February 1999

"Dramatic overhaul of judicial system long overdue" - Paddy Hill (Feb 20, 1999)

ALERT RESIDENTS WIN REPRIEVE FOR TREES (Feb 3, 1999)

 "Dramatic overhaul of judicial system long overdue" - Paddy Hill

Paddy Hill last night told campaigners to "take heart" in their fight against injustice. He was speaking to a packed audience at the first public meeting in support of Michael Singh, who is serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn't commit.

"Michael Singh has 20 times as many people here tonight than the Birmingham six had at it's first meeting" he said.

Paddy, who served over 16 years in prison for the Birmingham pub bombings, before being cleared, said that he believed there were 3000 innocent people in prisons today. He said he was working with many others to bring about "a dramatic overhaul of the judicial system in this country, which is long overdue."

He revealed that he was planning to commit himself full-time to fight for falsely imprisoned lifers, when his current job with London Social Services ends shortly.

Janet Alder gave a moving account of her efforts to uncover how her brother Christopher died in police custody in Hull last year. "It wasn't until I went to Hull and asked some awkward questions that they suspended the 5 police officers concerned - 4 weeks later. Whoever was responsible should be prosecuted. I want justice for my brother."

Chris Moore, of the national campaign "Action Against Injustice", set up by the Socialist party, said that "Every 3 weeks 10 people die in police and prison custody."

See also Justice for Michael Singh campaign.

ALERT RESIDENTS WIN REPRIEVE FOR TREES

Residents at Clifton Villas, Manningham, have won an 11th hour temporary reprieve for 32 mature trees on the site of a planned housing development. Council planning officers had tried to push through the plans of Manningham Housing Association without public scrutiny, but a vigorous campaign by residents has meant that the scheme will now go before the planning committee on February 25th.

Residents are furious at the way council officers deliberately tried to mislead them. The site, in the middle of a conservation area, was classed as having no "impact, sensitivity or controversial nature" by planning officers, thus avoiding the need for formal approval. Yet planning documents show that Highways, conservation and tree consultants all objected.

The site is in the Manningham regeneration area and it seems likely that a hefty sum of public money would be involved for the developers.

See also: Letters

Councillors approved the proposed housing development following a site visit today, despite objections from the 3 local ward councillors and residents. But afterwards Rupert Pometsey of the Manningham Housing Association promised to work closely with local residents to avoid any further bad feeling.

Local residents initially objected when they were told by planning officers that the decision had already been made under "delegated powers" without reference to the planning committee. Indeed a letter in the planning file bears this out. Dated January 20th and addressed to 2 local residents, it says:

"Your concerns raised were fully considered, however I can inform you that the application was approved on ~ January 1999 and I attach a list of the conditions imposed".

The letter adds:

"The application was determined under delegated powers and it is not the normal procedure for objectors to view a file prior to determination of the application".

The letter was signed by senior planner Linda Beckett, but was marked "NOT SENT" at the top.

Residents are now considering a court challenge to the decision.

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