Saffron Walden Town Council has dropped a judicial review fighting Essex Highways’ plans to paint double yellow lines in the town.

The transport and roads authority, which works with Essex County Council, said they wanted to introduce ‘no parking’ restrictions along Borough Lane, Mount Pleasant Road, and Peaslands Road in June 2016.

Despite objections from residents and the town council, however, a formal order was issued to bring the restrictions into force in March this year and the town council began legal proceedings.

In a release from Saffron Walden Town Council, it said: “Saffron Walden Town Council believes - and continues to believe - that the proposed restrictions are not in the interests of Saffron Walden residents.

“The restrictions will remove large amounts of well-used parking, with no satisfactory replacement proposed and will increase traffic speeds on roads which are well used by pedestrians, particularly school children.

“There are four schools, including the Bell Nursery, on or very close to the affected roads, and it is also a main route for County High students. No safety measures are proposed by Essex Highways to mitigate or to protect pedestrians against the increase in traffic movement and speed.”

As part of its legal action against Essex Highways, the town council argued the body had failed to follow its own procedures, including failing to consult properly with residents and perform an adequate assessment of the effects of the restrictions.

Following further legal advice, however, it has now decided to discontinue the judicial review.

In its release, it added: “The case was due to be heard in early October 2017.

“The town council’s legal advice has changed since proceedings were started, and although the town council continues to believe that it has a good case, it has extremely reluctantly decided that the risk of incurring significant costs if the challenge was unsuccessful now outweighs the prospects of a successful action.”

Since then, the council has, however, written to the district and county councils asking them to reconsider and withdraw from the scheme.

It also wants clarification on alternative parking.

In response, a spokesperson for Essex County Council said it had been made aware of the town council’s decision to withdraw its judicial review.