[updated January 2026]

What's happening to road closures?

The Low Traffic Neighbourhood road closures were introduced  in Bethnal Green under the previous Tower Hamlets administration. In 2022 the topic became an electoral issue: the current Mayor was  elected with a large majority on a promise of removing the road closures. 

The Mayor's decision to re-open the roads is being challenged through the courts. The initial hearing found in favour of the council. An appeal was heard in November 2025, and the judgement published on 22 January 2026. Two of the three grounds for appeal were refused and one was upheld. The current position is that the council cannot proceed with its plan to lift the road closures. However the council has announced that it will seek permission to overturn the judgment in the Supreme Court.

• watch the appeal on youtube

• read the Court of Appeals judgement

Boundary TRA position

The Boundary Tenants and Residents Association's core function is to provide a collective voice to all residents of the estate on matters that affect them.  Opinion on road closures is deeply divided nationally, locally and here on the estate, so the BTRA has had to strictly abstain from taking a position either for or against, in just the same way as they should refrain from taking any party political position on estate matters. Where the TRA can have a role is to advocate for the best outcome for residents, given the eventual decision to either open or to close the roads. 

• if the roads are to be opened, to advocate for the best measures to reduce problems of through traffic;  

• if the roads are to remain closed, to support the most effective implementation that respects the heritage of the estate as a Conservation Area.

The TRA has already undertaken substantial work on this and will continue to do so. We welcome input from any resident that wishes to help.

WhatsApp group discussions

The community's response to LTNs is highly polarised. Discussion of the subject invariably descends into fractious dispute which is not conducive to group cohesion. For this reason we ask that residents do not raise the subject or attempt to provoke a response on the Boundary TRA WhatsApp group. The matter is out of our control and the final decision will prove contentious with many of our residents. 

We kindly ask that the BTRA WhatsApp group not be misused to campaign for or against road closures. The rule is just the same as for any topic which divides our community. Heated conversations that spiral out of control cause moderation headaches, test everyone's patience and can result in residents quitting the group.

Please consult our guidelines: those who repeatedly invoke this topic will be removed from the chat group.