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A court ruling has confirmed that three Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Tower Hamlets cannot be removed, following a legal challenge against the council’s decision to dismantle the schemes. The judgment has been welcomed by campaigners and political figures, who say it protects road safety, air quality and community space in east London.

The disputed Tower Hamlets Low Traffic Neighbourhoods ruling relates to schemes located in Columbia Road, Arnold Circus and Old Bethnal Green Road. All three LTNs have remained in place while legal proceedings were ongoing.

The case was brought after Tower Hamlets Council announced in 2023 that it intended to remove the LTNs. The decision was challenged by campaign group Save our Safer Streets, also known as Soss, which argued that the council had acted unlawfully.

In a 26 page judgment, Lord Justice Singh, Lord Justice Arnold and Lord Justice Miles ruled that Tower Hamlets Council had breached its local implementation plan duty and failed to properly take the plan into account. The court said that a failure to reconsult residents was among the reasons the decision to remove the schemes was unlawful.

Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell welcomed the outcome of the Tower Hamlets Low Traffic Neighbourhoods ruling.

“It’s a brilliant victory for Bethnal Green residents that the Judge has backed the community campaign and ruled in their favour, protecting the safer, quieter and less polluted streets provided by Tower Hamlets Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).

“This ruling not only benefits people in Tower Hamlets, but all Londoners are better off.

“The Judge has reaffirmed what campaigners and I have said all along in response to Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s move to scrap the Healthy Streets measures. As the 1999 GLA Act makes clear, the Mayor of London has the legal power to intervene and prevent Tower Hamlets from removing these measures.

“This judgement determines, once and for all, that the Mayor of London has the authority to insist Councils implement the road schemes they propose using Local Implementation Plans (LIPs) in line with his Mayoral Transport Strategy (MTS).

“Thanks to this ruling, people in Bethnal Green can continue to enjoy quieter and less traffic-congested streets, allowing children to travel to school without danger, older people to cross the roads safely and the whole community to enjoy cleaner air.”

Campaigners also described the Tower Hamlets Low Traffic Neighbourhoods ruling as a win for residents. Soss said “thousands of local residents will be extremely pleased and relieved” by the outcome.

Ted Maxwell, of Soss, said: “Things have changed a lot in the three and a half years since the mayor first wanted to rip out the LTNs.

“More and more people across Tower Hamlets appreciate the benefits brought by the calmer streets, and at a time when so many of our fellow residents are struggling with the cost of living there are so many better ways to spend public funds than on destroying community space and making our streets more dangerous and putting people’s health at risk.

“We have the second-highest rates of childhood obesity in London, one of the highest rates of hit-and-runs in London and 71% of our children live in poverty.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “Walking and cycling infrastructure, such as LTNs, plays an important role in making our streets safer and encouraging more active travel across London.

“We are very pleased with the court’s decision in this case, which provides welcome clarity on the scope of London boroughs’ legal duties to implement and retain schemes funded by TfL to implement the mayor’s transport strategy.”

A spokesperson for Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: “It’s good for road safety and reducing road danger, it’s good for tackling air pollution and important for delivering healthy, more liveable neighbourhoods.”

Tower Hamlets Council said it was disappointed with the decision and indicated it would seek to challenge the Tower Hamlets Low Traffic Neighbourhoods ruling further. A spokesperson said: “We are disappointed with the ruling, not least because previously the courts have ruled in our favour.

“We will review the judgment, which has significant implications across London, and we will be seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.”

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods aim to reduce traffic in residential areas using measures such as cameras, planters or lockable bollards. The court decision follows other recent legal cases involving LTNs in London, including a landmark High Court ruling last year involving Lambeth Council.

London Fire Brigade is urging carers, families and support workers to use the Home Fire Safety Checker as fire risks linked to hoarding increase during the winter months. The warning follows a rise in incidents across the capital and renewed concern about safety in cluttered homes.

Firefighters attended 1,028 fires involving hoarding in 2025, marking the highest annual total since 2022. This represents an increase from 954 incidents recorded in 2024, equivalent to an 8 per cent rise. The Brigade reports that hoarding behaviours are being encountered more frequently during emergency responses and home fire safety visits.

Hoarding significantly increases the likelihood of fire and injury. Large quantities of stored items such as paper, clothing, cardboard and furniture can accelerate the spread of fire, obstruct exits and make escape more difficult. Firefighters also face greater challenges when tackling blazes in heavily cluttered properties.

The risk intensifies during colder months between November and April, when heating and cooking appliances are used more often. Since 2021, more than 970 people have been injured in hoarding related fires, with the majority of incidents occurring during this winter period.

