High Court injunctions for motorways and major A roads
Parts of the strategic road network have been targeted by protesters recently and we now have two injunctions in place as part of our continuing and determined attempts to prevent disruption to England’s busiest roads.
We’re working with the police to keep disruption to the public to a minimum. Millions of people rely on the strategic road network every day and they have a right to expect it to operate as it should.
Our primary concern is always safety. Protesting on our network is extremely dangerous, both for motorists and for the protesters themselves.
Injunctions
We’ve obtained two injunctions that prevent named roads being obstructed for protest purposes.
Protesting on these roads carries the risk of imprisonment, an unlimited fine and having assets seized. We’ll consider pursuing further legal avenues as appropriate to safeguard the strategic road network.
28 November 2022 - M25 structures injunction - in force
(National Highways Limited v (1) Persons Unknown entering or remaining without the consent of the Claimant on, over, under or adjacent to a structure on the M25 Motorway and (2) A. Gunning and 64 Others (Claim No: KB-2022-004333) - 28 November 2022)
Lasts until: 15 November 2023
This injunction specifically relates to the M25, targeting individuals who attach themselves to structures such as gantries.
5 May 2023 - M25, M25 feeder roads and Kent roads injunction - in force
(National Highways Limited v Persons Unknown Injunction Order (QB-2021-003576, QB-2021-003626, QB-2021-003737)
Lasts until: 23:59 on 10 May 2024
This injunction targets protestors taking action on the M25, the M25 feeder roads and major roads in Kent and around the Port of Dover.
Documents
3 October 2023 – M25, M25 feeder roads and Kent roads injunction consequential order
25 July 2023 – M25, M25 feeder roads and Kent roads injunction consequential order
5 May 2023 M25, M25 feeder roads and Kent roads injunction order – in force
Judgment and documents for 5 May 2023 M25, M25 feeder roads and Kent roads injunction order
Road closures
Where a member of public is protesting at height over a motorway or other similar arterial route, the decision to close the road is based on a range of factors, with public safety being the most important. Both police and National Highways traffic officers have powers to close roads.
Following an incident, our traffic officers will work with the police to re-open the road as soon as possible, after making sure all affected infrastructure, such as gantries, are undamaged and safe.
