Chatsworth Liveable Neighbourhood: addressing the objections

In October 2025 a new one-way bus gate was put into operation on Chatsworth Road where it meets Brooksby's Walk, alongside a number of smaller changes on side roads. The aim is to reduce through-traffic in the Chatsworth area caused by many drivers rat running between Lea Bridge Road and Homerton High Street, to make walking and cycling safer, improve bus journey times, and to improve air quality.

Details of the liveable neighbourhood are here  and our blog post on implementation in October is here 
As we've seen with many other LTNs in Hackney, there's some initial local opposition to these changes from a number of vocal critics, as some residents have to adapt to new routes and journeys. People don't like change, especially when it comes to driving, as we know. Some local councillors have called on the Council to review the scheme, which was picked up by local paper the Hackney Citizen. The article was, as usual for the Hackney Citizen, fairly biased against the scheme and didn't include a single quote from local residents who are in favour. How this was approved by the editor we don't know.

A petition on change.org currently has just over 1000 signatures, but the petition on the Council website has under 90. Its unclear how many people who signed are actually local residents, and certainly one of the comments is from someone who lives in Nottingham. If you know more about the location of people who signed, please let us know.

For a little more clarity, here's a brief Q&A on the main issues we've heard about.

"It's not working right now, get rid of it or give residents an exemption"
The key learning from other Hackney LTN schemes is that they take time to settle in and the benefits to become apparent. Chatsworth has been in operation for just 3 months, so it's too soon to make any decisions on how good it is. Schemes need minimum of 6 months to settle in, but more likely 12-18 months before people adapt and the benefits of less traffic become clear. Resident exemptions reduce the benefits of a healthy streets scheme like this significantly.

"All the local residents hate it"
This is incorrect. We know of many supporters locally and we've heard from residents who say it's much safer to cycle and walk about the area now. Also, data shows a clear majority (57%) of households in Kings Park and Lea Bridge ward have no access to a vehicle. (From the ONS 2021 census data).

"There's lots more traffic on Powerscroft and Median roads now and it's holding up buses"
This would be a concern if correct. We need traffic data which no doubt Hackney Council will provide. If delays continue, there are a number of possible solutions which don't involve removing the LTN. 
However, it is likely Hackney Central works have exacerbated this with many buses being diverted along Homerton High St and Ponsford St. Now this diversion has ended with Amhurst Rd being open to buses, our monitoring of Median Road suggests the initial issue of congestion has reduced significantly.

Worth noting that the other bus in the area, the 308, should now be quicker due to the bus gate and less traffic on Chatsworth Road itself, which this bus uses.

"Local residents can't get to Homerton Hospital now"
This is not true. First, everyone in Kings Park and Lea Bridge lives relatively close to the hospital so for those who can walk or cycle it should be quicker and safer now. For those who need to drive to the hospital, there is still quick access via Clifden Road to the back entrance of the hospital, and that includes taxis dropping people off. The bus gate does not stop residents driving directly to this entrance. 

"Its ruining my local business as there's no passing trade now"
This is a well known initial reaction from businesses, as witnessed on Church Street in 2021/2. It ignores the fact that most traffic is just passing through. Also, evidence shows that shopping streets with vehicle noise, pollution and road danger are less welcoming to people wanting to shop, eat and drink locally; and that making high streets better for pedestrians has a positive impact on trade in the medium/long term.

"We can't turn right onto Lea Bridge Road now"
This is correct, due to a TFL banned right turn. However, there is a roundabout 500m up the road which allows drivers to turn round and drive east up the Lea Bridge Road if they need to.

"Local residents are trapped and cut-off"
This is incorrect. Some car journeys may take longer. The purpose of LTNs is to make public transport and active travel quicker and safer. All drivers can reach their home by car. But let's be clear, no-one is trapped, residents can drive to every household in the area.

Bus times on Median Road. 
Data is needed over a period of say 6 to 12 months to see if the apparent initial rise in traffic on this road has reduced. As mentioned above, there are solutions. The council could, for example, work with TFL to allow vehicles to filter out onto Lower Clapton Rd more easily, and remove parking on pinch points on the bus routes.