Taxi drivers are mounting a High Court bid to stop a new 20mph speed limit for a city centre.

Brighton and Hove City Council is to introduce the limits on more than 500 streets from Monday and has said the restrictions will still go-ahead despite the legal challenge.

But, claiming they were not properly consulted, members of the city’s taxi trade have given the local authority until today to respond to a letter from their solicitors.

If they ignore it, then judicial review papers will be served to the High Court.

A judge would then decide whether to hold a full hearing into the matter, which would leave the council facing potential legal costs of tens of thousands of pounds.

However, council bosses have said they have sought legal advice and the order does not mean it will have to postpone the introduction of the restrictions.

Councillors gave the go-ahead on the first phase of the 20mph proposal in January.

The local authority claims the move will improve road safety and air quality.

However, unions representing cabbies claim the local authority failed to consult directly with either its members or the city’s taxi forum.

The Argus understands their complaint has been taken up by lawyers on a no-win-no-fee basis.

If the council loses, then it will have to consult the city again on the widespread scheme.

Regrettable

Ian Davey, the council’s transport committee chairman, said: “The city has been discussing 20mph speed limits for the past three years and the public consultation carried out last year had nearly 3,700 responses.

“There were also several meetings with representatives from the taxi trade as well as other stake holders.

“So the council has done everything properly in carrying out this consultation.

“It is regrettable that the taxi trade think otherwise and appear determined to stop the speed reductions going ahead.

“Given that the new speed limits are being introduced in response to requests from local residents and are intended to make our streets safer and more pleasant that is regrettable.”

The seven-kilometre area in the first phase stretches from Sackville Road, Hove in the west to Freshfield Road, Brighton, in the east.

The northern boundary will be Old Shoreham Road and New England Road.

Road crews have been installing signs and painting markings on affected roads for the past six weeks.

The council has further plans to widen out the scheme to suburban areas over the next three years at a total cost of £1.5million.