Campaigners apply for judicial review of London borough plan to remove low traffic neighbourhoods

A group of residents have lodged a judicial review challenge over the mayor of Tower Hamlets Borough Council's plan to remove a set of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).

Save Our Safer Streets (SOSS) has been campaigning against the decision since summer 2022 to keep the borough's LTN schemes in place.

According to the claimants, Tower Hamlets is the first council planning to dismantle a permanent LTN "against the wishes of residents".

The decision will see the London borough spend £2.5 million to remove cycle lanes, pocket parks, seating areas and planters that were installed two years ago as part of the LTN.

According to the council, the latest consultation suggested 41.7% of residents favoured removal, while 57.3% wanted to keep the LTNs.

Announcing the decision in September 2023, Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “We have seen people on both sides try to skew the results of our consultation. Ultimately, I am interested in the views of Tower Hamlets residents in the affected areas.

“I must now make a decision as Mayor, and I have decided that division is not the answer. We need to find better solutions to improve air quality that can unite our residents and businesses.”

He said the council will retain some of the “universally beneficial” features such as accessible walking routes and pedestrian spaces, along with all 33 School Streets timed closures, and pledged to invest £6m in new measures to make roads safer and enhance public spaces.

The group claims that the plans ignore Government guidance on LTNs, fail to consider if the removal works were a "good use of £2.5m", and follow a "flawed" consultation and decision-making process.

Commenting on its Crowd Justice page, the group said it feared other councils "might think they can make similarly wild decisions" if they do not challenge the council.

Jane Harris of SOSS said: "This legal challenge is an absolute last resort for us. We have tried for a year and a half to meet the mayor and look at the specific issues and solutions for Bethnal Green, but he hasn't even bothered to visit the scheme, let alone meet us.

"Not only has he ignored all the evidence, expert views and residents' preferences about keeping the schemes, but he has now made a decision which we believe is unlawful.

"No council has ever removed a permanent LTN that has the support of a majority of residents. If this decision were to be deemed legal, it would set a terrible precedent. It would be a huge blow for healthy, safe travel across the country."

SOSS has currently crowd sourced £41,000 towards its target of £45,000 to fund the challenge. The group is being represented by David Wolfe KC and solicitors at Leigh Day.

Transport for London, which has previously recommended that the schemes stay in place, has become involved as an 'interested party' in the case.

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey