Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on local businesses caused by low traffic neighbourhoods across councils in England.

The Government is clear that traffic management measures such as low traffic neighbourhoods are a matter for local authorities as they know their areas best. Traffic management schemes should always be developed through engagement with local communities. This is a long-standing policy and there are no plans to change it.

It is also for local authorities to assess the impact on businesses and others of their traffic management schemes. The Department commissioned research into the impacts of low-traffic neighbourhoods which was published in March 2024 and is available on the Department’s website.

As a matter of good practice authorities should always obtain a wide range of views on traffic management schemes, including from those directly impacted by them and those with particular requirements, and should provide information on how consultation responses have been acted on. However, the Department has no plans to make this a legal requirement.

Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) must be made following the procedures set out in the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996. These already include a requirement for ongoing consultation for 6 months once in place, with statutory consultees including bus operators, emergency services and freight industry representatives. An ETRO may be in place for a maximum of 18 months after which the authority must either revoke it or make it permanent. The Government considers that these requirements provide sufficient time to allow objections to be made.