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Christchurch starts High Court legal battle against Dorset council merger

Christchurch Borough Council has commenced High Court proceedings to halt council mergers in Dorset.

Yesterday the council issued proceedings for a Judicial Review of the housing, communities and local government secretary’s decision to implement local government reorganisation in the county.

Sajid Javid gave the green light to the plans for a major merger of the county’s nine councils back in February.

Last week, the council received a response to its pre-action protocol letter, advising that James Brokenshire was not prepared to withdraw the draft regulations, labelling them as “an absurd intention to impute to parliament.”

After seeking further legal advice, the council decided to commence High Court proceedings.

Cllr David Flagg, leader of Christchurch Borough Council, explained: “Having taken further legal advice we have decided to issue proceedings in the High Court for a Judicial Review.

“Since the regulations have been laid in Parliament, the advice we have received is that the council has an arguable case against the secretary of state.”

He added: “The opinion of our legal team following the response we received last week has not changed and therefore it is important that we ask the courts to review the decision.

“Christchurch Borough Council and the majority of our residents remain opposed to local government reorganisation in Dorset and we firmly believe that the regulations drafted by the secretary of state are beyond his powers.”

Top image: Acceleratorhams

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