A steep staircase in a house which might lead to an accident was not because of that fact a statutory nuisance. It was not directly prejudicial to health as required by the Act for liability. Citations: Times 09-Mar-1999, Gazette 31-Mar-1999, Gazette 10-Mar-1999, [1999] EWCA Civ 869, [1999] 1 WLR 1170, (1999) 31 HLR 1102, [1999] … Continue reading Regina v Bristol City Council ex parte Everett: CA 26 Feb 1999
The risk of an accident from a steep staircase to a disabled tenant was not a statutory nuisance. The possibility of an accident is not the same as a source of injury to health. Buxton LJ: ‘The limitation of the reach of this Statute to disease and ill-health is too long standing and deep rooted … Continue reading Regina v Bristol City Council ex parte Everett: Admn 13 May 1998
The council granted licences for the disposal of waste animal carcasses by incineration. The objectors said the council had failed to take note of art 4 of the directive, and that as clinical waste alternative regimes applied. Held: Animal waste and clinical waste were properly distinguished, and the council had applied the correct guidance. The … Continue reading Regina v Daventry District Council ex parte Thornby Farms: Admn 28 Jul 2000
A notice was given to the holder of a waste disposal licence to require certain information to be provided on pain of prosecution. The provision of such information could also then be evidence against the provider of the commission of a criminal offence. Held: Nevertheless, the provision of such information was required in this case, … Continue reading Regina v Hertfordshire County Council, ex parte Green Environmental Industries Ltd and Another: HL 17 Feb 2000
Application for judicial review of the respondent’s decision to grant a certificate of lawful established use. The applicant submits that the respondent acted unlawfully because the person who made the successful application had been committing criminal offences under section 33(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Judges: Hooper J Citations: [2000] EWHC … Continue reading Regina v Epping Forest District Council, ex parte Philcox (2): Admn 13 Apr 2000
On a trial of genetically modified seeds, the Secretary of State was not irrational to rely on a report, saying that the risk of cross pollination with a neighbour’s organic produce was small. However the failure to carry out replicated trials, made it not a proper or effective scientific test. The trial was subject to … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions and Another, ex parte Watson; Sharpes International Seeds Ltd and Another, Interveners: Admn 10 Jul 1998
The applicant sought an order declaring the property he occupied to be a nuisance, and that his landlords must execute repairs. The authority replied that the applicant had not allowed them access in order to carry out the works (Kerr). The stipendiary magistrate dismissed the application without giving reasons. The applicant argued that Kerr applied … Continue reading Regina v Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate, Ex Parte Mahmed Ali: Admn 28 Apr 1997
Europa European Communities – Institutions – Obligations – Duty to cooperate with national authorities acting to ensure respect for Community law – Implementation – Disclosure of documents and authorization of officials to give evidence – Legitimate grounds of refusal – Review by the Court The Community institutions’ duty of sincere cooperation with the judicial authorities … Continue reading Criminal Proceedings Against Zwartveld and Others: ECJ 13 Jul 1990
The Magistrates appealed against an order of mandamus requiring a case to be stated after rejecting the request by the authority as frivolous. The authority had sought to prevent the emission of noise from land used for a Motocross racing track. Held: The appeal succeeded. Magistrates refusing to state a case should give brief reasons … Continue reading Regina v Mildenhall Magistrates’ Court, Ex Parte Forest Heath District Council; Regina v North West Suffolk (Mildenhall) Magistrates’ Court ex parte Forest Heath District Council: CA 16 Apr 1997
An award of costs is inevitable after a finding of statutory nuisance and such costs include cost of establishing the nuisance. ‘The wide discretion as to whether to grant an adjournment conferred by section 10 and section 54 of the Magistrates’ Court Act 1980 cannot, usually, be impugned. But it is a power which must … Continue reading Regina v Dudley Magistrates Court ex parte Hollis; Robert v Same: Admn 25 Nov 1997
This appeal raises a question of contractual interpretation. Its significance lies in the fact that the contractual condition in question forms part of the Loan Market Association standard terms and conditions for par trade transactions which are a recommended set of terms published by the LMA and commonly used in the secondary loan market. Tael … Continue reading Tael One Partners Ltd v Morgan Stanley and Co International Plc: SC 11 Mar 2015
Sympathetic construction of national legislation LMA OVIEDO sought a declaration that the contracts setting up Commercial International were void (a nullity) since they had been drawn up in order to defraud creditors. Commercial International relied on an EC Directive designed to protect companies and third parties from the adverse effects of the doctrine of nullity. … Continue reading Marleasing SA v La Comercial Internacional de Alimentacion SA: ECJ 13 Nov 1990
The validity of certain United Kingdom legislation was challenged on the basis that it contravened provisions of the EEC Treaty by depriving the applicants of their Community rights to fish in European waters, and an interlocutory injunction was sought against the Secretary of State to restrain enforcement of that law pending a reference. The House … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Transport, ex parte Factortame (No 2): HL 11 Oct 1990
The government planned to promote a large scale rail development (HS2), announcing this in a command paper. The main issues, in summary, were, first, whether it should have been preceded by strategic environmental assessment, under the relevant . .
