It has been a while since the last update as we have been waiting for news on the Judicial Review submission.

The news hot off the press is that the judge reviewing our case has ruled there IS a case to answer.
She has dismissed the arguments that the case was ‘without merit’ and ‘out of time’ as Herts County Council (HCC) and SEGRO had claimed.

The case will come to court sometime after the beginning of May – probably June but exact date to be agreed by the courts.

The campaign team have three months to prepare: setting up roadshows, fundraising, speaking to the press locally and nationally and our legal team will need to prepare for the hearing.

The crux of the matter is the reason that the land was bought. We believe it was bought under the Metropolitan Green Belt Act of 1938 and/ or the Open Spaces Act of 1906 in order to protect the land from development and preserve it as open space for the community. HCC argue it was bought for general purposes under the Local Government Act of 1972, but the first time this was claimed was years after the decision and purchase of the land. It is highly unlikely that anyone would have sold valuable land to HCC for £1 for any other reason than it was protected green belt.

If the court rules in our favour, then the sale of the 300 acres of land by HCC to SEGRO that was bought by HCC for £1 as permanent open space for the community in 1985, will be overturned.

The Judge has designated this case as an Aarhus Convention claim which means that should we lose the case then our costs owed to Herts County Council and SEGRO will be capped at £10,000 and if we win – HCC and SEGRO will each have to pay up to £35,000 each to cover our costs.

We feel that HCC has betrayed us by selling the land that they bought to protect in trust for the community and ignoring our arguments way back in March 2023. Since they have moved onto the site SEGRO have treated us with contempt – failing to set up a consultation group to keep local residents informed and cancelling meetings.

However, the courts are listening….

BUT – we cannot do this without raising £25,000.
This is needed for legal costs for this final challenge.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Step 1

We would really appreciate if you would sign up to the Fight the Freight email list to make it easier for them to keep you informed of future updates.

Please click the button below to subscribe:

Step 2

Just £25 from 1000 donors will enable us to get our day in court.

Please click the button below to donate:

Or make a direct Bank Transfer to us:
Payee Name:
“St Albans District Credit Union”
Account Number: 01733249
Sort Code: 30-97-25
Account type: Business

You can also send a cheque payable to ‘Save St Albans Fight the Freight’ (or drop in cash!) to:

Fight the Freight,
90 Maplefield,
Park Street
AL2 2BH

Step 3

Come and see us to find out more!