New village plan near Leamington may go to court

Members of FORSE (Friends Of Rural and Sustainable Environment) - which formed on the back of the proposal put forward by the Commercial Estates Group - say that they believe Stratford District Council, the planning authority, would be acting unlawfully if it approves the planning application.

Chairman of the action group Cllr Laura Steele, who is also a barrister, said: “If the district council is foolish enough to adopt the developers’ proposal to dump 5,000 houses alongside the M40, they should know in advance that, at the appropriate time, we intend to make them face the sternest examination in court of the process by which that decision was made.

“We want both our opponents and our supporters to know we are taking this all the way.”

Today (Friday) is the final day people have to submit their comments to the council on the application - and members of FORSE plan to let their feelings be known by demonstrating outside the district council headquarters in Stratford. A decision on whether to give the plan consent is expected to be made on October 12.

Cllr Steele said: ”A ‘yes’ vote would serve to compound their errors to date. We will be keeping a close eye on all future process and we are willing to take it all the way to the High Court if necessary.”

To find out more about FORSE, visit FORSE.org.uk