DEMOCRACY campaigners won the right yesterday to take the Mayor of London to court over his decision to fence off and prevent peaceful protests in Parliament Square.

The High Court gave the green light for a judicial review of Boris Johnson’s decision to erect large metal fences in Parliament Square Gardens halfway through a 10-day protest in October 2014.

Protesters were told that the enclosure, which forced them into a narrow space away from the Houses of Parliament, was required for repair work and maintenance of the grass.

However the fencing quickly expanded around the entire square, including paved areas.

Campaigners argue that there was little, if any, evidence of maintenance or repair work taking place — rather that there was a constant presence of police officers and dogs, with little regard for the square’s flora.

“We’re very pleased to see the first step has been taken towards a potentially just outcome,” said

Occupy Democracy campaigner George Barda.

“The court’s decision reflects the importance of the threat to democracy and human rights constituted by Boris Johnson’s chilling and repressive actions towards peaceful pro-democracy campaigners.”

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 granted the mayor and the police significant powers to prevent the use of sleeping equipment, amplification and other protest equipment in the area surrounding Parliament.

But concerns were expressed by civil liberties groups when the law was passed and campaigners argue that Mr Johnson is now going even further by fencing off the area entirely.

The legal challenge is being brought by Occupy Democracy in conjunction with civil rights organisation Liberty.

“The UK has a long, proud history of holding the powerful to account and the right to protest peacefully is enshrined in law in our Human Rights Act,” said Liberty lawyer Rosie Brighouse.

“Unfortunately that can be something of an inconvenience for those in power.”

“The mayor’s flagrant disregard for one of our most fundamental freedoms, on the very doorstep of the palace of power, cannot be allowed to go unchecked — so we’re delighted the courts have seen fit to review his actions.”