The mayor of Tower Hamlets is facing a judicial review this week over his decision to remove three low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the east London area of Bethnal Green.
The campaign group Save Our Safer Streets (SOSS) says the LTNs are vital to protect children in deprived areas from pollution and the risks of heavy traffic.
The group has raised nearly £80,000 through a crowdfunder to pay lawyers to bring the legal proceedings. In a two-day hearing starting on Wednesday, a judge will consider whether the mayor, Lutfur Rahman, broke the law when he announced last September that he would be removing the LTNs in the east London area of Bethnal Green.
Jane Harris, a spokesperson for SOSS, told the Guardian: “We didn’t want to get to the point of taking the council to court. We have asked to meet the mayor and talk many times, but he has refused to meet us. This is despite over 3,000 people signing a petition to keep the LTNs.
“The LTNs are working. The air quality is better, more people are cycling and walking. We have really widespread support, from the local hospitals to schools in the area. We are particularly grateful to those who put their own hard-earned money into our campaign.”
Lawyers from Leigh Day will argue that the mayor ignored government guidance on LTNs, and that he ran a flawed consultation and decision-making process. They will also argue that he failed to properly consider if removing the LTN’s safer street layouts would be a good use of £2.5m.
Transport for London has joined the case as an “interested party”, taking part in the challenge against Tower Hamlets.
A TfL spokesperson said: “Walking and cycling infrastructure, including low-traffic neighbourhoods, can play an important role in making our streets safer and enabling more active travel across London. It is important that councils follow established processes before this infrastructure is changed or removed.”
Other supporters of the LTNs include Barts NHS health trust who have written to the mayor outlining the risks to public health of removing them. They said: “Tower Hamlets has the lowest car ownership in London, yet those living, working or studying [here] are exposed to the fifth worst air quality of any London borough, regularly exceeding WHO safety limits.”
In February last year, five headteachers in one of the affected areas wrote an open letter to Rahman asking him to keep the restrictions in place.
Rahman was elected as an independent mayor in May 2022 following a five-year ban on standing for public office after an election court found him guilty of corrupt and illegal practices.
A Tower Hamlets council spokesperson said: “We remain confident in our legal position and we look forward to the outcome of this week’s hearing.”
Rahman has previously argued that because his plans to remove the LTNs were part of his manifesto, they have a democratic mandate, saying: “These closures have impacted thousands of working people in Tower Hamlets. They have pushed huge amounts of traffic on to [other] roads … and are simply moving congestion and pollution on to the most vulnerable residents.”
Residents have previously told the Guardian the closures have made their lives harder.
Shaheena, a campaigner whose five children attend schools inside one of the LTNs, said: “I voted for the mayor but I really hope we can get him to reconsider his plans. Something beautiful has been created in our community, and I’m so sad to think it could be taken away. For three years now, the area has been so much safer and quieter.
“Going back to heavy traffic would be devastating for us – especially my youngest, who has special needs. He lacks awareness of the dangers of cars and struggles with the noise, so I’d have to keep him inside a lot more. I chat to a lot of older people who come and sit out on the chairs by the road scheme, and they’d just go back inside if the lorries returned.”
