Moment Kings Heath resident confronted by raging driver after 'LTN bollard taken from street'

This is the alarming moment a resident was ‘threatened’ by a driver who ‘removed’ a LTN barrier so they could drive down a Kings Heath road. Daniel Cooke, who lives around Station Road, said the motorist ‘squared’ up to him after Mr Cooke replaced the plastic barrier on the road, amid concerns about children’s safety.

It comes after reports that anti-LTN campaigners were 'forcibly removing' bollards in protest against the scheme. The Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme, designed to reduce traffic in residential neighbourhoods, has sparked heated debate since it was first introduced in 2020.

Mr Cooke is one of a number of residents who say their roads have been made ‘unsafe’ by ‘vandals’ removing LTN infrastructure illegally. Birmingham City Council said LTN barriers were ‘in place for a reason’ and urged people to ‘think about their behaviour.’

READ MORE: 'Tension' in Kings Heath as 'vandals' target LTN bollards and locals say 'I'd rather you didn't'

Footage sent to BirminghamLive shows Mr Cooke confronted by a motorist who removed the plastic barriers on Station Road - designed to stop cars after a metal LTN bollard was ‘removed.’ According to Mr Cooke, ‘hostile behaviour’ from drivers is commonplace when residents try to put barriers back.

Describing the incident, which took place on Halloween last year, October 31, Mr Cooke said: “I was walking down Station Road and there kids out trick-or-treating, having a great time. There were cars driving through what should be a dead-end road at high speed, as they always do when the LTN barrier is vandalised.

“I picked up the plastic barriers and put them back. I came back a few hours later and the barriers had been moved again. I put them back, and it so happened that a car came along at that time.

“The guy got out of the car and moved the barrier out the way. He got quite aggressive towards me when I started filming him. It put me on edge. The video doesn’t capture the fear you feel in that moment when someone squares up to you in the street.

“It’s only a matter of time until someone gets hit by a car - these kids just want to go out and have fun and put their lives in danger. I don’t feel like I should have to put myself in danger for this issue to be resolved.”

Mr Cooke is one of a number of residents who have raised frustrations around ‘vandals’ targeting LTN bollards. Another resident of Station Road, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "In the last 18 months we've noticed an organised effort to remove bollards. I think in the whole of last year, our bollard must have been in for about a week in total…the street is worse than it's ever been."

Mr Cooke added: “It’s almost a constant stream of cars up and down Station Road these days. There’s no bollard there, but there’s still a no cars allowed sign - but people just drive through it.

“The council put up plastic barriers when the bollards are removed, but drivers can just get out of their car, move them out of the way, and just drive through - it solves nothing. If people don’t want the LTNs, there’s lots of things they can do to protest - but these people are committing criminal damage and breaking the law.”

A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: “Threatening behaviour is unacceptable in any circumstances. Places for People schemes are aimed at reducing traffic in residential neighbourhoods to make it safer for people to walk and cycle, nicer for children to play outside and for neighbours to chat.

“Barriers are in place for a reason, they are not merely suggestions, and we expect motorists to respect that. This is something we are looking at in the next phase of the scheme and we would urge people to think about their behaviour and consider their fellow residents.”