A leading judge and self-confessed Norwich City fan today pulled out of a planning battle over bitter local rivals Ipswich Towns new North stand, leaving the legal status of the part-built stand in limbo until the middle of next month.
In the end, it wasnt Mr Justice Harrisons allegiance to the Canaries that caused him to withdraw from hearing the case, although he had already asked the court if anyone had any objections to him sitting in a case that could do considerable harm to Ipswich Town.
No-one objected, but the judge had to hand over the case for another judge to hear next month, because his busy schedule meant that he could not hear the two-day case and give an immediate judgment, which Ipswich claimed was urgently required.
Now, the planning battle, in which concerned local resident Rose Malster, of 42 Alderman Road, Ipswich is challenging the local Councils approval of a replacement North Stand at the Premiership clubs Portman Road Stadium, will be heard by Mr Justice Sullivan on 16 and 17 August.
Ipswich have already knocked down their old north stand, which seated 3,363 fans, and started work on the new one, which will hold 7,035, and will cost the club pounds sterling 2,735,702 to build.
EGi News 26/07/01
