SAVING COMMUNITY SPACES SAVES COMMUNITY LIVES

Medway Council have voted to close a much loved and well-used golf, leisure and sport facility at Deangate Ridge on the Hoo Peninsula. The DCP and the community were not consulted at all in advance of this decision, which we believe is unfair. No alternatives options to closure were explored. 

THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT A GOLF COURSE – THIS IS ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND LEGAL COMPLIANCE – WE CAN NOT ALLOW MEDWAY COUNCIL AND CABINET TO LEAD AS AN UNDEMOCRATIC DICTATORSHIP. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE AND SHARE THIS PAGE TO HELP COVER OUR LEGAL COSTS.

History:

29^th January – Medway Council announced they wish to close Deangate Ridge Golf Course

6^th February – Medway Council Cabinet voted to close on 31st March 2018.

12^th March – Overview and Scrutiny Committee requested Cabinet reconsider

28^th March – Medway Council voted to close on 14th April 2018.

The public were denied consultation and Medway chose to ONLY CONSIDER 2 OPTIONS – to continue to run the course at a loss or to close. THERE ARE MANY OTHER OPTIONS as we pointed out to the Council along with a Bid under the Localism Act Right to Challenge for the DCP and a sports charity to be given the opportunity to tender for management of the site.

Regardless of the overwhelming public support and on-going breaches in governance and public and administrative law chose to CLOSE DEANGATE RIDGE on 14^th April 2018.

Next Steps:

We now have no choice but to commence a legal challenge to ensure that Medway Council are compliant in all future decision making processes. This will initially be in 3 Stages:

1) A Solicitor will write a Pre-Action letter to Medway Council giving them 48 hours to postpone closure and to enter into discussions with the Deangate Community Partnership to ensure that the Localism Act Right to Challenge Expression of Interest is considered whilst the business is operational.

2) If Medway are not willing to reconsider a Solicitor and Barrister will apply for a Judicial Review Case.

3) If a case can be brought, we will apply to the Judge for an Interim Injunction to keep Deangate open until either Medway Council have considered our Bid or reviewed other options for operating the site. It will be hugely detrimental to any future operators of the site should it be closed on 14^th April 2018.

To complete these first stages of Action we need approximately £2,500 plus VAT.  

We have pledges to date of over £5,000 and would be most grateful if you would help us to meet this target.

If we have to go to Full Judicial Review (which can take up to 18 months) we will need to raise a further £30,000 plus VAT via various funding routes including this crowdfunding.