Latest News : 28 September 2007

Save Our Shire is still waiting for the Richmondshire District Council’s solicitor to respond to the issue of the costs of the Judicial Review and to the implementation of the consent order that is still outstanding. We have been waiting for these for more than two months!

Meanwhile, as always, Save Our Shire members continue to attend and monitor Richmondshire District Council’s public meetings and to make sure that taxpayers’ views are heard in the Council Chamber and in the Press.

THE CAMPAIGN HAS NOT FINISHED YET!

Latest News :  25 July 2007

Save Our Shire is still awaiting the response from the Richmondshire District Council’s  solicitor to the agreement of costs of the Judicial Review and to the consent order that is still to be held in the High Court.

Meanwhile, Save Our Shire members continue to attend and monitor Richmondshire District Council’s public meetings.  In the twelve weeks since the newly formed council took office various S.O.S. members have been present at eight meetings: 1 Council; 2 Special Council; 1 Resources; 1 Planning; 2 Standards Committee; 1 Community, Environment & Scrutiny. At the Special Council meeting on 28 June, four letters raising matters of concern were read out by S.O.S. members and another two letters were read out at the Council meeting on 24 July - all were well received.  

Before the summer recess the Council’s calendar includes another Planning meeting at which S.O.S. members will also be present.

 SUCCESS!!

Save Our Shire

has won the 1^st Stage of

the Judicial Review

A message to all our supporters from Save Our Shire 

The news that our Judicial Review has been successful in its first stage is an excellent time for Save Our Shire to thank all its many supporters.

Right from the early days when we began collecting a petition against the sale of Yorke Square Car Park and the move to Colburn, thousands of residents have lent their support: not only by signing the petition and providing written objections to the planning application, but also by making donations to the legal fund.  Without them, our task would have been impossible.

Now read on . . . . .

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.

Visit the S.O.S. Stall on Saturday mornings in Richmond Market Place under Trinity Tower and hear the latest news.

Watch this website for more news as it unfolds.