Legal dispute
This project aims to raise funds to resolve a claim, or other type of dispute.
Stop Wandon End Solar Statutory Appeal Fund UPDATE
Hitchin, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Aim
To raise funds to obtain the professional advice on a Statutory Appeal on the approval of the Wandon End Solar Farm Appeal Ref 3359065
Update 3rd August - Please keep the donations coming???
It has been overwhelming that in just a week the community has raised the funds we need to secure the first stage of the statutory appeal (£6000). On Monday (4th) we will be instructing the solicitors and from this initial advice we can determine if we have a claim that has sufficient merits to proceed with the appeal.
We now need to think about the next stage of the process, for Stage 2 we will need £7,800 of the £45,000 previously communicated. These funds will need to be secured before the 6-week deadline (26th August LATEST) of the decision.
The crowdfunding page will remain open for donations, and we start to investigate other fundraising activities, all donations or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Background: Since July 2022 the Stop Wandon End Solar Group has been activity working against the proposed 106 hectare solar farm application submitted by Evolution Power. Even though North Herts District Council rejected the application in 2024, they then appealed the decision.
Since then the Inspector decision, granting permission, we have been busy in the background gaining information as to our opinions going forward, so in summary our findings are:
Through a law firm we can start a type of High Court challenge, called a Statutory Appeal (similar to a judicial review but the power to bring the claim is derived from legislation rather than case law).
Our deadline is 26 August 2025. But we would need to instruct solicitors ASAP as timings are very tight & there is a lot of work for a claim like this, and it is front loaded, so the court expects all documents and legal arguments upfront.
For the initial advice, which includes a review of the appeal decision and draft instructions will cost an estimated £6000, payment upfront.
If from this initial review it is deemed worthy of issuing a claim against the inspector’s decision a further cost of £45,000 would need to be found to cover activities such as issues of claim, statement of facts & grounds, court fee etc…
The Stop Wandon End Solar Group have represented the community to date at our own cost, but to take this any further we need financial assistance. We are now asking you, the community for this help. If we can raise the initial £6000, we will take the advice but without donations we are unable to proceed.
This project successfully funded on 10th August 2025