Bath Traffic Regulation Order Challenge Featured in The Telegraph as Watkins Solicitors Supports Lansdown Community Group

Watkins Solicitors’ Public Law and Human Rights team has been supporting a statutory challenge against Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Liveable Neighbourhood traffic scheme in Lansdown, a matter which has attracted national media attention following coverage in The Telegraph.

The challenge relates to a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) introduced by Bath and North East Somerset Council as part of its Liveable Neighbourhood scheme in Lansdown, Bath. The scheme introduced road closures and traffic restrictions affecting how local residents and visitors could access and travel through surrounding roads. Concerns were later raised by local residents and the Heart of Lansdown Conservation Group regarding the impact the restrictions were having on access, traffic flow, road safety and day-to-day life within the community, as well as an alleged failure by the Local Authority to properly address safety concerns linked to the scheme. Concerns were also raised regarding whether the correct legal process and consultation requirements had been properly followed before the measures were made permanent. The statutory challenge asks the court to consider whether the council acted lawfully in introducing and finalising the scheme.

Watkins Solicitors has been assisting the Heart of Lansdown Conservation Group (HOLCG), via their representative, in relation to the statutory challenge brought against Bath and North East Somerset Council, working with a specialist barrister throughout the process.

Our involvement has included:

• Advising HOLCG on the legal challenge against the Traffic Regulation Order
• Preparing the court application and supporting legal documents
• Assisting local residents and representatives with witness statements
• Reviewing and organising evidence in support of the case
• Managing the court filing process and formally serving the claim on Bath and North East Somerset Council

The case has generated significant local and national interest due to the wider issues it raises around public consultation, transparency in decision-making, and the lawfulness of measures introduced by public bodies that directly affect local communities.

Statutory challenges of this nature are highly specialised and subject to strict procedural rules and time limits. They involve asking the court to consider whether a public authority has acted lawfully when making decisions under its statutory powers.

Chris White, Head of Judicial Review at Watkins Solicitors, commented:

“Public law challenges are deeply important to the communities involved. These cases are not simply about disagreement with a decision, but about ensuring that public bodies act lawfully, fairly and transparently when making decisions that can significantly affect people’s homes, access, daily lives and local communities.

We are pleased to support HOLCG through this process and remain committed to assisting individuals, organisations and community groups who may feel their concerns have not been properly heard or considered. Access to clear legal advice is an important part of ensuring communities are able to understand their rights and hold public bodies to account where appropriate.”

Aryan Mishra, Trainee Solicitor in the Public Law and Human Rights team, has also been closely involved in supporting the matter, including assisting with evidence preparation and procedural work throughout the claim.

Watkins Solicitors regularly advises individuals, families and community groups in relation to:

• Judicial Review claims – for example, challenging decisions made by councils, government departments or other public bodies where they may have acted unlawfully or unfairly
• Statutory challenges – including challenges against Traffic Regulation Orders, planning decisions or other decisions made under specific legal powers
• Human rights matters – where individuals believe their rights or the rights of their family have been breached by a public body
• Public authority decision-making – advising where concerns arise about how decisions have been made by organisations such as councils, schools, NHS bodies or government agencies
• Local authority disputes – including disputes involving housing, social care, safeguarding, education or community issues
• Urgent public law issues – where immediate legal action may be needed to protect an individual, family or community from the impact of a public body’s decision or failure to act

We understand that challenging decisions made by public bodies can feel overwhelming, particularly for individuals or community groups navigating complex legal processes for the first time. These matters often arise from genuine concerns about how decisions are affecting people’s homes, families, communities or daily lives.

Our Public Law and Human Rights team is committed to providing clear, practical advice and supporting clients through complex and often fast-moving matters with sensitivity, transparency and a strong understanding of the wider impact these decisions can have.

For more information, please contact the Watkins Solicitors team info@watkinssolicitors.co.uk