He said it was 'horrendous' before the restrictions, with cars 'banked up the road with pollution running'. Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of Greenwich Conservatives, who requested the figures on fines from the council, told us: 'Labour's ideological war on drivers continues to hurt people here. 'The scheme was chaotically introduced, with poor signage and widespread confusion. 'The fines are now rolling in to the council and, predictably, there's no sign of the air quality benefits the council claimed. 'What we can see is that some traffic is being displaced to roads in areas outside the zone, which have been badly let down by this council. 'Labour councillors need to have the humility to listen to local people, instead of just seeing the pound signs above their heads.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Memorial Day events in RI: Parades, Boots on the Ground for Heroes and more
It's the gateway to summer and the fashion maven's first chance to wear white shoes, but Memorial Day weekend is first and foremost a solemn recognition of the men and women who sacrificed their lives to protect the freedom of all Americans. Pay your respects by bringing the family to one of the many parades and wreath-laying ceremonies across the state. And then try some of our other suggestions to get into the summertime spirit. Barrington ( Monday, May 26. The day starts with a wreath-laying at Barrington High School at 9 a.m., followed by a parade from the school to Town Hall, where there will be a formal ceremony at 11 a.m. with bagpipers, speeches and another wreath-laying. Charlestown ( Sunday, May 25. At 1 p.m., the parade steps off on Old Post Road at Ridgewood Drive, winding along Route 1A and Route 1 to Narrow Lane. There are observances during the parade at Cross' Mills Baptist Church and Cold Brook; another follows at Charlestown Naval Airfield Memorial at Ninigret Park. East Greenwich ( Monday, May 26. Starting at 10 a.m., the parade steps off at Academy Field and winds through the Hill and Harbor District via Mawney Street to First Avenue for a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial on Cliff Street. Closing ceremonies and a fly-over by the 143rd Airlift Wing follow at Town Hall. East Providence, Monday, May 26. The annual parade steps off at 10 a.m. from Old Oldham School on Bullocks Point Avenue and proceeds to American Legion Post 10 on Willett Avenue. Exeter ( Sunday, May 25. The town celebrates its 50th annual Memorial Day Parade this year along Route 102, winding from Sunderland Road to the Exeter Public Library. It steps off at 1 p.m., followed by a ceremony honoring veterans and family fun at the library. Lincoln ( Monday, May 26. Stepping off from Keefe Funeral Home at 11 a.m., the parade moves down Smithfield Avenue to Chase Farm, where there will be a celebration with food trucks and live music. North Providence ( Monday, May 26. The annual event steps off at 1 p.m. from North Providence High School on Mineral Spring Avenue, turning onto Douglas Avenue and ending at Governor John A. Notte Jr. Park with a closing ceremony, wreath-laying and food. South Kingstown ( Monday, May 26. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at Holley and Main streets in Wakefield and concludes at the Saugatucket Park Veterans Monument at 101 High St. There, a ceremony will include musical performances, an honor guard gun salute and a wreath-laying. Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery will host its annual grave-flagging ceremony on Saturday, May 24, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The effort encourages volunteers and visitors to 'take the flags and go to any section to place the flags at the top of each headstone.' On Monday, May 26, the cemetery will host the annual service to veterans beginning at 1 p.m. Gov. Dan McKee and other dignitaries are expected to attend. Rogers High School senior Grace Rochelle will serve as the keynote speaker, delivering her first-place essay in the VFW Voice of Democracy contest. Boots on the Ground for Heroes ( Fort Adams State Park, Newport. This patriotic display of more than 7,000 boots and flags will be open for remembrance and to honor post-9/11 fallen U.S. service members. Each boot bears the service member's name, photo and biographical information. The event, sponsored by Operation Stand Down Rhode Island, is free and open to the public May 23, 24 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and May 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gaspee Days Arts & Crafts Festival ( May 24 to 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pawtuxet Park, Narragansett Parkway, Warwick. Stroll the blocked-off streets around Pawtuxet Park and browse the handcrafted wares of more than 100 fine artisans while enjoying live music, games and fair food. The event is family-friendly and free. Newport Vineyards ( 909 East Main Road, Middletown, celebrates Memorial Day weekend and kicks off its 30th anniversary summer by opening its Tank Patio. On Friday, May 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the area will overflow with live music, free axe throwing on Friday, cupcake pairings on Saturday and the chance to enjoy beer and wine tastings, sangria slushies and treats from the new charcuterie cart or the patio menu. Rogue Island Comedy Festival ( runs from May 22 to 25 in locations around Newport. This year's lineup includes Natasha Legerro, Ian Lara, Geoffrey Asmus and more. Ticket prices vary. Roger Williams Park Zoo ( 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Enjoy Breakfast with the Elephants before the zoo opens on Saturday, May 24, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. After a hot meal al fresco, you can join zookeepers to learn about training, feeding and caring for the zoo's herd of African elephants. You'll even help prepare the yard for the day and perhaps watch as an elephant creates a piece of custom art. Later the same day, regular zoo admission allows you to take part in Penguin Palooza (rain date is May 25) from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The new penguin habitat will be ceremoniously opened with penguin-themed activities and treats. Rhode Island Football Club ( hosts the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday, May 24, at 4 p.m. at its Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket. It's Military Appreciation Day and tickets start at $27. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 2025 Memorial Day events in RI: Parades, Boots on the Ground and more
Boston Globe
17-02-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
R.I. students have recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic faster than the rest of New England
You should make sure you read my colleague Christopher Huffaker's look at Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up ✏️ About 88 percent of Rhode Island students attend school in a district where the average reading levels are behind where they were in 2019, and 79 percent are in districts where the math results are worse than before the pandemic. Advertisement ✏️ East Greenwich stands out as a success story, with mean achievement in both reading and math surpassing 2019 levels. East Providence has nearly matched mean achievement levels in reading and math. ✏️ As we know, chronic absenteeism skyrocketed since the pandemic, rising from 19 percent in 2019 to 34 percent in 2022 before dipping to 25 percent last year. Governor Dan McKee has made student attendance his No. 1 priority for education over the last year. ✏️ The report found that Rhode Island received $646 million in pandemic relief funding for K-12 schools, an average of $4,700 per student. That's much higher than the national average of $3,700 per student. This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Dan McGowan can be reached at
