Author: Cyril Richert
I received today the newsletter from the Councillors of Northcote ward:
NORTHCOTE WARD E-bulletin February 2009
Welcome to our latest bulletin with reports on local issues including the extension of the East London Line, Heathrow expansion, the Clapham Junction planning application, the Bolingbroke Hospital and details of the next Safer Neighbourhood Team meeting. Please forward the bulletin to friends and neighbours in the area.
Philip Beddows, Peter Dawson and Martin Johnson
Councillors, Northcote Ward, Battersea,
Wandsworth Borough Council.
Email: Heretohelp@wandsworthconservatives.com
Among all the issues I will quote three, relating to topics on this website (and will link to our articles in bold brown, for your reference):
The East London Line – Good News for Clapham Junction
Boris Johnson and Geoff Hoon came to Clapham Junction last week to announce the go-ahead for the East London Line extension. Really good news for Northcote ward residents that follows a lengthy campaign by the Council and local Conservatives to secure funding for the connection.
On the Council website: Clapham Junction wins East London Line connection
Jane Ellison, Battersea’s Conservative Parliamentary candidate, was there to discuss the proposals with Boris Johnson
Read our article about the East London extension here.
Northcote Road – Shop Locally
The Northcote Business Network launched a new website in December last year http://www.welovenorthcoteroad.com
Use it to check out what is happening along Northcote Road .
Read our article about business in CJ here.
Clapham Junction Battersea – Planning Application
Thank you to everyone who has let us know their views about this planning application – it is probably the most important to affect Northcote Ward in a generation. If you have not yet submitted your views to the Council’s Planning department please do so as soon as possible.
All three Northcote councillors spoke at last month’s public meeting organised by the Clapham Junction action group – see reports posted (17th February and 29th January) on the action group’s website www.towerscj.wordpress.com. At the meeting we explained that we continue to ask questions about a number of key aspects of the scheme including the impact of two 42 storey towers on the surrounding area much of which is designated a Conservation area; the real nature of the station and platform improvements and Network Rail’s plans; the need for a proper transport interchange including bus facilities; the implications for air pollution in the area and the mix of the proposed development with its focus on small flats and retail outlets with the loss of other employment opportunities.
Jane Ellison, Battersea’s Conservative Parliamentary candidate, has issued a Residents’ News opposing this application – go to www.janeellison.net and scroll to Latest Campaign – Britain’s Busiest Station Deserves Better.
Details of the proposal are available on the developers, Metro Shopping Fund, website www.theheartofbattersea.co.uk. Go to Latest News to see their current leaflet (the beat 03).
Full details of the applications and comments submitted so far can be seen on the Council’s Planning website search the planning register and enter application number 2008/4488.
The following links will take you to a recent exchange of letters between the Council’s Planning Department and Network Rail, both are posted on the Planning website – they are well worth reading.
Letter from Wandsworth Planning Department to Network Rail
Response from Network Rail dated 30th January 2009
The following link will take you to a letter that the Council’s Planning Department sent to the developers last month. We understand they are preparing a comprehensive response.
Letter from Wandsworth Planning Department to the applicants
Whatever your own views send your comments, including your postal address, to Mark Hunter at planningapplications@wandsworth.gov.uk
Copies should be sent to
1. Cllr Leslie McDonnell, Chairman of the Planning Applications Committee, with a request to circulate your views to members of the committee – lmcdonnell@wandsworth.gov.uk
2. Cllr Edward Lister, Council Leader – elister@wandsworth.gov.uk
3. Your Northcote ward councillors Philip Beddows – pbeddows@wandsworth.gov.uk ; Peter Dawson – pdawson@wandsworth.gov.ukmartinjohnson@wandsworth.gov.uk and Martin Johnson –
As we said at the public meeting we will ensure that the views of Northcote residents are properly represented when the application is discussed at the Planning Committee and at any full Council meeting so please do let us know what you think of this application.
Read our report on the meeting here and watch the videos there. See our analysis on the letter sent by Wandsworth Council press officer: Planning Decision Deferred Again! Our comment about Jane Ellison’s statement is here.
