Campaigners 'in limbo' over legal costs after fighting decision to demolish A34 Perry Barr flyover

Members of the A34 Safety Action Group made a challenge to the high court against the council’s decision to demolish the flyover as part of the £500 million regeneration of Perry Barr.

But the group was unsuccessful and were hit with costs of £4,000 in the summer. They have so far raised £1,000 and have challenged the judgement – but say for now they are in limbo while they wait a final decision.

Owen O’Neil, Annette Pereira and Bishop Desmond Jaddoo were the three campaigners who brought the case.

Mr O’Neill said: "We put in our objection to the court many months ago now and we have been periodically going back to the court to ask where our case is. It seems to be dragging on and on."

He said the group is also querying whether a bundle of evidence was considered as part of the judgement.

He added: "The £1,000 we have raised so far was primarily from supporters of the action group. We set up a crowdfunding page and pointed people towards that.

"If the court was to say we didn’t have to pay costs, we would refund those people.

"We don’t know where we would stand [if we we had to pay the full £4,000]. We have been to all our existing streams."

Council leader Ian Ward had been urged by opposition parties during a full council meeting to not demand costs from the group.

But he said it would not be "a sensible use of taxpayers’ money" to write off the costs.

He said this could set a precedent where the council "underwrites any legal action taken against it".