'I'd never consider driving now': The success of London's first Low Traffic Neighbourhood 10 years on

"I laugh when I think back to when I drove from Highams Park to the shops in Walthamstow," said Maureen Barry. "It's less than a 25-minute walk. I'd never even consider it now."

Ten years on from London's first Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) being introduced in Walthamstow, it's fair to say the bustling corner of East London has been transformed. Waltham Forest, along with Enfield and Kingston, was the first part of the city to win £30m to implement a Dutch-styled scheme to encourage more cycling.

A key policy of Boris Johnson's tenure at the Mayor of London, the scheme saw the previously car-lined Orford Road become pedestrianised, while dedicated cycle lanes were introduced along the length of Lea Bridge Road and Forest Road.

READ MORE: Empty Wilko in Walthamstow turned into brand new section of Europe's longest street market as traders 'thrilled'

Former cab driver Steve Gander, 70, believes the low-traffic scheme makes life easier for ordinary people (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

Walthamstow Village has become a textbook example used by urban planners to encourage other areas to adopt low-traffic schemes. Independent shops line the street which locals freely stroll upon, while cafes and restaurants have been able to extend their outside seating areas.

Margaret McGuinness was among Walthamstow residents in favour of the scheme who attended the many consultations during the early 2010s. "They got extremely heated," she told MyLondon while volunteering in Change Grow Live, an addiction rehab centre on Orford Road.

"I was surprised by the people were so against it. Some people wanted to be able to drive to the Tube station which is only a 10-minute walk away.

"It’s all been good in my opinion. They’ve blocked off Grove Road which had become a massive rat run, but that’s just amazing to walk down now.

"I get quite cross when people say: ‘But it takes me ages to get around’. Yeah, you’re in a car." Fellow volunteer Maureen said the scheme has made the area much more pleasant to live in.

She said: "It's made Walthamstow much easier to walk and cycle around. People will always resist driving changes, whether it's about wearing a seatbelt or ULEZ."

Orford Road in Walthamstow Village has been pedestrianised (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

Research from Waltham Forest Council for the LTN's tenth anniversary found 54 per cent of residents agreed it made the area easier for walking and cycling. More than half said it had improved life in Walthamstow, while the same survey found just 18 per cent disagreed.

This has translated into a rapid surge in house prices across Waltham Forest as more people look to move to the borough. Data from the Office for National Statistics found property prices in Waltham Forest increased more than anywhere else in the UK between 2013 and 2023.

Although efforts to regenerate East London for the 2012 Olympics have contributed to this, the value of homes shot up 113 per cent from £235,210 to £515,320 in just 10 years.

Despite the praise Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Walthamstow have received across the country, many residents say their needs were not properly taken into consideration ahead of the schemes being introduced. Alan Cavalier, who lives within the LTN introduced around Lloyds Park in October last year, told MyLondon he's now constantly forced to sit in traffic as he's unable to use public transport while he receives treatment for lung cancer.

Restricted roads can now be seen across Walthamstow (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

Former black cab driver Tony Gander has sympathy for people whose lives have been negatively affected by the LTNs. "It can be a pain," he said. "I’ve got an autistic grandson who waits for me to turn up. But if roads are closed or have limited access it means I get there later and he’s stressed.

"When they started doing road closures in Islington and areas to tackle congestion it was difficult. I’d constantly have someone sat in the back asking ‘can’t you do a right here, or go left there?' I’d say I couldn’t without getting a £60 fine"

The 70-year-old now drives less after having his right leg amputated, and says road changes means the only time he uses his car is when travelling to Tesco in Edmonton. As a result of these lifestyle changes, Steve told MyLondon he's able to use his mobility scooter to easily travel across Walthamstow.

Steve Gander, 70, understands why some people are against the low traffic schemes (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)

He said: "When I go to the hospital I go through the village and have a coffee or sit in the graveyard. It's really nice and peaceful."

Steve went on to perhaps some up the general opinion on low traffic schemes better than anyone. "There’s two sides of my story," he added. "As a driver it’s a pain in the arse, but for ordinary people it makes the place better.

"It’s made me drive less, I’ve also got a 25-year-old Jaguar I’m going to sell, I don't need it. We're very well connected here with buses and trains."

