This week, the High Court will examine Tower Hamlets council's decision to spend £2.5 million removing the low traffic schemes that have transformed parts of Bethnal Green and Shoreditch. I got involved in the campaign to save these schemes because I've witnessed first-hand how they've changed our community for the better.
Before these changes, our residential streets were choked with traffic. Nearly 60% of the 8,000+ daily vehicles were just passing through, using our neighborhood streets — with schools and houses on them — as shortcuts. Now, these streets have become places where community flourishes. Older people who previously stayed indoors gather on newly installed benches to chat. Children play outside safely, breathing cleaner air. Delivery riders use protected cycle lanes to work safely.
Since July 2021, serious road collisions have almost been eliminated in the scheme area. Local headteachers say their students can finally walk to school safely. And cars and more importantly the emergency services still have access when they need it. In fact, emergency services response times haven't been affected at all by these schemes.
But this isn't just about Bethnal Green. Across London, evidence shows these schemes work and are popular. This matters because Tower Hamlets, where 66% of households don’t own a car, has London's highest rate of hit-and-runs and some of the UK's worst air pollution.
The question facing the High Court isn't just about traffic management — it's about what kind of city we want London to be
Critics claim these schemes are divisive, but the evidence shows otherwise. Three public consultations have shown continued support, with 77% of responses in the 2023 consultation backing the current layout. The schemes have broad support — from Barts Health Trust to local businesses, from the Metropolitan Police to Transport for London, all have spoken out to say the schemes are working and should be kept.
We've always maintained that specific concerns should be addressed through dialogue and adjustment, not wholesale removal. If delivery access needs improvement, let's discuss it. If certain junctions need reconfiguring, let's consider options. But spending £2.5 million to revert to dangerous, polluted streets? That's not a solution — it's a step backwards.
The question facing the High Court isn't just about traffic management — it's about what kind of city we want London to be. Do we want healthier neighborhoods where children can play outside safely, where people who don't want to or can't drive can travel safely, where elderly residents feel confident crossing roads and where local communities thrive? Or do we just want to accept the health and safety consequences of ever more traffic on every side road?
The court case is also about how boroughs work with the Mayor of London. His vision for safer, cleaner streets depends on borough-wide co-operation. Removing successful schemes like this makes achieving his “Vision Zero” and climate targets impossible and sets a dangerous precedent that could spread across London, undermining years of progress.
We are fighting this case because the people of Tower Hamlets deserve better than a rushed decision to remove schemes that demonstrably improve lives. Having seen these schemes in action, we also believe that they represent vital progress for London as a city. Whatever the court decides, the evidence is clear: safe streets work. The future of London's streets must be shaped by evidence and community needs, not short-term political expediency.
Rob Andari is Tower Hamlets resident and member of Save Our Safer Streets
