A COURT date has been set for an appeal regarding Wrexham Council's Local Development Plan (LDP). 

The Leader previously reported on the authority's members voting to adopt the LDP, which took place in December.

It happened after a Judge quashed councillors' previous two refusals of the scheme and instructed them to vote again - this time in favour.

Many councillors expressed discomfort at being made to vote against their beliefs and some simply refused to take part in the vote.

Following the December meeting, a group of unnamed councillors launched a CrowdJustice fundraising page to "challenge this fundamentally unfair and undemocratic situation via a court review of the council's decision to adopt the plan by bringing proceedings through the planning court."

In a ruling published earlier this month, The Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Lewison stated that the case can go forward to the Court of Appeal, adding: "I am satisfied that, for the reasons stated in the Grounds of Appeal the proposed appeal has a real prospect of success and raises an important point of principle."

The legal challenge is being carried out on behalf of the majority of councillors who voted twice not to adopt the LDP.

Following the announcement that the case could move forward, councillors have now announced that a date has been set for the appeal. 

The Court of Appeal will hear the case to overturn the judgement of Judge Eyre on October 15 in London. 

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An update on the campaigners' CrowdJustice site states: "Pursuant to the order by Lewison LJ dated 7th May 2024. This appeal has been listed on an expedited basis to be heard on 15th October 2024. Time estimate 1 Day."

The councillors behind the appeal added: "This is a great step forward and could also mean the Local Development Plan, which was passed after the judgement by Judge Eyre, is paused - what is known as a 'technical suspension' - until the hearing is concluded.

"There's a long way to go but the decision to permit the appeal by Lord Justice Lewison on the basis that it has a 'real prospect of success and raises an important point of principle' is grounds for optimism on our part.

"In effect, our appeal is doing what the council could and should have done initially - stand up to the developers. This has not been done lightly and the cost to take it to the Court of Appeal has increased significantly. 

"We're looking to raise a further £10,000 to ensure we have the best legal representation possible in October - if you can support our community-funded campaign please go to https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/wrexham-councillors-threatened."

Wrexham Council has been approached for a comment.