There has been a lot of reaction to the news that the Court of Appeal has ruled that the Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman acted unlawfully in removing three Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the borough, as we covered yesterday.
Active travel campaigner Laura Laker said on BlueSky that “this is significant news for schemes delivered across London in the last nine years.
“It means politicians can’t simply ‘rip out’ LTNs and bike lanes they don’t like. Some of those running in May’s elections are going to have to rethink their pledges.”
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Save Our Safer Streets, who brought the legal challenge, celebrated the win on X, saying “WE WON! 🎉
“Court of Appeal has ruled that Tower Hamlets’ decision to remove Liveable Streets in Bethnal Green is UNLAWFUL
“Councils can’t just tear out schemes without Mayor of London’s approval. This is a MAJOR precedent for London boroughs.”
WE WON! 🎉
Court of Appeal has ruled that Tower Hamlets decision to remove Liveable Streets in Bethnal Green is UNLAWFUL
Councils can’t just tear out schemes without Mayor of London’s approval.
This is a MAJOR precedent for London boroughs.#SaveOurSaferStreets
— Save Our Safer Streets – Tower Hamlets (@SaveBGstreets) January 22, 2026
In response, Peter Carrol celebrated, “Well done! A fantastic campaign, the commitment and hard work have paid off for a great result for everyone who lives in BG and across London.”
Better Streets for Kensington and Chelsea said: “Amazing. You are an inspiration! Thank you so much for the extraordinary effort it will have taken.”
Coalition for Health Streets and Active Travel Oxford also said: “This is great news. Recent LTNs in Oxford have already avoided over 30 casualties. They also have health benefits through pollution reduction and increased physical activity. Tower Hamlets’ safer streets will have similar benefits.”
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called this “Another example of us doing what is right for Londoners.”
“Change isn’t easy, but I’m willing to make tough choices to make our city safer.”
Another example of us doing what is right for Londoners: More liveable neighbourhoods Healthier communities Fewer Collisions Fewer deaths and serious injuries Change isn’t easy, but I’m willing to make tough choices to make our city safer.
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@london.gov.uk) 22 January 2026 at 12:28
However, there are some commentors who agree with mayor Rahman. Ian Smiler said: “the thing about the LTN is it displaces traffic onto other roads… often from the roads of the well to do onto roads where less wealthy people live…. causing them to suffer increased noise and exhaust pollution – now that is not going to be good for anyone’s welfare, physical or mental.”
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Mr_london33 added: “You guys are a bunch of clowns. We the residents that actually live on Old Bethel Green Road don’t want our roads closed. Crime has gone up. To get to point A from point B I now have to travel a longer route, burning more fuel which adds to the pollution so how does that help?”
In the judgment handed down on Thursday, the court found that Rahman had failed to properly implement Tower Hamlets’ Local Implementation Plan (LIP) when he ordered the removal of Bethnal Green LTNs, making the decision unlawful.
Since returning to office, Rahman has rolled back a number of schemes designed to reduce motor traffic and encourage walking and cycling, arguing that LTNs increased congestion and led to higher local carbon emissions.
The legal challenge was brought by campaign group Save Our Safer Streets, which raised more than £100,000 to fund the case. The group appealed to the Court of Appeal after Rahman successfully defended the decision at a High Court hearing in December 2024.