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District Council Planning Vindicated

Release Date: 18 June 2012

On Friday 15 June 2012 the Court of Appeal in London refused a request from Welcome Break and Road Chef to appeal their case against Stroud District Council and the proposed new service station on the M5.

Cllr Dennis Andrewartha said

"I am delighted that the Court has refused to give leave to appeal against the Council's decision to grant planning permission for a new service area on the M5. The Council has a policy of promoting sustainable development, and the offer from Gloucestershire Gateway Limited to source a significant amount of their goods from the local economy is to be welcomed. I am aware that the applicant has started preparatory works and intends to start on site later this year. I am particularly pleased that, once again, the robustness of processes in the Development Control Committee and the professionalism of the staff have been acknowledged by the Courts."

"I am, however, disappointed at the actions of two large commercial organisations who seek to overturn local decisions made for the good of the district as a whole. Their actions have diverted staff from other worthwhile projects"

BackgroundFrom Philip Skill (Head of Planning)

Welcome Break and Road Chef had argued that the Council had acted unlawfully in asking the developer, Gloucestershire Gateway Partnership, to source a significant percentage of its produce from local providers. At the High Court, Justice Bean, ruled that the Council had acted reasonably. The Court of Appeal were being asked to rule on only one aspect of the case, that being the agreement of the developer to source a significant amount of its produce locally.

The Council will be seeking costs against Welcome Break and Road Chef , in the region of £25,000.

Ends

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