Reality v research on low-traffic neighbourhoods

‘Some (mainly richer, more privileged) residents gain; others lose greatly,’ say the Goldings. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Alec Collerton praises low-traffic neighbourhoods, citing his local example in Newcastle upon Tyne (Letters, 15 June). We live in the same area as him, but our road is one of the few not bollarded, and hence is now used extensively as a rat run by drivers previously using other roads. The result is a huge increase in traffic, and thus in pollution, danger and disturbance. Some (mainly richer, more privileged) residents gain; others lose greatly.
Peter and Jen Golding
Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne

• John Wilson (Letters, 15 June) says that “while the residents of LTNs benefit, residents of adjacent roads suffer increased pollution”. This isn’t supported by research. A study of three London LTNs by Imperial College London in 2022 concluded that LTNs reduce traffic and air pollution without displacing the problem to nearby streets.
Lee Pickering
Chelmsford

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