A High Court judge has quashed the LTN in West Dulwich and denied Lambeth Council the opportunity to appeal the ruling.
On May 9, High Court Judge Tim Smith ruled that the council’s installation of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood between Rosendale and Norwood Road was unlawful, on the grounds that concerns raised by some residents and businesses had not been properly considered. The decision left open the possibility that the scheme could be quashed altogether.
Yesterday, we reported that Lambeth Council had applied for permission to appeal against the High Court ruling.
But today’s Court Order means Lambeth Council will have to scrap the LTN, as well as pay West Dulwich Action Group (WDAG), the group of residents which brought the challenge, £35,000 towards their legal fees.
Commenting on the decision to remove the LTN in the aftermath of the May judgement, Deputy High Court Judge Tim Smith said: “Revoking the Orders after I have made a finding of unlawfulness leaves the same impression as would an attempt to resign immediately after one has been fired.”
WDAG group said the Court Order left open “serious questions” around the £1,080,580 in fines issued to motorists since the introduction of the traffic monitoring cameras in Feburary 2024.
A spokesperson for WDAG 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-plus 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.
“We also urge the Council not to attempt to pursue a second appeal via the Court of Appeal. Doing so would further waste taxpayers’ money and signal that its priority is protecting revenue, not engaging with the community it serves.
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“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.”
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said:
“We implemented the West Dulwich Street Improvements to reduce road danger and create a safer and healthier neighbourhood.
“We remain committed to delivering our programme to reduce road danger for those most at-risk and make our streets calmer, more community-friendly places.
“The High Court has ordered the removal of West Dulwich Street Improvements. No further fines will be issued, and we are removing the scheme as soon as it can be done safely.”
