Crucial court hearing for Steward Wood
You may remember the Steward Community Woodland Group from our previous article ‘Dartmoor community eviction‘. There’s a little summary downpage.
Since then, the Woodlanders have graciously thanked all for their support, but their current situation calls for even more support from the public. The self-sufficient group has decided to challenge their loss at court. Their latest Facebook post reads: “The most important thing happening at the moment is our High Court challenge of the Planning Inspector’s decision. Before our case can go ahead to a full hearing, a judge will decide whether we have a sufficient case to proceed”.
The judge has allowed them to do this orally which apparently indicates that they have a good chance of winning. If they win, they have to pay £10,000 and if they lose, it’ll be £15,000. They have asked anyone who is happy to help fund the legal fees to contact them via their website or Facebook page or call them on 01647 440233.
More updates as they come.
STEWARD WOOD BACKGROUND SUMMARY
- The group is made up of 23 men, women, and children, who live off-grid in Dartmoor National Park in Devon
- They have lived peacefully side by side with nature for 15 years in the park on temporary planning permission
- The park authorities are now ordering them out on the grounds that they are having a “harmful impact on the character and appearance of the Devon park”
- The same authorities are allowing property developers to make millions building hundreds of homes. See our new video here
- Their appeal was rejected on the 10th August 2016
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