Christian campaigners wait for ruling on Bournemouth abortion clinic 'buffer zone' challenge
Two judges are considering the challenges to the order made by BCP council
Christian campaigners who have staged High Court challenges to a council order which "restricts activities" around a clinic which provides abortions are waiting for a ruling by judges.
Two judges considered challenges to the order, made by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, at a High Court hearing in London.
Lord Justice Warby and Mrs Justice Thornton heard that the Public Spaces Protection Order was made a year ago and "restricts activities" around the Robert Clinic, in Bournemouth, Dorset, which is run by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.
They are expected to deliver a ruling in the near future.
Lawyers representing the council told judges that the order placed restrictions on the "activities of various groups and individuals present outside" the clinic.
The campaign organisation Christian Concern and Livia Tossici-Bolt, who leads an anti-abortion group called 40 Days for Life Bournemouth, have questioned the validity of the order.
A Christian Concern spokesman said outside court that campaigners were arguing that the "buffer zone" around the clinic "criminalises prayer and reading from the Bible".
Barrister Kuljit Bhogal KC, who led the council's legal team, told judges that the order protected "service users and clinic staff" from "activities" which were "evidenced to have had a detrimental effect on the quality of their life".
She said campaigners' claims should be dismissed.
Bruno Quintavalle, who represented campaigners, told judges in a written argument: "Christian Concern is extremely concerned that the imposition of the (order) in Bournemouth will greatly and negatively impact on the rights of Christians to pray effectively against abortion in Bournemouth and to offer help to women who are seeking abortions or who have had abortions and regret their decision."
He added: "If the (order) stands it is also likely to constitute a precedent which will contribute to the further erosion of the rights of Christians elsewhere in the country."