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Please donate to help the campaign
The Duke of Buccleuch’s developer took their plans to a Government Planning Inspector to decide if they could destroy the beloved wood and wildflower meadow. We successfully raised around £34,000 to afford a barrister and legal team to defend against their awful plans.
Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to our crowdfunder, sent a cheque or donated directly into our bank account. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.
We are still fundraising although not to the same extent as before and mainly to cover general costs such as insurance and web hosting.
You can donate to our crowdfunding page on this link, directly into our Triodos bank account with the following details:
Account name: Save Weekley Hall Wood
Sort code: 16-58-10
Account number: 21448183
or by cheque – please make it out to ‘Save Weekley Hall Wood‘ and post it to 38 Waverley Road, Kettering, Northants, NN15 6NT
Thank you
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What is a Public Inquiry and what happens at one?
“A public inquiry is a highly structured formal meeting overseen by a planning inspector, where evidence is presented and considered, witnesses are cross-examined, and a site visit is undertaken before a final decision on a development proposal is reached.
On a very basic level, a public inquiry leads to planning permission being approved or refused for development. Its purpose is to set the case both for and against a development proposal before an inspector, who eventually makes the final decision.”
This is taken from the Friends of the Earth Public Inquiries Guide.
What is going to happen at this Public Inquiry?
In this instance, Buccleuch Property (the developer) has taken the case to the Planning Inspector as North Northants Council has not decided the planning application in a timely manner (an appeal of ‘non-determination’).
Save Weekley Hall Wood are going to play a part in the Planning Inquiry, alongside the Council and the Developer. Members of the team will be witnesses at the Inquiry and we will be represented by our legal team – Paul Stinchcombe KC and Alice Goodenough of Harrison Grant Ring*.
The Public Inquiry began on Tuesday 28th November and ran for 2 weeks with the last day being Friday 8th December (aside from Mondays). The first day started at 10 am and every day afterwards at 9:30am.
The Inquiry was held at the North Northants Council Office, Cedar Drive, Thrapston, NN14 4LZ.
Please see our page on the Public Inquiry for more information.
*Harrison Grant Ring also represents the Wellingborough Walks Action Group and the STRAW group which opposed Plymouth City Council in their tree massacre earlier this year.