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Plan to help 3,302 young Londoners move out of home with 'permanent guaranteed' mortgage

Labour has promised to introduce a new scheme to help at least 3,302 young people out of their parents’ house and onto the housing ladder in London if it were to form the next government. The 'Freedom to Buy' programme would reduce the need of first-time buyers to reply on cash gifts from relatives, the party says.

It would operate as a 'permanent mortgage guarantee scheme', with the state acting as guarantor for prospective homeowners who struggle to save for a large deposit. Labour adds that it would prove 'more comprehensive' than the existing 'Help to Buy' scheme, which is set to expire in June 2025.

Shadow housing secretary Angela Rayner said: "With five more years of the Tories, 3302 in London will be left with limited routes onto the housing ladder." A Labour spokesperson added: "For lenders, there’s little incentive to properly integrate the scheme into their offer to customers, as they expect it to expire in a matter of months

READ MORE: Keir Starmer wants to work much more closely with Sadiq Khan on London Underground and housing

Angela Rayner claims that five more years of Conservative government would lead to 3,302 in London being 'left with limited routes onto the housing ladder' (Image: Adam Toms/MyLondon)

"Even though it’s repeatedly been extended, the lack of certainty means many lenders treat it as a peripheral product. On the other hand, prospective buyers struggle to find authoritative and accessible information about the scheme, and those who are saving to buy months and years in advance have no guarantee it will continue to exist when they come to buy a home.

"A permanent mortgage guarantee scheme that is an established part of the market will increase the availability and lower the cost of mortgages for buyers who don’t have access to a large deposit. In other countries like Australia and Canada, widespread use of mortgage insurance lowers the cost and increases availability of mortgage products for families with smaller deposits, supporting homeownership."

Tories hit back

But the Tories have hit back. Laura Trott, Chief Secertary to the Treasury, said: "Labour need to explain to first time buyers how raising their taxes by £2,094 will help them get on the housing ladder.

"The truth is, Labour’s tax raid will punish first-time buyers. What’s worse, their refusal to back our Family Home Tax Guarantee is the strongest signal yet that your home is next in Labour’s tax grab.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott has hit back at Labour (Image: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"Only Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives have a clear plan, backed by bold action, to strengthen the economy, bring mortgage costs down and help more people get on the housing ladder.”

The Conservative claim that Labour's policies would lead to families paying more than £2,000 in extra tax has been called 'unreliable and false' by fact checkers. Full Fact adds that it is 'based on multiple assumptions’.

Chris Morris, its Chief Executive, said yesterday: “It's clearly unacceptable to present your own analysis as the conclusions of independent civil servants when it's not. Public trust in politics is hanging by a thread and a high-profile falsehood will turn even more people away from the democratic process. We want to see this corrected as soon as possible."

But the Tories have doubled down on the claim. The party claims that analysis of Labour’s spending plans shows the party has has a 'black hole' of £38.5 billion – the equivalent of £2,094 in taxes.

The party says the figure was reached 'using both official HM Treasury Costings, HMG figures and Labour’s own numbers, and a publicly quoted investment bank'.

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Video shows Hendon house on fire as roof destroyed by blaze rising into the sky

A house in Hendon has seen its roof be completely destroyed in a blaze as firefighters rushed to the scene. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters have been tackling a house fire on Vivian Avenue in Hendon this evening (June 5).

The roof a detached house, which is believed to be derelict, has been destroyed by fire. Parts of the ground floor and first floor are also damaged. There have been no reports of any injuries at this time.

The fire is now under control but crews are likely to remain on scene through the night fully extinguishing the fire and dampening down. One of the Brigade's 32m turntable ladders has been used at the scene as a water tower to help fight the fire from above.

READ MORE: Huge Hackney fire raging with thick billowing smoke seen from miles away

The Brigade's Control Officers received around 30 calls about the fire. The Brigade was called at 7.34pm and the fire was brought under control by 8.47pm. Crews from Hendon, Finchley, West Hampstead and Mill Hill fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The blaze comes after another building was on fire this afternoon in Hackney, around 100 firefighters rushed to the scene to tackle the inferno as smoke could be seen for miles.

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Everything you need to know from first TV election clash between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer traded blows on the economy and the NHS as they faced off in the first TV debate of the 2024 election campaign. In his opening pitch to voters on ITV, the Prime Minister sought to draw dividing lines with Labour as he claimed the party would “raid” pension pots and hike taxes.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir questioned the timing of the July 4 vote, arguing Mr Sunak had called a summer polling day because he “knows” inflation and energy prices will take a turn for the worse in winter. The Labour leader mockingly dubbed the Prime Minister “the British expert on tax rises” after Mr Sunak’s repeated insistence that Sir Keir would raise the burden.

