Paragraph 6 of the report refers to the inspector's instructions to me to avoid wasting inquiry time. I had to remind her that PIs used to be for people like me, the public, to be heard. I was not blessed with the backup professionals and clerks that the opposition had at their disposal.  

Her response was dismissive. She suggested that it had been a long time since I had been involved in a Planning Inquiry, which implied that my experience was outdated and irrelevant. She emphasised that the time of professional lawyers, unlike mine, should not be wasted.

I had been asked to lead the Inquiry by the Planning Inspectorate because the OMA objected to making the Order.  Instead, she asked me to be a witness and an advocate.  That meant not just confirming my use of the claimed path, as she had led me to believe, but spending a whole morning at the witness stand at the hand of the Objectors.  Apart from anything else, it meant that my witnesses could not give evidence on the first day, and some had to make arrangements to return on the second.  In addition, precedence had been given to the Barrister for the Objectors, who now appeared to be leading the proceedings.  For example, I was not asked to introduce my witnesses.  When they took the stand, they were immediately questioned by the Objectors’ Barrister and then the Inspector.  After that, I was asked if I wanted to ask any questions.  This did not match the opposition, which introduced and questioned their witnesses before handing them to me and then the inspector.

When I inquired about the opportunity to present my case, she suggested I could do so during cross-examination.  However, when the time came, she deemed some of my questions irrelevant and abruptly halted the cross-examination, denying me the chance to present my case thoroughly. Once again, I was threatened with costs if I did not comply.

In this way, she was able to suppress or disregard essential facts.

Points 1, 3, 4, 7, and 8 of the code of conduct were not adhered to.

Next time: to be continued

All 'TCHCC' Parts so far