Healthy Futures High Court hearing decision delayed

Lisa-Louise & David Fitton with Councillor Jean Ashworth and Paul Rowen outside the Royal Courts of Justice

Following the morning court session today, Thursday 7 June, presiding judge Mr Justice Bennett will deliver his decision regarding the application for judicial review for Healthy Futures on Friday morning at 10 o'clock. Rochdale Online shall deliver all the news over the decision when it is announced tomorrow; including a statement from the Healthy Futures office and feedback from the contesting family, Mr amp; Mrs David Fitton, and from Rochdale MP Paul Rowen.

In court, Matt Kelly QC asked Mr Justice Bennett to allow the family to seek judicial review on the grounds that local health service chiefs had carried out a legally-flawed public consultation exercise.

The hearing went on longer than expected and court was not adjourned until early this afternoon; forcing the judge to delay his decision. Both Paul Rowen MP and leading health campaigner Councillor Jean Ashworth, who accompanied the Fittons during the hearing, are treating the news that the decision has been delayed as a positive for their case and although the Fittons will face a sleepless night awaiting that decision, the team go into tomorrow with great optimism.

Mr Rowen said: "The Court Proceedings today proved that this is really a David and Goliath case. David is still in the ring and Goliath is looking slightly bruised. The Barrister from Pannones was superb and we are highly confident of a positive decision. At the start of this campaign we said that we would pursue every avenue available to us and we have certainly done that. I would again like to thank Lisa-Louise and Dave Fitton who have led this on our behalf, we certainly couldn't have done it without them.

"The judge was really listening to all our arguments and I bet the legal team who represented Health Bosses will be worried!"

Back in Rochdale and Council Leader Alan Taylor has been kept up-to-date with proceedings throughout the day by regular contact with Paul Rowen. He said: "Paul seems very upbeat and I would like the Fittons to know that all of Rochdale are behind your fight. Whatever happens we owe you a huge debt of gratitude!"