In the first case of its kind, the proposed abolition of a parish council has been blocked after the decision was subjected to judicial review.
Residents of the parish of Offerton Park objected to the abolition of the parish council by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, which claimed that abolition would accord with public wishes since a poll on the question was carried by a majority of 2 to 1. A subsequent petition in favour of the abolition gained 500 signatures.
However, the turnout for the poll was a mere 17 per cent of the electorate and the petition also represented only a small fraction of those within the parish.
When the matter went to court, it was agreed by Judge Raynor that there was insufficient evidence that anything other than a small minority of the electorate was in favour of the abolition of the parish council and the decision was overturned.
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