The question of what defences are open to those facing criminal charges of failure to obey enforcement notices is to come under the eye of the Law Lords. They have granted leave for an appeal in the case of R v Wicks. On 27 September 1993 at Canterbury Crown Court, Wicks was bound over for 12 months for failing to act on an enforcement notice relating to 'backland development' at Margate, Kent. On 11 April last year his conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal. Now though, he has been given leave by the House of Lords to challenge the vires of the enforcement notice.