The Public Service Obligations in Transport Regulations 2023 (the “PSO Regulations”), which came into force on Christmas Day 2023, set out procurement and subsidy control obligations in the public transport sector for public bodies awarding PSO contracts. Clarice Harper-Smith highlights the key considerations. Read more
The Environment Agency has “successfully pursued” ten boat-owners through the courts, who had moored continuously on the River Thames for several years.
Newcastle City Council has agreed to amend a set of cycle barriers after receiving a letter before claim from a disabled cyclist who said the design constituted indirect discrimination as it blocked his access to the cycle path.
The Department for Transport has issued statutory guidance on implementing low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in England that says a local authority should, via its engagement and consultations, be confident that a scheme is capable of carrying the support of a majority of the community before introducing it.
Campaigners who want to retain traffic calming measures in Tower Hamlets have been given dates in June for a judicial review, for which they have hit their £75,000 crowdfunding target.
A judicial review campaign challenging a development consent order (DCO) granting the construction of a dual carriageway and tunnel near the Stonehenge World Heritage Site has been refused permission by the High Court.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has issued legal proceedings against a water firm and a landowner over a sinkhole that has afflicted residents on a residential street since 2019.
A fresh judicial review threat has been made over Plymouth City Council's controversial redevelopment plans, which saw the local authority fell more than a hundred trees on a city street.
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase team at law firm Burges Salmon has advised North Somerset Council on the £90m Banwell bypass, which was granted Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) by the Department for Transport last week.
The High Court has this month (27 January) held a case management hearing in relation to a claim against three Governmental departments over the death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, the first person in the UK to have "air pollution exposure" listed as a cause of death.
A judicial review challenge of the Department for Transport's decision to withdraw active travel guidance supporting travel by foot and bicycle has been launched.
The deadline for the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) 2 scheme is approaching. Edward Reynolds, Sally Stone and Helen Feinson look at the key considerations for local transport authorities.
Recently there has been renewed interest in Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by London boroughs in respect of bus lane contraventions, amongst other contraventions. A new line of attack is being deployed, and it is neither restricted to bus lane contraventions nor to just London boroughs, writes Adam Rulewski.
Craig Howell Williams KC and Merrow Golden analyse the High Court’s judgment in the dispute over the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London.
North Lincolnshire Council recently successfully defended a personal injury claim brought by a claimant who slipped at a pay and display car park the local authority owned but had demised. Toby Coupe explains how.
The High Court has ruled, in a case involving a local authority, that there is no ‘special rule’ for negligent medical treatment. May Martin analyses the judgment.
In his fourth and final article in a short series which focuses on case law which may assist in the defence of claims against Highways Authorities under s.41 of the Highways Act 1980, and inspired at least in part by the wintery weather sweeping across the country, Jack Harding focuses on snow and ice on the highway.
In the third short article in his series focusing on lesser-known case law which may assist in defending claims brought against highways authorities for failing to maintain the highway under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 and its predecessors, Jack Harding’s focus moves from section 41 to the statutory defence in Section 58.
A parish council has succeeded in the Court of Appeal over a “bridge to nowhere”. Paul Brown KC and Leon Glenister explain the wider significance of the ruling.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a legal challenge appealing a High Court decision that found kerb height guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT) was lawful on all grounds.
The s.151 officer for Cheshire East Council has warned that the financial impact of cancellation of the northern portion of High Speed 2 (HS2) has put the local authority at risk of issuing a section 114 notice.
An independent investigation commissioned by the Greater London Authority following complaints about comments made by Sadiq Khan that inferred ULEZ objectors were “joining hands” with far-right conspiracy theorists and Covid deniers has concluded the Mayor did not breach the Code of Conduct.
A group of residents have lodged a judicial review challenge over the mayor of Tower Hamlets Borough Council's plan to remove a set of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).
Beleaguered Birmingham City Council faces the loss of a £2.7bn highways maintenance PFI contract after the Government stepped in to block its support funding.
Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson has been appointed to provide legal support to the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) under a contract worth between £500,000 and £5m.
