Lambeth Council is facing a High Court challenge over a new low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in West Dulwich.
West Dulwich Action Group has accused the council of “disregarding” public opinion after implementing the plan despite widespread disapproval.
Legal documents seen by the Standard reveal that 67.5 per cent of consulted residents were "unhappy" or "very unhappy" with the proposal. Despite this, the council has pushed forward with an 18-month trial of the scheme, which aims to reduce traffic in residential areas.
The West Dulwich Action Group is now seeking to overturn the LTN through legal action.
Their move comes as video footage emerged showing long queues of traffic on Lancaster Road from West Norwood, just days after the scheme’s implementation.
“Have never seen this amount of traffic in all the time I have lived in this area and walked along this road,” a Lambeth resident tweeted.
The council says that such measures are needed to comply with its environmental aims and this trial is part of a broader policy.
West Dulwich LTN: Lancaster Road on Monday 23rd Sept 2024 at 16:45 backed up from West Norwood. Have never seen this amount of traffic in all the time I have lived in this area and walked along this road. Drivers getting restless and tooting at the lights in West Norwood.… pic.twitter.com/1gRfREKs56
— Lambethltnwatch (@lambethltnwatch) September 28, 2024
The Department for Transport's guidance on LTNs states: "LTNs should only be introduced where there is strong evidence of local support and where the benefits clearly outweigh the costs."
The action group therefore argues that the council’s steps go against government direction.
A spokesman for the action group said: “Once again, Lambeth Council is riding roughshod over the wishes of the vast majority of its residents, showing a blatant disregard for pollution and collision data.
“The council refuses to listen or engage with the community, insisting it knows best despite evidence to the contrary.
“Democracy has been replaced with diktats, as councillors and staff relentlessly pursue a green ideology, regardless of whether their policies actually improve the environment.”
“[LTNs] are designed to make residential streets safer, encourage people to walk and cycle more and reduce air pollution,” a previous statement read.
The group has now raised £30,000 to challenge the council in court.
A further statement released on Sunday morning further accused the council of “botching” the announcement, moving the start date and failing to install infrastructure.
A source told the Telegraph: “Seemingly as a result of the hostility to the proposals, the council members and officers who had attended took an early lunch break and also subsequently concluded the event early such that anyone who arrived during the unadvertised lunch break or towards the end of the advertised time slot was unable to participate.”
The appeal is now with the High Court and the group is waiting to hear whether a hearing will go ahead.
The council has said of the need to install LTNs: “Low traffic neighbourhoods make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using quiet streets as shortcuts.
“Over time, LTNs can encourage people to switch from driving to more sustainable ways of travelling, like walking, public transport and cycling.
“This is one of the ways we can tackle the climate emergency in Lambeth.”
There are now several schemes operating in the borough since the policy became integrated within London from the turn of the decade.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: “Lambeth Council is working to make the neighbourhoods of our inner London borough safer and healthier for all, especially local children, the vulnerable and the elderly.
“Lambeth has some of the country’s most polluted air, lacks outdoor space for exercise and socialising for the many local people who live in flats, and dangerous roads resulting in too many people getting injured.
“The West Dulwich street improvements project supports these aims, and were created in response to business and residents’ appeals. It is an 18-month trial scheme and will be continually monitored by Lambeth Council.
“We have thoroughly engaged with the local community throughout, and there will be further opportunities for local people to feedback during the course of the trial.”
