Hello Fine Campaigners

I am dropping by with a quick up-date as we approach the public inquiry into Rockwell Property's appeal for permission to build a tower of money by Battersea Bridge. (apologies for that tired gag)

The inquiry, to be led by Inspector Joanna Gilbert, begins at 10am on Tuesday, 17th March at Wandsworth Town Hall.

The Chelsea Citizen (TCC) - the online hyper-local newspaper edited by, um, Yours Truly - has set up a dedicated campaign page. This already carries an archive of articles since the S.O.B.B (Stop One Battersea Bridge) campaign was launched in June 2024. Goodness, two years.

This page will also carry the latest news from the inquiry and the subsequent result. TCC is planning to cover all eight days of the hearing (oh joy) and we will aim to file daily reports - depending on how turgid proceedings prove to be. Planning inquiries can be less than riveting. 

In the coming days, prepare for a belter of an interview to be published on TCC with Councillor Tony Belton - chairman of Wandsworth Council's Planning Applications Committee. Amongst many issues covered in this interview, Cllr Belton blasts Rockwell and the appeal process. He says:

"Rockwell is an arrogant company that has no interest in what our residents think, or anyone else. If they lose this appeal, they should pay the council's costs. We are having to spend a fortune in public money defending a unanimous decision. That money could have gone to much better use in the community - on people who need it."

Also - stand by for the views from other notable folk who have steadfastly backed this campaign since the beginning. Some of them are quite famous.

All the relevant civic societies - Battersea, Chelsea, Wandsworth and Putney - have had teams of diligent volunteers working hard in recent months preparing for the inquiry. Complicated stuff to get across. The Friends of Battersea Riverside group has also been putting their shoulder to wheel. I draw your attention to their refreshed website HERE (although it has had one of two glitches of late). 

I hope that we can all depend on your support and interest in the coming weeks. A lot is at stake. If the inspector allows the appeal and Rockwell wins, then other developers will see this as a gold rush and more towers will surely follow. Make no mistake, the very future of Battersea riverside's skyline as we know it is at stake.

Stay with us! RM