Brookes campus battle may move to High Court (From Oxford Mail)

Brookes campus battle may move to High Court

7:00am Saturday 16th October 2010 in News By Reg Little

RETIRED property manager Martin Young admits he “wakes up in cold sweats” over the cost of a legal challenge to a controversial university development – but says it will be worth it.

He is preparing to take on Oxford City Council yet again by challenging its backing for Oxford Brookes University’s £132m development.

The legal battle could land him with hefty legal bills.

Mr Young, who lives close to the university’s Gipsy Lane campus, has applied for a judicial review of Oxford City Council’s decisions to allow construction of a new library and teaching building.

The 65-year-old, of Headington Hill, said the council did not give proper consideration to noise issues and the addition of a bar, restaurant and shops in a public square by Headington Road.

Mr Young took on the city council in court earlier this year after his car was illegally crushed and secured a conviction against the council, which apologised, which was fined £600 and ordered to pay £3,015 costs to Mr Young.

He said he was willing to pay hefty legal bills if his challenge to the campus plan makes it to the High Court. The council initially rejected the plan but in February approved a revised design, which lowered the height of the buildings.

Mr Young said: “I’m a man of limited means. I do wake up at night in cold sweats. It is worrying.

But there’s a time in life when you think you shouldn’t be pushed around. If you start worrying about costs, you’re going to fail. I have learned from experience that litigation is a bit like going to an expensive restaurant. If you need to know how much it costs, you should not be there.”

He said: “I have done this as an individual. It’s difficult to get people to support these things when there’s a financial risk attached.”

He said the development should not be allowed as it was near a residential area. He added: “What they’re proposing is a major social and entertainment centre that borders a residential area.

“There’s also going to be a parade of shops in a new piazza, which will be open to the public as well as students. Retail development should be in retail development areas. These will be full-blown shops.”

The university had said residents would not experience a “material increase” in noise and public events would finish by midnight.

A council spokesman said: “We have received papers to inform us that a judicial review will take place regarding the Oxford Brookes planning application. We are now waiting a date for the case to be heard at the High Court.”

A university spokesman said: “This case is between Martin Young and the city council, not Oxford Brookes.

“We believe the council has a very strong defence and we are proceeding with the preparations for the building as planned.”