HOUNSLOW Council has reacted to the Prime Minister's support for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and cycle lanes.

On Friday, July 30, Boris Johnson along with the Transport Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, reaffirmed their support for LTNs and cycle lanes.

The PM said: "I support councils, of all parties, which are trying to promote cycling and bus use.

"And if you are going to oppose these schemes, you must tell us what your alternative is."

The Transport Minister went a step further and warned councils which remove these schemes could lose their funding.

He said: "Premature removal of schemes carries implications for the management of the public money used in these schemes and for the government's future funding relationship with the authorities responsible.

"The department will continue to assess authorities' performance in delivering schemes and, following the precedent we have already set, those which have prematurely removed or weakened such schemes should expect to receive a reduced level of funding."

Following these announcements, Cllr Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport at Hounslow Council said: "Not for the first time we find Prime Minister Boris Johnson supporting Hounslow Council's position on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and cycle lanes.

"In November last year, I welcomed his support for increased walking and cycling, cleaner air, nicer neighbourhoods, fewer accidents and safer roads for pedestrians, cyclists, and our children, all of which our Streetspace programme delivers.

"Reports today (July 30) that the new Government guidance will 'insist councils always leave cycling and walking schemes in place' for long enough to be properly assessed follows our recent Cabinet decision to do exactly that in the case of the C9 cycleway.

"Getting more people walking and cycling benefits the health and wellbeing of all Hounslow residents and it is good to hear the government reiterating their importance.

"Further, if reports are accurate that a borough's active travel infrastructure performance will be a consideration for future funding allocation, then Hounslow Council's position is right in both environmental and financial terms.

"Cycleway 9 represents an important part of the collective effort across London to improve cycle facilities between town centres and central London, and I'm proud of our efforts to transform safety for cyclists and pedestrians and put in place the foundations for thousands more people to make everyday journeys on foot or by bike."