A DECISION on whether to fund a legal challenge against plans for growth has been deferred by Thetford Town Council until the consequences are further investigated.

This was taken at a meeting this week at which councillors voted on whether to go-ahead with the bid against the Thetford Area Action Plan (TAAP).

A second legal challenge has been mooted by the nearby Shadwell Estate, which is primarily looking into the legalities surrounding the issue of stone curlew.

Nine town councillors voted in favour of the resolution, which said: “This council supports a legal challenge by Shadwell or others to the Thetford Area Action Plan but does not wish to commit finances to this challenge until costs and liability are clearer and will re-visit any such financial commitment before the August 16 deadline.”

Six voted against.

Director of the Shadwell Estate, Chris Kennard, said he welcomed the support, and added: “I will need to take instruction from the powers that be but we know there’s a very strong legal basis.

“It’s very important for us to know the town council wanted a challenge to take place because we’ve always said we want to do what the town wants to do.

“We don’t want to be fighting against the town in what they want so it’s good to know they support us, even if they haven’t got their chequebooks out.”

The town council had sought legal guidance into the risks and costs associated with a legal review and met earlier this month in Thetford with a London lawyer, at a cost of �1,000.

People have six weeks from July 5, when the Thetford Area Action Plan was adopted by Breckland Council, to launch any kind of challenge to the blueprint.