In February 2021 the Supreme Court delivered their judgement on the appeal by Trent Wharfage Limited (TWL) against the decision of Essex County Council (ECC) to register the relevant part of Mistley quay as a town or village green.  This originated from the erection of the fence by TWL obstructing the use of quay now a village green in 2008.

The Supreme Court said:

“[We] would hope and expect that, if the Health and Safey Executive had safety concerns those concerns could be raised with the local inhabitants and the Council [Essex County Council], as the representative of the public interest with respect to the TVG at the Land, as well as with TWL, so that there could be discussion between all parties to see how those concerns could be dealt with while respecting all parties’ rights and interests so far as possible.”  

Both TWL and ECC have rejected and denied requests on behalf of local inhabitants to enter into discussions and in the case of ECC even to consider the issues involved for at least 10 months.  

WE, THE LOCAL INHABITANTS AND OTHERS WHO APPRECIATE THE BENEFITS CONFERRED ON THE PEOPLE OF MISTLEY AND OTHERS BY THE REGISTRATION OF THE VILLAGE GREEN CALL UPON  

TRENT WHARFAGE LIMITED,

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL AND

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE

TO OBSERVE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY THE CLEARLY EXPRESSED EXPECTATIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT TO INITIATE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE AND LOCAL INHABITANTS ABOUT A REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING FENCE WITH A SUITABLE BARRIER WITHOUT MATERIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TWL AND WHICH WILL ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF MISTLEY THE USE OF THEIR VILLAGE GREEN FOR LAWFUL SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

For more information www.freethequay.co.uk

Bettina Bullimore    Contact the author of the petition