A controversial traffic scheme in a North West London neighbourhood has created what residents describe as 'deep and lasting division' within the community, leading to a formal petition demanding its cancellation.
Petition Presented to Council
At a Brent Council Cabinet meeting on November 17, local resident Sanjay Nazarali presented a petition bearing 1,251 signatures calling for an end to the latest Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) in the Queen's Park area. This follows a separate petition last year that gathered 1,400 signatures against the scheme.
The ETO restricts car access on roads between Kingswood Avenue and Salisbury Road during morning rush hours. A new order was introduced in April this year, reducing the restricted times to between 7:30am and 9am, and could remain in place for up to 18 months.
A Community Divided
The implementation of these hyper-local traffic measures has sparked a bitter feud, creating a clear divide between supporters and opponents. Opponents argue the scheme has simply displaced traffic onto boundary roads, worsening congestion for some residents.
Mr Nazarali told the Cabinet: 'These ETOs have created deep and lasting division in our community. They've created a two tier ward, in which the relief enjoyed by a few has created an exactly commensurate level of pain for everybody else.'
He also raised serious concerns about council governance, claiming a formal complaint about a council document was investigated by the same officer who wrote the report, which he described as 'unacceptable governance'.
Supporters Defend the Measures
Meanwhile, supporters of the scheme argue it is essential for preventing rat-running through residential streets. Marina Cantacuzino, co-founder of the local Anti Rat-Run Group (ARRG), suggested campaigners against the ETOs 'consider the rights of drivers more important than the rights of residents'.
Supporters point to benefits for cyclists, children walking to school, and elderly residents, claiming the measures have had a positive impact on the area despite the reduced hours being a compromise to opponents.
Cabinet Member for Public Realm & Enforcement, Cllr Krupa Sheth, confirmed the council had received around 575 emails and submissions with strong views expressed on both sides. She stated: 'Officers will consider all feedback alongside monitoring data, traffic surveys, air quality results, and the impact of everything before making a recommendation.'
Council Leader Cllr Muhammed Butt responded to the petition by saying he was 'more than happy to allow residents to come in and to make sure that their voice is heard', adding that measures 'can go up, things can go down. Things can also be taken away.'
The long-running dispute over traffic management in Queen's Park continues, with the council now reviewing all evidence before making a final decision on the scheme's future.
