Brent Cross Decision Devastating For Local People - Teather
November 20, 2009 4:44 PM
Sarah Teather has spoken up for local people at Brent and Barnet's planning committees
Liberal Democrat Brent East MP Sarah Teather has accused Labour and Conservative councillors in Barnet of ignoring local people as they pushed through the unpopular Brent Cross Cricklewood Development at a planning committee last night.
Thousands of local residents have signed petitions supporting Sarah's demand for the Labour Government to call in the controversial scheme for public inquiry.
Barnet councillors gave the go ahead despite formal opposition from neighbouring boroughs Brent and Camden, who will suffer the devastating impact of extra traffic and pollution. The development includes a large waste dump on the border with Brent and would bring an estimated 29,000 extra cars a day onto local roads.
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:
"Barnet councillors have stabbed their neighbours in Brent and Camden in the back. If the Government do not call it in this disastrous scheme will devastate our local area, with thousands of extra cars and pollution overwhelming local streets.
"There was a huge demonstration outside the committee on Wednesday night and I was pleased to speak up for Brent residents at the hearing. Local people are understandably furious that their views have been dismissed without a second thought.
"We are not against regeneration that would improve the area, but we are passionately against regeneration that will actually make our area worse. You simply cannot build a colossal new urban centre without taking steps to protect the environment and the community that is already there.
"The Secretary of State must now act immediately to call in this scheme."
Lia Colacicco, local resident and co-ordinator of the Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan, said:
"Following the sham consultation carried out by the developer's PR agency, Barnet as expected, last night passed the huge new scheme. The Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan will now be asking the Secretary of State to call it in for a public inquiry. This is the only objective way for the views of local people to finally be taken on board, and to allow the full scrutiny this disastrous development deserves. Thousands of residents across Brent and beyond fear gridlock from the huge retail expansion.
"The developer's reassurances for the waste dump's safety and incinerator emissions don't wash with us. For thousands of residents in Dollis Hill, public relations and private profit have been placed before public health and community benefit."
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