Residents in Greater Manchester have protested against the introduction of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) by torching road blocks that stop traffic.
Images have emerged from the Deeplish area of Rochdale showing the planters put in place to filter road traffic set alight just a day after they were first installed.
The video, which was filmed last week, shows fire engines tending to the scene, while some of the planters have been removed and overturned.
Low-traffic neighbourhood zones began appearing during the Covid-19 pandemic as temporary measures. However, many councils decided to keep them in place when road traffic began returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Others have now looked to install them in a bid to encourage active travel but these have been met with fierce criticism by some road users.
The LTN barricades were put in as part of an “active neighbourhoods” trial by Rochdale Borough Council across the Deeplish and Milkstone areas, with a number of roads blocked with the aim of driving up public transport use, and cycling and walking.
Police now investigating
However, the council has now said that following the action taken against LTN infrastructure the trial will be paused so next steps can be considered. Police are now investigating the incident.
A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council, said: “While we understand there may be some strong feelings about the active travel trial on both sides, violence and threats will not be tolerated and the police are investigating this incident.
“The damage has now been cleared by the council and the active travel trial has been paused while we consider our next steps.”
This is not the first time that anti-LTN individuals have taken action into their own hands with some traffic-stopping infrastructure being attacked in Oxford in the last year.
This included an incident that saw LTN bollards in Iffley, Oxford, being melted down. The city has also seen instances of cars knocking down bollards.