Residents in Slade Green are protesting a growth strategy that could see thousands of homes built in the area after they say they were left out of consultation roadshows.
The Slade Green Action Group ‘Say no to Bexley Growth Strategy’ has been set up amid concerns that the growth strategy proposed by Bexley Council to improve the borough will be detrimental to Slade Green.
In the draft Growth Strategy, Slade Green is described as having “no recognised town centre” and “lacking a sense of identity.”
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One of the organisers of the Slade Green Action Group, who did not want to be named, said: “They want to change 8,000 new homes and move the station.
“There was no consultation event and we had to ask to be included. There is one doctors, one part time dentist, primary schools full to capacity and not one secondary school.
“The promise is to provide affordable housing but majority of people here are on the national minimum wage.”
“We are left on our own here, but there is a good community spirit.”
The action group have started a petition for residents to sign.
The growth strategy identifies Slade Green as a major area for improvement and sets out a vision for 8,000 homes and 1,500 jobs.
The strategy reads: “The vision will be achieved by realising the development potential through the release of underused employment land, the renewal of poor quality housing areas and the development of surplus, poor quality open space where appropriate for higher density, higher quality residential and mixed use developments.
“Opportunities exist for the opening up of the river, the intensification of housing stock, the improvement and reconnection of open space and the creation of a new heart to the community.”
The Council’s overall aim is to provide 50 per cent of affordable housing and in private residential schemes of more than 10 homes to provide a minimum of 35 per cent affordable housing.
A meeting is to be held next week at 7pm on July 17 at Elm Road Baptist Church.
Bexley Council have been approached for further comment.
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