Safer Tower Hamlets campaigners granted permission to appeal

A member of the campaign group Save Our Safer Streets (SOSS) has been granted permission to appeal the decision to remove Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Tower Hamlets.

SOSS is a community group based in Bethnal Green that has been campaigning to keep LTNs in place since 2022. The group says that the schemes provide safer travel and improves the local air quality.  

The decision to introduce more LTNs was made in Spring 2020. The decision was revoked by Executive Mayor Lutfer Rahman in September 2023. 

SOSS applied for judicial review of the decision to remove the LTNs but was unsuccessful. However, it is hopeful its appeal will be successful and the decision to remove the LTNs will be quashed. 

Represented by Leigh Day partner Ricardo Gama, who specialises in public and environmental law claims, SOSS has been granted permission from the Court of Appeal on three grounds:  

1. The High Court judge erred in law in finding that the decision to remove the schemes was not taken in breach of his duties to implement the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) agreed between Mr Rahman and the Mayor of London, which says how Tower Hamlets will implement the Mayor of London’s overall transport strategy.

2. The High Court judge also erred in law in finding that the decision was not unlawful because Mr Rahman failed even to take into account the LIP.

3. Executive Mayor Rahman ran a flawed consultation and decision-making process. 

   
   

The case will proceed to a hearing in front of three Court of Appeal judges.

Jane Harris from SOSS said:

“This appeal hearing is brilliant news. We have always thought the mayor’s decision to remove our LTNs was legally flawed as well as poorly executed, so we’re glad that the appeal judge agrees that it should be looked at again.

“Going to court is a last resort for us, after all our attempts to engage constructively with the council failed. We still hold out hope of finding a solution that addresses any issues the minority of people have with the LTNs, while preserving the many benefits."

Ricardo Gama said:  

“Not many cases are given permission to go to the Court of Appeal. It’s very encouraging that the judge thinks we have a realistic prospect of success, and that this case raises important issues of public interest.”