The High Court ruled that opponents of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road were entitled to see some of the details of the building agreement. But Justice Sulllivan said other parts might be protected by commercial confidentiality.
Protestors against Britain’s first privately owned toll road had been seeking disclosure of the agreement for possible use in the appeal against the secretary of state for environment, transport and the regions’ decision last July to allow the building of the road.
They believe the agreement for the scheme contains illegal clauses which will give them ammunition to have the 27-mile scheme squashed. Protestors said they had set a precedent for the way private finance and public interest would interact in the future, But the builders Midland Expressway claimed it was not a victory for campaigners because they had failed to secure complete disclosure.
The Daily Telegraph 30/07/98 page 4
The Independent 30/07/98 page 7
Financial Times 30/07/98 page 7
