Scrapped LTN failed to reduce traffic and increased congestion

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 25, 2026

Lambeth Council's report found that the West Dulwich low-traffic neighbourhood, introduced to reduce traffic and emissions, instead displaced vehicles onto surrounding roads, increasing congestion and speeding violations. Following a High Court ruling that the scheme was unlawfully implemented, the council has been ordered to remove the road closures despite preliminary data showing mixed impacts on cycling and public transport.

A low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme implemented in West Dulwich, south-east London, failed to reduce overall traffic and contributed to increased congestion on boundary roads, according to a report released by Lambeth Council. The scheme, introduced in September 2024, aimed to create a “climate resilient” area by restricting access to out-of-town motorists through road closures enforced by CCTV cameras. However, council analysis found the initiative did not meet its intended environmental and traffic reduction goals.

The council's report indicated that while the use of cameras reduced vehicles within the restricted zone by 85 percent—equivalent to 4,815 fewer cars daily—the total number of vehicles on the roads surrounding the LTN rose by 4,079 each day, marking a 4 percent increase. This shift suggested that traffic was displaced rather than diminished. Additionally, speeding violations climbed by 1.4 percent on boundary roads, despite a reduction of speeding within the closed area itself.

The scheme’s impact on public transport and cycling was also mixed. Average bus journey times on roads outside the LTN showed marginal increases compared to 2019 levels. Cycling, a key objective of LTNs, saw the most significant growth on Tulsemere Road, where daily northbound cyclists rose by 307 percent, or 19 riders. However, some locations recorded declines in cycle use, and council officials noted the data collected was limited and preliminary.

The trial was met with opposition from local residents and businesses, with concerns centering on increased traffic and deteriorating air quality on surrounding roads. In May 2025, the High Court ruled the council had implemented the scheme unlawfully by disregarding these “legitimate” concerns. As a result, Lambeth was ordered to scrap the LTN.

Jonathan Fowles, a local resident involved in the legal challenge, said the report confirmed opponents’ claims that the scheme merely shifted traffic from internal roads to boundary streets, exacerbating congestion and pollution in those areas.

A spokesperson for Lambeth Council responded that the West Dulwich trial had not been in place long enough to establish definitive outcomes. They emphasized that behavioural changes related to travel patterns typically require more time to materialize and that early data were intended for preliminary assessment only. The council added that longer-term monitoring in other parts of Lambeth had shown reductions in main-road traffic and hinted at potential community benefits emerging from similar schemes.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.