Our case

A local community-planted woodland and agricultural amenity site is currently at risk. The site was widely known to be intended as a Charitable Trust to enhance the historic Village of Rushmere St Andrew in Suffolk, and to benefit the local community by promoting a place for peaceful enjoyment and wildlife.

Small "stepping stone" sites like ours are vital for the future of agriculture and crop health needed for our children and grandchildren, rural and urban, alike. We don't have nearly enough of these sites. Those that exist are under threat, as is this one. A key aim of saving this site, is to try to preserve such an important "stepping stone", with active bee hives and pollinators adjacent to and part of the locally established “Green Corridor” between the Fynn Valley County Wildlife Sites and historic Rushmere Heath.

I, on behalf of the local community and local groups, am challenging the appeal of WITCO, a corporate trust, to the decision not to allow executive housing to be built on this land, which will destroy local wildlife and local amenity. It will also have an unwelcome adverse effect on the adjacent Art Deco thatch house, which we have petitioned to save, which forms part of the estate. Our petitions were successful with it being registered as an “Undesignated Heritage Asset”.

Protect a spot of natural beauty

The smallholding amenity and mixed site contains nature walks, produce areas, 9 bee hives, wildflower and bee-friendly meadows, commemorative and mixed woodland, wildlife and amphibian ponds and ancient hedgerows alongside an important Public Right of Way, which up until now has been afforded protection as part of a DEFRA registered agricultural holding and community amenity.

Bees - and beekeeping! - are part of the local efforts that take place on this land to preserve its natural beauty

• In 2013, a planning application was made by WITCO, a corporate trustee, to change the use of the land. It was withdrawn.

• In 2014, the application was made again, to wholesale objection from the local community (362 community objections). It was unanimously refused by the local Suffolk Coastal District Council planning committee in December 2014.

• WITCO lodged an Appeal in 2015. It was fiercely contested by many local people, who were reassured by SCDC's pledging to defend robustly their decision to refuse. However, SCDC have refused to honour that pledge, and repeatedly refused to serve requested Tree Preservation Orders. Now the community is left to fight the Appeal ourselves.

After applying in February 2015, on 28th July 2015, our group received formal notice that our bid to Suffolk Coastal District Council to have the site listed as an Asset of Community Value was successful.

Who does our case affect?

Anyone who believes in environmental justice, local determination and “sustainable development”, which provides for the present without compromising future generations, will be interested if we achieve our goal of saving this recognised and important site for the community now and for the future.

We are trying to create a precedent, to benefit future community challenges under the Localism Agenda.

Undue weighting and consideration is unfortunately being given to Planning Guidance (NPPF) rather than the Localism Statute which should provide a mechanism for communities to prioritise what is precious to them and worthy of protection under agreed and adopted locally created Plans.

Our 2013 adopted Local Plan states this is part of an important area of protection deemed unsuitable for housing.

We hope to gain a proper consideration of the process, i.e., the Town and County Planning Legislation and 2012 Localism Act and to allow decision making to have some “teeth” and to be made locally, according to our Local Plan policy, rather than centrally, in the public interest.

What are we raising and what is it for?

I am raising £10,000, on behalf of this community case, for the fees of my solicitor (Lisa Foster of Richard Buxton Environmental & Public Law) and barrister (Jenny Wigley of No. 5 Chambers), to apply for a Protective Cost Order, and to cover adverse costs.

After gaining initial guidance from the Environmental Law Foundation, we have already been advised by the solicitor we approached, that the case is a strong one and that "there is a possibility the Defendant could concede and consent to judgment".

If possible to raise up to £16,000, that would enable me to cover more of my costs.

About the claimant

I am Suffolk rural resident who is passionate about environmental justice and the importance of green spaces to those in need. I am semi-retired teacher who still works with vulnerable children who works mostly in a voluntary capacity with other local residents and campaigners against injustice. Our local group, Save Our Country Spaces, (SOCS), is an apolitical,  community group set up 30 years ago by residents who felt communities were disadvantaged by the bewildering world of local plans consultations, plan making and planning applications which increasingly threaten existing residents quality of life and well being. We provide help and information, when needed and take a lead in fighting for healthy and happy communities. I am an associate of Save Our Rushmere Rural Identity (SORRI) who represents the interests of the village affected. I am a trustee of Stepping stones for Biodiversity; a small, local charity set up to secure and protect small spaces to benefit wildlife and enhance the countryside for the local community.

Fast facts

## Name of case BARBARA ROBINSON (Claimant) -and- THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (Defendant) -and- SUFFOLK COASTAL DISTRICT COUNCIL WITCO (Interested Parties) ## What's at stake Biodiversity in Suffolk! Saving and securing a rural Suffolk Village community woodland, wildlife and biodiversity sanctuary and amenity for the village of Rushmere St Andrew Suffolk. ## What's the next step We lodged our application for judicial review and statutory review of the Planning Inspector's permission of the appeal, on Thursday 4th August. We have until 18 August to put in evidence and apply for a protective costs order, that will protect costs if we lose.