First blood was drawn when the Tory leader challenged Sir Keir to say how he would resolve the long-running dispute with junior doctors, earning a round of applause as he said he would not offer a 35 per cent pay rise.

READ MORE:General Election seats to watch as Labour hope to take key constituencies

First blood was drawn when the Tory leader challenged Sir Keir to say how he would resolve the long-running dispute with junior doctors

But Sir Keir drew audience laughter as he ridiculed the Prime Minister over his claim that NHS waiting lists were improving, saying: “They were 7.2 million, they’re now 7.5 million. He says they are coming down and this is the guy who says he’s good at maths.”

Mr Sunak then blamed industrial action, eliciting groans from the audience of the ITV debate.

“It’s somebody else’s fault,” Sir Keir said.

In his initial statement, Mr Sunak said: “Beyond raising your taxes and raiding your pensions, no one knows what Labour would actually do.

“But you know what I would do? I’ll cut your taxes, protect your pension and reduce immigration.”

Sir Keir said: “This election is all about a choice. More of the chaos and division we’ve seen for the last 14 years or turning the page and rebuilding with Labour.

“I have ambition for our country. I have a practical plan to deliver it.”

Mr Sunak will be hoping to move the dial against a backdrop of dire opinion poll ratings for the Tories, with recent YouGov analysis suggesting the party is heading for an electoral wipe-out.

The Prime Minister pointed to his record as chancellor during the pandemic as he asked people to judge him by his actions.

“Every week when I’m out and about, someone comes up to me and tells me how furlough saved their family, saved their home, because that’s who I am,” he said.

Sir Keir suggested the wealthy Prime Minister did not understand the plight facing hard-pressed households.

Referring to his own childhood, he said: “I do know the anguish of worrying, when the postman comes with a bill, what is that bill going to be, can I pay it?

“I don’t think the Prime Minister quite understands the position that you and other people are in.”

The Tories insisted the debate would expose Labour’s “complete absence” of new ideas.

In a statement sent out minutes before opening statements, a Conservative spokesperson said: “Tonight will expose the Labour Party ’s complete absence of any new ideas, any principles and ultimately, that they do not have a plan.

“Handing Labour the keys to No 10 would hit every working family with a £2,094 tax bill, punish pensioners with the retirement tax, bring in an amnesty for illegal immigrants and take our country back to square one.”

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Streatham local shares outrageous noise coming from Mighty Hoopla nearly 3 miles away

A Streatham local has divided Londoners over the loud music from Mighty Hoopla festival which could be heard nearly three miles away.

Posting a video to her Twitter followers, actress Catherine Russell complained that it had 'gone past 10pm on Sunday night' while Jessie Ware's closing set could be heard across South London

"I'm in Streatham," she added. "This is what I'm hearing from Brockwell Park. That's ridiculous, that is absolutely not on. It's just not fair." Responding to the post, another resident who lives opposite Brockwell Park said she is 'fed up' with the festivals taking place on the site.

READ MORE: New London weather map turns yellow with 22C temperatures forecast

She said 'broken glass and p***' could be seen in communal areas of her own home while thousands travelled to the festival last weekend. Nelly Furtado headlined the festival on Saturday, while Rita Ora, Rebecca Black and Cher Lloyd also performed over the two-day event.

Despite the uproar, many people defended the festival's music curfew time of 10.15pm on Sunday. One wrote: "Sorry you don’t get to live in a lively capital city and then complain said capital city is lively. If you want a peaceful countryside lifestyle go live in the countryside! Plenty of it."

Another said: "I live much closer to the park than Streatham and I couldn’t hear it this loud."

A third replied: "It’s one weekend a year, buy some earplugs."

There are seven events being held in Brockwell Park throughout the spring and summer this year: Project 6, Wide Awake, Cross The Tracks, City Splash, Brockwell Bounce, Mighty Hoopla and Lambeth Country Show. Brockwell Bounce had to be cancelled this year due to the mud.

