Here's a letter that Councillor Barrie Hargrove, Regeneration Spokesperson for the Southwark Labour Group, sent to Ruth Kelly two days ago. Please distribute it further as you wish. For easy reference, it's now archived at
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The Right Honourable Ruth Kelly MP
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Department for Communities and Local Government
Elan House,
Bresenden
Place
London SW1 5DU
12 September 2006
Dear Secretary of State,
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT (SECTION 78) – APPEAL BY BARRATT HOMES (EAST LONDON) LTD, LAND AT DOWNTOWN ROAD AND SALTER ROAD, ROTHERHITHE
It is not without considerable anguish that I find myself writing as the Regeneration Spokesperson for the Southwark Labour Group to entreat you to reconsider your decision to allow the above appeal and with that grant planning permission for this large
development. The local community have fought long and hard to defend their beloved area against this kind of intensive building. Both the Planning Inspector, Elizabeth Fieldhouse, DipTP DipUD MRTPI, and the local planning authority, the London Borough of Southwark in considering the scheme (Southwark Council reference – 04-AP-1721, dated 17 September 2004, as amended prior to the public enquiry held by the inspector) were of the view that any merits this scheme may have are outweighed by its negative impact on the local environment and its compatibility with the proper aspirations of the local community. I am not presuming to re-order your arguments you have so carefully set out to explain your decision, but instead am obliged to bring to your attention the highly likely dissonant impact on the community these development works on the land at Downtown Road and Salter Road would have if they were to proceed.
Local people living and working on the Rotherhithe Peninsula were in a state of shock when they learnt of the decision to reject the Planning Inspector’s recommendation not to grant planning permission to application (as above) to develop the land on Downtown Road and Salter Road, Rotherhithe. This shock has now turned to a growing determination to resist this development at every level. Hence this letter on behalf of Southwark Labour Group in the hope and belief that it can be resolved without the local community needing to resort to further detrimental means, for instance one leading local resident is seriously threatening to use his family home as a means to raise money to challenge your decision by seeking a Judicial Review.
These are very difficult times for everyone involved in this
matter, but unless there is decisive movement by your Office on behalf of the residents, many of us are harbouring real fears about how this situation is going to play out in the local area.
Yours truly,
Councillor Barrie Hargrove
Regeneration Spokesperson for the Southwark Labour Group
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The Downtown Defence Campaign
5 Somerford Way
London SE16 6QN
(020) 7237 7586
07947 275386
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