STREETSPACE APPEAL: Focus on making London ‘open and accessible to all’ says LTDA taxi secretary
The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) should focus their efforts on making sure the capital remains ‘open and accessible to all’ says taxi secretary, following the regulator's decision to seek an appeal on the recent High Court Streetspace judgement.
TfL and the Mayor have today submitted papers to the Court of Appeal seeking leave to appeal the High Court’s Judgement that the Streetspace Plan, associated guidance and A10 order were ‘unlawful’.
The route of appeal was taken after previously being denied permission to appeal by Senior High Court Judge, Mrs Justice Lang DBE.
Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), said: “It is no surprise that having already been denied permission to appeal by the High Court, the Mayor and TfL are now seeking permission from the Court of Appeal. They are in effect appealing the Judge’s decision not to let them appeal!
“As the senior High Court Judge, Mrs Justice Lang DBE made clear in her decision denying their first application for leave to appeal, there are no clear grounds and little chance of success on appeal, particularly given how unequivocal the Judgement was in this case. Our Judicial Review succeeded on four of the five grounds, but succeeding on just one would have been enough to win the case, with the same result, so how TfL and the Mayor think they are going to first get permission to appeal, and then stand any chance of winning that appeal, is beyond me.
“Rather than wasting yet more tax payer money, they should focus their efforts on fixing the problems the Judge identified and making sure London remains open and accessible to all. This is crucial so that as lockdown hopefully comes to end and restrictions begin to ease, we can get London moving again safely and licensed taxis can provide an accessible, efficient service to the passengers who rely on us.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “We were very disappointed with the court’s decision and have applied for permission to appeal this judgment. Helping the capital to get through, and recover from, the coronavirus pandemic has always been at the heart of our plans for walking and cycling. Temporary schemes continue to enable safer essential journeys for thousands of Londoners who need to travel during this exceptionally challenging time.
“We recognise how important it is for our schemes to work for the communities they serve, including people who use taxis, and we will continue to deliver schemes to reflect the changing coronavirus situation.”
Until the appeal process is concluded, both the Bishopsgate scheme and TfL’s interim guidance to boroughs can remain in place.
According to TfL there were also no findings made about the lawfulness of other borough schemes which can also remain in place as boroughs consider appropriate.
