MP calls on Councillors to support motion to scrap Westy LTN as residents plan spoon and pan protest rally

WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter has called on Councillors to support a motion to scrap the controversial Westy LTN at full council on Monday, as local residents prepare a “spoon and pan” protest rally.

In the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr Carter again raised concerns about the impact of the Central 6 Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Latchford and called on Warrington Borough Councillors to support the motion being put forward by Conservative councillors to scrap the LTN.

Mr Carter’s latest intervention comes as more than 6,000 local residents have signed a petition calling for the Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme in Latchford to be ended. A survey conducted by the MP last year, which received over 900 individual household responses, showed that 86 per cent of residents favoured a return to the old road layout while 87 per cent opposed the closure of Grange Avenue to through traffic.
The MP’s survey also found that 84 per cent of respondents felt that they had not been properly consulted by the Council about the road closures prior to them being implemented.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Carter said: commented: “More than 6,000 people have signed a petition calling on Warrington Labour councillors to scrap the Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Latchford and reopen Grange Avenue to through traffic. The Council, I’m afraid, has dug its heels in and even today has launched another consultation, simply kicking the can down the road.
“Local residents are clear: the scheme has created longer drive times and increased congestion in Warrington town centre.”
The Warrington South MP also called on councils to look at what more can be done to encourage local people to be more active, saying:
“Instead of spending money on planters in the middle of the road, perhaps councils could spend that money on resurfacing pavements so that local people can walk safely in their local neighbourhoods.”

The Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt MP responded: “The responsibility lies with the Local Authority and it is disappointing that it is not able to deal with the things that would really make a difference to people’s lives by helping them to be more active and to walk and cycle more, and to ensure that those local services are protected.”
Warrington Councillors will have an opportunity to vote to end the LTN on Monday evening after a motion was submitted by Conservative Councillors calling for the trial to be scrapped.

Meanwhile, local residents will host a peaceful Spoon and Pan rally at 5.30 pm on Monday, April 3, starting at Warrington Town Hall gates.
A 6,000-signature petition of no confidence in the Central 6 Street Plans will be handed over in a mini-planter. Residents will also encourage elected members to support a motion to scrap the Street Plans. They will be sounding the alarm by banging spoons and pans.
David Marshall, from The Campaign to Scrap the Central 6 Street Plans, said; “It is now nine months since roads were blocked in Westy/Latchford. Independent research and nine months of chaos show that the threshold for scrapping Warrington’s Central 6 Street Plans, without Government financial penalty, has been met. But Warrington Council is refusing to act.

“The first phase of the Central 6 Street Plans has seen streets in Westy blocked since June 2022. According to the Councils own figures pollution is up 50%, traffic is up 216% on some roads, there are polluting daily traffic jams, disabled residents are trapped in their homes and businesses are suffering. There is also a risk to life as a result of access delays for emergency services.
“Official figures show the Plans have virtually no public support with only 41 people in Warrington supporting them and 90% of ‘all residents’ wanting roads re-opened.
“There comes a time when it is OK to admit a simple fact-the time has come to end the trial, to scrap the Central 6 Street Plans and unblock the streets.”
The Rally take place on Monday, (April 3) gathering at the Town Hall Gates (5:30pm) then on to Parr Hall (5.45pm) where the main council meeting is. Details can be found at www.central6.org