The leader of Harrow Conservatives has called for low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the borough to be removed “as a matter of urgency” after seeing a letter from the London Ambulance Service (LAS).

Cllr Paul Osborn wrote to Harrow Council’s chief executive, Sean Harriss, asking him to “rectify the defects” in the LTN programme, which was implemented as part of plans to promote active travel and assist the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said they could cause serious problems for emergency services in terms of getting to those in need and suggested, if they are not addressed, this could lead to legal issues.

In the letter, Cllr Osborn said: “We have already seen countless videos of fire engines and ambulances having to turn round and take lengthy diversions to reach people in urgent need of attention.

“If the worst were to happen and somebody lost their life due to a delay and given our reckless disregard for the clear advice of the emergency services and our potential negligence in not speedily resolving the issue once brought to our attention, I worry Harrow Council could be held criminally liable for the death.”

It comes after the borough’s Conservative Group pointed out a letter sent by LAS to Mr Harriss in July, which expressed “a level of concern” around certain aspects of the new traffic measures.

These covered “the types of proposed changes, speed of implementation and limited consultation with emergency services”.

LAS said it “generally supports” the concept of promoting greener, safer travel and any efforts that would support residents during the pandemic.

It added any changes should not affect its ability to attend incidents or take patients to hospital and urged the council to consult with emergency services before putting new measures in place.

Several Harrow councillors have frequently defended the LTNs, noting they remain trial measures and assuring communities that they adequately consulted with emergency services.

At a cabinet meeting on Thursday (December 17), Cllr Graham Henson, leader of Harrow Council, said officers provided “full details” of the schemes to LAS in response to the July letter.

He added any findings from the review of these schemes would be shared with LAS, which will form part of an “ongoing consultation” with emergency services.