- Greg Hands MP welcomed the Minister for Roads and Local Transport, Guy Opperman MP to Fulham to see the practical impact of local traffic schemes. Particularly, the negative impact on local businesses.
- Greg and Minister Opperman heard how the scheme had impacted businesses, such as the loss of trade and they discussed how the scheme has affected the area with businesses moving or closing.
- Greg is calling on the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to take action to make sure that businesses can continue to thrive on Wandsworth Bridge Road.
Greg Hands MP welcomed the Minister for Roads and Local Transport, Guy Opperman MP to Fulham on Wednesday, 15 May 2024.
Minister Opperman visited Fulham, following Greg’s invitation, to see the practical impact of local traffic schemes. Particularly, the negative impact on local businesses.
Greg invited Minister Opperman to visit Wandsworth Bridge Road and speak to businesses including Il Pagliaccio Restaurant and Randalls Butchers and a tutoring business. They heard how the scheme had impacted these businesses, such as the loss of trade and they discussed how the scheme has affected the area with businesses moving or closing.
As local residents will know, cameras have been installed and traffic measures put in place by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Council (LBHF) to restrict non-borough traffic driving through the area with the aim of pushing traffic on to the main roads of Fulham.
However, since the introduction of the controversial SW6 Traffic Schemes by LBHF, Greg has been contacted by countless residents and businesses about their impact on the local area.
Last year, Greg decided to survey residents on the SW6 Traffic Schemes and over 3,800 residents across Chelsea and Fulham responded to the survey, with every part of the constituency being opposed to the schemes. 70% of respondents across Chelsea & Fulham do not support the schemes.
Following these results, Greg has been urging the council to conduct a full Fulham-wide traffic management study alongside a Fulham-wide consultation to end this divisive and piecemeal approach that has turned neighbour against neighbour.
Furthermore, earlier this year Greg launched a petition regarding women’s safety concerns. Following his petition, and with significant effort led by local women like Hillary Cannon, the Council finally reached agreement with Uber to allow their drivers to enter the controlled Fulham SW6 traffic zones. It is great news that a solution has been found following the campaign.
Greg continues to work with local residents and businesses to find solutions and make our case for the Council to re-think their traffic schemes.
On Monday 20 May 2024, there was a Westminster Hall debate on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). Debates in Westminster Hall give backbench MPs the opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from the Government Minister responsible. Therefore, Greg would not participate in a debate unless it was a topic which is part of his brief as Minister of State for Trade Policy, in the Department for Business and Trade.
While Greg was unable to participate in the debate, Greg welcomed that Minister Opperman visited Fulham the week ahead of the debate, to see the practical impact of local traffic schemes.
In the debate, Minister Opperman mentioned the visit to Wandsworth Bridge Road, he stated:
‘’…it is clear that some communities have been upset and antagonised by low-traffic neighbourhoods. That is particularly true in London, and one could give examples from Tower Hamlets and, I believe, Ealing and Streatham. Certainly, as a cyclist in London, I have experienced and seen some, and I did a further visit to the Wandsworth Bridge Road last week.’’
The full debate is available on Hansard.
Greg remains concerned about the impact the schemes are having on local businesses. LBHF must find a solution for the traffic schemes to work for local businesses and our local economy.
Commenting, Greg Hands MP said:
“I remain concerned about the impact the SW6 Traffic Schemes are having on local businesses, like Il Pagliaccio Restaurant, Randalls Butchers and the tutoring business.
The Council needs to help businesses like these!
That is why I am calling on the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to take action to make sure that businesses can continue to thrive on Wandsworth Bridge Road .”
ENDS
