An appeal has been granted to the campaign group Save Our Safer Streets (SOSS) regarding the removal of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Bethnal Green.
The plan, which was introduced by mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman in September 2023, would have seen the reopening of three roads in the borough; Columbia Road (pictured above), Arnold Circus and Old Bethnal Green Road, but was challenged when SOSS submitted a petition to the mayor of London in November of last year.
Following this, the case was heard in the High Court, which ruled on the 17 December 2024 in favour of the council and reopening the roads.
Despite this ruling, SOSS has now been granted the opportunity to appeal this decision, which the organisation says would ‘put real pressure on the mayor to rethink his decision’ should it be successful. The ruling will be evaluated on three grounds; whether the mayor’s consultation process was fair, whether he took the borough’s Local Implementation Plan (LIP) into account, and whether he can legally act against the LIP agreed by the council with Transport for London (TfL).
Explaining his reasoning for the removal of the LTNs on these streets, Mayor Rahman said: ‘While LTNs improve air quality in their immediate vicinity, the way they had been implemented in the borough previously pushed traffic down surrounding main roads. This led to complaints about traffic congestion increasing the air pollution on main roads and negatively impacting the health of many who live on those streets, which are predominantly working-class households.
‘The gridlock traffic caused severe delays to bus services, undermining efforts to boost public transport use - a crucial part of the strategy to reduce emissions – and concerns were also raised about the impact on residents with mobility restrictions and on emergency services, including objections by the London Ambulance Service.’
Following the appeal announcement, SOSS said: ‘Not many cases get to go to the Court of Appeal, so we are very encouraged that the court thinks that we have a realistic prospect of success and also that our case raises important issues of public interest.
‘It is really important that when councils sign agreements like [LIPs], they keep to their promises. We need all London borough councils to work together in a coordinated and strategic way if they are to give London the best possible transport and keep residents safe.’
London Borough of Tower Hamlets has been approached for comment.