The claimant sought damages after the planning authority allowed the first defendant to conduct a manufacturing business in the course of which spraying activities took place which caused them personal injuries and loss of business. Held: The planning system is a regulatory system as envisaged in X (Minors), such that there should be no private … Continue reading Regina v Lam and Others (T/a ‘Namesakes of Torbay’) and Borough of Torbay: CA 30 Jul 1997
A trustee under a will where there was a life interest had the ability to assert a lien over the estate in respect of potential liability which might be incurred because of the necessity of complying with any order for the clean-up of land forming part of the estate, even though the part of the … Continue reading X v A and Others: ChD 13 Oct 1999
The applicants sought to challenge the grant of a permit by the defendant to a company to operate a cement works, saying that the environmental impact assessment was inadequate. Held: The Agency had been justified in allowing the application in the form presented. Nor had there been inadeqate disclosure. Everything which was required to be … Continue reading Edwards, Regina (on the application of) v Environment Agency: HL 16 Apr 2008
Sewage had escaped from the company’s facilities. They now sought judicial review of their conviction under the 1990 Act, saying there had been no ‘deposit’ of sewage. Held: The request for review failed: ‘the answer to the question whether the unintended escape of sewage amounted to a ‘deposit’ within s.33(1)(a) of the Act, is not … Continue reading Thames Water Utilities Ltd v Bromley Magistrates’ Court: Admn 20 Mar 2013
The claimant sought a judicial review of the decision to hold them responsible for necessary works of remediation. They were statutory successors to British Gas Corporation. Held: The legislation clearly attempted to hold the contaminator primarily responsible for works of remediation. Where the contaminating owner was no longer available to pay the cost, its successors … Continue reading National Grid Gas Plc, Regina (on the Application of) v The Environment Agency: Admn 17 May 2006
Judges: Lindsay J Citations: [2005] EWHC 657 (Admin), [2006] Env LR 3, [2005] JPL 1576, [2005] NPC 53, [2006] NPC 74 Links: Bailii Statutes: Environmental Protection Act 1990, Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Edwards and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Environment … Continue reading Edwards, Regina (on the Application Of) v Environment Agency and others: Admn 19 Apr 2005
The Solicitors Practice Rules have the effect of law, and it is still improper to agree to pursue contentious proceedings on a contingency fee arrangement without specific statutory sanction, especially in criminal proceedings. An agreement for payment of legal fees on a contingency basis in a quasi-criminal matter (nuisance summons) remained unlawful, and a successful … Continue reading Hughes v Kingston Upon Hull City Council: QBD 9 Nov 1998
The defendant appealed against an order for costs made against her after service and enforcement of an abatement notice with respect to an audible intruder alarm at her premises. She had first lodged an appeal to the Crown Court, but argued that having abandoned it more than three days before the hearing it had been … Continue reading Wilson v Ashford Borough Council: Admn 9 Mar 2010
Loss of Confidentiality Protection – public domain A retired secret service employee sought to publish his memoirs from Australia. The British government sought to restrain publication there, and the defendants sought to report those proceedings, which would involve publication of the allegations made. The AG sought to restrain those publications. Held: A duty of confidence … Continue reading Attorney-General v Guardian Newspapers Ltd (No 2) (‘Spycatcher’): HL 13 Oct 1988
The defendant appealed convictions for breaches of its waste management licence, in that waste had been stored outside the edges of the storage bays. The defendant said that the material had not yet been stored, and that it had been deposited by neighbouring farmers and was to be stored properly during the working day. Held: … Continue reading Skipaway Ltd v The Environment Agency: Admn 5 May 2006
The parties were involved in a dispute as to repairs on a tenanted property. The court had ordered an independent surveyor’s report. The claimant objected to the use by the defendant of an employee for this purpose, and was involved in their claims investigation department. Held: The judge’s decision to exclude the evidence at an … Continue reading Field and Another v Leeds City Council: CA 8 Dec 1999
The claimant complained that the law which protected an occupier of a dwelling house from a temporary stop notice did not apply to those living in caravans, and that this was discriminatory. Held: The claim failed. ‘usually a change of use of a building to a dwelling will cause less immediate environmental damage than the … Continue reading Wilson v Wychavon District Council and Another: Admn 20 Dec 2005
Parliament’s Approval if statute rights affected In a referendum, the people had voted to leave the European Union. That would require a notice to the Union under Article 50 TEU. The Secretary of State appealed against an order requiring Parliamentary approval before issuing the notice, he saying that the notice could be given under the … Continue reading Miller and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Secretary of State for Exiting The European Union: SC 24 Jan 2017
