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London cycle superhighway: Cab drivers lose legal challenge | London cycle superhighway: Cab drivers lose legal challenge |
(35 minutes later) | |
London taxi drivers have lost a High Court challenge which could have disrupted completion of a £47m east-west cycle superhighway. | London taxi drivers have lost a High Court challenge which could have disrupted completion of a £47m east-west cycle superhighway. |
Two separate lanes for cyclists are planned on the Tower Hill to Ladbroke Grove route. | |
The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA) argued the lanes would take up space, causing disruption. | The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA) argued the lanes would take up space, causing disruption. |
Transport for London (TfL) said they were "works of improvement" and did not need planning permission. | Transport for London (TfL) said they were "works of improvement" and did not need planning permission. |
The LTDA asked a judge to declare that the continued construction of the segregated cycle route without planning permission "constitutes a breach of planning control". | The LTDA asked a judge to declare that the continued construction of the segregated cycle route without planning permission "constitutes a breach of planning control". |
But Mrs Justice Patterson rejected the application. | But Mrs Justice Patterson rejected the application. |
More on this story and other news from London. | |
She ruled the TfL did not err in law "and was not irrational in reaching its conclusion that there was no significant adverse environmental effect from the proposals as a whole". | She ruled the TfL did not err in law "and was not irrational in reaching its conclusion that there was no significant adverse environmental effect from the proposals as a whole". |
Mayor's 'last hurrah' | Mayor's 'last hurrah' |
The judge also declared planning permission may be required for other cycle superhighways or for parts of them in the future. | |
She said: "Each scheme will need to be judged on its own facts." | She said: "Each scheme will need to be judged on its own facts." |
Steve McNamara, LTDA's general secretary, accused Mayor Boris Johnson of rushing through the scheme as an ill-judged "last hurrah" before he leaves office. | Steve McNamara, LTDA's general secretary, accused Mayor Boris Johnson of rushing through the scheme as an ill-judged "last hurrah" before he leaves office. |
The mayor's cycling commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, said: "Once again, the courts have in the clearest terms upheld our right to improve London for cycling." | The mayor's cycling commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, said: "Once again, the courts have in the clearest terms upheld our right to improve London for cycling." |
He said the ruling meant "we can now be confident of finishing the Embankment - Upper Thames Street superhighway on schedule in April, finishing the whole superhighway in summer, and ending the temporary delays that have occurred as a result of the construction works". | He said the ruling meant "we can now be confident of finishing the Embankment - Upper Thames Street superhighway on schedule in April, finishing the whole superhighway in summer, and ending the temporary delays that have occurred as a result of the construction works". |
The whole east-west route runs from Tower Hill to Lancaster Gate, but cab drivers had objected to the first phase of construction along the Victoria Embankment. | |
Howard Carter, general counsel at TfL, said: "The east-west cycle superhighway will make London's roads safer for all, particularly cyclists." | Howard Carter, general counsel at TfL, said: "The east-west cycle superhighway will make London's roads safer for all, particularly cyclists." |
There are five existing cycle superhighways, and plans for three further routes: | There are five existing cycle superhighways, and plans for three further routes: |