What’s do you think about Rishi Sunak’s pro-motorist stance? Is it out of touch with the climate change emergency? Is it genuine? (Picture: Getty)
How are your roads? And how’s the air in your neighbourhood?
In today’s MetroTalk readers are discussing Rishi Sunak’s ordering of a review into low traffic neighbourhoods and his ministers consideration of abolishing 20mph speed limits.
Why do you think prime minister has U-turned on anti-car policy?
As one MetroTalk reader points out, if Sunak is on the side of the motorist – he should remember that motorists are not a hive mind.
Do you agree that it’s not necessarily ULEZ drivers disagree with, but its scrappage scheme?
What do you think?
‘Motorists are people with varied views you know?’
It isn’t only the amount of potholes around that show prime minister Rishi Sunak is no friend of the motorist (Metro, Mon).
Motorists are not uniform appendages of cars but people with varied views.
Many do not want the increased pollution and road deaths that will result from politicians abolishing 20mph speed limits and ULEZ schemes, which the Conservative Party appears to want.
Those members of the public who oppose ULEZ might be objecting not to the general plan but to an unjust scrappage scheme that impacts most of the least prosperous car owners who will have most difficulty adapting. Margaret Dickinson, London
METRO TALK – HAVE YOUR SAY
Let us know what you think…
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Where the Prime Minister lives is closed off to traffic (Picture: Getty)
I see Transport for London is making more roads subject to a 20mph speed limit. London mayor Sadiq Khan obviously does not drive.
It is almost impossible to drive at that speed and so 25mph would be acceptable on side roads, especially school roads.
This is another money-making scheme and nothing to do with safety.
My wife was fined £100 and given three points for doing 30mph in a 20mph zone.
The last time she drove down the road it was 30mph. They have people driving taking pictures. It’s a disgrace. Bill, Welling
Rishi Sunak wants a review into low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).
He doesn’t want the rest of us to enjoy the clean air benefits of living in an LTN like he does in Downing Street.
I’m sure that’s one LTN that won’t be opened up to through traffic… David, New Malden
Those such as Paul Atkin (MetroTalk, Tue), who believe it is wrong for the prime minister to order a review into LTNs, have not given any thought to what happens to the traffic that is prevented from using them. It doesn’t just disappear.
Here in Maidstone, the local authority turned a former traffic-light tributary to a major junction into a cul-de-sac.
Those living on that road are enjoying a tranquillity they had never experienced but their neighbours on the surrounding roads have to endure volumes of traffic for which they were not designed.
Do you live in an LTN? Share your experience in the comments (Picture: Getty)
One has become so bad that a section has had to be repaired three times. The conclusion has to be that LTNs deliver relief for some but others have to suffer because of them. HG, Maidstone
Some of us are trying to reduce car use, but until all of the train strikes calm down and new solutions (rather than just lithium batteries for cars) move forwards, all we can do is wait and keep it to a minimum.
Aspects such as lithium sort issues in the short term but people need to look at the bigger picture. Danielle, Hackbridge
Despite all the evidence of global warming, Rishi Sunak says: ‘I just want to make sure people know that I’m on their side in supporting them to use their cars to do all the things that matter to them.’
For a prime minister to talk like that in 2023, in the face of climate science and intense heatwaves worldwide, shows such inadequacy that it can only be concluded that he is unfit to hold his office. Kevin, Watford
Do you think Rishi Sunak’s lax attitude to climate change is out of kilter with 2023? (Picture: Stefan Rousseau-Pool/Getty)
What global warming highlights is the lack of a broad science and engineering knowledge among MPs of all parties and that an Oxbridge PPE – philosophy, politics and economics – is no substitute. Mike, South Shields
Britain hasn’t got a hope in hell of meeting its net zero target if it proceeds with its foolish plan to issue 100 new licences for the extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea.
Has the government gone stark raving mad? Has Rishi Sunak seen what is happening across the world as a result of climate change, or is he far too busy flying around Britain by helicopter? He has no green credentials whatsoever. Scott, West London
Now a major charity – like the banks –has entered the political arena. Oxfam has criticised Sunak’s policy of approving 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences.
Do-gooders should do good, not interfere with democracy. I will not now be giving any more donations to Oxfam and I urge others to join me, whatever your inclinations on the oil issue. Bernard Rimmer, Islington
Did you know it’s illegal to loiter with your engine on? (Picture: Getty)
Brian (MetroTalk, Tue) is right when he says that because people can pay £12.50 and drive into ULEZ – rather than their high-emission vehicles being banned – the scheme permits pollution.
A better way to reduce fumes would be to stop cars idling at the kerb. It’s illegal but no one knows. There are no signs but there should be one at every junction.
I live on a quiet, designated cycle route, where daily I find cars idling at the kerb and cyclists breathing in their exhaust.
I politely give the drivers the information they need and some thank me and switch off. Others become abusive.
The other day a driver yelled at me that there was no such law. A while later he found me to tell me he’d phoned his father in France (in France!), who had confirmed the law existed.
Transport for London and Sadiq Khan need to rectify this lethal oversight if pollution is to be reduced. Valerie, London
MORE : Rishi Sunak says new oil and gas permits are ‘entirely consistent’ with net zero
MORE : Rishi Sunak orders review of low traffic neighbourhoods
If you don’t want to scrap your car does that mean you’re for abolishing 20mph speed limits?