Undercliff Defence Committee

Fighting for the Ventnor, St Lawrence & Niton Undercliff and its residents

Undercliff Defence Committee statement on Judicial Review over A3055 scheme

Press Release: October 12^th, 2005

The Isle of Wight Council has proposed to the Undercliff Defence Committee that we should withdraw our application for Judicial Review. On 3 October, the UDC accepted the Council's offer, but we are still waiting for the Council's formal response, before we are able to serve notice on the High Court to officially withdraw. Any press announcements the Council has made announcing the UDC's withdrawal are in fact pre-emptive. We would have expected the Council to at least respond to our letter,and, indeed, to wait for the High Court to be informed, before announcing our agreement to the press and public.

The UDC's decision to withdraw is purely an economic one. We have the opportunity to take our case further with the Court , but have taken the decision not to do so, on financial grounds. The UDC will provide a more detailed statement on its position, once the High Court has been properly informed and has officially acknowledged and accepted our withdrawal from Judicial Review.

The UDC is obviously pleased that our MEP has taken her own initiative to ask Brussels to intervene in this matter. We are hopeful that the EC will examine the whole scheme, unlike a Judicial Review, which is a far narrower challenge, examining the legal basis of the planning consent the Council has granted to itself, and any procedural errors made by the Council in the process.

Undercliff Defence Committee

12 October 2005

Note to Editors:

The Undercliff Defence Committee is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by charitable donations and subscriptions, active through the individual voluntary work effort of its supporters, with the following purposes:

To encourage an informed and active interest in the local environment in both residents and visitors, and in particular the preservation of the Undercliff area at Niton, St Lawrence and Ventnor in the Isle of Wight.
To work for the protection and conservation of the Undercliff area, its tranquillity, landscape and natural resources, including water sources, flora and fauna.
To assist in the protection of buildings and other relevant features natural or man-made, and to co-operate with other local and national bodies with similar interests.
To support and encourage a sustainable approach to transport, recognising in particular the ground instability of the Undercliff area, and so far as practicable to encourage the use of appropriate restrictions on vehicular traffic, particularly of heavy vehicles, in the Undercliff area.
To promote and encourage the sustainable use of the Undercliff for the enjoyment of local people and visitors alike, notably through carefully managed rambling, cycling and field study activities in a way that benefits both nearby communities and tourists, thus providing further incentive for these people to become involved in the protection of the Undercliff and its future.

Undercliff Defence Committee contacts:

Dr Paul K Hatchwell: 01983 855458: Barbara Wright: 01983 730455

*Planning Application for Stabilisation and Realignment of A3055 between St Lawrence and Niton, Isle of Wight (TCP/26467/A - P/01467/04 & TCP/26467/ - P/01465/04)

Home Contact UDC: +44(0)1983 730455; +44(0)1983 856688 Email: post@undercliff.org

Undercliff Defence Committee

Fighting for the Ventnor, St Lawrence & Niton Undercliff and its residents

Undercliff Defence Committee statement on Judicial Review over A3055 scheme

Press Release: October 12th, 2005

Press Release: October 12^th, 2005