Rahman had campaigned on a promise to remove the LTNs that he said were barriers for working-class people who relied on cars; his manifesto said he wanted to reopen our roads, and abolish the failed Liveable Streets scheme, which has seen emergency services and vulnerable residents' access blocked. But campaigners argued that people benefited from the barriers, and their campaign was supported by local NHS trusts and the headteachers of five schools.
Tower Hamlets Council said in September 2023 it wanted to take down the LTNs and was challenged by Save our Safer Streets (Soss). The court said a failure to reconsult was among the reasons for its decision. Soss said that "thousands of local residents will be extremely pleased and relieved". Tower Hamlets Council, led by mayor Lutfur Rahman, said it was "disappointed" while London's mayor called it "good news for Londoners".
A final decision on whether two unpopular Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Greenwich will become permanent will be made next month. Greenwich Council launched the West and East Neighbourhood Management Trial Scheme last November, aiming to reduce traffic and improve air quality in two areas of Greenwich by issuing fines to motorists who drive through certain areas at peak times.
Other councils, including Southwark and Hackney, have accepted responsibility and refunded motorists when their fines were ruled unlawful. Lambeth's failure to do the same is unacceptable. At the very least, those motorists whose details are still on record should have already been repaid. Had Lambeth acted promptly when the judgment was issued, far more people would have had their money back by now.
Describing the scheme as being part of the Labour administration's anti-car agenda, the Tories have also raised concern over the cost of installing the project. Two low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) installed by the council in Palmers Green and Bowes Park in 2020, and made permanent in 2022, caused significant controversy. The council recently agreed to trial a major change to the Bowes Park LTN after coming under pressure from drivers wanting easier access to their homes.
Rather than simply shuffling traffic between side roads and main roads, as Harker asserts, low-traffic neighbourhoods in Lambeth and elsewhere lead to significant overall drops across the whole area.
Rishi Sunak's own review of LTNs concluded that effects on boundary roads, whether positive or negative, were minimal; the broader evidence favors LTNs for public health.
