Category: environmental health

New Judgment: Vedanta Resources PLC & Anor v Lungowe & Ors [2019] UKSC 20 – UKSC Blog

Posted April 10th, 2019 in appeals, environmental health, environmental protection, foreign jurisdictions, jurisdiction, news, personal injuries, pollution, service out of jurisdiction, Supreme Court by sally

‘1826 Zambian citizens issued proceedings against Zambian company KCM and Vedanta (KCM’s ultimate parent company) for personal injury, damage to property and loss of income, amenity and enjoyment of land as a result of pollution and environmental damage caused by discharges of harmful effluent from the Nchanga mine since 2005. Vedanta was served within the jurisdiction, while KCM was served out of the jurisdiction, with permission obtained on a without notice application. In September and October 2015 Vedanta and KCM respectively applied for declarations that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the claims or, alternatively, that it should not exercise such jurisdiction that it might have. Coulson J dismissed those applications. The Court of Appeal upheld the dismissal of those applications.’

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UKSC Blog, 10th April 2019

Source: ukscblog.com

ULEZ: New pollution charge begins in London – BBC News

Posted April 8th, 2019 in congestion charges, environmental health, environmental protection, fines, London, news, pollution by sally

‘Drivers of older, more polluting vehicles are being charged to enter the congestion zone area at any time.’

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BBC News, 8th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judicial review of Heathrow airport third runway decision begins – The Guardian

Posted March 13th, 2019 in airports, climate change, environmental health, environmental protection, judicial review, local government, news, noise, planning by sally

‘Five judicial reviews challenging the legality of the government’s decision to allow a third runway at Heathrow airport have begun in the high court.’

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The Guardian, 11th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Knotweed: what should the legislators be doing? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 19th, 2019 in environmental health, environmental protection, housing, inquiries, mortgages, news by sally

‘On 22 January 2019 the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee (“STC”) held an inquiry into “Japanese knotweed and the built environment”. It received written submissions from 27 interested parties, ranging from the Law Society and Royal Horticultural Society to companies specialising in the treatment of non-native invasive species and concerned individuals.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 11th February 2019

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Radon: Removing a Killer from the House – Legal Futures

Posted January 23rd, 2019 in environmental health, news by sally

‘Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can affect properties across the UK, not just in the South West like many imagine. We take a look at what it is, the risks and impacts on buildings and how even if it is discovered, that the property transaction can be stay on track.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Fitness for Habitation – a thumbnail guide – Nearly Legal

Posted January 7th, 2019 in environmental health, housing, news by sally

‘As of 20 December 2018, we have the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.’

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Nearly Legal, 21st December 2018

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Environmental Law Podcast – October 2018 – Six Pump Court

Posted November 5th, 2018 in brexit, climate change, environmental health, environmental protection, news, waste by sally

‘This short update focuses on October’s key legal developments, which this month include environmental permit breaches for Healthcare Environmental Services Ltd concerning the treatment of clinical waste, classifying, labelling and packaging of chemicals post-Brexit, and the government’s request for guidance from the Committee on Climate Change on how to move to zero emissions of greenhouse gases.’

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Six Pump Court, 26th October 2018

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Lord Carnwath at the Justice Human Rights Law Conference 2018, London – Supreme Court

Posted October 15th, 2018 in climate change, conflict of laws, environmental health, environmental protection, human rights, international law, interpretation, judges, speeches by tracey

‘Lord Carnwath at the Justice Human Rights Law Conference 2018, London. Human Rights and the Environment.’

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Supreme Court, 10th October 2018

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

NHS waste backlog: Criminal probe over body parts ‘pile up’ – BBC News

Posted October 5th, 2018 in contracting out, environmental health, hospitals, news, waste by tracey

‘A criminal investigation has been launched after a backlog of medical waste including body parts was allowed to build up at six UK disposal sites.’

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BBC News, 5th October 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Too Hot to Work? Your Rights in a Heatwave – Rights Info

Posted July 26th, 2018 in employment, environmental health, health & safety, news, regulations, reports, select committees by sally

‘Most of your conversations in the workplace over the last few weeks have probably involved the weather, with blazing temperatures sweeping across much of the UK. MPs have warned that the current heatwave could become the new normal for our summers by 2040, so what are your rights when the mercury rises?’

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Rights Info, 26th July 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Environment watchdog agrees first enforcement undertaking over odours – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 28th, 2018 in complaints, enforcement, environmental health, environmental protection, news, waste by sally

‘The Environment Agency has for the first time accepted an enforcement undertaking (EU) for alleged permit breaches relating to odour at an installation.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th June 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Grayling to face legal action over Heathrow expansion plan – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2018 in airports, environmental health, judicial review, local government, news, pollution by sally

‘The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, is facing a fresh headache over Heathrow as a group of councils confirmed they were planning legal action against expansion, just hours after MPs voted overwhelmingly to back a third runway.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Government loses clean air court case – BBC News

Posted February 22nd, 2018 in environmental health, local government, news, pollution by sally

‘Campaigners have won a third High Court victory over the UK government’s plans to tackle air pollution.’

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BBC News, 21st February 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Air pollution will damage UK health for ‘many years’, court told – The Guardian

Posted January 26th, 2018 in environmental health, environmental protection, judicial review, news, pollution by sally

‘Air pollution will continue to take a heavy toll on people’s health for many years to come unless the UK government is forced once again to improve its action plan, the high court has been told.’

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The Guardian, 25th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower— a different perspective – New Law Journal

Posted July 10th, 2017 in building law, devolution, documents, environmental health, fire, health & safety, housing, local government, London, news, regulations, Wales by sally

‘Theo Huckle QC compares & contrasts the public safety policy agendas of administrations in Westminster & Wales.’

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New Law Journal, 7th July 2017

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Legal aid cuts have left residents no way to challenge sub-standard housing – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2017 in environmental health, fire, housing, legal aid, legislation, local government, news by sally

‘The Grenfell Tower action group had no access to legal aid. Residents at risk in their homes want straightforward, enforceable legal remedies to keep them safe.’

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The Guardian, 26th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

LGO urges action by council on planning complaint against predecessor body – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 27th, 2016 in agriculture, complaints, environmental health, local government, news, ombudsmen, planning by sally

‘The Local Government Ombudsman has issued a further report against Durham County Council in relation to a planning complaint involving a predecessor authority.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th July 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Derby residents consider legal action over fly plague – BBC News

Posted June 8th, 2016 in animals, environmental health, news, waste by sally

‘Residents plagued by flies from a recycling centre said they hope to take legal action against the Environment Agency and the site operator.’

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BBC News, 7th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK government faces second court battle over air pollution plans – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2016 in environmental health, environmental protection, judicial review, news, pollution by tracey

‘The UK government is to be sued in the high court over its air pollution plans, just a year after losing at the supreme court and being ordered to fulfil its legal duty to cut pollution rapidly.’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK faces fresh legal challenge over weak plans to tackle air pollution – The Guardian

Posted March 18th, 2016 in appeals, EC law, environmental health, news, pollution, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The government faces a new legal challenge to force it to speed up and improve measures to tackle air pollution in British cities. Environmental law group ClientEarth has asked the high court to urgently review the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) latest plans to meet EU targets on the toxic gas NO2 which is emitted from vehicles and industry and is thought to kill about 25,000 people in the UK a year.’

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The Guardian, 18th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk