Olympic Missiles Residents Drop Legal Bid - And Will Take Battle To Parliament

Olympic Battle: Residents Take Missiles Fight To Parliament

A group of residents have dropped their legal action against the stationing of surface-to-air missiles on the roof of their 17-storey residential tower block during the Olympics.

But the tenants of Fred Wigg Tower in Leytonstone, east London, intend to take their battle to Parliament.

The announcement was made today by their solicitors Howe & Co in a press statement on Wednesday.

Members of the British military's Royal Artillery regiment stand near a Rapier air defence system

They say Labour MPs John Cryer and John McDonnell are "so concerned" they will lay down an Early Day Motion in parliament.

Martin Howe, the solicitor representing the residents at the Fred Wigg Tower, said in a statement released on Wednesday:

“The residents are deeply disappointed that the Court refused them protection and assistance in regard of their genuine fears for themselves and their children arising directly from the intended imminent deployment of troops, armed police and missiles in their homes.”

“The residents live on a council estate in East London. They do not have deep pockets to fund litigation and although their legal team will not charge them a penny they cannot take the risk of appealing and facing a huge legal bill from the Government…

"The residents are therefore forced to seek help other than through the courts. They look to Parliamentarians to come to their aid and they look to family and friends to give them safe haven during the course of the deployment. They cannot afford to seek alternative accommodation without MoD help which has been absolutely refused”.

On Tuesday the residents lost their High Court battle to stop the deployment of the ground-based air defence system above their heads.

The tenants fear the move could make them the focus for a terrorist attack.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD), security service and police say there is "no credible threat" and the siting of the missiles is both "legitimate and proportionate".

The block is one of six sites in the capital where missiles, including Rapier and high-velocity systems, will be deployed to protect Games venues.

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