Transport for London is withholding more than £1m from Tower Hamlets because its mayor is considering axing road schemes designed for cyclist and pedestrian safety.
London’s Evening Standard newspaper reports TfL is taking the unprecedented action against Lutfur Rahman to signal its opposition to the removal of low traffic neighbourhood schemes in and around Brick Lane (pictured), Columbia Road market and Old Bethnal Green Road.
It says Mr Rahman, who supports reopening roads to drivers, consulted residents on whether to retain or axe the schemes after council data suggested they displaced traffic onto other roads and delayed buses on Hackney Road.
The Standard quotes Penny Rees, TfL’s head of healthy streets investment, as saying: “We’re determined to ensure people living in every borough are able to walk, cycle and use public transport safely, and schemes delivered by boroughs play a vital role in this.
“Any projects funded through the Local Implementation Plan must enable safer, cleaner and healthier streets, in line with the Mayor’s transport strategy.
“Tower Hamlets is currently consulting on removing existing TfL-funded safety improvements on their roads and we are concerned that the borough’s recent change in policy direction is not in line with the Mayor’s transport strategy.”
(Picture – Yay Images)