Data from last year shows that cooking was the leading cause of hoarding related fires, accounting for 226 incidents. A further 137 fires were caused by items being placed too close to a heat source. Recent examples include a fire in Hayes where an unattended candle ignited nearby possessions, followed days later by an incident in Acton involving hoarded materials positioned too close to a hob.

London Fire Brigade works alongside carers, housing providers, health professionals and local authorities to reduce hoarding fire risks. Support includes tailored fire safety advice, fitting and checking smoke alarms, referrals to partner organisations and the hosting of support groups at fire stations.

Carers and support workers are being encouraged to complete the Home Fire Safety Checker on behalf of people they support. The online tool helps identify hazards and provides tailored guidance or access to a visit from a local fire station if required. Simple actions such as keeping exits clear, reducing clutter near cooking areas and using heaters and candles safely can reduce risk.

The Home Fire Safety Checker was launched in July 2023 and has already been completed by more than 31,000 people.

Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, Pam Oparaocha, said: “Fires in homes affected by hoarding don’t just put the resident at risk. They can spread quickly, threatening neighbours and creating extremely challenging conditions for firefighters responding to the incident.

“Tackling hoarding-related fire risk is not about enforcement or judgement but about working together to keep people safe. By recognising the signs early and offering the right support, we can help prevent avoidable fires and protect lives.

“If you think someone may need support, please take a moment to review the helpful information on hoarding available on our website and complete the Home Fire Safety Checker on their behalf. Homes can contain hidden fire risks, and the online checker helps you identify potential hazards during a walk-through of the property. It then provides a personalised action plan with simple, practical steps to help keep people safer in their own homes.”

More than 100 wanted individuals have been arrested during the first three months of a Live Facial Recognition pilot in Croydon, according to figures released by the Metropolitan Police. The pilot began in October and represents a new operational approach for the technology in London.

The Live Facial Recognition pilot in Croydon is the first time cameras have been mounted on existing street infrastructure, including lamp posts, rather than deployed from police vans. This change has allowed officers to carry out deployments more flexibly and with fewer resources on site.

Police say the revised setup has improved efficiency. When the system is active, an arrest has been made on average every 34 minutes. The average time taken to locate wanted individuals has also reduced by more than 50 percent compared with van based deployments.

A third of those arrested through the Live Facial Recognition pilot in Croydon were wanted for offences linked to violence against women and girls, including sexual assault and strangulation. Other arrests involved offences such as burglary, recall to prison, possession of an offensive weapon and kidnap.

New data from the Met indicates crime in Fairfield Ward, Croydon fell by 12 percent during the pilot period. This includes reductions in retail crime, violent crime and sexual offences.

Among those arrested was a 36 year old woman who had been unlawfully at large for more than 20 years after failing to appear in court for an assault in 2004. Officers also detained a 37 year old registered sex offender found to be in breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order by possessing an unregistered mobile phone and accessing social media. A 27 year old man wanted on suspicion of kidnap was also arrested.

Lindsey Chiswick, the Met and national lead for live facial recognition, said: “The increase in LFR deployments across crime hotspots in London is driven by its proven impact and success — with more than 1,700 dangerous offenders taken off London’s streets since the start of 2024, including those wanted for rape and child abuse.

“This is why we are trialling a new and innovative pilot in Croydon. It allows us to explore a different way of using facial recognition by operating it remotely and more efficiently.

“The amount of arrests we have made in just 13 deployments shows the technology is already making an impact and helping to make Croydon safer. Public support remains strong, with 85% of Londoners backing the use of LFR to keep them safe.”

Police report that three quarters of those arrested through the Live Facial Recognition pilot in Croydon live in the borough. The Met says this demonstrates how the technology is being used to target areas with higher crime rates and focus resources locally.

Case studies released alongside the figures include the arrest of Nilton Darame, 25, of Loughborough Street, Lambeth, who was identified by static cameras on Tuesday, 7 October 2025. He was found to be in breach of tagging conditions linked to an intentional strangulation and two counts of assault on an emergency worker committed on Monday, 8 September 2025. He was later sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, 8 January to 18 months’ imprisonment.

At a further static deployment on Friday, 21 November 2025, officers arrested Kastriot Krrashi, 35, of Dingwall Road, Croydon, who was wanted on suspicion of breaching conditions as a registered sex offender. He is due to appear at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 23 January for sentencing.

Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, said: “Croydon Council has worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to support the trial of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) in our town centre to help identify suspects on police watchlists.

“The pilot has led to a significant number of arrests, including individuals suspected of serious offences and violence against women and girls, demonstrating that this pioneering technology is helping to make our streets safer.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the Met Police to tackle crime, as part of our zero-tolerance approach to fixing the ‘broken windows’, restoring pride in our borough and making Croydon a safer place for all our residents.”

