Royal borough ends bid for injunction against owner of cycling café

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has withdrawn its application for an injunction against the owner of a cycling café.

The council’s attempt to secure the injunction against Len Goodwin of Velolife had been criticised by British Cycling, Cycling UK and Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman.

Mr Goodwin’s café and workshop in Warren Row, Berkshire, was made the subject of an enforcement notice by the council in October 2017, following a complaint from a neighbour. The notice alleged a breach of planning control.

Following an appeal brought by Mr Goodwin, a planning inspector concluded that it was lawful for the café to operate with ancillary workshop provisions.

The enforcement notice was amended to prohibit the café as a ‘cyclists’ meet’. Mr Goodwin then ceased organised rides from the café and retail operation.

The council issued an application in July this year for an injunction to prevent groups of cyclists ‘congregating’ at the café. The injunction was also sought against cyclists using the café in groups (‘persons unknown’) and was sent to local cycle clubs.

Mr Boardman, British Cycling Policy Adviser, said: “The withdrawal of this injunction is a long-overdue victory for common sense, and more importantly ends over two years of senseless legal action and unnecessary disruption and anguish for Mr Goodwin, his family and his staff.”

Leigh Day’s Jamie Beagent, the lawyer for Mr Goodwin, said: “This is a significant victory for our client and finally brings to an end this unfortunate episode.”

The law firm said a signed order, agreeing to withdraw the application which has been signed by both parties, was filed with the Court last week (14 November).

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has been approached for comment.