Monday 18th December 2023
Greenside Resident Action Group’s further Objection to Planning Application - Reference 2023/01093/FUL and raising of serious queries at the adjudication process as now being run by LBHF and the Planning Committee.
Dear RECIPIENTS, Councillors and concerned residents,
I'm currently abroad, and therefore unable to attend and participate in the Planning Committee stages for the YOO CAPITAL Hearings (Planning Application 2023-01093-FUL). But had I been in London then, as a LBHF Resident, elector and Council Tax Payer, at 3 locations since 1974 then I would have been most actively seeking involvement in the adjudication of the YOO Planning Application for the Market and former (Spring Grove) Laundry Site to west of Pennard Road.
I thought I'd retired and escaped from involvement in local issues. But the shenanigans over the YOO Application and its handling within LBHF prompt a resurrection!
Most of you at Council (Councillors) will be familiar with me as a founder of the Greenside Residents Action (lobby) Group, active in Shepherds Bush since 1993. Primarily our focus has always been on issues affecting local quality of life and amenity, such as planning and licensing issues, highways, street management, etc.
The point of this missive from abroad is not to add further to the massive body of Objections that we (GRAG and other local residents and traders & interested bodies) have already lodged with LBHF over the application 2023-01093-FUL as submitted to LBHF, but to raise serious queries at the adjudication process as now being run by LBHF and the Planning Committee.
Council is not deaf & blind to the level of objections, and local feelings opposing the size and scale of the YOO proposals.
YOO has failed at every stage (of their so-called-consultations) to heed any suggestions and inputs from residents. Consultation (should they perhaps be labelled as "fake consultations") were all about telling/showing us what YOO wanted from the development opportunity, on what is one of the few remaining blank sites in our part of London. This is perceived by all local stakeholders as a "Land Grab" par excellence. For the pittance of a few social house units and minimal expenditure of aspects of the Market, YOO get the long term ownership and revenue stream from the massive commercial structures on the old laundry site, and new strip mall (for that is what it will become over time) of shops below commercial and residential units along east side of Market.
Most readers will not remember ex PM Edward Heath labelling the Lonhro commercial empire in ex colonial Africa. Africa as the "unacceptable face of capitalism". Perhaps similar labelling might be applied to this current development proposal.
When it comes to the adjudication of the YOO Planning Application process, then we would make certain points.
Council is elected by and for the benefit of its residents & electors. "Putting Residents First" was previously the mantra of LBHF? Is that lost in history? Or will you adhere to it now?
Local commercial development must and should progress , but in tune with, and in sync with improvement in residential amenity and quality of life.- not in opposition to it or detriment to it.
The YOO plan as submitted and causes considerable damage to the amenity and quality of life of a significant number of local residents (and some market traders).
But also Council is preventing a fair Democratic representation process of objection by qualified objectors (residents/electors/traders). People wishing to attend the Planning Committee are being blocked from appearing in person (no room - spaces allocated!!!) and those admitted are being limited in time to make presentations. That is NOT Democracy in Action. If a Committee Room in existing LBHF facilities is not large enough for this event, perhaps bigger than most others currently under consideration in the Borough, then LBHF could/should take larger premise facilities. And delay hearings until such is organised.
Resident/electors who wish to attend in person and/or speak, should not be told to watch at home on ZOOM, with no voice in the process. (And emails from officers making such refusals are seen as offensive by and to your residents).
As Councillors and a Planning Committee you have an opportunity to heed the voices and concerns of you electors and residents by a fairer democratic process, and to make recommended adjustments (to size/scale) to the Plans put before you. Or to bulldoze through the YOO Capital Plans in spite of the level of local opposition.
(As an aside, when I was involved with GRAG in the development of the Dorsett, we met with representatives of the owners and their architects on several occasions, and all our suggestions were actually adopted, such that at the actual Planning Committee, then chaired by Alex Chalk, the Application passed on the nod - without additional public objections).
Yours sincerely,
Mr Chris Noonan - For Greenside Resident Action Group