18th May 2007 PowerUp Conference 2007

ELF took part in Power-Up! 2007 at Harborne Hall, Birmingham, organised by Friends of the Earth. The weekend event, now in its third year, included site visits, training sessions, films, role play and social time in the bar! Issues central to the weekend included Freedom of Information, Plan-making and Development Control, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Judicial Review, Public Inquiries, Planning Applications and Environmental Impact Assessment. Participants met ELF in the 'Marketplace' to discuss how we can best help with community work and specific legal concerns. We also had a solicitor and barrister on hand to run surgeries and to respond to individual legal concerns. Other organisations present over the weekend included the Neighbourhood Inititiative, Planning Aid, the Environment Agency, the Information Commissioner's Office and the Planning Inspectorate.