Waltham Forest Council delays on its public-path duties
We have criticised Waltham Forest Council for failing to follow the correct legal procedures on public rights of way and for severe procrastination. The council has delayed adding a public highway to its official map of public paths (the definitive map), for more than five years. In 2007 local people submitted evidence that the footpath…
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The campaign to save the view from Richmond Hill
We have joined campaigners fighting to save the magnificent view from Richmond Hill. This view is threatened by a high-rise residential block as part of the redevelopment of Twickenham station. The objectors include the Twickenham Residents’ Action Group, TRAG. Richmond Council has accepted a proposal from Network Rail and Solum Regeneration for this development. The…
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We call for recognition of Natural History Museum’s open space
We have backed our member the Kensington Society and other local societies(1) in calling for the council’s planning guidance to recognise the land surrounding the Natural History Museum as a local green space that is open to the public. We sent the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea a strong submission that the council’s Supplementary…
Read MoreThe fight for Bromley’s Italian Garden
Bromley Council plans to sell the unique Italian Garden, an open space on the south side of Queen’s Gardens, so as to build restaurants there. We are backing our member, the Friends of Bromley Parks and Gardens, in opposing the scheme. Says our South London representative, Mark Green: ‘If the land is sold and restaurants…
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Our open day at Northwick Park
On Saturday 3 September the society held its open day at Northwick Park, in the London Borough of Brent. It was hosted by our feisty Northwick Park Group at St Cuthbert’s Hall and 34 people attended. Margaret Roake from the Northwick Park Group gave us a short history of Harrow. She spoke of how Harrow became popular as commuter…
Read MoreCome clean about blocked footpath
We have called on Brent Council’s planners to produce a supplementary paper for the council’s planning meeting on Tuesday (2 August) to report on the state of the illegally blocked footpath across the prestigious Northwick Park golf course. Their paper to the meeting gives councillors an update on planning issues at Northwick Park. It refers…
Read MoreShepherd’s Bush Common victory
As part of the planning permission for the vast new Westfield shopping centre, Hammersmith and Fulham Council had extracted from the developers generous contributions under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for other local regeneration improvements. These included a desirable refurbishment of the adjacent Shepherds Bush Common. This is an intensively-used…
Read MoreUnique Staines Moor is saved
Heathrow Airtrack has abandoned its plans for a new rail-link which would have taken a chunk of Staines Moor common in Surrey. Last year we strongly opposed the application for a land swap to enable the common to be used. We argued that the land being offered in exchange was grossly inferior to the land…
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We condemn plan to flog off part of unique Crystal Palace Park
The London Development Agency’s plan to flog off part of Crystal Palace Park, in the London Borough of Bromley, has been approved, following a public inquiry last summer. The plans from the LDA form part of an ambitious regeneration scheme for the park, with disposal of parts of the park for private housing helping to…
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Brent should reopen blocked golf-course path
We have called on Councillor Ann John, chairman of Brent Council’s General Purposes Committee, to resolve to reopen the blocked path across Northwick Park golf course, rather than persist in trying to close it. The committee will consider a recommendation from its Director of Environment and Culture tomorrow (29 June) to remake the flawed order…
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