Council MAY have been mistakenly charging us for

In a bizarre twist to this sorry tale we have just discovered evidence that suggests the cobblestone area where we put our tables and chairs is not a public highway or right of way. It was stopped up in 1960. We are pouring over maps and statues to see what we can do. But, this does not just affect us, so please keep up the pressure and help support your local businesses. Here is the "stopping up" notice from the London Gazette in March 1960. According to the law "The Stopping Up of a Highway allows the underlying land to be used for other purposes, which would not be possible if it were to remain as part of the public highway network. Stopping Up removes all public right of access as well as the Highway Authority’s responsibilities for the area, effectively transferring responsibility for the land back to the original owner of the sub soil." https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41993/page/2233/data.pdf