The High Court has granted permission for a judicial review claim that argues that the Department for Transport's decision to cut its Active Travel Fund by almost £200m breached climate, air quality and equalities duties.
An interim injunction banning street racing in the Black Country has been permitted to continue by the High Court almost a year on from when it was first implemented.
North Yorkshire Council faces a threat of judicial review from a local campaign group in a protracted dispute over whether planning consent should be given for a new motorway services area on the A1(M) near Ripon.
A £120m land deal involving Hertfordshire County Council has put the local authority at risk of a judicial review after residents claimed that some of the land was sold unlawfully.
Westminster City Council is calling for the Government’s “long-promised” Transport Bill to be part of the legislative agenda, in order to regulate the impact of pedicabs and dockless bikes.
The Transport Secretary Mark Harper has threatened to cut councils off the DVLA database if they implement "over-zealous traffic management measures", as part of a plan to oppose 15-minute cities, ULEZ expansion and low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs).
A London Tribunal has ordered a penalty charge notice (PCN) to be cancelled after finding the London Borough of Newham accused the appellants of forging defective PCNs "with no adequate evidence to support the allegation".
The Local Government Association has called for greater long-term funding certainty in response to data that shows councils are grappling with hundreds of compensation claims for flooding damage and have a £14 billion backlog in road repairs.
Councillors at Shropshire Council earlier this month voted to approve a draft capital strategy that mistakenly designated an extra £95m in funding for a road works project.
A Pontypridd home owner has been awarded nearly £10,000 in damages against Transport for Wales (TFW) after his home was damaged by Japanese knotweed growing alongside a nearby railway.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has uncovered flaws with the way the London Borough of Newham considered applications for Freedom Passes, after receiving a complaint from a disabled resident.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s plan to ban cars from using a bridge in Cambridge has been challenged by a local campaign group, who argue that fines for using the bridge will only “displace” traffic elsewhere.
Campaigners who successfully challenged the Government's plans to construct a new road and tunnel through the Stonehenge World Heritage Site have launched fresh legal action over the Transport Secretary's redetermination and re-approval of the project.
The Court of Appeal has granted a disability rights campaigner permission to appeal in her ongoing legal challenge against the Secretary of State for Transport regarding guidance on the use of tactile paving.
In the second in a series of articles, Jack Harding focuses on lesser-known case law which may assist in defending claims brought against highways authorities for failing to maintain the highway under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 and its predecessors.
In the first in a series of articles Jack Harding delves into some of the lesser-known authorities relating to the Highway Authority’s duty to maintain the highway under the Highways Act 1980.
Sharpe Pritchard recently advised Merseytravel (the passenger transport executive for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA)) on its procurement and onward lease of a fleet of 20 state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell electric buses for use in the Liverpool City Region. Delivery of the buses will commence in 2023, and they will be used to provide public transport services in the region…
The London Borough of Enfield recently defended a wide-ranging High Court challenge to its decision to create a permanent “low traffic neighbourhood” in its area. Clive Sheldon KC and Zac Sammour analyse the judgment.
William Rose, Partner at Sharpe Pritchard LLP, has successfully acted for Thurrock Council and Essex County Council in obtaining a ‘first of its kind’ injunction against individuals connected with the protest group Just Stop Oil.
Eastleigh Borough Council has successfully defended its grant of planning permission for an extension to the runway at Southampton Airport. Barristers at 39 Essex Chambers explain how.
The Court of Appeal recently considered whether claims under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1984 against occupiers of land adjoining a highway, and against the relevant highway authority, arising from a tragic road traffic accident were reasonable causes of action or had a real prospect of success. James Marwick, Matthew White and Julian Horne analyse the ruling.
Join Ruth Stockley, barrister at Kings Chambers, and Chris Burgess of Norfolk County Council for an in-depth discussion that addresses the legal issues and obstacles involved with adapting highways for a low carbon future and the legal tools available to local authorities.
Shaun O'Neil and Nicola Hyam report on a recent case where a claimant sought to argue that a village road in the Lakes should have been maintained to the standards of a footway.
Emily Knowles discusses new legislation on the requirement of electric vehicle charging points, and its potential impact on the Electric Vehicle Revolution.