A low traffic scheme has been made permanent after some residents claimed it made streets look nicer and reduced noise. 

St Mary’s Church low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) was introduced on a trial basis in February 2022.

The 18-month scheme was the seventh introduced in Islington and is now the fifth to be made permanent.

Islington Council claimed that feedback during a public consultation held in April this year was generally positive, and that traffic has fallen across the neighbourhood.

Monitoring data from November 2021 to January 2023, which the council says was independently collected and analysed, found that traffic on roads within the scheme fell by 41 per cent.

Traffic on surrounding boundary roads was reduced by 12pc.

The council received 301 responses to its consultation, with 41pc agreeing that there is now less noise from traffic compared to the 30pc that disagreed.

An even higher proportion of people said that the streets in the area looked better (42pc), with only a quarter responding negatively.

But more respondents disagreed than agreed with the statement that the streets were safer at night during the trial.

The council’s data also showed that people who own a car or van were generally more negative about the scheme than those who do not.

Cllr Rowena Champion, the council’s executive member for environment, air quality, and transport, said: “For many years, local people have told us that they want to see more welcoming, safer, and greener streets.

“Through our LTNs, and our plans to deliver a network of Liveable Neighbourhoods, we’re acting and delivering on that.    

“The St Mary’s Church LTN has helped create quieter, more inviting streets, where local people can harness the huge benefits of walking, cycling, and wheeling.

“By reducing traffic and exempting Blue Badge holders, we’ve also made it easier to travel for those needing to drive.    

“We know that there’s more we can do to make the St Mary’s Church area a greener and better place for all, and we look forward to achieving that.”  

LTN schemes in Canonbury West, Canonbury East, St Peter’s, and Clerkenwell Green have also been made permanent.

Islington Council said that final decisions on the Amwell and Highbury schemes would be made soon.