THURSDAY 31ST MARCH -
Press Release Press Release Press Release
AAI TO CHALLENGE SECRETARY of STATE
The North Oxfordshire anti incineration campaign group Ardley Against Incinerator (AAI)
has set in motion a legal challenge to the Secretary of State.
The Statutory Appeal
was lodged with the Administrative Court at the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday
afternoon (30th March 2011).
The Statutory Appeal challenges the decision made by the Secretary of State on 17th
February 2011 to allow planning permission for Viridor Waste Management to construct
a 300,000 tonnes per year incinerator at Ardley Fields Farm. The original planning
application from Viridor Waste Management, refused by Oxfordshire County Council's
Planning Committee in October 2009, was subject to a Public Inquiry in July 2010.
The Secretary of State's decision supports the recommendation of the Planning Inspector
following the Public Inquiry.
Jonathan O'Neill Chair of Ardley Against Incinerator said...
"We have always believed,
with good reason and evidence, that the granting of planning permission to develop
a 300,000 tonne incinerator on the Ardley Fields Farm (quarry & landfill) site is
wrong.
After a thorough review by, and detailed guidance from, legal counsel we believe
that there is a significant point of law on which the Statutory Appeal is based.”
Once received the Secretary of State has 21 days to respond to the challenge. It
is expected that the Statutory Appeal will be heard in the High Court, sometime in
the Autumn.
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Notes
Statutory Appeal challenges the decision made by the Secretary of State on 17th
February 2011 to grant planning permission to Viridor Waste Management. Thus overturning
the decision made by Oxfordshire County Council's Planning Committee in October 2009
to refuse such permission.