Riverfront Campaigners Claim Victory after Planning Meeting is Abandoned
Meeting rescheduled for Friday September 23
Save Our Riverfront, the group campaigning against the proposed development at Fulham Reach, is claiming "a victory for people power" after a meeting of H & F Planning Committee on Wednesday had to be abandoned.
The group says: "A HUGE thank you to everyone who came to Hammersmith Town Hall last night to demonstrate your opposition to the Fulham Reach proposals.
So many of of you turned out that the Town Hall’s infrastructure went into meltdown and the meeting had to be CANCELLED!
They clearly hadn’t expected such a large turn-out so the meeting had to be moved at the last minute to the largest possible hall to accommodate everyone and when we got there they couldn’t get the microphone system to work. So much for the H&F Council’s self-proclaimed 'efficiency'!
After staggering through a few inaudible minutes amid a rising chorus of protests from the floor the meeting had to be abandoned.
It was a significant victory for people power over the Fulham Reach planning machine and it shows that we genuinely CAN make a difference."
The council has now rescheduled the meeting and has released a statement saying: " The Planning Applications Committee that was adjourned from September 14 due to the failure of audio-visual equipment and microphones has been rescheduled for Friday September 23.
" The meeting is due to start at 7pm and will take place in the Assembly Hall of Hammersmith Town Hall. "
You read the agenda for the meeting here.
The group, who say they are concerned residents working with seven residents associations and community groups, oppose plans by developer St George to build over 700 homes on the currently empty site and claim:
1) At eight or nine storeys, these buildings will dwarf any others in the area and block light to surrounding streets.
2) Many planning laws protected views on both sides of the river will be lost.
3) The scheme is far more densely populated than the surrounding area and will drain transport links.
4) Traffic congestion and pollution will increase. The new residents and visitors will park on local streets.
5) The buildings are ill-considered and monolithic with no regard to the area's diverse architecture.
6) The development has no social housing and limited affordable housing so failing to promote the creation of a mixed community.
Save Our Riverfront say they have been inspired by Save Our Skyline, the campaign group who are fighting plans for the redevelopment of King Street, which have recently been amended.
September 16, 2011
