The Collier Row & Mawneys Residents Association are pleased that the Planning Committee refused permission for the former care home to become 43 flats. Over the last two years, the application has gone from 58 flats, down to 48 and then rather controversially mid way through the recent consultation, reduced down to 43.
Cllr Mann who was joined by Joe Webster and Denis Stevens at the planning meeting said, “I am pleased that the Committee agreed with all those who objected by refusing the scheme, I struggled to find a single positive point, the flats were too high, out of character, a danger to the highway in Clockhouse Lane, loss of light and there is also a lack of education places in North Romford.
However, the Conservative controlled Council need to take some responsibility for this whole debacle, they are the ones that sold the land, (subject to planning being granted) they are the ones that reduced the price by an alleged £1/2 million (as reported in the Recorder) to get shot of it and they are the one who have now made it a planning condition that 100% of the flats are offered as affordable housing to a Housing Association.
Over 1000 people signed the original petition that was presented to the Mayor last year, however it seems that your Tory Councillors are hell bent on doing anything for money, and could not give a damn about what local people want. Earlier this year, Tory Cllr, Geoff Starns said he was resigned to taking the big bucks for the land and at the Planning meeting, Cllr Tebbutt, said it was the Councils job to squeeze every pip of money out of a piece of land they sell, so plenty of hope there then !
Almost every resident we have spoken to would accept some sort of housing on the site and that is what we need “housing” not flats. Havering Council now need to go back to the drawing board, look at what money they want for the site and balance that against what is best for a family town like Collier Row and come up with suitable plans, perhaps houses, maybe a Health Centre.
Cllr Mann who was joined by Joe Webster and Denis Stevens at the planning meeting said, “I am pleased that the Committee agreed with all those who objected by refusing the scheme, I struggled to find a single positive point, the flats were too high, out of character, a danger to the highway in Clockhouse Lane, loss of light and there is also a lack of education places in North Romford.
However, the Conservative controlled Council need to take some responsibility for this whole debacle, they are the ones that sold the land, (subject to planning being granted) they are the ones that reduced the price by an alleged £1/2 million (as reported in the Recorder) to get shot of it and they are the one who have now made it a planning condition that 100% of the flats are offered as affordable housing to a Housing Association.
Over 1000 people signed the original petition that was presented to the Mayor last year, however it seems that your Tory Councillors are hell bent on doing anything for money, and could not give a damn about what local people want. Earlier this year, Tory Cllr, Geoff Starns said he was resigned to taking the big bucks for the land and at the Planning meeting, Cllr Tebbutt, said it was the Councils job to squeeze every pip of money out of a piece of land they sell, so plenty of hope there then !
Almost every resident we have spoken to would accept some sort of housing on the site and that is what we need “housing” not flats. Havering Council now need to go back to the drawing board, look at what money they want for the site and balance that against what is best for a family town like Collier Row and come up with suitable plans, perhaps houses, maybe a Health Centre.
The developer has spent a lot of money trying to get planning permission and will undoubtedly appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Or will the Tory run Council shelve plans until May 2010 when the next Local Elections take place, hoping people will forget ?
No comments:
Post a Comment