Town Hall Development tests Greenhalgh's promise to listen. (Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats)

Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats <info@hflibdems.org.uk>

Town Hall Development tests Greenhalgh's promise to listen.

October 14, 2010 12:02 AM

Save-our-skyline image from river Residents of Hammersmith have united to denounce Hammersmith and Fulham Council's plans for the redevelopment of the Town Hall at a public meeting on 13 October, called by pressure group Save Our Skyline, www.saveourskyline.co.uk and attended by several hundred people.

The dozen or so local residents' groups who have come together to oppose the plans have been joined by others from outside the immediate area, concerned that as well as destroying the historic river frontage at Hammersmith, the planning permissions will set precedents which will make it impossible for the council to refuse other high-rises along the river in future.

H&F Council have been offered a deal under which the Town Hall extension, the cinema, the Thomas Pocklingon Trust's homes for the blind and the Friends Meeting House will be demolished, (some by compulsory purchase) and replaced by two new offices of up to 9 storeys, two 14-storey blocks of luxury flats which do not include any social housing, and a large supermarket.

Image of New Town Hall from Dalling Road

During previous exhibitions the developers and the Council have refused to show side elevations of the new planned buildings. Save Our Skyline was able to make drawings showing how the buildings would look in context of the existing structures, and demonstrating the extent to which they would overshadow and dominate the area.

The meeting heard from residents who would be affected by the bulk of the buildings, including loss of light, those concerned that a new supermarket would bring in large numbers of heavy lorries and drive smaller local shops out of business, and many concerned about the loss of the cinema. Among them was Liberal Democrat Chair Henrietta Bewley, who was concerned that the loss of the cinema would damage the passing trade on which her local restaurants depend. The most distressed are the residents of the Thomas Pocklington Trust flats for the blind, who have learnt that they are to lose their homes

The plans also include a concrete bridge over the A4, past the existing historic and listed old Town Hall. This would allow the developer to market the 320 new flats to a luxury overseas market by describing them as linked to the riverfront. The bridge need to be as high as a 3-storey building. It would slope down into Furnivall Gardens, swallowing up a very significant proportion of the park itself. (The Council had fiercely opposed Thames Water's proposals for the super-sewer under the spurious and fictitious grounds that the work would threaten Furnivall Gardens, but at that stage they were not being offered nice new offices for themselves).

From Ravenscourt Park Station

Save Our Skyline's hopes rest partly on channelling the very obvious public opposition to the extent that convinces the Council that this plan is a mistake . Their website, giving where you can sign the on-line petition, and find suggestions for action, is www.saveourskyline.co.uk