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SUCCESS!!
Save Our Shire
has won the 1st Stage of
the Judicial Review
The High Court has upheld a case brought against Richmondshire District Council (RDC) by members of Save Our Shire. The Court’s verdict means that the RDC’s decision to grant itself planning permission to develop apartments on Yorke Square Car Park will now go forward to a full judicial review.
Notwithstanding the RDC’s defence, the Judge – who considered the extensive written evidence – concluded that the RDC’s self-granted planning permission was arguably unlawful. The RDC’s conduct will now undergo the detailed scrutiny of the Court at a hearing in London later in the year.
John McDonald, Chair of Save Our Shire said:
“This decision is very welcome. It is no surprise to us that an objective and experienced judge has recognized the strength of our case. This independent verdict gives us real hope for the next stage of the case, and the future of Yorke Square.
We expect each Council Member to reflect on this situation and save further waste of taxpayers’ money by allowing the planning permission to be quashed by the Court at the earliest opportunity.”
The RDC’s Chief Executive’s handling of the Judicial Review is another aspect of the ‘Who runs Richmondshire’ scenario. RDC members, who are elected to govern Richmondshire, have been denied access to the evidence given to the High Court; they have been denied access by the Chief Executive, who is held accountable by the Court. Save Our Shire’s advice to RDC members is that they should demand access to the evidence; they, rather than the Chief Executive, should decide whether they wish to pursue this lost cause with its potentially high cost to the council taxpayer.
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