| Topic: | Re:St George's Church (aka Piano Museum) appeal to demolish has arrived | |
| Posted by: | Stephen Browne | |
| Date/Time: | 15/04/06 13:08:00 |
| As we approach the appeal date I am copying my submission printed in Letters to The Editor, Brentford Chiswick & Isleworth Times 31-Mar-2006. ======== Dear Sir The rejection of the Kew Bridge (Scottish Widows) planning application demonstrates a thorough, coordinated and determined effort by the citizens of Brentford will result in common sense prevailing. Congratulations to us all for not rolling onto our backs and taking it from another developer determined to get their way, motivated solely by profit margins with no consideration to the planning process, guidelines, policies and procedures laid down by local and central government. We should not only be insulted by the absolute disregard of local people by the developers but also send them an invoice for the time it has taken us all to reach this point. But whilst we bath in the euphoria of this result we find ourselves scrubbing up for the next challenge. Some 500 yards down the road lies St Georges Church. Just on 15 months ago the Hounslow Council Sustainable Development Committee refused an application by another of our well known developers to demolish the church, albeit leaving the tower standing, and replace it with apartments. A considerable many of the local residents gathered enough information and momentum to halt this plan to pillage Brentford of one of it's few remaining historic buildings - indeed noted as a landmark in the Council Unitary Development Plan. But the profiteers are a determined bunch, and appeal they did. So now we find not only do we have to substantiate our right to have this historic building left standing, but the council has to justify it's own decision and spend time and (our public) resources at a hearing simply because the developer has thrown their toys out of the pram. The plan was (is) to demolish St George's Church and replace it with a mere 19 apartments, and Brentford is in such desperate need of apartments that this piece of history will not get in their way. There is to be a hearing open to the public 19 April 2006 at the Council offices. We are not about to let this one go so easily either, have submitted our case and shall attend the hearing to continue the fight to keep the church standing. I urge your attendance and would appreciate you letting me know you will be coming as well as a gauge of numbers. If you could email me at secretary@hollandgardens.org to either indicate attendance or your abhorrence at the plan then please do so. If you have Internet access please also express your opinion via a one question poll on our web site (http://www.hollandgardens.org just under the left menu). You can also read a considerable amount about the church there as well. |