Low traffic neighbourhoods: What are they and why are they controversial?

Published

2 years ago

July 30, 2023

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A review has been ordered by Rishi Sunak of divisive low traffic neighbourhoods.

The prime minister’s move comes as green policies and the path to net zero promise to be a key battleground in the run up to the next general election.

The Tories narrowly held Boris Johnson’s former seat after tapping into local concerns about the expansion of London’s ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ) by the city’s Labour mayor Sadiq Khan.

But nature campaigners have warned they will “not stand by” while politicians use the environment as “a political football”.

Mr Sunak is due to meet energy bosses this week to set out his plans for the UK’s fossil fuels and green industries.

So what are low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and why are they controversial?

Designed to encourage cycling and walking by limiting driving in side roads, the rollout of LTNs was paved by the government in 2020 with £225m in funding. They were implemented in areas from spring of that year.

Schemes include segregated cycle lanes, wider pavements and closing roads to motor traffic.

The key aim is to reduce air pollution, noise nuisance and traffic accidents by getting people out of their cars and tackling rat-running, where people use residential streets as short cuts.

How do they work?

LTNs use barriers, bollards, road signs, and planters to restrict cars, vans, and other vehicles, while allowing pedestrians and cyclists through.

How many are there?

There is no official public tally but it has previously been reported there are around 300 schemes already running or planned across the country, including London, Bristol, Oxford and Newcastle.

Other cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield have also introduced LTNs.

So LTNs work and are popular?

It depends who you talk to with the success of schemes disputed.

Supporters argue the measures have cut noise and air pollution, encouraged people to opt for more healthy and environmentally friendly types of travel, strengthened communities and helped local businesses with the extra footfall.

But critics believe while they may have improved areas where they are located, they push the problems elsewhere.

This includes creating congestion and causing longer journeys, generating more polluting emissions.

Many LTNs are also not recognised by satnav leading to traffic snarl-ups.

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Although some claim LTNs make it easier for emergency services to reach their destination, others argue they do the exact opposite, hindering the response to 999 calls as vehicles cannot get through.

It is not just practical considerations, Conservative MP Nick Fletcher has previously suggested the traffic control measures were part of an “international socialist concept” which would take away personal liberties.

Some people have been so infuriated that they have vandalised LTN measures such as setting fire to planters blocking roads.

What about ULEZ?

The Ultra Low Emission Zone – more commonly known as ULEZ – aims to reduce air pollution in London and other big cities by charging heavy polluting vehicles to drive on central roads.

Mr Khan wants to expand the zone to the borders of the capital, but he’s been met with fierce opposition.

Even Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called on his colleague to “reflect” on his decision in the wake of the party’s defeat at the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election.

Politics

Labour suspends MP Dan Norris after arrest

Published

3 hours ago

April 5, 2025

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Labour suspends MP Dan Norris after arrest

The Labour Party has suspended its MP Dan Norris after “being informed of his arrest”.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest.

“We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”

Mr Norris defeated Jacob Rees-Mogg to win the new seat of North East Somerset and Hanham in last year’s general election.

He has also lost the party whip in the House of Commons.

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Politics

Satoshi Nakamoto turns 50 as Bitcoin becomes US reserve asset

Published

9 hours ago

April 5, 2025

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Satoshi Nakamoto turns 50 as Bitcoin becomes US reserve asset

Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, marks their 50th birthday amid a year of rising institutional and geopolitical adoption of the world’s first cryptocurrency.

The identity of Nakamoto remains one of the biggest mysteries in crypto, with speculation ranging from cryptographers like Adam Back and Nick Szabo to broader theories involving government intelligence agencies.

While Nakamoto’s identity remains anonymous, the Bitcoin (BTC) creator is believed to have turned 50 on April 5 based on details shared in the past.

According to archived data from his P2P Foundation profile, Nakamoto once claimed to be a 37-year-old man living in Japan and listed his birthdate as April 5, 1975.

Nakamoto’s anonymity has played a vital role in maintaining the decentralized nature of the Bitcoin network, which has no central authority or leadership.

