Sweet slams ‘weak and toothless’ C&R legal threat over Newlands Park

Luton chief executive Gary Sweet has blasted Capital & Regional’s proposed legal challenge over Newlands Park as ‘weak and toothless’, adding that the retail group know it. 

Writing his his match-day programme notes today, ahead of the Championship clash with Nottingham Forest, the Hatters supremo admitted he’d be ‘gobsmacked’ if the major opponents to the scheme carried through their threat to apply to the High Court for a judicial review.

This came after a law firm wrote to Luton Council on behalf of Capital & Regional, signalling their intention to do so unless the authority reconsidered its decision to grant planning consent, calling the decision ‘unlawful’.

Community campaign group #saveourtown, football fan groups Luton Town Supporters’ Club and Loyal Luton Supporters’ Club, as well as Luton South MP Gavin Shuker have all criticised the letter and now Sweet has added his voice. 

He wrote: ‘I’m sure you all all be aware that, in three days’ time, the much talked about six-week period for a judicial review challenge upon Luton Council for our successful planning applications at both Newlands Park and Power Court expires.

‘Clearly, it is hoped that no challenge will be forthcoming despite the Council’s receipt of a ‘Pre-Action-Protocol’ letter from Capital & Regional’s lawyer, effectively providing advice of their intention to do so in relation to our Newlands Park scheme. 

‘Since receiving this, we have naturally supportEd the Council in whatever information they required, resulting in their excellent and pleasing response to Eversheds Sutherland earlier this week. 

‘As I write these notes, no follow-up action has been instigated and, personally, I would be literally gobsmacked if our planning opponents had the audacity and bluster to push the button on an action that would effectively “declare ware on the people of Luton”, as exclaimed by our two chief supporters’ groups later this week. 

‘The arguments put forward in the letter-before-action were, in my mind, weak and toothless and I would suggest, knowingly so. I would find it hard to believe that any senior legal advisor would recommend that their client commits, not only themselves to a significant expense, but much more so for the taxpayers of Luton in order to merely delay an inevitable outcome.

‘Furthermore, should they be imprudent enough to challenge I would be somewhat surprised if the High Court gave it enough substance to invest valuable and expensive court hearing time. 

‘In their statement, the Council said they would vigorously defend the decision to grant us with planning permission to build a mixed-used scheme at Newlands Park and that the were ready to do so. I can assure you that we are more than ready to support the Council in every possible way we can to ensure that any arguments they put forward are kicked into their own long grass, hopefully, at their cost. 

‘We are steadfast in our ambitions for our football club and our town, with or without further battles. We aren’t going anywhere. We are here to stay and more than ready for anything that any opponent puts in our way.’