Lambeth Conservatives today call for the resignation of Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Lambeth’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, following the High Court’s decision to quash the West Dulwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) with immediate effect.
The ruling found the LTN to be unlawful because the Council failed to consider vital evidence submitted by local residents. More than £1 million in fines were issued under the now-invalidated scheme, and the Council was ordered to pay £35,000 in legal costs to the West Dulwich Action Group, having already incurred substantial legal costs in pursuing the action.
The Court also rejected Lambeth’s attempt to appeal, describing it as having no reasonable prospect of success.
The LTN programme falls directly under Cllr Chowdhury’s portfolio. Lambeth Conservatives say her position is now untenable, not just because of the West Dulwich case, but also due to her handling of the controversial Streatham Wells LTN — another traffic scheme imposed without community consent, and later abandoned under intense public pressure and a requirement to withdraw it from the Mayor of London on 8th March 2024.
Clive Rates, Conservative Constituency Officer for Dulwich and West Norwood, said:
“The High Court’s ruling is damning — not just for the West Dulwich LTN, but for the way Lambeth Labour makes decisions.
Cllr Chowdhury was responsible for a scheme now ruled unlawful. She stayed silent while residents were ignored, fined, and forced into court to get justice.
The judge saw through Lambeth’s attempt to wriggle out of defeat by offering to quietly withdraw the scheme. He quashed it — with immediate effect. Accountability means taking responsibility. If Cllr Chowdhury won’t resign, Council Leader Claire Holland must remove her.”
Neil Salt, Conservative Constituency Officer for Streatham, said:
“Streatham Wells residents and many others living in and around Streatham have seen a similar scenario here.
The Council imposed a deeply unpopular LTN in October 2023 despite being warned against doing so at that time by a leading community group, then eventually abandoned it not only on the back of adverse national headlines as to its woeful consequences on the A23, but also of a requirement by Mayor Sadiq Khan.
These aren’t isolated mistakes. They’re part of a pattern of arrogant, ideology-first policy making — bad data, ignoring consultation responses which don’t fit in with their agenda, and all with no accountability.
Lambeth’s clean air agenda deserves serious leadership, not political damage control. It’s time for a clean break. Cllr Chowdhury must resign.”
The West Dulwich judgment is believed to be the first time a local authority’s LTN has been overturned in court. The judge said the Council’s behaviour was equivalent to “resigning after being fired”.
Lambeth Conservatives are further demanding that all fines be refunded, a formal public apology issued to affected residents, and that Lambeth Council drop any further appeals against this clear legal ruling.