Labour must scrap the Exeter Road scheme

Conservative councillors Suren Ramanakumar, Lewis Preston-Kyrionymou and Paul Roberts say experimental traffic regulations should be ditched

A view down a tree-lined street on a sunny day — Exeter Road (Credit – Google Street View_

Barnet Council’s Exeter Road Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) was introduced as a trial road safety scheme.

The restrictions prevent right turns into Exeter Road from Chase Side and Brookside South during peak hours, operating between 7am and 10am, and 3pm and 6pm. Residents were told the scheme would improve road safety and tackle problems on Exeter Road.

The reality is very different.

The scheme has failed to achieve what it set out to do. Rather than solving a traffic problem, it has simply moved it elsewhere.

From the outset, residents warned that restricting access to Exeter Road would not make traffic disappear. Drivers would simply find alternative routes through neighbouring streets. That is exactly what has happened.

Traffic is being displaced onto surrounding roads, including Monkfrith Way and Friars Walk. What makes this particularly concerning is that Monkfrith Way serves a primary school. The restrictions operate during the school run, meaning traffic is being pushed towards roads used by children travelling to and from school.

If a road safety scheme results in more traffic being directed towards a primary school during peak school hours, residents are right to question whether it is improving safety at all.

The council’s own data raises even more questions. Despite all the disruption caused by the scheme, there has been no noticeable reduction in speeds on Exeter Road. Residents were promised a road safety intervention. Instead, they have been left with a scheme that appears to have achieved little more than shifting traffic from one road to another.

These concerns are not new.

The Council’s own consultation showed that around two-thirds of residents living on Exeter Road and neighbouring roads objected to the proposal. Yet council officers recommended pressing ahead regardless.

Since then, opposition has continued to grow.

More than 760 Barnet residents have signed a petition calling for the Exeter Road ETRO to be scrapped and you can add your name to the list here: ePetition – Brunswick Park ETROd

As your local Conservative councillors, we have opposed this scheme at every stage. We challenged it directly with the Labour cabinet member for highways who ignored us, we secured an expanded consultation area so more affected residents could have their say, created the above petition and have opposed it at every possible chance in meetings.

We also repeatedly asked council officers to explain what evidence would trigger the scheme’s removal, but no answer has been given.

Yet despite the clear will of residents, Barnet Labour and council officers continue to press ahead.

The Exeter Road ETRO is symptomatic of a failing council that doesn’t listen to the very residents they are meant to help.

Residents have made their views clear. The ocuncil’s own consultation showed significant local opposition. Hundreds more residents have since signed our petition. The democratically elected councillors for Brunswick Park have repeatedly called for the scheme to be scrapped.

Labour frequently speaks about consultation and engagement, but consultation means nothing if the outcome is ignored whenever residents give the “wrong” answer.

Local people should have confidence that when they take the time to engage with the Council, their views will genuinely influence decisions. It is no wonder that so many people do not bother to vote when all too often their views are ignored.

The evidence is clear. The scheme has failed to reduce speeds, displaced traffic onto neighbouring roads, and directed vehicles towards a primary school during the school run. It lacks the support of residents and the support of their elected representatives.

Labour and its officers should stop defending the indefensible.

They should listen to residents, respect local democracy, and scrap the Exeter Road ETRO.

Suren Ramanakumar, Lewis Preston-Kyrionymou and Paul Roberts are Conservative councillors for Brunswick Park.

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

ACT NOW!

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.