Simon McLean, Aberdeen
‘I had good grounds to challenge the incinerator but when it came to it, I had no assets to pursue a legal challenge – so where was my human right of access to justice?’
Simon McLean, a resident of Torry in Aberdeen, was concerned about a proposed incinerator which was granted planning permission in 2016. During the planning process, he and a group of other residents were able to access legal advice and were informed that they had strong grounds for a legal challenge due to alleged planning irregularities. However, they were warned that if unsuccessful, their likely costs liability could be up to £65,000. Because of this threat of costs liability, they were unable to pursue the challenge.