Latest news with #LTNs
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Resignations, axing the Ukraine flag, scrapping a floods team in a flood-hit county, and a row with firefighters: How Reform UK's new councillors are 'sowing chaos' in town halls
It has been less than two months since Reform UK had more than 650 councillors elected - but Nigel Farage 's party is already accused of causing havoc in town halls. A damning dossier has revealed the 'chaos and confusion' that Reform councillors are sowing across England after their local elections success on 1 May. As well as winning hundreds of council seats, the insurgent party also seized control of 10 local authorities in a major breakthrough. But critics are questioning Reform's ability to govern at a local level following a series of disputes over the past eight weeks. This includes the scrapping of a floods team in a flood-hit county, the banning of the Ukraine flag, and a bitter row with firefighters. The party has also faced embarassment by the resignations of a slew of councillors - just weeks after their election - as well as claims of Reform councillors sharing far-right content on social media. In addition, the party was left red-faced by vowing to scrap Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in areas where none existed. A Tory spokesman said: 'This all just goes to show that you cannot trust Reform in power. 'Local residents need to know that vital services will be delivered, their bins will be collected, and their tax money well spent. 'But it seems in just one short month since the local elections all Reform councils are delivering is chaos and confusion, with the public left to suffer the consequences. 'The British public deserve real leadership, not just showbiz and broken promises. 'Only Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives will give this country the representation it deserves.' The dossier of Reform's missteps reveals how the party has suffered... A slew of resignations Little more than a week after being elected as a Reform councillor, Andrew Kilburn announced he will no longer take up his role on Durham County Council. It came after he failed to declare that he worked for the council when standing for election, which is against the law. Reform said it looked forward to contesting a subsequent by-election in the Benfieldside ward. In Staffordshire, Wayne Titley resigned as a county councillor just two weeks after being election. He won the Eccleshall and Gnosall division for Reform, but was engulfed in a row about a post on his Facebook account. It called on the Royal Navy to use 'a volley of gun fire' with the aim of 'sinking' small boats in the Channel. Mr Titley quit for 'personal reasons', while Reform faced criticism over the triggering of a by-election which would cost local taxpayers an estimated £27,000. Separately, up to a dozen Reform councillors have faced claims of sharing far-right and Islamophobic social media content, including the sharing of posts by Britain First. There have also been departures of Reform councillors in Kent and Warwickshire. Reform suspended Kent county councillor Daniel Taylor, who now sits as an independent, following 'a matter which is now with the police'. And, in Warwickshire, the recently-elected county council leader resigned to leave his 18-year-old deputy in charge. Reform councillor Rob Howard, who was in power for 41 days, said he had made the decision with 'much regret' and cited health reasons for his departure. Flags fury Reform sparked anger by taking down an LGBTQ+ Pride flag at Durham County Hall, while a Ukrainian flag erected by the previous administration was also removed. Liberal Democrat county councillor Ellie Hopgood said: 'We know from their social media posts that Reform councillors are keener on Russia's flag than Ukraine's or Pride's.' She added it was a 'petty and mean-spirited act' ahead of a Pride in Armed Forces event. But the council's deputy leader, Reform's Darren Grimes, defended the decision to fly the Union Jack, flag of St George and the County Durham flag. 'Together, they represent every Briton, gay or straight, black or white, Christian, Sikh, or otherwise, who has fought, died, and sacrificed under those colours,' he said. 'Flying our national and local flags is an act of unity. Swapping them out for niche political symbols is just more toxic identity politics.' Reform had previously been forced to clarify its stance on the flying of flags from council buildings. The party had announced that Reform-controlled councils would only fly the Union Jack or St George's flag. But there was uproar after it was claimed this would also ban the flying of county flags, such as the red rose flag of Lancashire. Reform later clarified that it would allow the flying of county flags. A floods row Lincolnshire County Council's flood and water management scrutiny committee was axed by Reform when it took control of the local authority in May. This was despite Lincolnshire suffering some of the worst flooding in its history during deluges from Storm Babet and Henk, along with fresh flooding in January. Opponents criticised the move as 'reckless, foolhardy, and wrong'. But Reform claimed it would save money and simplify the council without harming efforts to combat flooding. Council leader Sean Matthews promised the new administration would work 'longer and harder on flooding than ever before'. 'Whether you think it's man-made or a natural cycle of events, we won't neglect flooding,' he said. 