Hello Fine Campaigners and Stand-Up Citizens

This will be the last post from me on this campaign. I would like to take a moment to celebrate 24th April - which I hope will be toasted for decades to come as V.B Day - Victory - for common sense and people power - in Battersea Day.

I am delighted that Rockwell’s toxic tower scheme was roundly toppled at last week’s meeting of the Planning Applications Committee at Wandsworth Town Hall. I hope that you have seen some of the publicity resulting from that meeting. If not, it will all be on my website here - if I ever get time

Obviously, there is the chance of an appeal and the project being “called in” by Mayor Khan. I may be deluded, but I like to think that the considerable flaws in the scheme, and the scale of valid opposition to it, have been so demonstrably expressed, that there is no way back for it. But Mayor Khan, politics and lobbying, works in mysterious ways, so we shall see.

Judging by Rockwell’s punchy press statement (which, I might add, they sulkily refused to release to The Chelsea Citizen. Ha!), they may fight back. Its MD Nicholas Mee accused the council of making the “wrong call” and had the temerity to refer to children without homes in London as part of his justification for building a luxury apartment tower that had been universally damned. This is a company that is currently building Hurlingham Waterfront with 0% affordable housing. If his altruism runs so deep, maybe he can change the complexion of HW.

Anyway, it is time for me to move on from all that. Before I go, there are some important Thank Yous. It takes a community to fight a campaign, not just one journalist. In no particular order…

Frontmen: Strong-arming celebrities into backing you is an award ask, but so many responded brilliantly (even one who was on a tour of America with his band at the time). Crucially, they all allowed me to go public with their support. My humble thanks to Mick Jagger*, Eric Clapton**, Felicity Kendal, Anthea Turner, Harry Hill and John Browne (Lord B of Madingley). Your shiny names brought national newspaper coverage that has been the stuff of dreams for a campaigner. 

Hacks: So many journalists worked hard on this story. Journalism is VERY difficult, but it is vital and the coverage made all the difference. They helped put the multiple flaws in Rockwell’s project on the wider radar. In no particular order, my thanks to William Turvill, Richard Eden, Melissa York, Pui-Guan Man, Charlotte Lillywhite, Claudia Lee, Heidi Bates, India Drake-Brockman, Gino Spocchia, William Ing, Emma Magnes, Ella Jessel.

A special shout out to Cyril Richert of The Clapham Junction Insider. He has done some exemplary, detailed journalism on this issue (and many others). If you live south of the river in that area, his news website is a must-read. Please stop by and support him.  

Council: I know it is their job, but the PAC, its Chairman Tony Belton and many  councillors all stepped up and did their duty to see off the scheme. The litany of comments during the meeting showed that they had really taken on the key problems, as well as the concerns of residents and groups. I'd also like to add RBKC here and its officers and councillors. They really stepped up. I even saw the name of its leader - Elizabeth Campbell - on my petition.

Societies: All the relevant societies - Battersea, Chelsea, Wandsworth, Putney - united against Rockwell's plans. They all submitted detailed and worthy objections that carried a lot of weight. These societies matter. They are run by honourable, hard-working volunteers who care. Try and join your local one. They need your support. Trust me, the more you put into a community, the more comes back to you.

Friends of Battersea Riverside: This group was set up as Rockwell's plans became a shocking reality. They have done a huge amount of work to help unite their community and they will be best-placed to take forward any future action. My thanks to all the crew there, not least Peter Morley and Ralph Scott.

The battle against towers is a huge problem across Britain and particularly in London. Builders (bankers?) such as Rockwell are determined and well-funded. 

Other areas are facing big struggles and they do not have the media experience to get the press they need, as I have done with this one. May I draw everyone’s attention to the challenges facing campaigners in two areas that have asked me for help in recent times:

Highgate: a tower build there has been called in by the Mayor. This development will lead to the destruction of important Victorian buildings and the dramatic change to the much-loved Highgate Hill area. Please visit here to engage with their fight. 

Earl's Court: residents there are up against a development that could last 20 YEARS and involve a number of high-rise residential blocks - some upto 43 storeys. If it all goes ahead, it could be devastating on so many levels. There are serious environmental issues that need to be addressed. You can read the Earl's Court Society's citation on Facebook here. 

I'd like to give a quick shout out to my sister Katrina who interrupted a hectic schedule to design the original S.O.B.B poster. 

Lastly, my sincere thanks goes to YOU LOT - all 5,043 of you - for signing the petition. Your support really did help make a difference.  

Thank you for not walking on by!

Fist bump emojis all round.

Phew.

Best wishes

Rob McGibbon

ps: Please read and support The Chelsea Citizen.

*that's quite a thing to be able to say, for a life-long Rolling Stones nutcase fan

**and I have a few box sets of vinyl of his, too. Let It Grow!