Ep 85: M4 relief road U-turn – Alasdair Henderson – Law Pod UK

Posted June 25th, 2019 in environmental protection, news, planning, roads, Wales by sally

‘Rosalind English talks to Alasdair Henderson about the Welsh government U-turn on the M4 relief road. Alasdair acted for some of the objectors in the inquiry and regards it as “probably one of the biggest environmental success stores in terms of challenging a major infrastructure project on environmental grounds.’

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Law Pod UK, 24th June 2019

Source: audioboom.com

Government faces legal action over changes to Brexit laws which ‘weaken environmental protections’ – The Independent

Posted June 21st, 2019 in brexit, environmental protection, news by tracey

‘The government’s repeated promises of a “green Brexit” with the introduction of strong environmental protections to replace existing EU laws appear to be in doubt due to “behind the scenes” changes to government powers in the Withdrawal Act, campaigners say.’

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The Independent, 21st June 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK accused of ‘silently eroding’ EU pesticide rules in Brexit laws – The Guardian

‘The UK has been accused of “silently eroding” key environmental and human health protections in the Brexit-inspired rush to convert thousands of pages of European Union pesticide policy into British law.’

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The Guardian, 12th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Carbon credits fraud trial collapses after expert witness found to have no expertise – The Independent

‘A carbon credits trial collapsed after an expert witness was found to be unqualified, and more than 20 fraud trials could be declared unsafe.’

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The Independent, 30th May 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Financial regulators focus on climate change risk – OUT-LAW.com

‘In early May the UK government became the first in the world to declare an environment and climate change emergency. The impact of climate change will affect every aspect of daily life, and generates a number of significant financial risks.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st May 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Extinction Rebellion founder cleared over King’s College protest – The Guardian

‘The founder of Extinction Rebellion has been cleared by a jury of all charges relating to a protest against fossil fuels in what campaigners say is a historic moment for the climate justice movement.’

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The Guardian, 9th May 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Councils fail in legal challenge over Heathrow Airport expansion – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Divisional Court has dismissed a legal challenge brought by five councils, the Mayor of London and a number of other claimants over the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision to designate the Airports National Policy Statement (“ANPS”), which sets out that the Government’s preferred location for additional airport capacity in the South East of England is a new runway at Heathrow.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st May 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Liverpool judge refuses to move huge claim to London – Litigation Futures

‘The High Court in Liverpool has refused to transfer one of the biggest claims ever filed in this country to the Rolls Building in London.’

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Litigation Futures, 24th April 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

“Persons unknown” injunctions against future protest action – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In Boyd & Anor v Ineos Upstream Ltd & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 515, the Court of Appeal handed down a fascinating judgment exploring the tension between the exercise of the rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression and the protection of property rights.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th April 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Clean air zones: Where will UK drivers pay for polluting? – BBC News

‘Drivers of the most polluting vehicles now have to pay to drive into central London – and soon other towns and cities across the UK will follow suit.’

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BBC News. 12th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Judgment: Vedanta Resources PLC & Anor v Lungowe & Ors [2019] UKSC 20 – UKSC Blog

‘1826 Zambian citizens issued proceedings against Zambian company KCM and Vedanta (KCM’s ultimate parent company) for personal injury, damage to property and loss of income, amenity and enjoyment of land as a result of pollution and environmental damage caused by discharges of harmful effluent from the Nchanga mine since 2005. Vedanta was served within the jurisdiction, while KCM was served out of the jurisdiction, with permission obtained on a without notice application. In September and October 2015 Vedanta and KCM respectively applied for declarations that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the claims or, alternatively, that it should not exercise such jurisdiction that it might have. Coulson J dismissed those applications. The Court of Appeal upheld the dismissal of those applications.’

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UKSC Blog, 10th April 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

ULEZ: New pollution charge begins in London – BBC News

‘Drivers of older, more polluting vehicles are being charged to enter the congestion zone area at any time.’

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BBC News, 8th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Protesters hail legal victory over fracking firm’s injunction – The Guardian

‘Campaigners have hailed a legal victory against a multinational company that took out a “draconian and anti-democratic” injunction against protesters.’

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The Guardian, 3rd April 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Environment Agency obtains £200k confiscation order against waste operator – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 26th, 2019 in confiscation, environmental protection, news, waste by sally

‘The Environment Agency has secured a £200,000 confiscation order against a waste operator over environmental offences at sites he operated with his brother in Swindon.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Environmental lawyers fire warning to councils on legal risk of air pollution “inaction” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 26th, 2019 in environmental protection, local government, news, pollution by sally

‘Environmental law charity ClientEarth has warned 38 local authorities in England and Wales of the legal risk of inaction on air pollution.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th March 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judicial review of Heathrow airport third runway decision begins – The Guardian

‘Five judicial reviews challenging the legality of the government’s decision to allow a third runway at Heathrow airport have begun in the high court.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mixed fortunes for UK government in planning rulings – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK government has successfully defended a legal challenge against its decision to adopt a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in England last year, but guidance contained in that framework concerning ‘fracking’ has been ruled to be unlawful.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th March 2019

Source: www.out-law.com

Fracking: Government guidance ‘unlawful’ rules High Court – BBC News

‘New government guidance on fracking is unlawful, the High Court has ruled.’

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BBC News, 6th March 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Knotweed: what should the legislators be doing? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2019 in environmental health, environmental protection, housing, inquiries, mortgages, news by sally

‘On 22 January 2019 the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee (“STC”) held an inquiry into “Japanese knotweed and the built environment”. It received written submissions from 27 interested parties, ranging from the Law Society and Royal Horticultural Society to companies specialising in the treatment of non-native invasive species and concerned individuals.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 11th February 2019

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Clean air strategy 2019—raising difficult expectations? – Six Pump Court

Posted February 8th, 2019 in environmental protection, news, pollution by sally

‘In an article for Lexis PSL, William Upton considers the key features and future impact of the government’s clean air strategy 2019.’

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Six Pump Court, 1st February 2019

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk