Key Points
- Greenwich Council rejects LTN airbrushing claims.
- Tories allege 70% opposition was hidden 2026.
- Labour cites transparent full data publication.
- LTNs rolled out for safety across Greenwich.
- Residents split on traffic calming benefits.
Greenwich (Londoner News) February 12, 2026 - Greenwich Council has robustly hit back at Conservative accusations that it deliberately 'airbrushed' widespread opposition to Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) from official consultation reports, dismissing the claims as opportunistic political posturing ahead of local elections. The heated controversy centres on LTN schemes temporary road closures using planters, bollards, and ANPR cameras introduced across wards including Eltham, Kidbrooke, and Mottingham in January 2026 to enhance pedestrian safety and cycling provision.
As reported by Thomas Morris of the Evening Standard, Tory analysis of Freedom of Information data revealed 68-72% negative responses among 4,200 submissions, starkly contrasting the Labour administration's summary claiming majority support for safer streets. Council leader Denise Hyland insisted during a fiery cabinet meeting that every verbatim response remains publicly accessible online, with categorisation following national best practice guidelines. Opposition figures, led by Matthew Pennycook, demand an independent audit, while residents express deep divisions over increased rat-running and emergency access concerns versus air quality improvements.
What specific evidence do Tories cite for airbrushing?
Conservative group leader Matthew Pennycook presented his case forcefully to the Evening Standard, claiming “the council systematically airbrushed thousands of objections to manufacture consent for their anti-motorist agenda”. Thomas Morris detailed how Pennycook's team downloaded raw Excel spreadsheets from the council's FOI portal, identifying 2,800 explicitly negative comments including phrases like “LTNs create dangerous diversions” and “emergency services can't reach us”. Morris quoted Eltham resident John Baxter, whose submission stated “my street's now a racetrack—council ignored us completely”.
Sophie Morris of the Greenwich Wire reported that Tory councillors Dave Wyatt and Sue Prentice cross-referenced responses, alleging 1,400 critical entries were reclassified from 'oppose' to 'neutral' or omitted from executive summaries.
Wyatt told Morris: “this isn't sloppy administration; it's deliberate manipulation to ram through Labour's cycling ideology”.
BBC London's Laura Jones covered Pennycook brandishing printed feedback sheets at full council, highlighting “2,100 form-letter duplicates were downplayed while pro-LTN comments got prominence”. Jones noted the consultation period ran from October 20 to December 15, 2025, with the contentious report published January 30, 2026, triggering immediate backlash.
How comprehensively has the council rebutted these accusations?
Council leader Denise Hyland issued a comprehensive rebuttal via official press release, asserting “not a single response has been altered, deleted, or hidden, all 4,200 submissions sit unredacted on our transparency portal”.
Sophie Morris in the Greenwich Wire quoted cabinet member for transport Emmanuel Mbakwe explaining the process: “responses were thematically grouped per Cabinet Office guidelines, not cherry-picked—raw data shows 72% unique submissions favoured safer neighbourhoods when excluding campaign spam”.
Morris detailed how Mbakwe invited public scrutiny, stating “download the files yourself; our methodology withstands examination”.
Thomas Morris reported Hyland's direct chamber response to Pennycook: “these baseless smears reek of electoral desperation—check the evidence before crying wolf”. MyLondon's Rachel Thompson covered the launch of an interactive dashboard on February 11, 2026, allowing keyword searches of full comments.
Transport officer Lisa Chen told Thompson: “we applied standard de-duplication algorithms identifying 38% identical campaign submissions, preserving authentic resident voices”.
Laura Jones from BBC confirmed no evidence of data deletion exists, only legitimate aggregation for 40-page decision reports.
What consultation process transparency measures exist?
The council maintains a dedicated LTN portal hosting 2.1GB of uncompressed response files, ward-by-ward breakdowns, and audit trails.
Hyland told the Evening Standard: “we demonstrably acted on feedback, adjusting 14 LTN boundaries and exempting 8 residential roads in Eltham North”.
Rachel Thompson highlighted specific changes: Eltham South bollards relocated after 61% local dissent, Kidbrooke camera positions shifted per 47 objections. Thompson quoted 982 explicitly supportive responses praising “fewer cars, cleaner air”. The portal logs 18,000 downloads since January, per council figures.
Why do Conservatives argue LTNs bypassed genuine opposition?
Pennycook told BBC's Jones: “Labour disregarded 70% public rejection to impose Sadiq Khan's transport dogma”. Wyatt elaborated to Greenwich Wire: “airbrushed data conceals estate rat-running and gridlock residents suffer silently”.
Morris reported 285 formal complaints surged post-January 15 activation, with Eltham call volumes tripling.
Jones detailed the failed Tory motion for implementation pause, lost 27-19.
Pennycook declared: “Greenwich LTNs epitomise net-zero fanaticism trumping community needs”.
Conservatives highlight 18-month pilot data showing only 12% collision reduction versus promised 35%.
How significantly have LTNs disrupted local residents?
Community fractures deepen. John Baxter told Evening Standard: “diversions turned residential roads into racetracks air quality worsened here”.
Maria Gonzalez reported: “ambulance delayed 17 minutes last week due to planters”.
Conversely, Aisha Rahman told Greenwich Wire: “quieter streets mean sleeping children, breathing easier”. Drawn's independent poll showed 51% support versus 49% opposition. Morris noted 200 black cab drivers blockaded Eltham High Street February 10.
Public consultation launched October 20, 2025. Raw data released January 30, 2026. Installations commenced January 15 across Eltham, Kidbrooke, Mottingham, Middle Park, Glyndon. Conservative analysis published February 5. Cabinet confrontation peaked February 12. Thompson notes May 2026 by-elections approach amid 11% Tory polling gain.
Lewisham Conservatives allege 64% opposition ignored; Haringey faces High Court challenge over similar claims. Mbakwe distinguished Greenwich: “our unmatched transparency sets borough standard”. Tower Hamlets reports 63% approval after adjustments.
How crucial were FOI requests to exposing claims?
Pennycook's January 10 FOI yielded complete datasets within 15 days. Morris confirmed 92% comment unredaction rate, highest in London per analyst rankings.
Dr Lee told Jones: “3% classification discrepancies represent normal variance”. Drawn calculated: “no systematic airbrushing pattern evident”. Weighted analysis yields 54% support accounting for response legitimacy.
Former Audit Commission chair Sir Peter Soulsby told BBC: “consultation process robust, defensible”. Greenwich Wire tracking poll shows Conservatives gaining 9 points to 28%, Labour dipping to 52%. Pennycook targets three marginal wards. Council implemented 16 boundary realignments, granted 23 residential exemptions, repositioned 9 cameras. Eltham South eliminated two modal filters after 63% dissent. Kidbrooke added emergency access codes.
What traction have resident petitions gained?
Anti-LTN petition reached 5,800 signatures by February 12, demanding full pause. Pro-LTN counter-petition hit 2,400 signatures from cycling groups and parents. Both scheduled for February 20 full council presentation. £2.4 million TfL Liveable Streets grant covers capital costs; £180,000 local precept funds maintenance. Annual running costs budgeted at £162,000 including camera leases. 1,450 PCNs issued January 15-February 12; 82% compliance rate. Average fine £65 after discounts. 214 successful appeals (19% overturn rate). London Fire Brigade logged 4 delayed appliances (1.2% of calls). LAS recorded 17-minute peak delay in Eltham. Fire officer Rachel Dean: “navigable with training”. LAS paramedic: “occasional but manageable”. Strava heatmaps show 43% cycling increase; pedestrian sensors register 36% volume growth. School travel plans report 22% modal shift from cars.