Bath council faces legal threats over LTN

The council’s plans to implement a permanent low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) in Bath provide grounds for litigation, residents have warned.

Following Bath and North East Somerset (BNES) council’s proposal to make the Sydney Place LTN permanent, members of the local community have been petitioning for the scheme to be abolished, reported The Telegraph.

The LTN was introduced by the council as a six-month experimental trial in April 2024, with a view to encourage more sustainable modes of travel and improve safety in residential areas.

The scheme was installed despite significant complaints from residents, with 779 members of the local community formally objecting to the LTN via letter.

Due to the extent of local dissatisfaction, the United Sydney Unliveable Neighbourhoods Group (Unsung) has asked a lawyer to contact the council and request that it withdraw the LTN.

Neil McCabe, a spokesperson for Unsung said: ‘BNES has a track record of ignoring residents’ groups’ concerns when it implements ill-thought-out LTNs.

‘The West Dulwich court case has now established that doing so is illegal. B&NES now needs to reverse any LTN with less than 50% support from all affected residents, not just the few benefitting from the LTN.’

A spokesperson for BNES commented: ‘We have received correspondence and are considering it but will make no further comment at this stage.’

This was originally reported on our sister site, LocalGov.

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