The Live Facial Recognition pilot in Croydon operates at two fixed locations at the north and south ends of the high street. Camera feeds are monitored remotely, while specialist officers and neighbourhood teams remain present on the ground to engage with the public and respond to alerts.

Each deployment uses an intelligence led watchlist created no more than 24 hours in advance and deleted immediately after use, in line with policy. Cameras are only activated when officers are present.

Since the start of 2024, Live Facial Recognition deployments in Croydon have resulted in 249 arrests, with 193 of those individuals charged or cautioned. The pilot will be formally evaluated in the coming months, and there are currently no plans to extend it to other areas. Engagement sessions with residents and councillors are continuing to explain how the technology works and the safeguards in place.

A new Health and Wellbeing Centre has been completed in Bromley, enabling health and wellbeing services to operate from a central town centre location. The development introduces a purpose built facility designed to support a range of local health provision.

The Bromley Health and Wellbeing Centre provides modern accommodation for health services, including consulting and treatment rooms, new reception areas, and updated heating and lighting systems. A GP surgery forms part of the facilities, contributing to the centre’s role as a focal point for local care.

The delivery of the Bromley Health and Wellbeing Centre follows a long standing ambition to establish new health facilities in the town. The space will be used by public health, care and prevention services, alongside voluntary sector partners, bringing multiple providers together in one location.

The centre has been designed to respond to local health needs and is intended to improve access to services within the town centre. It forms part of the Bromley Civic Centre at Churchill Court, positioned opposite Bromley South train station and the Police Station.

The address of the Bromley Health and Wellbeing Centre is Ravensleigh House, 22 Westmoreland Place, Bromley, BR1 1DS. It is located on the walkway leading to St Mark’s Square.

Councillor Diane Smith, Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health said: “This new state-of-the-art Health and Wellbeing Centre is enacting our vision of bringing local health services together in the heart of Bromley town centre, while also making best use of our wider Civic Centre building by locating our partners nearby. Now these works are complete, I am pleased that our health partners can begin delivering services for local residents from the new building, as we have been envisaging since we began.”

Dr Angela Bhan, Bromley’s NHS Place Executive Lead said: “I am pleased that through our partnership work with the council we are now bringing these important services together, with all the health benefits this entails for residents. The vision for this new centre is about fulfilling long term health needs in the borough and ensuring services work efficiently and effectively together. Together we will provide joined up personalised care for our residents, in line with our One Bromley strategy.”

From January, the Bromley Health and Wellbeing Centre will accommodate a number of health partners. These include the Dysart Surgery, which has relocated from Ravensbourne Road, and the One Bromley Wellbeing Hub, previously based at The Glades, with further information available online.

Brent’s Kilburn Library on Salusbury Road is set to reopen on 2 February after a £1 million redevelopment, marking a significant investment in local cultural and community infrastructure. The project positions the building as a renewed public resource for residents in the south of the borough.

Funding for the Kilburn Library reopening has been drawn from multiple sources. £783,000 was provided through the council’s Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy, with a further £231,500 contributed by Arts Council England. Together, these funds have supported a comprehensive reworking of the library’s interior and facilities.

The refurbishment has been designed to respect the building’s 130 year old Victorian architecture while adapting it to contemporary use. The updated layout now operates across a single floor, offering flexible spaces that can be used for exhibitions, workshops, performances and a range of community activities.

A key feature of the Kilburn Library reopening is the upgraded community space known as studio42. This refurbished room is available for hire and includes a screen and Wi-Fi, making it suitable for meetings, courses, group sessions and local events.

Cllr Promise Knight, Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Resident Support and Culture, said: “We are thrilled to welcome everyone back to the new Kilburn Library on Salusbury Road. This refurbishment is a testament to our commitment to providing inclusive and accessible services that bring people together. The enhanced facilities will support learning, creativity and connection across our vibrant community. We can’t wait to see Kilburn Library become a hub for inspiration, collaboration and culture for years to come.”

Further improvements introduced ahead of the Kilburn Library reopening include refreshed interior design, new soft furnishings and additional study areas. A dedicated digital zone has also been created, with staff on hand to provide support with basic IT queries.

Families are expected to benefit from a redesigned children’s area, which has been updated to encourage curiosity and early learning. The space incorporates interactive and tactile sensory elements intended to support an inclusive experience for young visitors.

BookTrust story and rhyme sessions for under-fives will continue at the library, with the addition of a monthly Saturday session. This change is intended to increase accessibility for families who may not be able to attend weekday activities.

The library’s stock collection has also been expanded and refreshed. With 2026 designated as the National Year of Reading, the Kilburn Library reopening places the venue at the centre of Brent’s planned celebrations and reading initiatives over the coming year.