Children protest against Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman's decision to axe school street

Sadiq Khan has announced £69m a year to create more “school streets” across London – as one borough mayor infuriated parents by ripping out a scheme protecting primary school children.

Lutfur Rahman, the mayor of Tower Hamlets, ordered workmen to remove the traffic restrictions around Chisenhale school in Bow on Thursday morning, including planters and seats that the pupils helped build.

Sarah Gibbons, a parent involved in the campaign to save the school street, told the Standard: “We have got protesters down there trying to stop them. The council this moment have started ripping out planters and children’s art work.

“All the kids have got used to that road being very safe, very clean and very quiet. From Monday that just goes. It’s really disturbing. There is no benefit from getting rid of the scheme.”

for latest breaking news from the UK, US and around the world, plus podcasts and features.

Evening Standard on socials:

[MrSam]

Using kids??? Soon these schools will be empty the way thing are going. With unaffordable rental market, family will choose to live in a cheaper area. Majority of these flats are filled with working people renting a single room in that area. With these block off roads, even Ambulance can't even get to them. It's a knock on effect. The only people that will lose out will be these kids. Well done you parents for making the rich even richer.

[jarfur]

I’m sure this has been said but Victoria Park is literally a stone’s throw away. Wennington green, a stones throw away. There are estates with green spaces literally on the street but people want their kids to play in the road? KMT. I would understand if they were asking for no through traffic during the start and end of the school day but this is a joke. People protesting just because.

[dijoyjoe]

Good to protesting for their rights at a young age.

[sheenak]

What about neglect in the adult social service's...

[colingreen]

Lutfur Rahman, good old "East End" name !