Legal question over Trent Bridge lane closure plans

CONCERNS OVER EFFECT OF CITY GROUND STADIUM EXPANSION ON ROADS

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

CONCERNS OVER EFFECT OF CITY GROUND STADIUM EXPANSION ON ROADS How the new City Ground would look from Trent Bridge

LEGAL advice is being sought over Nottingham Forest's plans for Trent Bridge lane closures on matchdays to cope with an expanded City Ground.

The Reds say closing one out of three lanes on both sides of Trent Bridge would allow easier pedestrian movement to the City Ground if it expands to house another 15,000 spectators.

The closures would only be in place during matchdays and as well as the Trent Bridge restrictions, the club's transport assessment says a northbound closure on nearby Radcliffe Road would also be required.

As well as casting doubt over whether the plans would work, Nottinghamshire County Council's highways team has now raised legal concerns about them.

A planning officer from the county council has said in a new report: "There is a basic legal question which needs to be answered, as to the acceptability of the applicant seeking to close the public highway as a form of mitigation to facilitate their development.

"Whilst the highway authority have the power to close the highway for safety reasons or planned one-off events, it is unclear whether it is reasonable or indeed legal for these powers to be used to facilitate a development proposal with permanent and known impacts.

"Further legal advice is being sought from our legal team on this matter and will be provided once received."