Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to prevent local authorities from taking measures to reduce traffic congestion in their areas.

The Government is committed to maintaining and renewing the road network, to ensure it serves drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and other road users.

Responsibility for traffic management on local roads rests with local traffic authorities. They have a statutory duty, under the Traffic Management Act 2004, to manage their networks with the aim of ‘securing the expeditious movement of traffic’, including the reduction of congestion and other disruption.

Local authorities already have a wide range of tools available to help them achieve this. As such, they are free to make decisions about what is needed on their roads, provided they take account of the relevant legislation.