Appeal against ‘hated twin towers' receives wide-spread backing
Local campaigners and residents groups have vowed to take their fight against a massive riverside development to court.
They are supporting Lady Berkeley who is appealing the decision to grant planning permission for the development known locally as 'the hated twin towers' in Lots Road, on the grounds that the Mayor of London's 'blue ribbon' policies have been ignored.
Following a long, bitter dispute, the hated redevelopment was given the go-ahead last year by the then Secretary of State John Prescott who ignored massive public objection and his own Inspector's recommendation following a Public Inquiry.
Now opponents of the scheme have been galvanised into one final attempt to scupper the worst aspects of the scheme. They have got together to support Lady Berkley's appeal, to the High Court, of the decision to grant the development planning permission in the hope that the river will be saved from bulldozers and an appropriate development allowed to take place finally.
"We are not giving in to this massive over-development and are prepared to take it through the courts," says Lady Berkeley, the founder of Thamesbank. "The tide of concrete sweeping along the Thames is a blight to the London landscape, killing off every opportunity to bring London's working river back to life. Adding another towering monstrosity is a mistake future generations would have to live with."
The Historic Buildings Group is adding it weight to the objections. Its chairman and local resident, Angela Dixon, says, "Along with many other local groups including The Lot's Road Action Group & The Chelsea Society, we support Dido Berkeley in her public spirited action. We just hope this overblown and damaging scheme can be quashed and then we can all look for a better scheme, more suited to its splendid Riverside site and the local area."
Roger Weston, local resident & chairman of The West London River Group, says his group is also supporting Lady Berkley, "The Mayor's London Plan contains Blue Ribbon Network policies, but they're not being enforced.
The Blue Ribbon policies must form the starting point in any riverside development. In this development they don't."
Hammersmith & Fulham Council is backing the campaign. Its cabinet member for regeneration Cllr Frances Stainton says, "The Inspector recommended refusal but disastrously was overturned by the Secretary of State who rode rough-shod over both the views of local people and his own Inspector, even omitting the River Thames. This is an issue that just won't lie down. This whole mess needs to be looked at openly and independently."
February 15, 2007
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