The anti Low Traffic Neighbourhood organisation, Together, is convening a public meeting on Tuesday evening at Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge.
The organisers say they want to have an “open discussion” about the council’s plans for “Low Emission Zones, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, Local Living and 20-minute Neighbourhoods”.
But in truth the organisation is firmly opposed to any of these measures currently being introduced in cities across the world, including Hackney in London, Oxford and Bath.
One of the speakers at the event, James Melville, described as a media commentator, said: “One of the most fundamental human rights is freedom of movement. LTNs are the diametric opposite of that. They are yet another example of what happens when local and national governments try to take authoritarian and crass logic control under auspices of Net Zero.” Mr Melville has also drawn comparisons on social media between the “draconian measures” to ensure Zero Covid and those being promoted as a way to Net Zero.
Matthew Brown one of the organisers said: “The event was intended to be a debate but we have had zero positive responses for people wishing to speak for the policies in question, and so an attempt will be made by myself to represent the viewpoint of those in favour of LTNS, LEZs, 20 min neighbourhoods etc.”
Low Emission Zone
Edinburgh has already introduced Low Emission Zone (LEZ) regulations although enforcement does not begin in earnest until next year. Glasgow has already begun enforcing the LEZ in the city centre.
Low Traffic Neighbourhood
A low traffic neighbourhood is an area where “modal filters” are used to stop through traffic. This means anything from bollards to planters. Although everyone can still drive to their own front door, there are usually diversions introduced.
There are many instances of these measures in Edinburgh which have been introduced over the years.
You can see them all on this map:
One of the most recent Low Traffic Neighbourhoods has been introduced in Corstorphine. There has been a degree of opposition, voiced at a recent meeting in St Margaret’s Park convened by local group, Accessible Corstorphine for Everyone, (ACE) and addressed by local MSP, Alex Cole Hamilton.
Damage was caused to the bus gate on Manse Road on Sunday. The column on which the bus gate camera was affixed on Manse Road was sawn through and it had to be removed on Sunday for safety reasons.
Grant Douglas, MBE, also addressed the meeting explaining his own difficulties. He said: “Living in Corstorphine has suddenly become more challenging especially if you can’t walk or cycle and the only option is to use a car. The Low Transport Neighbourhood recently introduced in my community has added on miles to essential journeys during my daily life because I rely on my car as a result of being physically disabled.”
Our full report of this meeting with all the speeches can be read here.
Local Living and 20 minute neighbourhoods. Together, although not solely based in Scotland, has adopted the meaning of this phrase ascribed by The Scottish Government. In planning terms the government will encourage developments in places which support people living in areas where they “can meet the majority of their daily needs within a reasonable distance of their home”.
Some campaigners have chosen to distort this to a belief that the government wants everyone to remain in their local areas all of the time, and while it would mean that travel needs are reduced, the government confirmed that there would be no restriction on movement. Instead the hope is that people would have to rely less on cars, more on public transport and walking by creating connected and compact neighbourhoods.
Simon Miln, Scottish business entrepreneur said: “LTNs, LEZs and 20 minute neighbourhoods are a direct assault on our basic rights and civil liberties. The powers that be have already decided the science, which is no longer up for debate, and any dissent is regarded as absurd and dangerous and is quickly shut down. It’s clear to me that the objective of these initiatives is to maximise the control of the powerful elite over ordinary citizens in order to consolidate and safeguard their privileged positions.”
Together have invited the following speakers:
- Matthew Brown, Undergraduate student
- Alan Miller, Together Co-Founder
- Pam Peters, Edinburgh resident
- James Melville, Media Commentator
- Simon Miln, Scottish business entrepreneur
- Alastair Donald, Author, Co-Convenor of the Academy of Ideas
Alan Miller, Together Co-Founder said: “Road closures are damaging and harmful to residents and local businesses. LTN Bollards and surveillance cameras are limiting and intrusive and do not make a ’15 minute neighbourhood’ – where are all the services local authorities are meant to provide? LTN and LEZ’s are being brought in across the UK with little by way of true engagement with the public – undemocratic, suffocating and harmful. We insist on mobility and freedom not limits and fines.”
Mr Miller spoke recently to GB News about the Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Hackney highlighting what he regarded as the undemocratic way these have been introduced.
The format of the meeting is that it will be two hours long, the speakers will each have 5-7 minutes to speak, followed by some questions from the chair. Then the audience will have an opportunity to contribute.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
