Campaigners trying to save a wildlife site near Coventry have been granted a brief respite by a London judge today.
Mr Justice Jay at the High Court in London granted an order stopping the landowner from ploughing the hay meadow until campaigners learn whether they are allowed to take their case further.
The campaigners say that if the meadow, in the village of Keresley, is destroyed it will damage a unique wildlife habitat. Even so, conservation organisation Natural England has already approved the landowner’s plans. The campaigners are seeking a so-called Judicial Review of the decision.
In today’s hearing barrister Victoria Hutton, for the campaigners, told the Jay J that if he didn’t extend a court order stopping the destruction of the site “there is a very real threat that a tractor will enter the field”.
“It is admitted by Natural England that if this field was ploughed the effects would be irreversible,” she said.
The judge granted the order until the court has ruled on their written arguments for the judicial review. He said they should process the paperwork arising from today’s hearing quickly as the landowner “might be sharpening his ploughshares”.
Lawyers for Natural England and the landowner didn’t attend the hearing.
Gerling v Natural England, Planning Court (Jay J) 22 April 2015
