A Labour council has been ordered to scrap an “unlawful” low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) after losing a High Court battle.
It comes after Mr Justice Smith ruled in May that Lambeth council had ignored residents’ “legitimate concerns” about the zone in West Dulwich, South London.
The judge has now rejected an appeal by the authority against the ruling, while ordering the scheme to be axed and the council to pay £35,000 in legal fees, says the Daily Telegraph.
It is the first time that an LTN, a zone where traffic is restricted in residential roads and fines are issued to unauthorised vehicles that enter the area, has been shut down by the courts.
The West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG), which brought the case after claiming the street closures had increased traffic and pollution on roads bordering the zone, welcomed the ruling and called for the council to repay the £1,080,580 in fines raised through the scheme.
The campaigners also said it set “a powerful precedent” for residents locked in similar battles nationwide.
A WDAG spokesman said: “This ruling is definitive – the LTN was unlawful. The council has lost, has been denied permission to appeal, and must now face the consequences of what that means.
“At the top of that list is the £1 million in fines it issued while the unlawful scheme was in place. We now call on Lambeth Council to clarify whether it will refund those fines. This is not just about legality – it’s about fairness and public trust. If the law was broken, the money should be paid back. Let’s be clear: this case should never have gone to court. It could have been resolved through proper, respectful dialogue. Instead, Lambeth chose to defend litigation over listening – and the public has paid for it.”
(Pic: TfL)
