A Home Office bid to delay a legal fight between the Bell Hotel and the government has been rejected, according to Epping Forest District Council.

Ministers had attempted to postpone the action by six weeks so they could consider how comments made by the Court of Appeal could impact their case.

Now, the council has claimed this application was unsuccessful.

Epping Forest District Council noted that the Home Office made applications for “a six-week stay in the final injunction proceedings and a split hearing”.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to thank the Court for expediting these matters. 

“It is in no one’s interest to delay the legal process. 

“The sooner we get to a full resolution the better.”