ONE of the big issues for many Ealing residents who oppose the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) schemes, is that the bollards that have been installed delay emergency services from reaching their destinations.

Earlier this week, the opposition Conservative party 'called-in' the Council's December cabinet report on the LTNs and this was debated on Thursday evening.

Following the cabinet scrutiny meeting, the Council has made the decision to replace all of the bollards inside the LTNs with ANPR cameras.

This will allow access for emergency vehicles and also for blue badge holders within their own LTN.

This will come into effect from January 18 and anyone caught going through a road previously blocked off by bollards will be issued with a fine.

No mention was made however about non blue badge holders and whether they will be exempt from the ANPR cameras, similar to residents who live within the congestion charge zone in central London.

During the cabinet scrutiny meeting it was also announced that the current LTN trials that were originally meant to last six months have now been extended until the end of July.