Help Us Fund Stage 1 of a Judicial Review Against an Approved 24.8m Telecommunications Mast in Rocky Lane, designed to provide coverage to the Brighton train line.

We are raising funds to begin Stage 1 of Judicial Review proceedings to challenge the decision to grant planning permission for a 24.8m telecommunications mast in Rocky Lane.

This crowdfunder is specifically to cover the initial legal stage — the essential first step that allows independent planning and public law specialists to assess whether the decision was made lawfully.

Why we are taking action

The decision to approve this mast raises serious concerns about whether the planning process was carried out lawfully and fairly.

We believe there are strong grounds to question whether this happened here — including concerns about how impacts were assessed and whether key issues were properly considered before permission was granted.

Judicial Review is not about opposing development in principle. It exists to ensure that public bodies, like local councils, follow the law, take all relevant considerations into account, and make decisions in a proper and transparent way.

There is no right of appeal for local residents once planning permission is granted.

Judicial Review is the only legal mechanism available to challenge whether the council acted lawfully when granting permission. It does not reconsider the planning merits — it asks whether the decision-making process itself complied with the law.

But Judicial Review is time-critical and expensive, even at the earliest stage.

What your donation will fund

Your contributions will go directly towards Stage 1 of the Judicial Review process, including:

• Instructing a specialist planning and public law solicitor

• Obtaining Counsel’s advice on the strength of the case

• Preparing and submitting the Pre-Action Protocol letter

• Covering the initial legal work required before court proceedings can begin

Without funding this stage, the challenge cannot proceed.

Why we need your help

Legal costs create a real barrier for ordinary communities trying to ensure lawful decision-making. This crowdfunder is about access to justice — making sure that planning decisions which have long-term impacts can be properly tested where there are genuine legal concerns.

Every donation helps. If you can’t donate, sharing this page is just as valuable.

What happens next

• If we reach our target, we will immediately instruct specialist lawyers

• We will keep supporters updated at every key stage

Please note: supporting this crowdfunder does not guarantee the outcome. Judicial Review is about legality, not predetermining what the final planning decision should be.

Thank you

Thank you for standing with our community. By supporting this crowdfunder, you’re helping to ensure that planning decisions are made lawfully, fairly, and with proper accountability — for everyone.

To view the Planning Committee discussion and decision, please see the link below starting at 11minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/live/bbP8NulGJ4o?si=g1sV0FgfynrZ8WFA

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