A Labour-controlled council is facing legal action from outraged Christians over pedestrian crossings painted in the colours of the transgender-friendly Pride flag.
Four crossings were installed in upmarket Bloomsbury, central London, by Camden Council in 2021 to ‘support the LGBTQ+ community’ and ‘reflect the fabric of the public realm’.
But opponents claim the crossings – which cost taxpayers £10,464 – constitute unlawful political messaging and make Christians feel ‘excluded’ and ‘marginalised’.
The legal challenge invokes the Local Government Act 1986, which bars councils from publishing material that ‘promotes a political party or a politically controversial viewpoint’.
The crossings – painted white, pink, and blue to represent the trans community – are situated between Tavistock Place and Marchmont Street.
Blessing Olubanjo, 57, is leading the claim with the support of the Christian Legal Centre.
The Camden resident has sent a pre-action letter to the council and claims she will begin judicial review proceedings if the crossings are not removed.
She said: ‘I brought this case because I believe in fairness, freedom of belief, and the proper role of public institutions.
Blessing Olubanjo (pictured), 57, is leading a complaint against Camden Council in north London over pedestrian crossings painted to show support for the LGBTQ+ community
Four crossings were installed in upmarket Bloomsbury, central London, by Camden Council in 2021 to ‘support the LGBTQ + community’ and ‘reflect the fabric of the public realm’
A Freedom of Information request has revealed how the Labour-run Camden Council spent a total £10,464 on a project to install four trans flags at a crossing in Bloomsbury
‘As a Christian and a taxpayer, I should not be made to feel excluded or marginalised by political symbols in public spaces.’
When they were installed, the Camden Council said: ‘The LGBTQ+ community are part of the fabric of Camden and specifically Bloomsbury and officers consider that this should be reflected within the fabric of Camden’s public realm.’
It said there had been ‘a small number of concerns raised around disability access of coloured crossings – particularly regarding those with visibility impairment’.
Charities for people who are visually impaired and legally blind warned the colours could cause confusion.
And groups representing people with learning difficulties also said there could be a detrimental impact.
Now Ms Olubanjo’s lawyers have contended that the crossings constitute a violation of political neutrality laws – and a breach of the Public Sector Equality Duty due to ‘risks to disabled and neurodivergent individuals’.
She likened Camden Council to an ‘ideologically captured local author[ity]’, adding: ‘This crossing sends a message that only one viewpoint is welcome, and that’s not right in a truly democratic society.
‘I’m standing up not just for myself, but for everyone who feels silenced or sidelined by discredited harmful activism forced on the public by ideologically captured local authorities.’
Camden Council installed the four-way blue, pink and white crossing at the junction of Tavistock Place and Marchmont Street (pictured) to ‘help celebrate transgender awareness’
More than £6,500 was splashed on the blue, pink and white paint and the labour cost to install the crossing, while £1,850 was spent on ‘road safety audits’
Blessing Olubanjo’s claim is being backed by the Christian Legal Centre including the organisation’s chief executive Andrea Williams (pictured)
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: ‘Not only is this crossing a matter of public safety and Christian freedom, it’s about the misuse of public resources for political campaigning.
‘The crossing is a visual endorsement of a contested ideology, installed by a public authority in breach of its legal duties.
‘This is not the role of local government.’
In response to Ms Olubanjo’s claims, a council spokesperson said: ‘Camden is “no place for hate” and we have a strong and continuing history of respect and support for everyone in our borough.
‘We fight discrimination in all its forms and this includes being an ally to our trans residents.
‘These crossings are a visual statement to help celebrate transgender awareness and act as a reminder of the rich LGBTQ+ history and daily life in the Bloomsbury area and across Camden.’
