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Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal DemocratsCampaigning for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham |
H&F Council Planning approves Town Hall redevelopment despite local opposition
December 2, 2011 7:47 AM
After a very crowded and rowdy meeting lasting more than 4 hours, and in the face of opposition from all parts of the community, Hammersmith and FulhamÂ' Council's Planning Committee has approved the proposed redevelopment of the Town Hall site.
Paul Kennedy of H&F Liberal Democrats was among several Lib Dems there. He writes: Â"The meeting had been moved to Latymer Upper School in an acknowledgment of the strength of opposition, but despite this 100 or so of the 400 or so people attending had to wait up to an hour to get in because of inadequate marshalling. Acoustics were terrible and there was no loop for those with hearing aids: for example, after an hour, Audrey Burtt of Ravenscourt Place told me she was leaving the hall because she could hear nothing.
The applicants' slides showing the impact of the development were disgracefully misleading, using photographs taken from enormous distances or obscure angles, or from behind other buildings which shielded the towers, or with clouds in the background so you couldn't tell what was tower and what was cloud, but they fooled nobody. Officials admitted that the development was larger than they had originally felt comfortable with, but were now supporting it simply in order to ensure the developers made a profit.
The application was approved, despite several Conservative Councillors having absented themselves during the meeting while evidence was being given so that I don't see how they could properly have voted, and of course massive opposition from the audience.
The highlight of a depressing evening for local democracy and the people of Hammersmith was a brilliant and courageous speech by Conservative Councillor Lucy Ivimy, supporting the protesters' objections and roundly condemning the Council. It is unusual to find a Conservative Councillor who is prepared to put people before profits. I'm not sure where she goes from here, but her words will prick the consciences of her colleagues for a long time. Clearly very emotional she was congratulated by all of us as she left the hall. The opposition was fantastically orchestrated by the Save Our Skyline committee, as always.
Marie-Antoinette-style, one of the Fulham councillors on the committee suggested that historic Hammersmith cinema which will be demolished to make way for the development could be replaced by an impromptu open-air cinema in the new so-called 'piazza'.
The campaign is not over. Next stop, Eric Pickles and then the Mayor."
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