Thank you all so much for helping me get this far. After exploring all options, I am proceeding to lodge a claim for judicial review of the decision of Brighton & Hove City Council to make a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) to exempt 690 buses daily,, and other extra heavy public service vehicles, from the weight restriction of 7.5 T on Montpelier Terrace and Upper North Street. I am aiming to lodge the claim this week, and am also requesting an expedited hearing. Your support for me to get this far has been invaluable.
The process has been dragged out because the Council first revoked their initial TTRO, as a direct result of the first letter-before-action sent by my legal team, and the follow-up on time frame. The Council made several, minor legal corrections (as identified in the first letter-before-action) by revoking TTRO 1 and issuing TTRO 2 that came into force on 14 March 2023, for another 18 months, making 20 months in all. It is this TTRO 2 that is the subject of my claim, after a totally unsatisfactory response to the second letter-before-action on TTRO 2.
In the TTRO 2, my legal team has advised me that the Council has repeated the central legal error that is to use the TTRO process, initially to remove the weight restriction (TTRO 1) and then to re-apply the weight restriction but to exempt buses and other public service vehicles (TTRO 2).
The effect of TTRO 2 has been to continue the horrendous adverse safety, health and wellbeing impacts on some 700 residents that live directly on the diversion route. Residents are still exposed to westbound vehicles mounting the narrow pavement on the south side of Upper North Street, on to which the front doors of many of the 200 year old houses open. Air pollution remains unmeasured for dangerous particulate matter, and unreported for NO2. Excessive noise, vibration, light pollution and loss of privacy continue.To this is added the uncertainty of urgent repairs to Upper North Street that result in early morning requests from utility workers to move cars, but to where? The Council has removed several parking places along Upper North Street, and side streets, ’temporarily’ for 20 months. In the next update, I shall tell you more about the horrendous damage to Upper North Street.
Once again, thank you for your support. You supporters have been invaluable in helping us make all attempts to save our streets. Keep an eye on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/WRRAG to see how we are getting on.
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