'We were elected on a mandate of reducing waste and simplifying the council, and this will do that.' Firefighters dispute It was revealed earlier this month how firefighters are threatening to strike in Reform-controlled council areas in a row over pensions being stripped back. The row came after the party's deputy leader, Richard Tice, said Reform would take an axe to 'unaffordable' final salary schemes. He said Reform-controlled councils would stop offering such generous terms to new recruits. Mr Tice added that staff on existing contracts would have to accept lower annual pay rises to balance out the huge cost of funding their retirement. But the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it would 'fiercely resist' the plans, which it described as 'an assault on the pensions of firefighters and council workers'. FBU general secretary Steve Wright said: 'It's outrageous that the multi-millionaire deputy leader of Reform UK has declared war on firefighters who pay into council workers' pension schemes.' Mr Tice insisted he had ' not mentioned firefighters nor their pension terms', adding: 'What I have said is that we should not be taking on new council staff on the defined benefit schemes because they are unaffordable going long into the future.' The FBU said firefighters pay into local authority-funded pension schemes, and that 'it's their hard earned cash that Reform wants to raid'. LTNs embarrassment Reform's pledge to remove all Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) from the council areas it now controls risked leaving the party red-faced - after the 10 local authorities said they do not actually have any in place. Derbyshire, Doncaster, Durham, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, North Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and West Northamptonshire all told The Guardian they had no such schemes. Tory ministers pursued a growth of LTNs in the wake of the Covid pandemic in 2020 as it sought to encourage more people to walk or cycle in towns and cities. But their implementation by local authorities has proved unpopular with drivers and residents - with many instances of road bollards being vandalised - for forcing them away from their usual routes.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lambeth LTN to be removed immediately, court rules
A low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in south London must be removed with immediate effect, following an order by the High Court. Lambeth Council was told in May that the imposition of the LTN in West Dulwich was unlawful, and has been denied permission to appeal against the decision. LTNs aim to reduce motor traffic in residential areas by using either cameras, planters or lockable bollards, but opponents have criticised their effectiveness. The West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG), which brought the legal challenge, described the ruling as " a wake-up call to councils everywhere". Low-traffic neighbourhood unlawful - High Court Lambeth Council must also pay £35,000 towards the legal costs incurred by WDAG. The action group said questions must now be asked about the revenue raised by penalising motorists contravening the LTN rules - and whether the more-than £1m total raised in penalty notices will have to be repaid. A WDAG spokesperson said the group had called upon Lambeth Council to clarify whether it would issue refunds. "This is not just about legality — it's about fairness and public trust. If the law was broken, the money should be paid back. "This case should never have gone to court. It could have been resolved through proper, respectful dialogue. Instead, Lambeth chose to defend litigation over listening — and the public has paid for it." In response to the decision, Lambeth Council said it "remained committed to delivering our programme to reduce road danger for those most at risk and make our streets calmer, more community-friendly places. "The High Court has ordered the removal of West Dulwich street improvements. No further fines will be issued, and we are removing the scheme as soon as it can be done safely." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council urged for 'Plan B' to tackle congestion
A council has been urged to find a "Plan B" for tackling a city's congestion problem after a traffic filters trial was pushed back. The managing director of Oxford Bus Company, Luke Marion, said congestion in Oxford was at "emergency levels". Oxfordshire County Council's Lib Dem administration was set to introduce contentious traffic filters on several major roads in autumn 2024, but they were pushed back for another two years due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road. The council's newly elected cabinet said it is going to draft new plans to deal with the city's congestion problem. The traffic filters would be introduced on Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, with motorists without a permit facing a £70 fine for driving through. The plans are part of the county council's drive to create a net-zero travel and transport system by 2040. Last week, Banbury's Labour MP Sean Woodcock wrote to the council asking whether they would take advantage of powers to bring more bus services under their control, if the government's better buses bill was passed. Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said the calls for action were taken "seriously" and that they looked forward "to engaging on proposals soon". "We need faster, more regular, cheaper bus services, and we need them now," he said. "The way to do that is to tackle congestion, which will of course also deliver safer, quieter, cleaner streets, and help key workers and businesses delivering vital services on our roads." Green county and city councillor Emily Kerr said she was "delighted" at the news and called the delays due to the Botley Road closure "exceptionally problematic". "Everyone agrees we need to speed up the buses," she added. "But whilst Labour and the Tory Alliance say they want this, they've opposed the policy suggestions which will deliver it, such as traffic filters." Labour councillor Brad Baines argued that the county council plans "do not answer questions about affordability of bus services or routes going where people need to go". "These are key barriers which are yet to be addressed or even considered." Councillor David Henwood is part of the Oxfordshire Alliance, which consists of Conservative and Independent councillors. "The solution is clear: remove the LTNs to unlock Oxford's radial routes, relieve pressure on the main roads, and finally make space for efficient, reliable bus services across the city," he said. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Urgent health responders exempted from city's LTNs LTNs and cycle lanes cost council almost £4m Council refuses calls to open LTNs in emergencies Oxfordshire County Council
