Outraged women criticise LTN in Fulham as they're forced to walk home alone at night because Uber drivers will not enter controversial zone
Women in London's borough of Hammersmith and Fulham report feeling unsafe READ MORE: The middle-class army waging war on LTNs: How locals are handing out leaflets to drivers warning they face £130 fines for entering no-go zones set up by the council to 'make money'
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) have stirred up more controversy after female Uber passengers branded them an attack on personal safety.
Women are being forced to walk the streets alone late at night in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham following the council’s decision to introduce an LTN zone that prevents out of borough Uber drivers from entering the area due to the risk of fines.
While Black cabs are exempt from the fines, Uber is yet to find a solution with the council. As a result, passengers are dropped off at boundary roads and must walk home alone, which can often take upwards of 20 minutes.
Made in Chelsea star Tabitha Willett, 32, who visits a South Fulham private members club, is one of the many women forced to walk home late at night.
‘My club is inside the South Fulham LTN,’ she said. ‘But, many Uber drivers refuse to drive in which means we have to walk in the dark and the rain. It’s a huge inconvenience. I blame the council for introducing the LTN,’ she told The Telegraph.
Made in Chelsea star Tabitha Willet (pictured) has called the LTN a major ‘inconvenience’ after she was forced to walk home in the dark
Elsewhere, Hillary Cannon, the owner of Barrefly, a fitness business on New Kings Road, has spoken out about the LTN and taken action into her own hands.
Taking to Instagram, Hillary said: ‘Please stop scrolling if you are a woman who lives in Fulham.’
She continued: ‘There is currently a camera scheme going on in Fulham neighbourhoods, several of them, but today I wanted to talk about the neighbourhood specifically around the one near Wandsworth Bridge Road.’
‘This camera scheme fines cars for driving through the streets if they’re not registered to do so,’ she continued.
‘And as a result of this scheme, Uber is now refusing to drop women at their front doors and is instead dropping them at the top of Parson’s Green and other points far from their homes, forcing them to walk home alone in the middle of the night.
She added: ‘So, I’ve written to the council to complain about this. Other women have written to the council to complain about it. We’re getting nowhere, so I guess, as per usual, it’s on us.
Hillary explained her planned response: ‘Here’s what I’m doing. I’m starting a WhatsApp group specifically for young women who live in the neighbourhood.
‘So, if you are one, if you know one, please circulate this video and join us.’
‘My hope is that if you’re coming home late at night and you’re afraid you’re going to get dropped off at the top of the high street and forced to walk home.
Hillary Cannon, the owner of Barrefly, a fitness business on New Kings Road, has taken action into her own hands to prevent women from feeling unsafe in the area
‘Maybe you can ping this group and see if anybody else is in the same position. Maybe we can get some strength in numbers to prevent another assault.’
Hillary concluded: ‘I guess it’s on us ladies. I’m furious that I have to make this video, but here we are.’
The post amassed over 2,000 likes. She captioned the video: ‘Please watch this video. Then please share this video, and tag anyone you know who might be affected by this scheme, and if that someone is you, then please join us.
‘This is about women’s safety in our neighbourhood – a subject about which we care very very much.’
A wooden bollard in Oxford was sawn off in April in the row over Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
Bollards have been placed in a street in Cowley near Oxford, to create a Low Traffic Neighbourhood
A motorcyclist is pictured next to planters at the LTN on Evering Road in Hackney, East London
A council spokesman told The Telegraph that it has been over three years since they first offered Uber free access through the streets of Fulham without the threat of fines to allow residents to be dropped off at their homes.
However, they stated that Uber’s data protection laws have stopped them from sharing the number plates of their drivers.
While they believe a resolution is achievable, they urged Uber to reconsider its technicalities.
MailOnline has contacted Hammersmith and Fulham’s council for comment.
An Uber spokesperson said: ‘At Uber we know we have a responsibility to help ensure that everyone gets home safely.
‘We are aware of these concerns and continue to be in conversation with Hammersmith and Fulham Council to try and find a workable solution for both drivers and local residents.’