Dear All

Some really good news on our campaign, but also request for some help!

We were delighted that Southwark Council’s planning committee, just before xmas, unanimously rejected the planning application to build a residential tower block on the Burgess Park Metropolitan Open Land, at the entrance to Burgess Park on Southampton Way.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of the process. The applicant may decide to appeal the rejection to the Mayor of London and if he upholds the appeal, it may go to the Secretary of State.

Also, as the land is protected as MOL under the Mayor’s London Plan, he could step in and require the planning application be reheard by him.

But the other really encouraging positive news is that the council’s planning officer at the planning committee hearing, stated that they were interested now in finally incorporating this final section of the planned wildlife site into the park.

They estimated that if the planning refusal remains upheld, the land value would be £1.5 million (rather than £3.5 million with planning approval to build) and so would be affordable to buy (there should be lots of planning gain from other local developments to cover this cost).

This would complete the 50 year old plan for all New Church Road to be incorporated into the park, from Wells Way up to Southampton Way.

So the help we need, is to again circulate the petition, so that we can get the numbers above 5,000 and show the London Mayor that there remains very positive local community support for this protected land, which is currently an awful eyesore at its entrance, to be incorporated into the park.

As soon as we hear of any new developments re potential appeal or mayoral planning process, we will get in touch.

Many thanks to all of you who may have contacted local groups, councillors or neighbours to ask them to support our campaign.

It really really helped.

The Friends of Burgess Park have been especially brilliant and supportive of the campaign to protect this open land for the park.

It has been 30 years exactly, since the Burgess Park Action Group attended our first planning committee to stop attempts to build on this land and keep it for the park.

We are hopeful that an end may be finally in sight with your help. But nothing is certain until the land is finally purchased and incorporated into the park, as has been planned for decades!w

Many thanks and best wishes for a green new year

Donnachadh McCarthy
pp Burgess Park Action Group