Thanks to our many supporters, the Treasure Hunt, Buffet Supper and Children's Colouring Competition held on 9^th September was a huge success. It was a real family occasion and a delight to see so many families joining in the Treasure Hunt and then enjoying the supper and competition in the Town Hall. 

Despite the Richmondshire District Council's improper removal of the banner advertising the event a few days before it was to take place, the Town Hall was full to capacity.

S.O.S's last bulletin gave the news that notice had been served to Richmondshire District Council that an application for a Judicial Review had been lodged with the High Court. The Council's response to that challenge is awaited.

Here's the latest news of a serious blow to plans to move council offices out of Richmond!

Richmondshire residents might like to hear what happened at two Council meetings - the Resources Committee meeting held on 29^th June and the full Council meeting held in Swale House on 11^th July.

Papers for the Resources Committee meeting showed that it was proposed to appoint a project management team to oversee the headquarters move at a cost of £250,000! However, after a lengthy debate, committee members agreed to recommend to delay any such appointments. Many members of the Resources Committee made it clear that they were dismayed, disconcerted and dissatisfied that vital information had been withheld from them.

The full Council supported the Resources Committee's recommendation by a vote of 18 votes to two. The recommendation also said that an appointment should be delayed because council officers had refused councilors access to documents relating to the Judicial Review launched by S.O.S. Council officers had rejected a request that members should have full access to two crucial things i.e. an outline of the S.O.S. claim (that the grant of planning permission on Yorke Square by the RDC to itself, to fund the move to Colburn was unlawful), and the RDC's full legal response to that claim. The reason given for officers to withhold this vital information was that it would only be released on a 'need to know' basis! Councillors who voted for a further delay were clearly aware of the risk involved in making decisions to spend large sums of taxpayers' money in the light of inadequate information.

For once, commonsense reigned in the council chamber. After the decision was made the chairman of S.O.S., John McDonald said, "Tonight it appears members have made a commonsense decision, which this council desperately needs. It's healthy to see councillors taking charge again and we are pleased they are listening to residents. Behind us are 555 objectors and all have been ignored, and behind them are 8,625 petitioners."

There is still some way to go. Judicial Reviews are lengthy, stressful and expensive procedures but S.O.S. will continue its campaign

S.O.S. thanks Richmondshire residents and other members of the public for their continuing support. Special thanks go to all those people who have sent financial contributions to S.O.S. in response to an appeal to the supporters who wrote letters of objection earlier in the campaign. The appeal letter is given in full on the website.

S.O.S. members are so disillusioned and dismayed by the conduct of much of the RDC's affairs that several of them are giving serious consideration to standing for council seats in the 2007 local government elections.

S.O.S. promises to keep Richmondshire residents and visitors up-to-date with developments through this website and the press.