Will H&F News listen to residents?
Campaigners against Goldhawk Estate development petition council
Residents from Goldhawk road are waiting to see if Hammersmith and Fulham Council will publish a letter opposing the proposed redevelopment of the Goldhawk Industrial Estate by property developers London and Newcastle.
The council's newspaper, H&F News has been accused by the Labour opposition councillor Steve Cowan of not publishing letters critical of the Conservative-run administration.
However in recent months the letters pages of H&F News have featured letters complaining about the council's record on recycling, parking chaos following the opening of Westfield and the proposals to charge for garden waste collections.
Councillor Steve Cowan proposes that the council free-sheet should sign up to the Press Complaints Commission guidelines, adhering to the same rules as traditional media such as local papers.
He said: "The Press Complaints Commission guidelines would require the taxpayer-funded Council "newspaper" to attain basic standards of professional journalism.
"These would also, for example, have provided those residents who wrote in to H&F News to complain about an item on the Goldhawk Road Industrial Estate Property Scheme a chance to have had at least one of their letters published instead of being refused by the Council's Press Office."
The letter to H&F News opposing the Goldhawk Estate development is signed by 60 people. Sent on behalf of Brackenbury Residents Association, it reads: "In your edition of December 2nd, you carried an article on the proposed redevelopment of the Goldhawk Industrial Estate by property developers London and Newcastle.
"The developers have applied to the Council to change its use from light industrial to residential and commercial use. At any time, such a change of use would have a detrimental effect on the economic life of the borough.
"At a time of recession, it would be doubly foolish. At a public meeting held in Brackenbury School, attended by 150 local residents, six local councillors and the MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush, several speakers made this very point.
"Although less than a hectare in size, this small site has nurtured two great and nationally known companies – JC Decaux and Innocent Smoothies – and currently houses Innocent, Soundhouse (home to many Radio 4 dramas and one of the busiest recording studios in the capital), and Analox Instruments, a leader in oxygen-rate technology.
"The developer’s proposals would replace this economic seed-bed with yet more dreary office space and an apartment block described by one local architect as a “battleship”. A borough that was truly “open for business” would not casually throw away this economic powerhouse of a site and would instead ensure that a unique resource was protected and nurtured for generations to come."
The council has responded simply: ""H&F News can confirm that it has received this letter and welcomes all of its readers views. The paper will treat this letter like any other."
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