Furious business owner claims new rules on major city road 'caused £30,000 loss'

A controversial scheme to reduce air pollution has seen one business owner speak out to say he has lost more than £30,000 since it was introduced.

The Low Traffic Neighbourhood in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham was introduced in 2020, funded by money from the central government. The Places for People initiative had mixed reactions from people in Kings Heath, with some praising the atmosphere it has created, while others said it has created an increase in idling traffic.

But a butcher has slammed who he calls “eco do-gooders” and has blamed the LTN for a £30,000 loss, Birmingham Live reports. Businessman John Hems said: “No one has done a consultation in three and a half years to ask the business owners how they are doing. We have lots of business closing. They have just put new plans out, they are closing all the roads on the other side which would make it three and a half times more roads closing.

The LTN barriers

“All the shops are up in arms about it. I chair the Kings Heath Business Association, representing 190 businesses. It is absolutely terrible what they are doing. I would like them to reconsider and ask the businesses what they want.

“You’ve got businesses wanting to move out, there’s nowhere to park and you have to walk miles to get to these places. They haven’t got an ounce of common sense. It hasn’t even increased footfall or cycling. It is just a matter of do-gooders. Consultation is all we want.”

A statement from the Birmingham City Council read: “While there has been local support for this scheme, it is recognised that there have been issues with larger vehicles needing to reverse along sections of these residential streets.

“A proposed new arrangement of one-way streets and diagonal modal filters will continue to ensure that through traffic is unable to cut through this area while enabling access to all properties without the need to turn around or reverse.”

Kings Heath Low Traffic Neighbourhood is part of the Places for People project, which is trying to reduce traffic for safer walking and cycling and to make it nicer to be outside for children to play and neighbours to chat.