Our court case has been adjourned until such time as a judge can rule on our call for an adjournment for judicial review on grounds of British Waterways breaching our article 8 rights of the 1998 European Human Rights Act, by closing the boatyard. So we have now a stay of execution and an opportunity to address BW policy on this matter. This is cutting new ground as a body of precedent has yet to be set on the use of the Human Rights Act. In fact, the House of Lords has a tabled motion to debate whether citizens can use the act to defend against eviction (December 12th). The High Court does not currently concur but the European Court does. The Court of Appeals has ruled in favour backing up the European Court so the House of Lords must decide. The cases involved have revolved around the gypsy issue.
BW were visibly shaken by the outcome, with Eugene Baston [BW external relations] looking rather sick and probably worried that he may end up the fall guy for this debacle. The press came down the yard to interview the campaigners, who are all greatly relieved.
Now we can continue planning our historic theatre night for Nov 20th featuring an adaptation of Rambling Rose a story based on live on the canal at the turn of the century. All proceeds to the 'Save the Boatyard Campaign'.
Please got to www.portmeadow.org for our first update [more to follow] and visit
http://www.narrowboatworld.com/ and go to features - castlemill boatyard We are still here and here we will remain until this matter is resolved in favour of the live aboard boaters and the canal community at large.
Watch this space
Kind regards matthew morton
p.s We will be on central news again this evening (Weds) 6pm