Friends of RAGC has just launched a fundraising campaign to support a judicial review against the Council over its unlawful failure to decide on nominations submitted for the Rural Activities Centre to be designated as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). The statutory period during which the Council is legally required to decide on the ACV nominations ended in August.
The fundraising launch has been accompanied by a new video which includes a few of the many people who benefit from horticultural therapy explaining why RAGC is so important to them.
It is so sad that the Council fails to understand how life-changing RAGC is to so many people.
RAGC has provided horticultural therapy and social support for those with autism and learning disabilities in Hillingdon for over 40 years so there is no doubt that is the type of facility ACVs are intended to protect.
Please donate at our CrowdJustice online page
FRAGC is using the judicial review as a last resort as, in addition to the earlier petition, written requests have been made numerous times to Cabinet members and relevant Council Officers asking them to process the ACV nominations in a lawful manner. Even in Novermber, the Council had ample opportunity to avoid this planned legal action as FRAGC’s lawyers from Leigh Day have extended deadlines for the Council to respond to the pre-action letter on multiple occasions.
Because of the strength of the claim against the Council, Leigh Day has now agreed to act on a no win, no fee basis but the target of £9,750 still needs to be raised for court fees and to cover any possibility, no matter how unlikely, that costs may be awarded by the court in favour of the Council.
Any funds which are not used for legal action will become available to support FRAGC volunteers continue to help those who benefit from RAGC. If the initial target of £9,750 is not reached, all funds will be returned to donors. Let’s hope we can reach the target to fund the legal action as getting the ACVs will provide an important safeguard for RAGC and the current and future generations of people for whom it is so important.