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UK 'could see tornadoes and non-stop rain within 10 years' in bleak warning

Scientists have shared a terrifying warning that the UK’s to be battered with mini-tornadoes over the next 10 years. The spine-chilling revelation is synonymous with the prediction of non stop rain by 2034, as a result of global boiling, reports The Mirror

A document by World Weather Attribution predicts downpours increasing in severity every half-decade. This could mean hailstorms, potentially even during the summer.

There will also be a surge in flood and "supercell storms," which are in-effect mini-tornados. These violent weather patterns are predicted to strike with increasing frequency and ferocity.

READ MORE: Experts reveal planets could be visible in the sky in UK amid 'Planetary Parade'

Bill McGuire, a leading expert in geophysical and climate hazards at University College London (UCL), paints a stark picture of what lies ahead. McGuire warns of shorter-lived yet intense torrential downpours. He said: “In summer, shorter-lived torrential rainfall and hail are more likely associated with convective storms [severe local storms] that develop when temperatures are high.

Floods are going to be much more likely too (Image: Getty)

“Higher average wind speeds will mean that future storms will be increasingly damaging. Massive supercell storms will become more likely year-round, bringing increased flash flooding."

McGuire also highlights that while these convective storms could strike anywhere in the UK, regions experiencing the highest temperatures, notably southern and central England, are most susceptible to their wrath. The latest report also highlighted shifting weather patterns poised to disrupt water supplies, farming, and urban areas.

Leading the charge is Chris Brierley, a distinguished professor of climate science at UCL. Brierley's urgently called for action to be taken now to try and mitigate the damage. He said: “There needs to be a change in the way we manage flooding, including reforesting bare hillsides to soak up water run-off and paying farmers to allow land to be used to hold excess river flow.”

Got a story? Please get in touch at rafi.benady@reachplc.com

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The London Underground's longest change between platforms that takes 15 minutes

The London Underground map can sometimes lead you astray. It's not always easy to determine travel times or distances just by glancing at it.

You might find yourself surprised by the lengthy journey between two stations, or the seemingly endless trek between platforms.

Those little white dots indicating where you can switch Tube lines could mean a quick dash across the platform or a marathon walk. Not every interchange is as seamless as the Finsbury Park transition from the Piccadilly to Victoria line (is there a better-designed station layout?

READ MORE: The Tube line that was initially so small it wasn't even recognised as its own line

It might just be better to change train at another station (Image: SSPL/National Railway Museum)

If you're considering switching from the Bakerloo line to the Hammersmith and City at Paddington, think again. It's simply not worth it.

Paddington, one of London's busiest stations, may have the longest walk from line to line in the entire city.

Paddington's unique design includes two separate London Underground stations within the National Rail station.

It's hard to see why you'd need to make this change, as the District and Circle lines serve the same stations heading west. But if you've travelled from the Elephant and Castle end of the Bakerloo line and then realised you need to get back to the Barbican on the eastbound Circle or Hammersmith and City line train, you might find yourself in this predicament.

A Freedom of Information request to TfL has uncovered the longest platform interchanges across the Tube network, as reported by CityAM.

Topping the list is Paddington with a whopping 15-minute trek between platforms. For regular commuters, this could add up to a staggering two-and-a-half hours of walking every week.

Not far behind is Bank station, where it takes a good 10 minutes to get from the Circle and District lines to the Waterloo and City line.

Travelers sharing their experiences on TripAdvisor have highlighted the extensive walks at Paddington. One traveller remarked: "It can be a very long walk - the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines are a long trek from the Bakerloo line. In effect, they are at opposite ends of the National Rail station."

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Another commuter pointed out: "Paddington is unusual in that it actually has two Tube stations attached to it. One is down the railway platform, up a ramp, outside and then back in again (Hammersmith and City) whereas others are based underneath the main concourse."

A savvy user offered a tip for an alternative route, saying: "If you're transferring from the Bakerloo to the Hammersmith and City/Circle line or vice versa, there is also an interchange at Baker Street. Although there is still a walk involved, I'm certain it's not as long as the walk at Paddington."

They added a bit of advice for those navigating the station: "Having said that, neither is really too much of a chore. If you do have to change between these lines at Paddington, just make sure you follow the yellow and pink lines marked on the floor to make sure you go the right way! ".

Another London commuter chimed in: "If you are thinking of changing lines at Paddington - don't. There's no point. Stay on the Circle/District line train to Edgware Road and change there instead - next to no walking."

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