Croydon LTNs Labelled a "Fat Cash Cow" by Judge

A legal challenge claiming low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) were being used as a "fat cash cow" succeeded after a politician admitted the schemes generated significant income.

A High Court judge ruled that Croydon Council introduced six LTNs unlawfully because its primary motivation was to raise millions of pounds through fines.

The case centred on an interview given by Jason Perry, the borough's mayor, to The Telegraph, in which he said he could not fulfil a campaign promise to remove the LTNs because "£20m of future income … would have to be replaced".

In a judgment handed down on Thursday, Mr Justice Pepperall concluded that the council — which had previously been declared effectively bankrupt — relied on the relatively modest transport benefits of LTNs to justify the substantial revenue they generated.

The judge referred to the 2024 Telegraph article in which the Conservative mayor outlined how heavily the council's finances depended on the schemes. LTNs restrict through-traffic on residential streets and use CCTV cameras to issue fines to drivers who enter restricted areas.

Mr Justice Pepperall said it would amount to a "misuse" of the Road Traffic Act 1984 if road layout changes were made primarily to generate income.

Following the ruling, a grassroots campaign group that helped bring the successful judicial review accused councils elsewhere of "greenwashing" the true purpose of similar schemes.

Open Our Roads said authorities "across the country" were effectively imposing a tax on motorists through LTNs but were unwilling to admit it publicly.

The group said it had received numerous messages from supporters who were "delighted to have their roads back".

A spokesman said: "The public has seen through it for many years, but this is the first time a judge has seen through the deception."

The Johnson Partnership, Nottingham