Council defeats application for injunction over ending of temporary accommodation

A High Court judge has rejected an application from a resident of a tower block for an urgent interim injunction against Camden Council over its decision to stop providing temporary accommodation.

Letizia Esposito, resident of Dorney Tower on the Chalcots Estate, had claimed that it was Wednesbury unreasonable and in breach of her rights under Article 8 of Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 for Camden to stop providing temporary accommodation to her.

The London Fire Brigade had recommended evacuation of four out of five of the blocks on the estate pending completion of internal fire safety works.

Once the works were finished the local authority proposed ceasing its provision of alternative accommodation.

Mrs Justice May refused the application, saying she could not find any irrationality in the council’s decision. She also rejected a claim of a failure to provide adequate information.

Jason Coppell QC of 11KBW, Stephen Evans and Brynmor Adams (both of Five Paper) appeared for the council.