Things have been happening and this is to let you know where things stand on the battle to save Udney Park Playing Fields. 

 

We are fighting the developer Quantum and its partner TCSG CIC on two fronts;

 

1. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE LOCAL GREEN SPACE (LGS) DECISION

 

This is an appeal by a local resident in the High Court against the Planning Inspector (PI)'s decision last year to remove LGS status for the Udney Playing Fields. If the site had LGS status it would be virtually impossible to develop it commercially and it would have to remain as playing-fields. It is a crucial part of the defence of UPPF that it is designated LGS.

 

A Judicial Review (JR) is a legal process before a judge, basically arguing the original decision to remove LGS was flawed and the site should have maintained LGS status as it clearly fulfilled the key National Policy criteria. If the judge decides in our favour, ie. the PI’s decision-making process was "unfair" to the community, Quantum and the community will be able to re-present their arguments regardingLGS. We will then hopefully regain LGS designation.

 

Notably, both of the “defendants", the Council and the Planning Inspector, have chosen not to contest the case; only Quantum will fight to avoid LGS.

If the Judge in mid-January agrees with Quantum nothing changes and costs (capped at £5k) may be awarded against the applicant.

 

2. PUBLIC INQUIRY RE THE PLANNING APPLICATION

 

Quantum and the CIC have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate in respect of their planning application Ref 18/0151 -- which Richmond Council Planning Committee rejected by 9 votes to NIL.

 

A Public Inquiry will be held at York House to consider this for around ten days from June 25th 2019. Richmond Council, Sport England, The Teddington Society and the Friends of Udney Park will all appear at the Public Inquiry to Object to the Application.