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Bulletin 22

HARMSWORTH QUAY PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Case Against

Introduction

The objections being made tonight are on behalf of the objectors:

• The Canada Water Group Association
• Brunswick Quay Residents Association
• The Canada Water Community Forum
• The Canada Water Campaign
• The Wolfe Crescent Residents Association
• Trinity Lock Residents Association
• The Governing body of Alfred Salter School
• Safe Routes to School
• 29 Mulberry Business Centre

I would like to commence by looking at some inconsistencies contained within the report.

Paragraph 4.2 contains the Planning Policy justification for the recommendations but in our view some of these points are incorrect.

Policy E1.1-Safety and Security

The officers suggest that this policy has been complied with, however the application does nothing to improve the overall security of the area.

Policy E2.3-Aesthetic Control

Officers suggest that this is satisfactory, however the main building is of poor design and all application and extension do nothing to contribute to improving the urban design in the area. High security fences topped with barbed wire surround all buildings.

Any development should contribute to improving the aesthetics of the area.

Policy E3.1-Protection of Amenity.

The officer’s view is the applications comply.

We cannot agree that there will be no significant additional noise with the additional staff employed on site, building work, increased lorries if distribution is changed there is bound to be a worsening of the local amenity.

Policy E3.4-Upgrading the Environment

The applications do nothing to enhance the environment; we cannot agree that opportunities are limited. In our view there are many opportunities for environmental improvements both around the sites and in the local area.

Policy B1.2-Protection of Employment Site

We cannot agree that the applications comply.

The Roberts Close site could be developed to enable local jobs to be created through a development of small business units. Overall the developments will not create significant employment opportunities, as the vast majority of jobs will involve jobs transferred from Kensington.

Policy B2.3. -Business Proposals

As outlined before the main application involves a relocation creating little or no new employment opportunities.

Policy T 1.3-Council Parking Standards

Whilst we accept that the applications comply with current parking standards, with over 300 new employees on site parking is insufficient.

Planning History of Site

Planning Permission for the development on site was given in October 1986 and the plant started in 1988.An extension was agreed in 1997 along with planning conditions to control noise. The restriction on the use of the Quebec Way gate was given at that time to protect residents from disturbance. Since that time additional residential development has taken place near to the site.

Harmsworth Quay applied for permission to lift the night time restriction in 1998 on the basis that one gate was insufficient for the company needs, however to our knowledge despite having permission to use the Quebec Way gate during the day the gate has never been used.

It should be noted from the plans submitted the internal roadway would allow any vehicle to use the Quebec Way gate at any time despite the company representatives telling us that the Quebec Way gate would only be used by vehicle from the Roberts Close site.

Surveys

The traffic survey undertaken by the company monitored movements in Roberts Close, however this was the wrong place to carry out the survey as foot and cycle movements in the area are via Quebec Way, Brass Tally Alley, Archangel Street and Russia Dock Walk passing next to the Roberts Close site.

Detailed Comments

0100406-Roberts Close Car Park

• Accept need for development
• Wrong development in the wrong place
• No additional amenity value for local residents
• High Fences-No urban design-More like a prison
• Increased fumes for school children in two adjacent schools and children going to Bacons college.
• On edge of woodland and ecology area
• Blights "fume free" route to/from Canada Water tube to Russia Dock woodland and Stave hill at all hours of the day and night
• More vehicle movements in Quebec Way whilst children about
• Increased possibility of accidents involving children

Can Harmsworth Quay be trusted to keep their word?

0100407-Temporary Warehouse (2 years)

• Construction commenced and completed without planning permission

Can Harmsworth Quay be trusted to keep their word?

0100408-Warehouse/Office block (B1)

• Insufficient car parking for projected staff numbers leading to intrusive parking in residential areas, Harmsworth Quay say most staff will use public transport.
• Harmsworth Quay say that the building is intended for 300+ staff however using their drawings there is space for 700+ staff and if the ground floor is used for offices then over 900 staff can be accommodated-the number the company employs in other parts of London.

Can Harmsworth Quay be trusted to keep their word?

0100409-Removal of Night Time restriction

• Increased traffic movements
• Why change a condition agreed in when the building was originally built in the, to protect residents when there are more residents now than there were then.
• Change of use from employment site contrary to UDP policy 3 1.1
• Possible nighttime disturbance for Redriff Road and Brunswick Quay.
• Any S106 legal agreement could not be monitored or enforced. Lip service is paid to planning rules and noise retrictions as it is.

Can Harmsworth Quay be trusted to keep their word?

General Issues

• Alternatives put to company not rejected as unworkable but as "expensive and disturbing" to the company. No consideration for local people.
• Little or no job creation
• Company considering direct distribution
• Should be deferred whilst master planning exercise and development framework is completed (due before Christmas)
• Not in accord with community vision statement supported by all local political parties.

Given the instances that have been outlined, development without permission, reviewing distribution without telling anyone

Can Harmsworth Quay be trusted to keep their word?

The answer must be no!

So the only way to control the future of the area is reject the removal of the nighttime ban, require a more sympathetic approach to the main site in accordance with the agreed community vision and reject the car park development on Roberts Close.

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Bulletin 22