Campaigners to appeal Tower Hamlets Lower Traffic Neighbourhoods judgment

The decision to remove the LTN scheme was made by Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman in September 2023, with SOSS arguing that it had been made unlawfully.  

However, a judgment handed down today concluded that, despite the council’s position ‘fluctuating’ during proceedings, the decision was lawful and within Mr Rahman’s remit to take. 

The scheme was first implemented in 2020, altering street layouts and traffic measures in an effort to make the area safer and healthier, as well as to promote walking, cycling and other alternative methods of transport to cars.   

But in September 2023 Mr Rahman opted to remove the scheme entirely, having been calling for its removal since his election in May 2022. Campaigners at SOSS launched their judicial review shortly afterwards in December 2023. 

SOSS argued in their case that the decision to remove the LTN scheme was irrational and had inadequate reasoning, with Mr Rahman failing to address the benefits of retaining the scheme as well as the adverse impacts of its removal. 

Two public consultations in late 2022 and early 2023 found that more than half of residents surveyed remained in support of the scheme in its entirety. 

The campaigners also argued that the decision failed to adhere to statutory guidance and wider London transport strategy plans aiming to promote walking, cycling and public transport. 

Their legal challenge was heard in the High Court in November 2024, but a judge rejected the challenge and upheld Mr Rahman’s decision to remove the LTN scheme.  

Jane Harris from Save Our Safer Streets said: 

“On behalf of the thousand-plus supporters who funded this case, we at Save Our Safer Streets are extremely disappointed that the judge has not found in our favour. We have been advised that there are grounds for an appeal so the named claimant will push ahead. 

“We believed that there were serious flaws in the way the decision to remove them was taken. We remain convinced that the mayor of Tower Hamlets’ proposal will be expensive, unpopular, harmful for residents’ health and safety, and jeopardise the Mayor of London’s transport strategy. We hope people will continue to support us in this vital mission to keep Londoners safer and healthier.” 

Leigh Day environment team solicitor Ricardo Gama, who represents SOSS, said:

“Our client is obviously disappointed. Over the course of the legal challenge, campaigners at SOSS feel they put forward strong arguments for why the decision was not a reasonable or lawful one. The judgment raises wider issues about the role of London boroughs in delivering on the Mayor of London’s transport policies and we will now discuss next steps with our client, including bringing an appeal.”