HAYLING ISLAND
RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION

HELP US SAVE ROOK FARM!

Barratt Homes (through their Gladman subsidiary) have gone to Appeal, and hired a top flight King's Counsel.  And we found out 1 day before the deadline that Havant Borough Council is not opposing it, so those 300 extra houses will be approved unless we fight it.​

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HIRA, Save Rook Farm and Save Our Island believe we have a strong case, based on flooding, traffic, infrastructure, sewage, Brent Geese and nature. And most unusually for a community group, the Planning Inspector has granted us full 'Rule 6' representation in the Public Inquiry.

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We've now hired our own top legal team that won last year's Tournerbury Farm Judicial Review against Havant Borough Council, so they know Hayling, and they know Havant Borough Council.  And they recommend the same winning barrister.

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They advise we'll need around £40,000 +VAT urgently. Let's show how much we really care about keeping our beautiful Hayling Island safe.

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Please donate now!  You have 3 choices :

• Direct bank transfer to HIRA (saves us credit card fees)

• By credit card via GoFundMe (small deduction for costs & tip will apply)

• Cheque to HIRA, c/o Maurice Dibben Mengham.​​

PLEASE!   TODAY!

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Thank you - The HIRA committee, Save Rook Farm and Save Our Island.

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Q&A

1. Why is Havant Borough Council not fighting it?  

   Having missed the planning deadline, Council Officers, without consulting Hayling Councillors, decided the case was too costly to risk fighting it.

   We say it's too costly to the island to NOT fight it.
    

2. How are we fighting it?

   Normally, Planning Inquiries have just two parties -

   - The Appellant, in this case Gladman,

   - The Local Planning Authority, in this case Havant Borough Council.

   There is a special 'Rule 6' that exceptionally allows a  third party to be treated as a main party, present their own evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and receive all documents shared between the Appellant and the LPA.
   It’s highly unusual to be accepted, but we have.
    

3. Why does HIRA need legal help?  

   Barratt Homes, owners of Gladman, have very deep pockets, and they’ve hired a top flight King's Counsel and legal team. To have any chance of winning, we will need to fight fire with fire.
    

4. Why can’t HIRA fund it?  
   HIRA £5 subscriptions only just cover our insurance, website, room hire and occasional leaflet and poster printing.  We need to crowd fund it all.  
    

5. How do we know the money will be used properly?

   All funds raised will be kept in a dedicated HIRA Bank Account, specifically for Rook Farm. HIRA will publish full & transparent accounts for how it is spent.
    

6. What if there are any funds left over?
   HIRA will consult with its members whether to:
   - Offer to return donations (if that's possible),
   - Or to use them to support other good works or charitable endeavours on Hayling.
    

7. Is Havant Borough Council helping us?
   Not currrently.  We hoped they would provide expert witnesses, but they appear to have refused.  They have huge expertise and local knowledge, so this is a big handicap.
    

8. Will HIRA have to pay Barratt's costs if we lose?
   Not if we behave responsibly.  In a Public Inquiry each party normally bears their own costs.  BUT if the Planning Inspector decides one party has behaved irresponsibly, and has unfairly increased another parties' costs, they can award costs against them.
   That is why it's so important we get the right legal assistance as early in the process as possible.
    

9. What are the timescales?
   The Public Inquiry is scheduled for June 23-25 and June 30-July 2nd, and it will be in person, somewhere in the Havant area, to be decided. 
   But the deadlines for submitting evidence are incredibly tight and rigid.
    

10. Why has the target increased?
    We made an initial estimate of £30,000 based on previous experience of a similar case.  But this case is complex, and the legal advice is that we'll need at least £40,000 including a top barrister to represent us.  Also these figures are subject to VAT, hence our new target of £48,000.
     

11. Which legal firm are we using?
    Leigh Day, the UK's top solicitors for planning and environmental cases, who won last year's Tournerbury Woods Judicial Review against Havant Borough Council, and the same barrister.  Only 2% of private Judicial Reviews win, but they did.