Back in June Maldon District Council approved a development fir 200 houses on farmland to the south of West St, Tollesbury. We believe that the meeeting where this was approved was unfair and unlawful. With the help of 2 ex-residents, HART are supporting Mike Olley’s claim against Maldon District Council but we need your help to raise the funds to make this happen, so, there has been a crowd funding page setup on CrowdJustice.com

This is what Mike says:

Please help me to stop our village being sold out to developers.

What is the claim? I am taking Maldon District Council (MDC) to court for unfairness, procedural failings and breach of the law in approving 200 new houses next to Prentice Hall Lane.

Why? Tollesbury is a historic sailing and fishing village with 2,700 residents at the “end of the line” in Essex. It has limited amenities and is already overrun with cars. Adding 200 houses (with an average of 3 people per house) will increase the population by 20-30% without adding any infrastructure to help us cope.

Why can the decision be challenged? The vote (link here) was unfair and unlawful. The councillors voted against granting planning twice in the meeting. Eventually, the planning officers put so much pressure on the councillors (saying they would have their planning powers taken away) that the meeting was adjourned, private discussions took place and when the councillors came back they voted in favour without further debate. It was completely undemocratic. Even the Chair of MDC commented that they were at risk of the officers requiring the councillors to keep voting until they voted in favour. There are also serious ecological reasons why the development should not go ahead and the Council has not complied with its legal duties in respect of them.

How? I will start a judicial review against MDC on the basis of breach of the law and that the process was unfair.

What do we need to do? We have barristers ready to start the claim. They will do the legal work. We are looking for solicitors to act pro bono (free) or at a reduced rate. We will soon send a letter setting out our grounds. If MDC do not back down we have to start a claim in the court by 3 November 2026.

How much money do we need? I am trying to raise £15,000 to pay for lawyers and the court fee to start the claim. If MDC does not back down, I am raising a further £25,000 to go all the way to trial.

Who is supporting this? I am a local resident affected by the decision (see my videos of the village here). Housing Action by Residents of Tollesbury (HART) is a voluntary group that is supporting this claim. Rhod and Colin Gibson, whose mum (Nan) lives in the village, are helping us to find and instruct lawyers. Local MP Priti Patel has also challenged MDC to justify the bad process.

But doesn’t the country need new homes? Yes, but not this way. The councillors were against this development until planning officers put pressure on them for reasons that had nothing to do with the appropriateness or otherwise of the development. New homes have been built, and will be built, in Tollesbury in a sensitive and appropriate way. This would dump 600 people and 200+ cars in a village that can’t support them.

How can you help? Give money to support the claim and stop the development. If 150 people give £100 each then we can start the claim. If some better off people can give more then we can go all the way.

Thank you: If you read to here and can help, all of the residents of Tollesbury would like to thank you for supporting.