Check out our autumn e-bulletin. Read our blogs. Sign up to our online Meet ERCS event on 29 November. Our new FAQs and more …
New briefing: Protective Expenses Orders – access to information remains a barrier to justice
In October 2021, ERCS submitted a Freedom of Information request to investigate the impact of Protective Expenses Orders – which are intended to reduce the cost of litigation for environmental cases. A year later, we are still in the dark about how they are really working ...
ERCS welcomes exemption of court fees for some Aarhus cases, but much more is needed
The Scottish Government has published its response to their consultation on court fees, along with secondary legislation to implement changes from 1 July. However, more is needed ...
ERCS responds to the Scottish Government’s consultation on court fees
Read our response. We welcome the proposal to make all Aarhus Convention cases exempt from court fees. Our response sets out why this is important and how this could work in practice ...
New parliamentary motion lodged on the right to access environmental justice
Good news! Maggie Chapman MSP, Deputy Convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee in the Scottish Parliament has lodged a motion on the right to access environmental justice. The motion has achieved cross-party support and is now eligible for a debate in Parliament ...
New briefing: Recommendations for a plan of action on judicial expenses
This briefing sets out three key reforms on judicial expenses that could help tackle the cost barrier of access to justice ...
Exorbitant legal fees forced us to close – Aberdeenshire Environmental Forum
The experience of George Niblock accessing Scotland’s legal system for environmental change. “The law and court procedures in Scotland are complex and intimidating. The potential …

Court costs make access to justice unaffordable
‘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?’ ...