The Bitcoin wallet associated with Nakamoto, which holds over 1 million BTC, has laid dormant for more than 16 years despite BTC rising from $0 to an all-time high above $109,000 in January.

Nakamoto’s 50th birthday comes nearly a month after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Asset Stockpile, marking the first major step toward integrating Bitcoin into the US financial system.

Nakamoto’s legacy: a “cornerstone of economic sovereignty”

“At 50, Nakamoto’s legacy is no longer just code; it’s a cornerstone of economic sovereignty,” according to Anndy Lian, author and intergovernmental blockchain expert.

“Bitcoin’s reserve status signals trust in its scarcity and resilience,” Lian told Cointelegraph, adding:

“What’s fascinating is the timing. Fifty feels symbolic — half a century of life, mirrored by Bitcoin’s journey from a white paper to a trillion-dollar asset. Nakamoto’s vision of trustless, peer-to-peer money has outgrown its cypherpunk roots, entering the halls of power.”

However, lingering questions about Nakamoto remain unanswered, including whether they still hold the keys to their wallet, which is “a fortune now tied to US policy,” Lian said.

Is Satoshi Nakamoto wealthier than Bill Gates?

In February, Arkham Intelligence published findings that attribute 1.096 million BTC — then valued at more than $108 billion — to Nakamoto. That would place him above Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on the global wealth rankings, according to data shared by Coinbase director Conor Grogan.

If accurate, this would make Nakamoto the world’s 16th richest person.

Despite the growing interest in Nakamoto’s identity and holdings, his early decision to remain anonymous and inactive has helped preserve Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos — a principle that continues to define the cryptocurrency to this day.

Magazine: 10 crypto theories that missed as badly as ‘Peter Todd is Satoshi’

Politics

Wall Street’s one-day loss tops the entire crypto market cap

Published

14 hours ago

April 5, 2025

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Wall Street’s one-day loss tops the entire crypto market cap

The United States stock market lost more in value over the April 4 trading day than the entire cryptocurrency market is worth, as fears over US President Donald Trump’s tariffs continue to ramp up.

On April 4, the US stock market lost $3.25 trillion — around $570 billion more than the entire crypto market’s $2.68 trillion valuation at the time of publication.

Nasdaq 100 is now “in a bear market”

Among the Magnificent-7 stocks, Tesla (TSLA) led the losses on the day with a 10.42% drop, followed by Nvidia (NVDA) down 7.36% and Apple (AAPL) falling 7.29%, according to TradingView data.

The significant decline across the board signals that the Nasdaq 100 is now “in a bear market” after falling 6% across the trading day, trading resource account The Kobeissi Letter said in an April 4 X post. This is the largest daily decline since March 16, 2020.

“US stocks have now erased a massive -$11 TRILLION since February 19 with recession odds ABOVE 60%,” it added. The Kobessi Letter said Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement was “historic” and if the tariffs continue, a recession will be “impossible to avoid.”

Nasdaq, United States, Stocks — *Source:* *Anthony Scaramucci*

On April 2, Trump signed an executive order establishing reciprocal tariffs on trading partners and a 10% baseline tariff on all imports from all countries.

Trump said the reciprocal tariffs will be roughly half the rate US trading partners impose on American goods.

Meanwhile, the crypto industry has pointed out that while the stock market continues to decline, Bitcoin (BTC) remains stronger than most expected.

Crypto trader Plan Markus pointed out in an April 4 X post that while the entire stock market “is tanking,” Bitcoin is holding.

Even some crypto skeptics have pointed out the contrast between Bitcoin’s performance and the US stock market during the recent period of macro uncertainty.

Stock market commentator Dividend Hero told his 203,200 X followers that he has “hated on Bitcoin in the past, but seeing it not tank while the stock market does is very interesting to me.”

Meanwhile, technical trader Urkel said Bitcoin “doesn’t appear to care one bit about tariff wars and markets tanking.” Bitcoin is trading at $83,749 at the time of publication, down 0.16% over the past seven days, according to CoinMarketCap data.

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