A letter to the editor from Safer Streets Woodgrange

Coloured banners promoting Safer Streets — Credit – Safer Streets Woodgrange

Dear Editor,

We welcomed the recent discussion in Newham Voices around the Council’s inaction on safer streets in the Woodgrange and Capel area. This is an issue that affects us all. Let’s not argue while the Council delays. We need constructive dialogue and action—not division.

Rat runs and speeding cars must be stopped. While some opponents of the LTN have been vocal, many residents agree that the streets aren’t safe. An elderly resident supporting our petition told us they felt shocked and threatened by speeding cars in the area.

The Council must listen to all voices in the community to design a scheme that works. The evidence on how LTNs and traffic calming measures benefit the whole community is compelling. On quieter roads there is more community connection. Children can play out.

Neighbours are more likely to stop and chat. And data shows that crime and antisocial behaviour reduces. This benefits everyone.

We appreciated the coverage of the recent community bike ride in support of safer streets. However, we’re concerned by some inaccuracies in an accompanying piece. Particularly the claim that 2,000 people signed the anti-LTN petition.

The only published figure we’ve found (Newham Recorder, Feb 2023) suggests it was closer to 1,000, many of these unverifiable. Our own petition in support of safer streets is publicly available on Change starts here.

It’s also not accurate to say we are claiming unanimous community support. Our campaign exists to show that there is significant, often overlooked, support for safer, quieter streets—and we’re committed to inclusivity, not division. Underrepresented voices must be heard. Importantly, this includes children, who cannot drive, or vote.

This summer, we’ll be out at local events listening to residents of all ages about traffic and safety. We hope the Council will do the same.

Safer Streets Woodgrange

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