Judicial Review Update: Counsel Appointed and Permission Bundle Filed
We are pleased to share an important update on our legal challenge, marking a significant step forward in holding the Council to account.
Legal counsel now appointed
We have now formally engaged Charles Streeten of Francis Taylor Building as our barrister: Charles acted for the West Dulwich Action Group and won their case against Lambeth Council, in relation to a transport scheme imposed following a flawed consultation process.
The case is particularly significant because it demonstrates that the courts will intervene where a council presses ahead with a major transport intervention without meeting the required standards of lawful consultation, evidence, and decision-making. The challenge succeeded because the authority failed to comply with its public law duties - including fairness, proper consideration of consultation responses, and lawful use of statutory powers. We are heartened by this result!
Charles’ involvement in that case means he brings direct, recent experience of exactly the kinds of issues raised by our own challenge: consultation that was not genuinely formative; reliance on outdated, deficient or recycled evidence; inadequate assessment of impacts; and decision-making that appears to have been settled in advance. His appointment gives us highly relevant specialist expertise at this critical stage.
Case submitted for review
Working closely with Charles and our solicitors at Bates Wells, we submitted our permission bundle to the High Court for a judicial review claim just before Christmas. We also requested an expedited hearing, given the ongoing and widening impacts of the scheme. OCC had a right to respond to our submission and did so, trying to argue that we have no case, but we returned a firm rebuttal. We await the judge’s decision to allow us to progress the case and we are hopeful of a positive response and a hearing in the spring.
Further funding is now critical
We know that this scheme is already having real and damaging effects - as we and so many others anticipated. Businesses across Oxford are reporting downturns in trade, in some cases severe and potentially catastrophic. Residents are experiencing increased cost, stress, and reduced access. We continue to receive accounts from people whose daily lives, work, caring responsibilities and community involvement have been materially affected.
Unfortunately, legal challenges of this nature are expensive, and we now urgently need to raise further funds to continue our fight. We have already raised nearly £60,000 through the extraordinary generosity of so many supporters, from private donations, transfers from aligned funds, and our GoFundMe campaign. That support has brought us this far, enabling us to instruct experienced solicitors and counsel, prepare detailed evidence, and reach the permission stage. However, we are not yet at the end of the road and we cannot succeed without significant further funding.
How you can support the case
If you are able to donate even a small amount - it really makes a difference. Please also consider sharing details of our legal challenge with friends, family, colleagues, and networks who care about fairness, evidence-based policymaking, and the future of Oxford. Please encourage them to donate too!
If you aren’t in a position to donate, there are other ways to help too. If you can volunteer time, assist with outreach, or help us reach new audiences, we would very much like to hear from you. Please contact us at info@openroadsforoxford.org with details of how you think you might best be able to contribute - or simply let us know that you’re willing to help, and we’ll be in touch.
Thank you for your support.