In a response to a Dragon reader’s letter Guildford Borough Council have confirmed that no further appeal is possible against the planning inspector’s decision to give Solum planning permission for the redevelopment of Guildford Station.
In a letter Bibhas Neogi had written: “Can the planning permission given by an inspector on appeal by the applicant against the local authority decision be revoked? This is a question that lawyers only can answer.”
But a council spokesperson responded: “The council can’t lodge an appeal to try and overturn the planning inspector’s decision, the government can’t ‘call-in’ a planning appeal decision after it has been made and a judicial review is about the process.”
The spokesperson continued to say that GBC is still reviewing the details of the decision and considering its options.
This website is published by The Guildford Dragon NEWS
Contact: Martin Giles mgilesdragon@gmail.com
Log in- Posts - Add New - Powered by WordPress - Designed by Gabfire Themes
David Wragg
February 3, 2018 at 12:30 pm
This seems like the secular equivalent of Papal infallibility. How can one man inflict a decision on a whole town and walk away? No doubt he lives far away. The people of Guildford have to live with this decision, he doesn’t.
Surely an appeal to the High Court could set this decision aside? That point hasn’t been answered yet. Of course, it can’t be called in a second time by the government, but there must be other ways.
As Network Rail is involved and this is now a nationalised entity, the government’s impartiality is in doubt, and perhaps that of the inspector as well. The GBC has simply held up the white flag, a bit like Mrs May’s approach to the Brexit negotiations.
I think that the Conservative Party has lost its drive and its backbone.
The Guildford Dragon NEWS has been advised that a further appeal is not possible and a judicial review inappropriate.