“Abolish the failed liveable streets scheme” was a key pledge in Luftur Rahman’s successful campaign for Tower Hamlets Mayor in 2022. Now, his vision lies in tatters after the Court of Appeal ruled that his attempts to remove the scheme were unlawful.
Bethnal Green’s low traffic neighbourhood schemes – or LTNs for short – were installed in 2021. They reduced vehicle access to Old Bethnal Green Road, Columbia Road, and Arnold Road, creating cycle lanes and pedestrianised spaces instead.
However, the backlash was immediate, and the then Labour-run council swiftly backtracked on plans to expand the scheme to other areas of Tower Hamlets. At the time, then Mayor John Biggs said: “We will be briefly pausing and where necessary changing the Liveable Streets programme.
“The programme has brought many positive and welcome changes but is not popular with some of those less directly benefiting and who face inconvenience.”
At the 2022 elections, however, the Aspire Party, headed by ex-local Labour grandee Luftur Rahman, swept to power with a promise to remove the existing LTNs and not install any others.
“Almost within days of his being voted in, we had letters arriving on our doorsteps saying there’s a consultation to remove the LTN,” says Ted Maxwell, from the Save Our Safer Streets campaign.
He points out a cluster of benches close to where we are standing in the ‘streetscape’ that now intersects the Old Bethnal Green Road. There, he and other residents gathered to start the campaign shortly after Mayor Rahman’s first attempts to remove the LTN.
This ‘streetscape’ now bisects Old Bethnal Green Road, pushing traffic onto main roads
Save Our Safer Streets eventually took the council to court for a judicial review into the legality of the council’s attempts to scrap the LTN. Their legal action was funded by over 1,900 donations.
Though the High Court initially ruled in favour of the council, Save Our Safer Streets succeeded last week in an appeal.
The court ruled that the council lacked the power to remove the LTN without approval from the Mayor of London. This is because London councils are legally obliged to carry out measures agreed in ‘local implementation plans’ set by the Mayor of London.
A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: “We are disappointed with the ruling, not least because previously the courts have ruled in our favour.
“We will review the judgment which has significant implications across London, and we will be seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.”
Opinions on the LTN are divided among residents and businesses on the road
Back at Old Bethnal Green Road, it’s school closing time. Children from Oaklands School, which flanks the LTN, stream out onto the street and linger.
“Look how relaxed and happy they are. It’s because they’ve removed the two lanes of cars rushing by,” says Mijke van der Drift, a local resident.
“Normally people sit around here, the older people sit there,” she says, pointing back towards the streetscape. “It brings the neighbourhood together, you meet people – I think this is why I like it.”
But the benefits haven’t been shared by everyone.
“It has reduced our number of customers,” says Raja Kayani, who runs a dry cleaners’ a few steps from one of the traffic barriers.
“There used to be parking bays on the road, so customers could come from all over. Now we’re limited to people who live around here, not everyone’s willing to carry their things over from further away.”
“But for the residents, it’s obviously a good thing,” adds Kayani.
“I got involved in this campaign because, at a personal level, the changes that have been made to streets have transformed life for my family,” says Maxwell. “From the moment the changes came into the neighbourhood, I feel like the journey to and from school every day is calmer and safer.”
On the campaign, he adds: “We feel vindicated and we’re hoping that this is drawing a line under the whole topic.”
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HeadlineInside the battle over Bethnal Green’s LTNs
Short HeadlineInside the battle over Bethnal Green’s LTNs
StandfirstCampaigners have won their court battle to save their LTN
“Abolish the failed liveable streets scheme” was a key pledge in Luftur Rahman’s successful campaign for Tower Hamlets Mayor in 2022. Now, his vision lies in tatters after the Court of Appeal ruled that his attempts to remove the scheme were unlawful.
Bethnal Green’s low traffic neighbourhood schemes – or LTNs for short – were installed in 2021. They reduced vehicle access to Old Bethnal Green Road, Columbia Road, and Arnold Road, creating cycle lanes and pedestrianised spaces instead.
However, the backlash was immediate, and the then Labour-run council swiftly backtracked on plans to expand the scheme to other areas of Tower Hamlets. At the time, then Mayor John Biggs said: “We will be briefly pausing and where necessary changing the Liveable Streets programme.
“The programme has brought many positive and welcome changes but is not popular with some of those less directly benefiting and who face inconvenience.”
At the 2022 elections, however, the Aspire Party, headed by ex-local Labour grandee Luftur Rahman, swept to power with a promise to remove the existing LTNs and not install any others.
“Almost within days of his being voted in, we had letters arriving on our doorsteps saying there’s a consultation to remove the LTN,” says Ted Maxwell, from the Save Our Safer Streets campaign.
He points out a cluster of benches close to where we are standing in the ‘streetscape’ that now intersects the Old Bethnal Green Road. There, he and other residents gathered to start the campaign shortly after Mayor Rahman’s first attempts to remove the LTN.
This ‘streetscape’ now bisects Old Bethnal Green Road, pushing traffic onto main roads
Save Our Safer Streets eventually took the council to court for a judicial review into the legality of the council’s attempts to scrap the LTN. Their legal action was funded by over 1,900 donations.
Though the High Court initially ruled in favour of the council, Save Our Safer Streets succeeded last week in an appeal.
The court ruled that the council lacked the power to remove the LTN without approval from the Mayor of London. This is because London councils are legally obliged to carry out measures agreed in ‘local implementation plans’ set by the Mayor of London.
A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: “We are disappointed with the ruling, not least because previously the courts have ruled in our favour.
“We will review the judgment which has significant implications across London, and we will be seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.”
Opinions on the LTN are divided among residents and businesses on the road
Back at Old Bethnal Green Road, it’s school closing time. Children from Oaklands School, which flanks the LTN, stream out onto the street and linger.
“Look how relaxed and happy they are. It’s because they’ve removed the two lanes of cars rushing by,” says Mijke van der Drift, a local resident.
“Normally people sit around here, the older people sit there,” she says, pointing back towards the streetscape. “It brings the neighbourhood together, you meet people – I think this is why I like it.”
But the benefits haven’t been shared by everyone.
“It has reduced our number of customers,” says Raja Kayani, who runs a dry cleaners’ a few steps from one of the traffic barriers.
“There used to be parking bays on the road, so customers could come from all over. Now we’re limited to people who live around here, not everyone’s willing to carry their things over from further away.”
“But for the residents, it’s obviously a good thing,” adds Kayani.
“I got involved in this campaign because, at a personal level, the changes that have been made to streets have transformed life for my family,” says Maxwell. “From the moment the changes came into the neighbourhood, I feel like the journey to and from school every day is calmer and safer.”
On the campaign, he adds: “We feel vindicated and we’re hoping that this is drawing a line under the whole topic.”
