Council end legal dispute over Mill Road Traffic Regulation Order

They have apologised - and are now launching a statutory consultation on the idea

Mill Road, Cambridge
Author: Oliver MorganPublished 7th Aug 2024

A bus gate on a busy city road in Cambridge will not going ahead after a challenge was raised by a community group.

The county council say they've agreed to end legal proceedings, so it won't fight the court battle any more over the restrictions on Mill Road bridge.

They're going to launch a consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order on Friday - and have apologised for the frustration it's caused.

In an update on the Mill Road Traffic Regulation Order, Cambridgeshire County Council say they have agreed with the claimant to end legal proceedings in relation to the challenge, brought by a local community group.

They said: "We will no longer be defending the case through the courts, and the judge has agreed to quash the decision that was made to approve the traffic regulation order for the scheme.

"A hearing on the case was held in February and the council has reflected on the outcome of this. It has decided to undertake the statutory consultation and decision-making process on the traffic regulation order again. This is to stop the council spending money and time associated with defending this case.

"We’d like to apologise for the time this has taken thus far and recognise the frustration people have expressed locally.

"Our plan is to run a statutory consultation on a proposed Traffic Regulation Order, this will start on Friday (9 August).

"The proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to close Mill Road bridge to all vehicles, with some exemptions, will be advertised on Friday, 9 August until midnight on Friday 13 September. All feedback, including objections, is welcome. The usual traffic regulation order consultation period of 21 days has been extended to allow people extra time to respond due to the summer holiday period.

"More details about this Traffic Regulation Order and how people can respond will be available on our website from Friday. We’d welcome everyone’s feedback by emailing Policy and Regulations at Policy.andRegulation@cambridgeshire.gov.uk."

When the notice period closes next month, they'll then present all of the responses to a special Highways and Transport Committee in October.

At this meeting, councillors will determine the objections, discuss the report and decide whether the Mill Road bridge closure should be approved or not.

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