CJAG has setup a channel on YouTube to host our videos. It includes:
- Public meetings organised by CJAG
- Special events and meetings
- Council speeches
- Planning application decisions
- …and some others that we find relevant to our campaigns
You’re welcome to subscribe (and click on the notification bell to be alerted of new uploads).
You can already find on the channel videos related to our articles and campaigns:
Planning Reform: Response from the Conservatives Leader (spoiler alert: derogatory language!)
Back in 2018, the Clapham Junction Action Group published a list of aspirations for planning reforms to be discussed. In drafting those pledges/aspirations, we have consulted with resident associations, community groups and Societies in the borough. We listed 9 areas of improvement in 3 larger categories: Meaningful public consultations, Planning Application Committee (PAC) representation and transparency, Local plan properly non-ambiguous and enforced.
During the full Council meeting on 15 December 2021, Councillor Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council, gave his view on planning reforms:
“New approach to planning? My ass!”
Article: New approach to planning? My ass!
In order for you to hear the full context and the Labour’s approach to planning (which is not really proposing much change in our views!), watch here:
Conservatives voting to protests and XR actions on climate change
Extract from the full Council meeting Conservatives where Conservatives Cllr Peter Graham called for all councillors to vote a motion to condemn protests, XR actions and against all disruptions to transport caused by activists raising attention on climate emergency. He criticised a series of Labour Councillors. You will see their responses in the second part of the video, after Cllr Tony Belton raised the point of order.
NB: In a pompous and patronising way, Cllr Graham named Labour Councillors Walker and Rigby as supporting Extinction Rebellion activists, while appearing to make a link between supporting XR and questioning the holocaust:
“With the depressing but familiar attitude of those on the radical left Mr Hallam is on the record describing the holocaust as an almost normal event. Mr Hallam is the funder of Extinction Rebellion. […] The same Extinction Rebellion that Councillor Walker has repeatedly thanked and described as love and kindness. The same Extinction Rebellion that advocates direct action; the same direct action that has been backed by Councillor Rigby”
Context: As reported in an article in the Guardian, Mr Hallam said that in the context of other genocides that happened in History, the Holocaust was “almost a normal event … just another fuckery in human history.” He later claimed his comments were taken out of context. Extinction Rebellion UK and Germany have clearly distanced themselves from his comments.
Conservatives celebrating the success of Nine Elms
“Nothing come from nothing“, Conservatives Councillor Humphries said, and “What better example have we had of what we’ve achieved in Battersea Nine Elms […] there is a genuine sense of community“.
The truth is that Nine Elms is an area into big trouble currently, where developers’ ubris has collated with Wandsworth Council blindness. We have wrote several articles on the area:
- Chinese developer sells Nine Elms’ site at deep discount to cut debt
- Constructions halted and Contractors pulling out: Nine Elms in trouble
- Who is really living in the luxury developments of Nine Elms?
- Nine Elms: hubris and complacent Council leads to obscenity
- Northern Line extension good for luxury developments but not good enough for ‘standard’ Wandsworth residents
Debate on tall building in the parliament
In April 2009, Battersea MP Martin Linton called a debate in Parliament to discuss the issue of tall buildings. The debate was recorded on Parliament TV, in Westminster Hall, Wednesday 29 April, 4pm. In his speech he was talking about the number of tall building applications in Wandsworth borough.
Twin skyscrapers at Clapham Junction: Public Meeting (2009)
On the 28th of January 2009, we organised a Public Meeting, with the help of the Battersea Society, in order to talk about the Clapham Junction redevelopment proposal submitted by Metro Shopping Fund. We had a fantastic audience, 3 great speakers with Tony Tuck, Kate Williams and Martin Linton.
- Article: Public Meeting: local democracy in action
- Play List: Public Meeting – 28 Jan 2009 – Twin Towers
The Future of York Road (2015)
On the 1st of November, more than 90 people attended the Public Meeting organised in York Gardens library by CJAG, in order to talk about the developments planned for York Road, Lombard Road and Clapham Junction area. This was also a very good opportunity to talk about the general planning strategy, implementation of planning policies by the Council.
We had 4 speakers: Tony Belton (Labour Councillor for Latchmere Ward), Philip Whyte (chair of the Planning Group in the Wandsworth Society), Andrew Duncan (Plantation Wharf resident) and myself, Cyril Richert (chair of the Clapham Junction Action Group). Councillors of St Mary’s Park were invited several time but they either declined or ignored the emails.
- Article: Public Meeting York area: the videos
- Play list: Public Meeting – 1 Nov 2015 – York area
Ram Brewery: The Inquiry (2009)
After the approval of the Ram Brewery redevelopment project, including 2 skyscrapers, by Wandsworth Borough Council last year, the planning was stopped by the government as the Communities Secretary called for an inquiry.
