Scientology threatens council, claiming UK HQ unauthorised structure removal 'discrimination'

EAST GRINSTEAD, U.K. - Feb. 28, 2025 - PRLog -- The Church of Scientology have claimed West Sussex County Council's request they remove unauthorised structures obstructing the public highway outside their UK headquarters amounts to 'discrimination' and warned the Highway Authority to be "very careful", new documents reveal.

Last December, we reported the Church of Scientology had been ordered to remove 130ft (40m) of hedgerow, kerbing and a concealed fence it had installed to obstruct protestors on public land opposite the entrance to their UK headquarters at Saint Hill near East Grinstead. Following an inspection by a Highways Arboriculturist on 19th September 2024, Scientology were given 28 days to remove the "unauthorised structures" ahead of the annual gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) event in October but were subsequently given a further 14 day extension, which expired on 4th November. At that time, Scientology claimed they had permission to install the obstructions and refused to remove them despite the Council noting they present a "hazard to the highway" due to their proximity to the road.

Scientology Business can now reveal that Church representatives have continued in their refusal to comply with regulations, going so far as to threaten the Council by claiming their request to remove the structures amounts to "discrimination" due to their property being designated a Place of Public Worship and instructing the Highways Authority to "be very careful."
Read the full story at https://www.scientologybusiness.com/scientology-news/scie...