Lambeth council being taken to court over forced LTN scheme
A Labour-run council is being hauled into court by its own residents over a ‘flawed’ low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) plan which was forced through despite a majority opposition from locals
The West Dulwich Action Group, made up of residents and business owners, is asking London‘s High Court to force Lambeth council to scrap an LTN plan which two-thirds of residents do not want.
Legal documents, seen by The Telegraph, list various ‘failings’ by the council whilst gathering residents views on the LTN in West Dulwich, which it is claimed proved they ‘erred in law’.
Court documents show how Lambeth council’s consultation found 67.5 percent of locals asked ‘were either unhappy or very unhappy’ with the LTN plan.
The submission said ‘the outcome of the consultation resulted in modifications to the scheme not to the principle of a LTN’, in defiance of 63.5 percent saying they were ‘very unhappy’ with the idea.
Despite this feedback and the Government insisting that schemes should not go ahead if there is widespread opposition, Lambeth decided to push the plan through anyway, the submission claimed.
It also said Lambeth council’s consultation with its residents was unfair and irrational, partly because some councillors ‘refused to engage’ with The West Dulwich Action Group because it was simply deemed ‘anti-LTN’.
The papers said ‘decisions as to which businesses to consult seem to have been taken on a whim’, with the council then telling a ‘changing story’ on exactly who they asked.
Many local tradesmen believe controlled parking and road closures may cause a reduction in footfall and fewer customers in their shops, with fears some will be forced to close.
A library ‘drop-in’ meant to address and document local residents’ concerns about the LTN ended in near farce, the legal argument also claims.
The 23-page document said:
‘Seemingly as a result of the hostility to the proposals, the council members and officers who had attended took an early lunch break and also subsequently concluded the event early such that anyone who arrived during the unadvertised lunch break or towards the end of the advertised time slot was unable to participate.’
It is claimed Lambeth council ‘has sought to avoid using the term’ LTN and called it ‘street improvements’ instead due to negative connotations associated with the term.
The action group commissioned a 53-page report which suggests the LTN will increase car journey times on already congested boundary roads and therefore increase pollution and plummet the air quality well below World Health Organisation legal levels.
However, they claim this was ‘ignored’ by Lambeth council.
The group’s lawyers wrote:
‘In other words, there was a refusal to engage with those who might be critical of what the council was proposing.’
A spokesperson for The West Dulwich Action Group told The Telegraph:
‘Once again, Lambeth council is riding roughshod over the wishes of the vast majority of its residents, showing a blatant disregard for pollution and collision data.
The council refuses to listen or engage with the community, insisting it knows best despite evidence to the contrary.
Democracy has been replaced with diktats, as councillors and staff relentlessly pursue a green ideology, regardless of whether their policies actually improve the environment.’
A Lambeth council spokesperson told The Telegraph it was ‘working to make the neighbourhoods safer and healthier for all’ as the borough has ‘some of the country’s most polluted air’, and lacks outdoor space with ‘dangerous roads resulting in too many people getting injured’.
They added:
‘The street improvements project supports these aims, and was created in response to business and residents’ appeals. It is an 18-month trial and will be continually monitored by Lambeth council.
We have thoroughly engaged with the local community throughout, and there will be further opportunities for local people to feedback during the course of the trial.’
See more here dailymail.co.uk
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Howdy
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These consultations are just ‘going through the motions’. Council decisions are never questioned after the fact as far as I know.
How much extra cost have residents paid, or inconvenience bore, based on a consultation that was adjusted in favour of a councils vision for themselves, rather than the residents wishes.
There are are labour councils that want the option to charge whatever they want for council tax now captain hindsight is in.
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Howdy
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BTW, are there enough signs and warnings in the image? Surely the object is to disorient the driver. Especially the ‘Low flying motorbikes’. 🙂
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