VIDEO - GRAVESEND: Council leader says rejection of tower is not a blow (From News Shopper)

VIDEO - GRAVESEND: Council leader says rejection of tower is not a blow

12:06pm Thursday 22nd January 2009

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Gravesham Council’s leader says the removal of the tower from the £150m Gravesend town centre regeneration scheme is not a blow.

At a press conference On Tuesday (January 20) Councillor Mike Snelling announced the change to developer Edinburgh House’s planning application after “universal” opposition to the 33-storey tower.

Residents’ group Urban Gravesham had created a petition with around 7,000 signatures against the tower, and English Heritage and Kent County Council had said it was inappropriate during a consultation period.

Speaking to News Shopper after the press conference, Cllr Snelling said: “I don’t regard the removal of the tower from the plan a blow at all.

“I didn’t have a problem with an iconic tall building, but the democratic planning process has worked to reject the tower.

“The universal view that was coming back was that a tower of that size in that location was not appropriate, and we have taken notice of those views.

“We now have to progress the rest of the planning application and get the tower replaced.

“The planning application without the tower will have to progress through the system as quickly as possible.

“There is some routine work to be done in response to consultees comments and then it will go to the regulatory board (planning committee) as quickly as possible.

“It is essential it is passed, otherwise the scheme might fail, however I can’t and won’t influence that decision.

“Alongside that will be the work that Edinburgh House will be doing, in conversation with us, to find a viable alternative to the tower - something that produces the same amount of net profit to make the scheme financially viable.

“Once an alternative is proposed it will go forward to a full public consultation, and that will twin track the process of the planning application.”

“I think the regeneration is absolutely vital to the town centre and therefore to Gravesham.

“The town centre has done well over the last few years but we have got gaps appearing in our shopping centre and too many pound shops.

“We can’t stand still in the effort to get people to shop locally rather than go somewhere else.

“To preserve our town centre it is absolutely vital this regeneration takes place.”

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