Islington Council is set to trial an exemption to its Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) restrictions for Blue Badge holders, aiming to improve accessibility for residents with disabilities.

The Islington Executive approved the trial at a meeting on Thursday 23 October 2025, following a review of the council’s Blue Badge traffic filter exemption policy, as outlined in the Blue Badge Traffic Filter Exemption Trial Exec Paper v5. The trial will allow Islington residents who hold a Blue Badge to apply for exemption from traffic filters in all existing LTNs and future Liveable Neighbourhoods (LNs).

Currently, Blue Badge holders are only exempt from traffic filters within their 'Home LTN'. This trial aims to extend that exemption borough-wide.

To prevent abuse of the system, the council has outlined specific procedures for the trial. Blue badge holders that already hold a home LTN blue badge exemption will automatically be exempt from all camera-enforced LTN and future LN traffic filters across the borough. All other blue badge holders across the borough will receive a letter inviting them to apply for this new exemption, nominating a chosen vehicle that will be exempt from all camera-enforced LTN and future LN traffic filters across the borough.

Councillor Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality & Transport, introduced the report, stating the council has been reviewing the balance of provisions for Blue Badge holders as the LTN programme progresses. She said:

We think now a time is right to trial people who have a blue badge holder to be able to drive through all the filters in the borough... So they won't have to live in the LTM in order to get an exemption for driving through those filters. They would be able to register as an extension essentially for the way that we're doing the home LTM. So be able to register one vehicle to drive through all the filters in the borough. Absolutely think it's the right time. As I say, it's the trial, but we hope it will be something that we can take forward.

The Blue Badge Traffic Filter Exemption Trial Exec Paper v5 states that the trial period will last for up to 18 months. During this time, the council will monitor the impacts of the trial and engage with affected groups to fully understand the implications before making any permanent changes to the exemption policy.

To ensure meaningful engagement, the council, before taking a final decision on the outcome of the trial, will:

  • Reach out to disability action groups across the borough to invite feedback and comments.
  • Facilitate a public consultation on any proposed formal policy change.
  • Assess data from the monitoring carried out at several key sites within the existing LTNs.

Authority to make a final decision on the trial's outcome will be delegated to the Corporate Director of Environment and Climate Change, following consultation with the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport.

The decision was made during an Executive meeting, where other key issues were also discussed, including property licensing and community infrastructure levy allocations. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved, and procurement strategies for electrical testing and specialist adaptations were agreed.