An attempt to revive plans for the expansion of Bristols Portbury Dock was renewed today at London’s Court of Appeal.
The owner of the dock, First Corporate Shipping, is challenging an earlier ruling by the High Court that dismissed its bid to quash North Somerset Councils local plan, which it claims blocks the planned 50 hectare expansion at the dock.
Neil King QC, counsel for First Corporate, told Peter Gibson, Buxton and Jonathan Parker LJJ, that the High Court was wrong to reject claims that North Somersets stance was unreasonable and perverse.
He claimed that the judge was also wrong to reject a challenge to the councils decision that a further inquiry into the local plan proposals was unnecessary.
“The claimant has been denied the opportunity of arguing before an independent and impartial tribunal that the strategic allocation in the structure plan has not been fully utilised,” said Mr King.
He claimed that the High Court judge had, among other things, failed to appreciate the significance of arguments put forward by First Corporate.
The hearing continues.
First Corporate Shipping Ltd (trading as The Bristol Port Company) v North Somerset Council Court of Appeal (Peter Gibson, Buxton and Jonathan Parker LJJ) 03 May 2001
Neil King QC and Reuben Taylor (instructed by Tite & Lewis) appeared for the claimant; David Holgate QC (instructed by the solicitor to North Somerset Council) appeared for the defendants.
PLS News 3/5/01
