14 February 2025, 15:03

By EJ Ward

A public meeting that ends with councillors in tears and staff needing “wellbeing” leave should be a wake-up call for local democracy.

Yet, the bitter row over the West Dulwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) has become just another chapter in the ongoing war between councils and residents over road schemes. It is a symptom of a deeper issue: a growing disconnect between those in power and the communities they serve.

At the heart of this dispute is the claim that Lambeth Council’s consultation process was unfair—so flawed, in fact, that anti-LTN campaigners believe they can win a landmark High Court case to scrap the scheme entirely.

But while this legal battle is ostensibly about a traffic order, it really raises fundamental questions about how councils engage with the public, handle dissent, and push through policies despite widespread opposition.

Lambeth Council has made it clear that it is fixated on reaching net zero by 2030—a full 20 years ahead of the UK’s target—steamrolling through climate policies while........

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