Legal Challenge Filed Against Tower Hamlets Mayor’s LTN Scrapping

A decision made by the mayor of Tower Hamlets to remove a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme from the borough is scheduled to face a challenge in the High Court. The campaign group Save Our Safer Streets (SOSS) is initiating this legal action, with Transport for London (TfL) joining the proceedings as an interested party. TfL plans to argue that Tower Hamlets did not adhere to the necessary legal procedures and that its actions conflict with the council’s local implementation plan, which had previously been agreed upon with the Mayor of London. Lutfar Rahman, the directly elected mayor of Tower Hamlets, stated that low traffic zones “push traffic down surrounding arterial roads, typically lived on by less affluent residents.” Rahman, a member of the Aspire party which secured victory in the local election in May 2022, had previously described the LTN scheme as “botched” by the preceding Labour administration and pledged to reverse the programme. In September 2023, he characterized LTNs as “a barrier for families to get around in what is the most densely populated place in the country.” Lawyers representing SOSS will contend that the mayor disregarded government guidance, conducted a flawed consultation and decision-making process, and failed to properly assess whether the changes would represent a judicious use of £2.5 million. The Liveable Streets programme was implemented in 2019 by the former Labour-run Tower Hamlets council with the aim of enhancing the appearance and atmosphere of public spaces and improving conditions for foot, bike, and public transport. When discontinuing the scheme, the council announced its intention to instead invest £6 million in “active travel” initiatives. Jane Harris, spokesperson for SOSS, remarked: “TfL’s involvement shows our cause has implications far beyond Tower Hamlets. We know the mayor of London has spoken in the past against Tower Hamlet’s decision and we’ve recently presented a petition asking him to step in to make sure the city’s transport policy stays joined-up.” The court hearing is anticipated to last for two days.