Public Urged to Save Our Riverfront at Town Hall Tonight
Campaigners plan to say NO! at planning meeting
Save Our Riverfront, the new group campaigning against the proposed development at Fulham Reach, is urging local people to come along to Hammersmith Town Hall tonight, September 14 ... and bring their friends!
H & F Council's Planning Committee are meeting tonight in the Small Hall to consider the application from developer St George to develop the land at Fulham Reach, formerly known as Hammersmith Embankment.
Campaigners are encouraging supporters to meet outside the Town Hall at 6.30pm and they add that as the public can attend the meeting but not formerly speak, they should show their opposition visually. The group has produced two panels saying NO! which can be printed out from the website.
Save Our Riverfront's first meeting on September 6, drew a crowd of over 150 people, and say the campaigners: " The Council, developers and architects were left in no doubt about the strength of public opposition to the current 'Fulham Reach' proposal. You made your voice well and truly heard!"
Ahead of tonight's planning meeting, Save Our Riverfront have also produceda table compiled by the Hammersmith And Fulham Historic Buildings Group listing no less than 28 different ways that the Fulham Reach proposal contravenes existing planning policy at local, London-wide and national levels.
You can view the table here.
The group, who say they are concerned residents working with seven residents associations and community groups, oppose plans by developer St George to build over 700 homes on the currently empty site and claim:
1) At eight or nine storeys, these buildings will dwarf any others in the area and block light to surrounding streets.
2) Many planning laws protected views on both sides of the river will be lost.
3) The scheme is far more densely populated than the surrounding area and will drain transport links.
4) Traffic congestion and pollution will increase. The new residents and visitors will park on local streets.
5) The buildings are ill-considered and monolithic with no regard to the area's diverse architecture.
6) The development has no social housing and limited affordable housing so failing to promote the creation of a mixed community.
Save Our Riverfront say they have been inspired by Save Our Skyline, the campaign group who are fighting plans for the redevelopment of King Street, which have recently been amended.
August 18, 2011
