EPA prosecutions and costs – Nearly Legal

‘This was a judicial review of a costs order made by Camberwell Green Magistrates on a settled Environmental Protection Act 1990 s.82 prosecution. The Magistrates had refused to state a case for the consideration of the High Court.’

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Nearly Legal, 31st October 2019

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Heathrow expansion violates climate rights of children, say lawyers – The Guardian

‘The multibillion-pound expansion of Heathrow violates the rights of children and future generations, who will face the greatest impact of the climate crisis, lawyers will argue at the court of appeal in London.’

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The Guardian, 17th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK Heatwave: What Are Your Rights At Work? – Rights Info

‘With temperatures soaring in the UK, workplaces can become uncomfortable and, some argue, downright dangerous. While some may sit smugly in air-conditioned offices, others are not so lucky. What are your workplace rights when the mercury rises?’

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Rights Info, 24th July 2019

Source: rightsinfo.org

UK accused of ‘silently eroding’ EU pesticide rules in Brexit laws – The Guardian

‘The UK has been accused of “silently eroding” key environmental and human health protections in the Brexit-inspired rush to convert thousands of pages of European Union pesticide policy into British law.’

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The Guardian, 12th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Councils fail in legal challenge over Heathrow Airport expansion – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Divisional Court has dismissed a legal challenge brought by five councils, the Mayor of London and a number of other claimants over the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision to designate the Airports National Policy Statement (“ANPS”), which sets out that the Government’s preferred location for additional airport capacity in the South East of England is a new runway at Heathrow.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st May 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Clean air zones: Where will UK drivers pay for polluting? – BBC News

‘Drivers of the most polluting vehicles now have to pay to drive into central London – and soon other towns and cities across the UK will follow suit.’

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BBC News. 12th April 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

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

Full speech

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 sally

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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