RIGHT  WINS  AGAINST  MIGHT !

S.O.S. WINS BATTLE OVER THE JUDICIAL REVIEW

DISTRICT COUNCIL ADMITS DEFEAT

BUT . . . IT’S NOT OVER YET !     

Read on . . .   

ON Monday, April 30th The Resources Committee of Richmondshire District Council voted unanimously to surrender to Save Our Shire’s judicial review, to prevent the case going to the High Court.

After a campaign of two years and costs of over £15,000 raised from Richmondshire residents and sponsors, S.O.S. has proved its point: that the planning decision to develop Yorke Square Car Park not only ignored a massive display of public outrage but also it was fundamentally unlawful.

This unanimous vote removes the planning decision to develop the Car Park to help fund the office move to Colburn.  What it does not do is remove the original planning application or protect Yorke Square from future development. 

Our campaign is not finished until these two issues are dealt with by the Council as a sign that it really means what it says. 

S.O.S. has made it clear to the District Council that we expect the newly elected members to deal very quickly with these two remaining elements and to vote funds to refurbish the Car Park.  Only by doing all of this will the Car Park become a successful facility not only for residents, but also for the development of tourism along the riverside.

An extract from the District Council’s Press Release issued following The   Resources Committee Meeting said:

“Richmondshire District Council will not continue its defence of a legal challenge against planning permission granted for part of Yorke Square in Richmond.

Members of the Resources Committee decided to ‘consent to judgement’ in favour of the campaign group ‘Save Our Shire’ after gaining additional legal advice on the matter . . .  Councillors agreed that proceeding to the Judicial Review hearing with an element of risk would be ill-advised. . . . Their decision means planning permission for the development of Yorke Square will be quashed, although this means that the application will need to be reconsidered by the Council’s Planning Committee in the future, or withdrawn by the Council.

The Council will decide on how to progress the matter at a future meeting.”