Small firms take on Olympic challenge

Scores of small British businesses are uniting to challenge the organisers of the Olympics over planned road closures and security restrictions which they claim will put hundreds of jobs at risk.

Test cases are being launched at the High Court in London, with affected business leaders in east London saying companies could collapse.

About 40 businesses employing 550 people are thought to be affected and range from transport firms to printers, cafés, garages and retailers.

Lawyers for the business companies in the Hackney area will ask Mr Justice Singh for permission to seek judicial review against the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

They want to challenge the legality of traffic management regulations which restrict movements of vehicles using the Olympic route network.

They are expected to argue the restrictions unlawfully affect their right of access to their own premises and affect the access rights of their suppliers and customers.

The judge will be told of their fears that, unless there is a change of attitude, either their businesses will be severely damaged or forced to closed down.

They contend they have an arguable case that the ODA does not have the power in all the circumstances to impose the restrictions under the relevant traffic management order.

They say the authority has failed to assess their need for reasonable access to their premises or made appropriate exemptions.

There has also been a failure to offer to compensate or relocate affected businesses.