Social housing tenants in Islington are demanding their local authority reconsiders a controversial traffic scheme, which they claim is damaging their livelihoods and making their lives a "nightmare".
What is the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood?
In October 2025, Islington Council completed its latest 'Liveable Neighbourhood' in the Mildmay area. The scheme, intended to create "greener, healthier and more welcoming streets", introduced several key changes. These include camera-enforced traffic filters on streets like Mildmay Road, St Jude Street, and King Henry's Walk, designed to block through-traffic while permitting access for residents and Blue Badge holders.
The council also rolled out 'School Streets' with temporary driving bans during drop-off and pick-up times. Furthermore, 25 parking spaces were removed to accommodate a new cycle lane. The local authority states the primary goals are to improve air quality and enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Residents Describe Real-World Impact and 'Elitist' Policy
However, for many living on the Mayville Estate within the zone, the reality has been one of significant hardship. Lorry driver Reynolds Dickson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the filters have doubled his journey time from his vehicle depot to his home.
This delay critically eats into the legally mandated 11 hours of continuous rest required for HGV drivers. "Islington is shrinking this to the point where I'm driving illegally because I'm not getting enough rest," he said. "After 25 years, I'm gonna end up losing my truck licence over this."
Other residents highlighted increased congestion on boundary roads and new safety fears. Long-term resident Nabila said her daughters now have to park "miles away" and walk home in the dark, a concern shared by taxi driver Ali, who said she feels "scared of her shadow" returning late at night.
Reynolds Dickson argued the policy feels "elitist", suggesting it will push up property values on now-quieter streets. "It's the haves and the have-nots, and the great unwashed can live on the other side. That's really what you're looking at," he stated.
Petition Gains Support as Council Defends Scheme
In response, more than 250 residents have signed an e-petition calling on Islington Council to reconsider the Liveable Neighbourhood. The petition has seen some counter-arguments, with one commenter supporting the reduction of "traffic-fouling" near the estate's community centre.
The council has robustly defended the scheme. Cllr Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport, said: "We believe that Islington's streets aren't just routes from A to B – they're community spaces that everyone should be able to enjoy using."
She emphasised that the engagement process was "open to all local people" and that the interventions create safer roads with less speeding and fewer collisions, particularly benefiting children, the elderly, and disabled residents. The council added that all addresses remain accessible by car, albeit via altered routes, and that it is monitoring traffic counts, speed, and air quality in the area.
This controversy follows a 2022 incident where the council was forced to apologise for incorrectly claiming pollution had fallen in another low-traffic neighbourhood when levels had actually risen.
