Judicial Review granted

Justice Peter Hidden this morning announced that he was granting a Judicial Review into Oxford City Council's decision to grant planning permission for the multiplex cinema at Minchery Farm. A judicial review is a process whereby decisions made by bodies with powers delegated by parliament, such as local authorities, can have their legality challenged provided that a judge determines that there might be a case to answer. A JR can only challenge procedures, to ensure that the correct legal processes were followed, and cannot determine the merits or otherwise of the actual planning permission (for example). Justice Hidden was convinced by the lawyers acting for Nick Pentith and British Rail Properties Board that a breach of Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 6 may have occurred, and the review will determine whether this was actually the case.
Normally a judicial review can take as long as 18 months before the case is heard, but Justice Hidden was persuaded of the need to reach a quick decision in this case and ordered that it be expedited through the system. Oxford City Council were given 28 days in which to present their evidence, with the expectation that, depending on availability of a space in the court listings, the hearing will take place during the Summer, possibly in as little as two months. Whether or not it will happen in time to convince the Football League that Oxford should be included in next season's fixtures is a different matter.

United has permission from the Football Licensing Authority that it can begin next season by playing at the Manor, but that permission is predicated on the condition that work has recommenced at Minchery Farm and that there is a definite date for relocation. This decision has thrown that all into doubt. This means that there remains a real possibility that United will have no venue for its home games next season with the consequence that it may not be permitted to take part in the League programme.

Morrells serve papers

In addition to all the Judicial Review business another nail in United's coffin was nailed in this morning when Morrells served papers seeking an injunction to prevent any more builing work taking place at Minchery Farm. This is presumably based on the presumption that a complex containing a football stadium, conference centre and hotel will be seeking to sell alcohol, which would be an alleged breach on the 1962 covenant placed on the Blackbird preventing sales of non-Morrells alcohol within half a mile of that pub. Whilst this on its own wouldn't be perceived as a serious problem, coming, as it does, at the same time as the judicial review this could be the final straw for Firoz Kassam, who is going to decide his next move over the weekend.
When interviewed earlier today Kassam indicated that he would listen to offers for Oxford United, but that he wouldn't just walk out and leave the club in the lurch. What this does mean is that any investment in the playing squad which might have been planned should the JR application have been thrown out won't now happen, so it's a case of what you see see is what you get with United for the remainder of this season at least.

And as if that wasn't enough

Cardiff City came from behind tonight to beat Colchester 3-2. This leaves them just one point behind United, both teams having played 36 games. Needless to say United has a far inferior goal difference.