Where can I find that clause, Michael?
Have a look ForestHullās post of 21st July
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Any more news on this? Iām convinced the ground has been poisoned there, as the trees are gradually dying, as far as I can see, and the whole area is a depressing reminder of just how awful us humans can be to nature. Itās sickening.
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And what is the purpose of the horrid fences? To keep people out, from what? Nature? If someoneās claiming ownership they can start by tidying it up.
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Iāll contact the owner again to see if he has an update and will ask the question re the fence.
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Itās awful, it was a pleasant little bit of green, now itās a litter stewn scrubland. These people ought to have the book thrown at them.
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Completely understand your ire. But Iād be throwing the book at the council who made the decision to sell the land off in the first place.
Ahh I didnāt know that.
Yes, a firm called Investor Alliance based in Luton purchased it and immediately fenced it off, to what end I have no idea. Iāll try and appeal again to my contactās civic duty and ask the fence be taken down allowing us to get in and give the space some much needed TLC.
OK, so have sent another email, and thanks @HannahM I borrowed your line:
'I am getting in touch again to see what the latest update is as there is now a growing, significant community unhappiness at the way the land, once a lovely open green space but now nothing more than a litter strewn scrubland, is being left to rot in front of their eyes.
As the owner of a piece of land in an urban environment, your firm has a civic duty to maintain it, something which is definitely not happening since it was purchased. The trees desperately need to be pruned and the grass brought back to life and all as soon as possible.
Regarding the fence, people simply cannot understand why it was erected in the first place. To keep people out? From what, an open green space that they previously had unhindered access too? They see it as nothing more than an unnecessarily aggressive tactic from a developer with no connection to the area and it has done nothing but generate bad feeling towards your firm.
Can I therefore recommend the following:
- the fence be taken down with immediate effect. Thereās absolutely no need for it. If you win your next planning permission, it makes no difference if thereās a fence there or not.
- the trees are professionally pruned
- the community restore the space to how it was before it was sold.
I hope this email conveys just how unhappy people are about this, but a few simple gestures would go a long way to making them feel a lot better about it.ā
BTW, I also copied in Councillor Anwar to hopefully add more weight.
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I do not think the council ever owned or sold the land. I understood (see previous threads about all this) the land was owned for many years by JC Decaux, the advertising hoarding people. They eventually sold it - at auction wasnāt it?
The Council then refused to sell the new owners/developers the Councilās strip of land, the pathway running alongside. Also refused to swap any of their land.
No, the villains of this are the developers who are playing a long game and ensuring the site is seen clearly as private land and making sure it remains an eyesore.
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But that land has been there long before they ever came into existence?
Re the villains, Iām guessing their long game is to leave the green to rack and ruin for long enough that the council eventually cave in. If so, itās a disgraceful tactic.
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I was just saying that the Council did not own that land. Just thought you were blaming them unfairly.
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A Section 215 being issued surely canāt be far off?
Perhaps Cllr Anwar could advise?
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Thanks for clarifying; good to know.
So given the hoardings weāre supposed to be removed in 2019 why are they still up?
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The original fencing in was not legal at some 2 m high. It was eventually taken down after protests and in compliance with Lewishamās requirement. The current replacement fence , however ugly, is legal, I think 3 feet high is allowed in this location from what others have said.
Ah yes, do remember that first fence.
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I doubt it. The council issued a notice to remove the 2m hoardings in 2019. The council could have issued a s215 notice to properly maintain the site in October 2020, when it was mentioned by the planning inspector. After 16 months I think we can assume the council have no interest in any enforcement action on this site. Officer and councillors would probably prefer that the site continues to be poisoned until there can be a successful planning application to build housing on this site - in line with the councilās target of building as much housing as possible across Lewisham borough.
But perhaps Iām wrong. Is anybody aware of anything done by councillors or council officers to improve this site since October 2020?
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Thank you very much for that
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