Archived press release

High Court acts on Great North Forest

29 June 2007

A village community in the northeast of England takes its legal battle into the High Court in London today (Friday 29 June 2007) to prevent the destruction of 7,000 trees in Newbottle Wood, part of the Great North Forest and one of only thirteen community forests in the UK.

The judicial review comes exactly one year to the day that developer Durham Estates moved contractors onto the site in Houghton-le-Spring near Sunderland, and started felling trees. The clearance of the site to make way for 20 football pitches, car parking and associated buildings and infrastructure was halted by an emergency court injunction.

Paul Bennett, Chair of the Trees & Wildlife Action Group (TWAG), said:

"The case we are bringing before the high court is of national importance. The court's decision may result in changes as to how trees and development are considered in future applications by public bodies. TWAG has been telling the Forestry Commission and Sunderland City Council since September 2005 that the people of Newbottle will not sit back and watch the 7,000 trees and the wildlife habitats vanish before our eyes.

Our campaign is supported by people across the region. Ninety one percent of Sunderland folk who were asked did not want to sacrifice these 7,000 beautiful trees for football pitches..."

Friends of the Earth's Head of Legal, Phil Michaels, who is representing the group in court, said:

"This forest is an important green space for wildlife and a valuable resource for the local community. It is precisely this sort of project that requires a comprehensive environmental assessment to ensure that the full environmental impacts are properly understood."

TWAG secretary Vera Marshall added;

"Without Friends of the Earth the court action would not have been possible and the trees would have all been destroyed. It's such a pity that we have had to test democracy in this way. Our campaign has galvanized such a community spirit across Wearside that we have been inspired to launch a local group of Friends of the Earth in Sunderland."

TWAG will be represented in the high court by the `Hartlepool Ghost Ship' legal team of Barrister David Wolfe of Matrix Chambers and Instructing Solicitor Phil Michaels, Head of the Rights & Justice Centre at Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth's Rights and Justice Centre legal advice line can be contacted on FREEPHONE 0808 801 0405 between 6.30 - 8.30pm every Wednesday evening or by email (legal@foe.co.uk) at any time. Individuals who contact the advice line will be given preliminary advice by Friends of the Earth legal staff and volunteer lawyers. Cases will then be either taken up by the Rights and Justice Centre or passed onto an organisation that can help.

The case between Trees & Wildlife Action Committee Ltd -v- DEFRA will be heard before Collins J (the Administration Court's Lead Judge). Court 3, Royal Courts of Justice at 10.30am

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust