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Campaigners plan legal challenge to Haringey vehicle
Campaigners in Haringey have raised £24,000 to fund a legal challenge to the controversial Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV).
Solicitors from Leigh Day, acting on behalf of resident Gordon Peters who is part of the activist group Stop the HDV, have notified Haringey Council of their intention to take action in the courts.
According to the campaign group, their grounds for taking legal action include a claim of inadequate consultation with residents and local businesses, the fact that the issue was not put before a full council, and the lack of an equalities impact assessment for the plans.
Haringey Council’s cabinet voted to establish the HDV, which will be a 50:50 partnership between the council and private developer Lendlease, last Monday after three-and-a-half hours of discussion.
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Mr Peters, a campaigner for older people in Haringey, said: “There has been mounting opposition to the HDV throughout the borough.
“On Monday 3 July the council’s cabinet held a meeting to hear deputations, but despite presenting powerful evidence and a strong case not to enter into this HDV partnership, the cabinet members were determined to go ahead. Now our only option is to take the matter to court.”
Alan Strickland, cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Haringey Council, said: “We can confirm that we have been notified to expect a letter regarding legal action, and when received, it will be considered by our legal team.
“We are confident that we have followed the correct process in establishing this joint venture and appointing Lendlease as our partner. We have also received a letter from the district auditor that states he is content due process has been followed regarding the HDV.”
A letter from Leigh Lloyd-Thomas, Haringey’s district auditor, on behalf of Belgian accounting firm BDO said that the preliminary results of the company’s investigations into the decision to create the HDV revealed no causes for concern. It noted, however, that some interviews had not yet taken place.