Mrs Nolan had been employed at a US airbase. When it closed, and she was made redundant, she complained that the appellant had not consulted properly on the redundancies. The US denied that it had responsibility to consult, and now appealed. Held: The appeal failed (Lord Carnworth dissenting). That the exact situation might not have … Continue reading The United States of America v Nolan: SC 21 Oct 2015
Two parties appealed against the grant of licences for plants for the disposal of animal carcasses. The plants would increase the amount of emissions into the environment. Held: An objective was different to a material consideration. An objective was something to be kept in mind at all stages of an assessment, and even when considering … Continue reading Thornby Farms Ltd, Murray v Daventry District Council, Derbyshire County Council: CA 22 Jan 2002
Although in this particular section, the agent collecting a rack rent, was not named as being a person upon whom a nuisance notice could be served, the undefined item should be construed to be consistent with the whole series of Acts of which it formed part, and where the term was so defined. Citations: Times … Continue reading London Borough of Camden v Gunby: Admn 5 Jul 1999
It was not necessary for environmental health officers to possess medical qualifications to express opinion as to whether or not premises were prejudicial to health as defined by section 79(1)(a) of the Act. The council appealed a finding that premises constituted a statutory nuisance. Held: The parties had exchanged reports from environmental health officers. Their … Continue reading London Borough of Southwark v Venette Simpson: Admn 3 Nov 1998
The local authority issued a noise nuisance abatement notice. By the time the matter came to the court, the nuisance had been abated. Held: The background situation justifying the issue of a nuisance abatement notice was to be assessed at the date at which it was issued, and not at the later date of a … Continue reading Surrey Free Inns Plc v Gosport Borough Council: Admn 28 Jan 1998
An abatement notice requiring works to be carried out must state clearly what works are required or considered necessary. There was an imminent danger of the collapse onto some cottages of a rockface and wall where the notice was addressed to the respondents as owners of the rockface and wall and simply required them to … Continue reading Kirklees Metropolitan Council v Field; Thackray; Marsh and Wilson: Admn 31 Oct 1997
The claimant challenged the grant of planning permission for a new football ground for Fulham Football club, saying that an Environmental Impact Assessment had not been obtained, but was required. Held: Where a planning application if completed would have a substantial effect on the environment, and an environmental impact assessment should have been first obtained, … Continue reading Berkeley v Secretary of State For The Environment and Others: HL 11 May 2000
The claimant sought judicial review of the decision to serve an abatement notice in respect of premises where the normal noise incidents of living were heard in neighbouring flats, which notices were to be abated by noise insulation. Held: The contention that a lack of adequate sound insulation can cause premises to be in such … Continue reading Vella v London Borough of Lambeth: Admn 14 Nov 2005
A smoke nuisance can be established on the basis of the smell of smoke alone. It was not necessary to establish the presence of visible smoke. Smoke primarily means visible smoke, but even in common parlance can include the smell. The statutory definition included soot, ash, grit and gritty particles. The smell related to the … Continue reading Griffiths v Pembrokeshire County Council: QBD 19 Apr 2000
The council appealed against the finding that the complainant’s premises occupied under a tenancy of the council, constituted a statutory nuisance which they had a duty to abate. The claimant’s son was disabled and his condition involved behavioural problems. She said that the kitchen was, in view of his condition too small and dangerous in … Continue reading Cunningham v Birmingham City Council: Admn 6 May 1997
Waste products could become ‘controlled waste’ and subject to licensing procedures without there being a recovery or disposal operation being involved. A rendering process produced a condensate which the company wished to spread on farm land without a licence. The company had argued that no recovery process was involved, and therefore it was not waste … Continue reading Attorney-General’s Reference (No 5 of 2000): CACD 6 Jun 2001
The applicant sought to bring an action to challenge new rules on approval of export credit guarantees. The company was non-profit and founded to support investigation of bribery. It had applied for a protected costs order to support the application, and now appealed its refusal. Held: The court restated the practice on the making of … Continue reading Corner House Research, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: CA 1 Mar 2005
The respondent appealed against a finding that the provision which made a loan agreement completely invalid for lack of compliance with the 1974 Act was itself invalid under the Human Rights Act since it deprived the respondent lender of its property rights. It was also argued that it was not possible to make a declaration … Continue reading Wilson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2): HL 10 Jul 2003
