High Court Upholds Legality of Low Traffic Zone Removal

The High Court has validated the decision to dismantle three Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Tower Hamlets, located in east London. This action drew criticism from the campaign group Save our Safer Streets (SoSS), which contended that Mayor Lutfur Rahman acted unlawfully when he removed the LTNs in September of the previous year. The Mayor of Tower Hamlets stated he “welcomed” the court’s determination that his choice was within legal bounds. Jane Harris, representing SoSS, expressed that they were “extremely disappointed” and indicated their intention to appeal the ruling. The three specific Low Traffic Neighbourhoods involved in the case were situated on Columbia Road, Arnold Circus, and Old Bethnal Green Road, all of which had remained operational while awaiting the resolution of the legal dispute. This ruling may carry political and legal implications throughout the capital, potentially establishing a precedent for other boroughs seeking to diverge from London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s comprehensive transport strategy. In his electoral manifesto, Mr Rahman had pledged to “reopen our roads, and abolish the failed Liveable Streets scheme, which has seen emergency services and vulnerable residents’ access blocked”. The presiding judge emphasized that the legal proceedings did not concern the merits or demerits of discontinuing the scheme, but rather focused on the legality of the decision itself. In a formal statement, SOSS declared: “With so much support for the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Bethnal Green – including from schools, GPs, local residents, the Met Police and TfL – we had to do everything possible to prevent them being ripped out at a cost of millions and without listening to the people who live and work here.” They added, “We believed that there were serious flaws in the way the mayor decided to remove them.” Furthermore, they stated, “We are deeply concerned about one council adopting a policy that is so at odds with what its own residents want.” Following the court’s judgment, Mr Rahman issued a statement asserting: “While LTNs improve air quality in their immediate vicinity, the previous Labour administration’s botched implementation of LTNs in Tower Hamlets caused traffic congestion on main roads. “This led to complaints about increased air pollution and negative impacts on the health of many who live on main roads, which are predominantly working-class households.” Transport for London (TfL) had previously contended that Mr Rahman’s choice conflicted with the local implementation plan (LIP) that had been mutually established by the borough and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. In reaction to the court’s decision, TfL commented: “Walking and cycling infrastructure, including Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, plays an important role in making our streets safer and enabling more active travel across London. “Decisions on schemes such as these are a matter for local councils, but we are carefully considering any implications for TfL-funded borough schemes.”