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Reform UK fulfils pledge to scrap LTNs in its council areas as none exist
Reform UK's pledge to remove all low-traffic neighbourhoods from the council areas it controls looks to be achieved in record time after the 10 local authorities said they do not actually have any in place. Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's chair, said last week there would be a 'large-scale reversal' of existing LTNs in the 10 areas across England where the party won control of the councils in local elections on 1 May. 'We view these schemes with the same suspicion as mass immigration and net zero,' Yusuf told the Telegraph, adding: 'You can expect, if you live in a Reform council, for there to be a much higher bar for any proposals for LTNs and for the large-scale reversal of these existing LTNs.' The Guardian contacted the councils now run by Reform – Derbyshire, Doncaster, Durham, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, North Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and West Northamptonshire – and they all said they had no such schemes. LTNs are traffic interventions that filter smaller, residential roads using either physical barriers like bollards and planters or numberplate-recognition cameras to prevent motor vehicles using them as through routes. While the wider idea of using what are known as modal filters to make residential roads safer for walking and cycling has been used intermittently for decades, the branding as LTNs usually refers to schemes introduced from 2020, when the Conservative government encouraged councils to install them. Some of these LTNs were put in quickly, bringing complaints about traffic displaced to boundary roads and some congestion. However, studies of LTNs, including one commissioned by Rishi Sunak's LTN-sceptical government, have generally found they work well and are popular. Asked about the lack of LTNs in the areas they run, a Reform spokesperson pointed to mapping data showing the proportion of roads within the council areas not open to through-traffic. However, this would also count longer-established non-LTN roads without through traffic, such as cul-de-sacs and housing estates. It is not known whether Reform plans to open these up as through routes. Reform has also pledged to sack council staff working on diversity issues or efforts connected to net zero, although it is unknown how many staff this would actually involve. Some councils, such as Lincolnshire, have said they have no diversity staff. A Liberal Democrat source said: 'Reform are utterly clueless about how to run a council. From councillors who won't take up their seats to schemes that don't exist, it's clear that they don't understand the needs of their communities. 'Now they have some power, they need to learn how to Google things first. Liberal Democrats will be holding Reform's feet to the fire and standing up for our communities.'
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Reform UK launches war on LTNs: Nigel Farage's party will axe hated green roads schemes in all 10 of its newly-won council authorities
Having seized a number of councils in May's local elections, Reform UK have now declared war on low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs). The party have committed to ending the schemes in every council they control, as well as stalling the introduction of any new ones, The Telegraph reported. LTNs were introduced in 2020 and have been championed by politicians like London mayor Sadiq Khan as being positive for pedestrians and cyclists. It was also claimed that they would help slash pollution and make roads safer by closing off the majority of side roads to vehicles. But the schemes have also led to a backlash from drivers and bus passengers due to an increase in delays on roads around the areas and the impact on the disabled. At present there are more than 100 of the schemes operating inside the UK. Zia Yusuf, the Reform party chairman, said: 'LTNs have proliferated too quickly and there are far too many of them. 'We view these schemes with the same suspicion as mass immigration and Net Zero. They are policies which are supported by and made to benefit more affluent people, who are then insulated from the negative consequences. 'You can expect, if you live in a Reform council, for there to be a much higher bar for any proposals for LTNs and for the large-scale reversal of these existing LTNs.' Mr Yusef said that the 10 Reform-run councils would soon become 'islands of freedom for motorists'. LTNs were a big issue for Reform UK candidates in the May local elections, where they took control of 10 councils and racked up an incredible 677 councillors. However the schemes have been a benefit for property owners, with prices booming inside the zones. Properties inside London's controversial low traffic neighbours (LTNs) are worth up to 108 per cent more than the borough average, research last year showed. The average house price within 20 LTNs analysed by estate agent Benham and Reeves is £529,391, which is 5 per cent above the typical London value of £502,690 But while the research suggests LTNs are boosting house prices for homeowners who already live within them, experts warned the additional strain the areas place on surrounding roads from increased congestion is a deterrent to many buyers.
