Thank you for your support. The petition is progressing nicely. Do spread the word to your friends and neighbours and if possible, join us at the Holmesdale Road entrance in Highgate at 2.00pm on Saturday for a photo for the Ham and High. A good turn out will really strengthen our cause and impress on Ward Councillors the strength of local feeling. If you find yourself in conversation with anyone and feel in need of more information, we have attached below a summary of why we feel it is important to challenge Haringey Planning on this case. Why are the Friends of the Parkland Walk so concerned about the development at 3 Francis Place? At the heart of this issue is one thing - protection. Hard fought for principles Back in the 70s and 80s local people fought a long, hard battle with Haringey Council and the Department of Transport to ensure that the former railway line was not replaced with housing estates or a major road. Out of that came signifiant assurances and recognition. 'The Parkland Walk' as it became known was formerly adopted as Metropolitan Open Land, part of the Capital Ring, later a Local Nature Reserve and later still a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. The Highgate tunnels are now a site of national importance for bat conservation. All of these give the Parkland Walk, its flora and fauna and you its users rights and protections not just ecologically, but as a space open to all. Relevance to 3 Francis Place. This property was originally a railway cottage in the heart of the Nature Reserve and was sold without land. In 1993, Haringey sold an area of land to the then owners with a considerable number of restrictive clauses in the agreement, to ensure that the owner and subsequent owners did nothing to impact on the Parkland Walk or users. In many cases where an owner wishes to negotiate a restriction in regard to development, the restriction might be down to something that is now irrelevant or is preventing something that it was never meant to do. In such a case, it might be reasonable to argue a case for lifting of restrictions. This case is not in that category. All the restrictions on the Deeds were placed specifically in the event of an owner seeking to change the site, develop the property, or carry out works that would cause annoyance or impede neighbours and/or users of the Parkland Walk. This is clearly written into the deeds and any purchaser would be aware of the relevant clauses prior to buying. In fact, given that the restrictions are still legal (including one that specifically says clay and gravel cannot be removed from the site), it is of concern that the initial planning permission for a basement was ever granted. Benefits versus inconvenience In this case there are no benefits to the community, the nature Reserve or users of the Parkland Walk. There are only inconveniences. Probably the most intrusive being the use of 26 ton grabbing lorries accessing the site via Holmesdale Road and Parkland Walk. Had the project been of benefit to the wider community, we might be in a position of discussing the moral principle of temporarily lifting the restriction as the result was for the greater good. This is however, a private development. The average asking price for properties in this area is over £2.5million (Source: Zoopla). That is considerably more than this property was purchased for and one of the reasons for that would arguably be the fact that the deeds contained clauses preventing development and access by vehicles. Lifting such restrictions would make this an extraordinary investment opportunity. Why would Haringey Council consider lifting protections? Frankly, it is hard to see any reason given that all the protections are entirely relevant to the planning application and there are no visible benefits. The Council might try to use this as leverage for a financial benefit. If that were the case it would be a clear indication that money can buy off legal rights, and that no protections are safe from abuse. What are the possible consequences? In addition to the restricted access to users over a 4 month period, the noise, dirt (all lorries needed for muck removal and deliveries to the development will run along the Walk, and every time one does so the path will be blocked to walkers and cyclists), and a degree of localised damage and building works (possibly with more vehicular access) for a further 30 weeks, the other legacy is the resulting precedent that might encourage other local residents to negotiate vehicular access to the rear of their properties and the 'wedge' that leads to more protections being lost or compromised. What you can do Sign our petition with your comments(go to change.org and search HGY/2015/1539) Object at the Haringey Council Planning portal on the council's website using the above reference. Share this information with your friends and neighbours. Contact your local councillor Join us for a photo on Saturday between 2.00 and 2.30 on Parkland Walk Holmesdale Road entrance.