A High Court judge has called for a change in the law to prevent legal challenges from delaying important public schemes.

Sir Jeremy Sullivan made his recommendation in the High Court in London when he dismissed all claims against the proposed £105M Heysham M6 link road.

He said there was no merit in the application and upheld planning permission for the road.

Matthew Tomlinson, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for sustainable development, welcomed the judge’s decision that all legal processes had been followed correctly.

Work on the scheme would now move forward and construction work should start in early 2010. ‘I am pleased the judge has taken the view that the law needs to be changed to prevent this sort of case delaying major projects,’ he said.