THIS is neither the time nor place to rehearse the various arguments about the future of Crystal Palace park's top site.

It is enough to say, by now, News Shopper readers should be in no doubt the Grade II* listed park has been the focus of some pretty fierce battles in recent years.

The big question is, why? Why all this bitterness? Why all the recriminations between the opposing sides?

Well, according to many residents, Bromley Council has its own agenda for the site of Paxton's famous Crystal Palace, which, let's not forget, could still be built on in theory.

The council, for its part, maintains innocence and its commitment to "open dialogue", while the constant stream of outraged messages on the hugely-unpopular 8ft fence get dismissed as "graffiti" and "anti-social".

Councillors and officials continue to chant the mantra of stakeholders' meetings and consultation but the results of the last consultation process appear to have gone unheeded.

Yes, access to the rest of the park has been addressed but so what?

The majority of people say they hate the hoarding and want it pulled down and replaced with something less military in appearance.

The fence alone has already cost the council upwards of £20,000 and has got us nowhere.

The time for talking has passed and we need to see some movement on this.

RICHARD SIMCOX

January 28, 2003 11:00