Second legal challenge underway against Manston airport development permission – The Isle of Thanet News
Manston airport Photo Frank Leppard
A second legal challenge over the government’s decision to grant permission for the development of Manston airport has been lodged by Ramsgate resident Jenny Dawes.
The 1200-page document was filed yesterday (September 29) by Dawes’ legal team, Harrison Grant Ring following a regranting of the permission.
The first decision to grant a development consent order for the Manston airport site was announced by government on July 9 2020 after d…….
Manston airport Photo Frank Leppard
A second legal challenge over the government’s decision to grant permission for the development of Manston airport has been lodged by Ramsgate resident Jenny Dawes.
The 1200-page document was filed yesterday (September 29) by Dawes’ legal team, Harrison Grant Ring following a regranting of the permission.
The first decision to grant a development consent order for the Manston airport site was announced by government on July 9 2020 after delays in January and May.
The Department of Transport approved the application to create an air freight hub at the site. A Planning Inspectorate Examining Authority panel of Martin Broderick, Jonathan Hockley, Kelvin MacDonald and Jonathan Manning had recommended that development consent should not be granted.
The first JR bid was then launched by Ramsgate Coastal Community Team chairperson Jenny Dawes with Ramsgate Town Council as one of the backers with the majority of councillors agreeing to donate £5,000 – and up to £10,000 if needed – of council funds to the cause.
In December 2020 the Department of Transport acknowledged that the decision approval letter issued from the Minister of State did not contain enough detail about why approval was given against the advice of the Planning Inspectorate and said the Judicial Review would not be contested.
In February 2021 the DCO approval was quashed. Further consultations and a report from Ove Arup, which agreed with the Planning Inspectorate panel findings, then followed.
The development approval was again issued this August by Transport Minister Karl McCartney MP with the DCO coming into force on September 8.
Ms Dawes has now launched a second Judicial Review bid and is crowdfunding for pledges to pay for the latest round of action.
She said: “Developing Manston Airport will cause irreparable harm to the people, environment and the economy of East Kent,” adding: “The second DCO decision is also flawed.”
Dawes crowdfunded £119,000 to pay for the legal costs arising from the 2020 Judicial Review (JR) and said: “The money we raised last time was used to pay solicitors, barristers, consultants and court costs in what turned out to be a long and complicated case.”
She is now calling for donations to help fund the second JR with a stretch target of £50,000.
RSP director Tony Freudmann said the second decision document from government is thorough, adding: “It runs to 65 pages and took 17 months to reach a conclusion. It is a really serious piece of work.”
He disputed the project will cause irreparable harm, adding that JR campaigners had not made “any reference to the jobs, training and education with the airport which will transform the economy.”
Next step
The Government legal department, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, now …….