Standing to Claim under A1P1 ECHR The appellants had written employers’ liability insurance policies. They appealed against rejection of their challenge to the 2009 Act which provided that asymptomatic pleural plaques, pleural thickening and asbestosis should constitute actionable harm for the purposes of an action of damages for personal injury. Held: The insurers’ appeals failed. … Continue reading AXA General Insurance Ltd and Others v Lord Advocate and Others: SC 12 Oct 2011
Power to call in is administrative in nature The powers of the Secretary of State to call in a planning application for his decision, and certain other planning powers, were essentially an administrative power, and not a judicial one, and therefore it was not a breach of the applicants’ rights to a fair hearing before … Continue reading Regina (Holding and Barnes plc) v Secretary of State for Environment Transport and the Regions; Regina (Alconbury Developments Ltd and Others) v Same and Others: HL 9 May 2001
The claimant sought damages from the first defendant for breach of copyright. An ex parte search order had been executed, with the defendant asserting his privilege against self-incrimination. As computer disks were examined, potentially unlawful images of children were found. The searching officer asked the court for directions as to what to do. Held: The … Continue reading C Plc and W v P and Secretary of State for the Home Office and the Attorney General: ChD 26 May 2006
The claimant owned land which contained a canal. After disuse it had become subject an order declaring it a site of special scientific intrest. The owner complained that this removed his right to develop uses of the land and infringed his human rights. Held: The procedures did allow some development subject to controls. It was … Continue reading Trailer and Marina (Leven) Limited v The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, English Nature: QBD 6 Feb 2004
Mance J explained the need to construe the statute so as to identify the rule of attribution appropriate to the relevant statutory offence: ‘The rule of attribution appropriate to a particular situation (e.g., the nature and level of conduct or knowledge which will be regarded as satisfying a requirement in a statute that a company … Continue reading Shanks and Mcewan (Southern Waste Services) Ltd v Environment Agency: Admn 14 Oct 1997
Interim Injunctions in Patents Cases The plaintiffs brought proceedings for infringement of their patent. The proceedings were defended. The plaintiffs obtained an interim injunction to prevent the defendants infringing their patent, but they now appealed its discharge by the Court of Appeal. Held: The questions which applied when looking for an interim injunction in patent … Continue reading American Cyanamid Co v Ethicon Ltd: HL 5 Feb 1975
Questions on Entry must be answered B was questioned at an airport under Schedule 7 to the 2000 Act, and required to answer questions asked by appropriate officers for the purpose set out. She refused to answer and was convicted of that refusal , contrary to paragraph 18 of that Schedule. She appealed, saying that … Continue reading Beghal v Director of Public Prosecutions: SC 22 Jul 2015
The claimant appealed against the denial of her claim that the defendant had infringed her right to respect for her private life. She was a model who had proclaimed publicly that she did not take drugs, but the defendant had published a story showing a picture of her leaving a drug addiction clinic, along with … Continue reading Campbell v Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd (MGN) (No 1): HL 6 May 2004
Mr Evans, had demolished a greenhouse at his garden centre. He engaged a haulier, the respondent, to carry the rubble to his other garden centre site to form the base of a car park. The haulier was charged with the unlawful deposit of controlled waste contrary to section 33 of the 1990 Act. The justices … Continue reading Environment Agency v Inglenorth Ltd: Admn 17 Mar 2009
Use of Special Counsel as Last Resort Only The accused faced charges of conspiring to supply Class A drugs. The prosecution had sought public interest immunity certificates. Special counsel had been appointed by the court to represent the defendants’ interests at the applications. Held: It was permissible to use special counsel, but this must genuinely … Continue reading Regina v H; Regina v C: HL 5 Feb 2004
Judicial Review must be timely The appellant challenged the grant of permission for a wind farm on neighbouring land. His application for judicial review had been rejected for delay and on the merits. Held: The court repeated the requirement that an application must be both timely and in any event made within three months. Both … Continue reading Finn-Kelcey v Milton Keynes Council and MK Windfarm Ltd: CA 10 Oct 2008
The prosecutor appealed against a finding of no case to answer. The defendants were accused in relation to the deposit on farm land of soil and sub-soil excavated during construction works on other land. The defendants included the works manager and the farm owners. The prosecutor said the materials were controlled waste requiring a license … Continue reading W, C and C, Regina v: CACD 11 May 2010
