{"id":386046,"date":"2026-01-23T12:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T12:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/386046\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T12:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T12:30:10","slug":"politicians-cant-simply-rip-out-ltns-and-bike-lanes-they-dont-like-cycle-lane-plans-scrapped-at-last-minute-more-on-the-live-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/386046\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cPoliticians can\u2019t simply \u2018rip out\u2019 LTNs and bike lanes they don\u2019t like\u201d; Cycle lane plans scrapped at last minute + more on the live blog"},"content":{"rendered":"

There has been a lot of reaction\u00a0to the news that the Court of Appeal has ruled that the\u00a0Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman\u00a0acted unlawfully in removing three Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in the borough<\/a>, as we covered yesterday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Active travel campaigner Laura Laker said on\u00a0BlueSky\u00a0that \u201cthis is significant news for schemes delivered across London in the last nine years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means politicians can\u2019t simply \u2018rip out\u2019\u00a0LTNs\u00a0and bike lanes they don\u2019t like. Some of those running in May\u2019s elections are going to have to rethink their pledges.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Chisenhale<\/p>\n

>\u00a0Children take to the barricades to save School Street<\/a><\/p>\n

Save Our Safer Streets, who brought the legal challenge,\u00a0celebrated the win on X, saying \u201cWE WON!\u00a0\ud83c\udf89<\/p>\n

\u201cCourt of Appeal has ruled that Tower Hamlets’ decision to remove Liveable Streets in Bethnal Green is UNLAWFUL<\/p>\n

\u201cCouncils can\u2019t just tear out schemes without Mayor of London\u2019s approval. This is a MAJOR precedent for London boroughs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

WE WON! \ud83c\udf89<\/p>\n

Court of Appeal has ruled that Tower Hamlets decision to remove Liveable Streets in Bethnal Green is UNLAWFUL<\/p>\n

Councils can’t just tear out schemes without Mayor of London’s approval.<\/p>\n

This is a MAJOR precedent for London boroughs.#SaveOurSaferStreets<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Save Our Safer Streets – Tower Hamlets (@SaveBGstreets) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In response, Peter Carrol celebrated, \u201cWell 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Better Streets for Kensington and Chelsea said: \u201cAmazing. You are an inspiration! Thank you so much for the extraordinary effort it will have taken.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Coalition for Health Streets and Active Travel Oxford also said: \u201cThis is great news. Recent LTNs in Oxford have already avoided over 30 casualties.\u00a0They also have health benefits through pollution reduction and increased physical activity. Tower Hamlets’ safer streets will have similar benefits.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called this “Another example of us doing what is right for Londoners.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Change isn\u2019t easy, but I\u2019m willing to make tough choices to make our city safer.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another example of us doing what is right for Londoners: More liveable neighbourhoods Healthier communities Fewer Collisions Fewer deaths and serious injuries Change isn\u2019t easy, but I\u2019m willing to make tough choices to make our city safer.<\/p>\n

[image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@london.gov.uk<\/a>) 22 January 2026 at 12:28<\/a><\/p>\n

However, there are some commentors who agree with mayor Rahman. Ian Smiler said:\u00a0\u201cthe thing about the LTN is it displaces traffic onto other roads\u2026 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 \u2013 now that is not going to be good for anyone\u2019s welfare, physical or mental.\u201d<\/p>\n

>\u00a0Police urge against scrapping low traffic neighbourhood, saying it reduces crime<\/a><\/p>\n

Mr_london33 added: \u201cYou guys are a bunch of clowns. We the residents that actually live on Old Bethel Green Road don\u2019t want our roads closed. Crime has gone up.\u00a0To 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?\u201d<\/p>\n

In the judgment handed down on Thursday, the court found that Rahman had failed to properly implement Tower Hamlets\u2019 Local Implementation Plan (LIP) when he ordered the removal of Bethnal Green LTNs, making the decision unlawful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since returning to office, Rahman has rolled back\u00a0a 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The legal challenge was brought by campaign group Save Our Safer Streets, which raised more than \u00a3100,000 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n