Deeply unpopular LTN in Exeter that blighted the lives of locals with longer commutes and extra congestion is axed after 82% object

An unpopular Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) in Exeter which has infuriated locals with increased congestion and longer commute times has been axed after more than 80 per cent objected to it. 

The controversial scheme, introduced nine months ago, was designed to encourage cycling and walking in the Devon city, by blocking some streets to cars.

But instead it caused a build-up of traffic, less passing trade for businesses, and huge hold-ups.

Now the project has been shelved after 82 per cent of residents voted against it in a recent survey of more than 9,000 people by the council.

Locals have welcomed the decision which some said 'caused inequities' in the area.

Tracy Courtney, a specialist diabetes nurse, told The Times that the LTN forced her into driving extra miles on her journey to work at he Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, often after 12 or 14 hour shifts.

Meanwhile Shannon Mac said: 'Some older people became isolated, shops didn't get the same level of passing trade, doctors couldn't do home visits, carers had to cut the time spent with patients, and the list goes on. 

I still cannot comprehend how those who wanted the LTN can shut their eyes to obvious suffering.'

Labour chair of the Exeter highways and traffic orders committee Carol Whitton reluctantly accepted that the survey was difficult to ignore but vowed to keep pushing climate measure in the area.

She said: 'I passionately believe that we have to change, we have to move towards more sustainable forms of travel, whether that is about climate change or about Exeter as a city.'

A study by Demos, a cross-party think tank, into LTNs slammed councils across the country for misrepresenting evidence regarding their impact and not communicating effectively with communities.

The report also credited the traffic-reducing schemes with dwindling levels of trust in local governance. 

Demos also batted away the common accusation that locals' concerns with LTNs were often based on conspiracy theories.

The think tank found that residents' lives were often heavily affected by the confrontational schemes, adding: '[Our findings] reveal the failures on the part of councils to understand and effectively engage with their communities that has amounted to a democratic chasm; and they illuminate how the actions of national politicians have made this even worse.'