The mayor of Tower Hamlets acted unlawfully in attempting to remove three low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) schemes, the court of appeal has ruled.<\/p>\n
Road safety activists say they feel vindicated after campaigning for more than three years to keep the traffic restrictions in place in the east London<\/a> neighbourhoods of Bethnal Green, Shoreditch and Columbia Road.<\/p>\n The case was heard by a court of appeal judge after the mayor, Lutfur Rahman, won an earlier hearing at the high court last December.<\/p>\n 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 \u201creopen our roads, and abolish the failed Liveable Streets scheme, which has seen emergency services and vulnerable residents\u2019 access blocked\u201d.<\/p>\n But campaigners argued that people benefited from the barriers, and their campaign was supported by local NHS trusts and the headteachers of five schools. They said that<\/a> the LTNs were \u201csimple and cheap infrastructure which protects our public realm from the worst impacts of cars and drivers\u2019 behaviour and encourages and supports people who choose or have no choice but to walk, cycle or get public transport. We need to do this to support vulnerable members of our society, to reduce isolation, to improve safety and accessibility.\u201d<\/p>\n In the hearing, the judge ruled that Rahman did not have the right to remove the LTNs because they had been put in place as part of a traffic strategy agreed with Transport for London (TfL).<\/p>\n Ted Maxwell of Save Our Safer Streets said the intervention of TfL helped win the appeal. \u201cWe the community brought this legal challenge, including raising thousands of pounds for legal support, but the involvement of TfL was key and their barrister, Charlotte Kilroy KC, was quietly devastating in court. The judge said Rahman acted beyond his powers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe judge ruled that Rahman does not have the power to remove a scheme that was delivered as part of a Transport for London implementation plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Maxwell said he hoped activists around London would take heart from the victory. \u201cWe are vindicated and this is a very emotional moment for us. We hope campaigners for safer streets see this as a shot in the arm.\u201d<\/p>\n