People living next to giant warehouse facing 'unacceptable' wait for legal fee decision, says Corby MP
Reform council leaders have been accused of ‘dithering’ over a decision on a £5,000 legal bill being faced by people in Corby living next to a huge warehouse.
Corby MP Lee Barron has been speaking up for residents who are being told to pay the council’s legal costs following their unsuccessful high court battle surrounding a planning cock-up.
Locals took the council to court after permission was granted for the warehouse just behind their homes without the correct consultation being carried out. But they lost, and were then ordered to pay the authority’s £5,000 bill.
When Reform took control of North Northamptonshire Council a month ago, Mr Barron asked them to tear up the invoice and offered to meet the council leader on behalf of residents.
But locals are still waiting to hear back from the council.
Mr Barron said: “I wrote to Councillor Griffiths on the May 15 about what is a highly stressful situation for local residents.
“It is not my first letter to the authority and I have raised this unfair pressure on the residents of Hooke Close in Parliament. I have even offered to meet the new Leader in person.
“It is simply not acceptable to not respond to this pressing matter. The case still needs to be urgently reviewed and the decision by North Northamptonshire Council to make residents liable for a £5000 legal fee should be overturned immediately and without any further dithering or hesitation.”
Leader of North Northamptonshire Council Martin Griffiths (Ref, Croyland and Swanspool) said: “The current administration took on this legacy issue from the previous Conservative administration.
"The previous council leader was adamant that the council would, and should, pursue the legal costs.
"Ahead of making an announcement I am awaiting final legal clarification but I am certainly not dithering and have spoken to the ward councillor and resident spokesperson on a number of occasions in the last fortnight.
"I spoke to Lee Barron MP today explaining the situation and that we are in the pre-election period for an election taking place today.
"I have meetings in my diary with all five of our MPs for North Northamptonshire including Lee Barron and I have, of course, only been in place as council leader for 20 days!”