A Labour council faces a High Court challenge for a “flawed” public consultation on a low-traffic neighbourhood, as two-thirds of West Dulwich residents oppose the road closures. The Telegraph has the story.
Legal papers seen by the Telegraph list a series of council “failings” while seeking residents’ views about the West Dulwich LTN, which it is claimed proves the council “erred in law”.
The court documents highlight how Lambeth’s own consultation found 67.5% of those asked “were either unhappy or very unhappy” with the LTN. However, the council is carrying on regardless with its introduction, despite the Government insisting that schemes should not be created if there was widespread opposition.
Despite 63.5% saying they were “very unhappy” with the plans, “the outcome of the consultation resulted in modifications to the scheme not to the principle of a LTN”, the submission says.
It claims the consultation undertaken by the council had been unfair and irrational, in part because some in the council had “refused to engage” with the action group because it was considered simply “anti-LTN”.
The papers say “decisions as to which businesses to consult seem to have been taken on a whim”, with the council then creating a “changing story” on exactly who was contacted.
Many of the tradesmen say controlled parking and road closures could lead to a reduction in footfall with fewer customers coming to shops, while some fear they will be forced to close.
The 23-page legal argument also claims a library “drop-in” meant to address and record local people’s concerns about the LTN ended in near farce.
“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 the council “has sought to avoid using the term” LTN, instead calling it “street improvements”, because of the negative connotations associated with low traffic neighbourhoods.
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