The fight to save important historic and environmentally farm land in Ryde (Westridge Farm) has taken a further turn, this time in favour of local campaigners.
In July 2024, local residents succeeded in getting two days at Southampton Crown against Isle of Wight Council. In September, Judge Jarman ruled overall in favour of Isle of Wight Council although he did judge two out of five claims of unlawfulness in favour of Greenfields IOW Ltd (residents).
Permission to appeal granted
Greenfields felt the judgement was flawed and applied to the Appeal Court for permission to appeal.
On 25th November 2024, Rt Hon Lord Justice Lewison of the Court of Appeal granted in favour of Greenfields (IOW) Ltd in granting them right of appeal against Judge Jarman’s judgement in September.
The Appeal Court states:
“All grounds of appeal have prospects of success. Permission to appeal is granted”
Two-day trial
A date for a two-day trial has yet to be scheduled at the London Crown Court, but will be in 2025.
Greenfields and resident campaigners need to raise a further £1,421 for Court fees. Hundreds of local residents have raised £1,000s to fight this cause and this is the final amount needed.
We believe the “planning application was riddled with injustices from beginning to end”
Representative from Greenfields IOW Ltd states,
“We pursued this case in good faith believing that the Westridge Farm planning application was riddled with injustices from beginning to end.
“Therefore, in endeavouring to make sense of Jarman KC’s evaluation of the evidence in his August judgement, we are pleased that the Rt Hon. Lord Lewison agrees with us that the case requires the further scrutiny of three superior Law Lords in a two-day trial in London.
“Multiple people have suffered damage because of this application, including a generational farming family and sadly litigation means that there are no real winners.
“That said we sincerely hope that through this bitter process, and whatever the final outcome, the Council and its Planning Department (after thousands of written objections, after thousands of pounds being donated and after a case reaching one of England’s highest courts) finally respect how the ordinary people of the Island feel about these green fields. As well they should.”
Lilley: A fight for fair process
Councillor Michael Lilley, Isle of Wight councillor for Ryde Appley and Elmfield, states,
“I have supported residents in my ward for many years in their fight for social justice and to preserve historic nature filled farmland. I have seen some of the original campaigners sadly die before justice was achieved.
“I have seen a generational farming family nearly destroyed by the planning process and finally had no option but to give up the fight.
“This has been a principled fight against turning rich agricultural and environmentally important land including the habitat and feeding grounds of endangered species into a cash-rich development site for the landowners.
“It has also been a fight for fair process where residents are heard and listened to. The planning committee meeting back in July 2021 and subsequent process was simply flawed and cruel.
“Residents have had a case and have been brave and courageous enough to believe the community and nature deserved justice.”
Shared by Michael Lilley on behalf of Greenfields IOW Ltd. Ed
