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Green roads protesters will stand candidates in local elections

Jody Graber, 40, is planning to stand in 2022 local Islington elections. - Jeff Gilbert 
Jody Graber, 40, is planning to stand in 2022 local Islington elections. - Jeff Gilbert

Residents fighting road closures introduced as part of the Government’s ‘green’ transport revolution are to field independent candidates at local elections to try to force councils to review their schemes.

Across the country, groups claiming new road layouts and cycle lanes have been introduced with little or no consultation are asking supporters to consider standing as councillors in the next elections.

The move follows a series of protests held in the capital in which thousands of people claimed so-called ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods’ (LTNs) were causing congestion on major routes, increasing air pollution and stifling trade at a time when the economy needs to be kickstarted.

Local community groups have also been created after some communities have witnessed ambulances, fire appliances and police on emergency calls finding their paths blocked by newly closed off roads.

At the height of lockdown in May, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, announced a £250 million fund for councils to promote a “new era for cycling and walking”.

Opposition to the schemes has become increasingly organised as groups from Glasgow down to the south coast of England began sharing information online about how they can get their voices heard.

 Jody Graber who is standing for election over low traffic concerns in Islington photographed with other local candidates (left to right) Rebecca Kelly, Jody Graber, Trevor Hankins, Penney Seal and Angela McFarlane, all planning to stand in 2022 local Islington elections. - Jeff Gilbert 
Jody Graber who is standing for election over low traffic concerns in Islington photographed with other local candidates (left to right) Rebecca Kelly, Jody Graber, Trevor Hankins, Penney Seal and Angela McFarlane, all planning to stand in 2022 local Islington elections. - Jeff Gilbert

The first test of a candidate standing on an anti-LTN ticket is likely to emerge next year in Islington, north London, when a by-election is likely to be held after Claudia Webbe, a former Labour councillor, was elected to

Jody Graber, from Islington, North London, said he plans to stand as an independent councillor because the implementation of road closures shows local democracy has been “eroded”.

The 40-year-old former NHS administration manager said those fighting the schemes plan to field an independent candidate at a by-election in the borough expected to be held next year.

“We only need around 1,800 to win the seat. That would mean we would be in the town hall and have a voice of opposition to these schemes,” he said.

“It is an ideal chance to change local democracy and get councillors to listen.”

Angela McFarlane, a 57-year-old church administrator from Brixton, south London, is considering standing as a Lambeth councillor to fight local road closures because she struggles to drive around her granddaughter who has cerebral palsy or pick up elderly people to take to church because of increased congestion.

However, the mother of five children and five grandchildren is appalled by some who have suggested opposition to LTNs is part of a Far Right movement.

“I’m a normal, everyday grandmother of five. But, these road closures are causing mayhem for the elderly and carers who rely on cars,” said Mrs McFarlane, who organised a march in Brixton last month and witnessed a fire appliance getting stuck against a planter closing a road.

Nick Fiveash, a Tower Hamlets resident also campaigning in his borough, said: “The possibility of getting candidates to run in local elections is being considered increasingly as an option to ensure the powerful cycle lobby doesn’t drown us out.”

He stressed how those at these meetings were not against reducing car use and pollution or promoting cycling and walking, but simply concerned the clamour for the Government’s emergency Covid cash had meant local people’s needs were not being considered fully.

“By getting people to stand in elections we could ensure those councillors putting their own agendas above the needs of the people they represent are ousted or challenged through the democratic process,” he added.

Ben Rymer, a 41-year-old charity fundraiser and member of One Oval fighting road closures in Lambeth, said: “We are apolitical. LTNs were introduced in such a closed and undemocratic way that we are now moving quickly towards a campaign for an independent candidate to stand in the next local election.

“It seems to me there is a class dimension to this issue. The road closures affect working class communities living on estates and residential main roads because traffic and pollution is pushed towards less affluent areas living near major roads.

“People living there shouldn’t be accused of being right wing because they are standing up for themselves.”