Riverside Players Perform Free Show to Support Riverfront Campaigners
Actors join protest against Fulham Reach development
A group of local actors and performers calling themselve the Riverside Players will perform a free show at Frank Banfield Park on Saturday October 15 to draw attention to the campaign against the proposed Fulham Reach development.
" The Riverside Players have formed especially for this event," say local writer and poet Niall McDevitt. " We will be performing a read through version of Shelley's satire Swellfoot the Tyrant and believe if we speak loudly and mellifluously our message will carry across the the wind."
The play follows the battle by the newly crowned George IV to divorce his wife Caroline. "We believe it will highlight the historical significance of the site, as Caroline was often to be seen around Hammersmith, and frequented Brandenburgh House, which stood on the site," says Niall.
" The Riverside Players are local people - I live in Hammersmith - who have followed the Save Our Riverfront campaign and have attended meetings. Though we are not officially part of the campaign we hope we will add a creative touch, as what is being proposed is very un-creative.
"Frank Banfield Park is next to the site of the development, and from the top of the mound, where we will be performing you look right over it."
The free show will begin at 2pm and Niall is inviting local people to come along, bring a picnic and have fun.
Save Our Riverfront have vowed to fight on against the Distillery Lane development by St George, despite it being given the green light by Hammersmith and Fulham's Planning Committee on Friday, September 23.
The Council is describing the development, which will consist of 744 new apartments plus office space, gym, restaurants and boat club as "an exciting scheme to breathe fresh life into the Fulham riverside".
It adds that as part of the scheme, the council has negotiated a £12million Section 106 package from St George that will be spent on improvements to the surrounding area.
However, Save Our Riverfront say:
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.
October 11, 2011
