Meriden Gypsies have latest appeal 'thrown out' by Court of Appeal

From the Birmingham Post

TRAVELLERS who set up an illegal camp have failed in their latest attempt to appeal a decision forcing them to quit the site, it has been claimed.

Campaigners fighting the development on greenbelt land in Meriden said the Court of Appeal had returned an application to appeal made by the Travellers, headed by Noah Burton, because it was too late to be heard.

In March, the Travellers lost their appeal against a decision by communities secretary Eric Pickles to back Solihull Council’s move to deny them retrospective planning permission.

They worked out an agreement with Solihull Borough Council to leave the site by the end of next March but then went to the Court of Appeal in a fresh move, allegedly funded by legal aid.

David McGrath, chairman of Residents Against Inappropriate Development, said: “The gipsies presumably submitted their legal aid-funded appeal late to string out the process and undermine their agreement with the council – but it seems to have backfired.

“It is understood the appeal application was returned to Mr Burton advising him the appeal was too late to be heard.”

But Mr McGrath said it was not the end of the road for the Travellers because they had the option to submit a further application to have the case heard “out of time”.

Mr Burton could not be contacted for comment.