If you live in or around Barnsbury, you’ll know the tension: on quieter residential streets, we enjoy a sense of calm and safety, but just around the corner, busier roads carry the burden of heavy traffic, noise, and fumes. A Liveable Neighbourhood (LN) may seem like a bold change, but growing evidence shows such schemes are effective ways to reduce collisions, prevent casualties, and improve day-to-day life for everyone.
What the Latest London Study Tells Us
A new academic study, covering 113 Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) implemented across London between 2012 and 2024, found that:
- All injuries fell by approximately 35% inside LTN zones after implementation.
- More serious collisions (killed or seriously injured) dropped by around 37%.
- The researchers estimate that around 600 injuries, including about 100 serious or fatal incidents, were prevented thanks to these schemes.
- Importantly, there was no increase in injuries on the surrounding boundary roads.
These findings show that LTNs don’t just reduce traffic, they reduce casualties and save lives.
What Islington’s Experience Adds to the Picture
Here in Islington, the council has already rolled out several People-Friendly Streets schemes, which share many goals with Liveable Neighbourhoods.
- A study of three Islington schemes (St Peter’s, Canonbury, and Clerkenwell), conducted by Imperial College London, found that traffic within the restricted areas dropped by over half (about 58%), compared to control areas.
- Boundary roads also saw an average decline in traffic, contrary to concerns about displacement.
- Air quality improved too: nitrogen dioxide levels fell by about 5.7% within LTNs and about 8.9% on boundary roads.
In Islington Council’s own monitoring reports, internal roads saw traffic drop by roughly 58%, while boundary roads fell by around 13.4%, showing that benefits extended beyond just the area within LTNs.
So, the positive patterns seen across London are also reflected here in Islington: significant drops in traffic volumes and real gains in air quality.
A Safer Future for Barnsbury
Here’s what we might expect from a well-executed Liveable Neighbourhood in Barnsbury & Laycock:
- Fewer collisions, fewer injuries: Based on the BMJ study, we could reasonably expect a big drop in injury incidents on local streets.
- Healthier, cleaner air: Less traffic means fewer emissions – good news for children walking to school, older residents, and anyone living with asthma.
- Safer streets for walking, cycling, and community life: Streets that feel less hostile make it easier to walk, bike, and connect with neighbours. Children can play outside more freely, and everyday errands feel less risky.
- No negative side-effects: With smart design, boundary roads needn’t suffer, and experience elsewhere in the borough suggests they may share in traffic reduction.
As we look ahead to Islington Council’s expected announcement of Barnsbury’s Liveable Neighbourhood plans in 2026, this is a timely opportunity to consider what safer, calmer streets could mean for all of us. The evidence is compelling, and the potential benefits are life-changing.
