A DECISION to relocate a group of travellers to a residential area has been given the go-ahead.
The travellers are being moved from their current site in Thurston Road, Lewisham - which is owned by Lewisham Council and managed by charity Azadeh - to make way for the Lewisham Gateway development.
A planning application by the council to build a travellers' park with five pitches on the site of the old Watergate School, in Church Grove, was agreed at a council planning committee meeting.
However, the proposal has faced opposition from residents in Church Grove and the surrounding area.
The council received 28 letters, a petition signed by 283 residents and business people and a letter from the Church Grove Residents' Committee.
Church Grove resident Kim Horwood, who spoke at the meeting, said: "The council's own conservation policy for Church Grove is nothing should be built next to it which is not in keeping with it.
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"But it has not explained how a caravan site can possibly fulfil this requirement."
Objectors also say the site is unsuitable and the road too narrow for caravans.
The land is also close to the River Ravensbourne and is at risk of flooding, according to residents.
But the council plans to raise the site by 300mm to 400mm to help prevent any flooding.
The application was granted at the meeting on March 13 with a list of 23 conditions
attached.
The Thurston Road site has been occupied for more than 25 years.
But the land is to be redeveloped as part of the Lewisham Gateway development and the travellers have to be moved for the scheme to go ahead.
Consultations were held in May on two proposed sites which were chosen from an initial list of 63.
The Church Grove site was favoured over the Laurence House lorry park in Catford Road, Catford.
Derelict school buildings will be demolished and five pitches set up for static caravans.
Posted by: Mick, Walderslade on 12:54pm Wed 26 Mar 08
[quote]The land is also close to the River Ravensbourne and is at risk of flooding, according to residents.[/quote]
Maybe the council has come to its senses the travellers will be travelling alright.. down the river..lol.
The land is also close to the River Ravensbourne and is at risk of flooding, according to residents.
Maybe the council has come to its senses the travellers will be travelling alright.. down the river..lol.
Posted by: unfair as usual., not there thank god on 1:39pm Wed 26 Mar 08
This is typical, ignore the wishes of the local residents, I mean after all its there lifes that are going to be affected by this, not the people who made the decision, we all saw in the weekends papers how minsters dont like it when it arrives on their doorsteps !
This is typical, ignore the wishes of the local residents, I mean after all its there lifes that are going to be affected by this, not the people who made the decision, we all saw in the weekends papers how minsters dont like it when it arrives on their doorsteps !
The decision is made. I hope that, if it goes ahead, the residents of the area will make the traveller families welcome and make it clear that their argument is not with the travellers but with the council. This will be a big upheaval for these families, through no choice of their own, and if they are met with open hostility it will not help them to settle in and get on with their neighbours.
The decision is made. I hope that, if it goes ahead, the residents of the area will make the traveller families welcome and make it clear that their argument is not with the travellers but with the council. This will be a big upheaval for these families, through no choice of their own, and if they are met with open hostility it will not help them to settle in and get on with their neighbours.
I'm a resident of Church Grove and can confirm that our argument is not with the travellers, but the council. It has continued to ignore our conservation and safety concerns. At the planning meeting, its highways officer actually admitted they had yet to consult the local fire officer. We had, and he said it will be impossible to get a fire engine down Church Grove and on to the site. Also, the only access to the site is Church Grove, which the Council has measured as providing only 2.5 metres width clearance. Government guidelines say the minimum width must be 3.7 metres; but worse still, many travellers have German travelling caravans which can be 2.55 metres in width! Yes, the plan is to raise the land under the travellers' buildings, but this will just increase water flow into Church Grove!
I'm a resident of Church Grove and can confirm that our argument is not with the travellers, but the council. It has continued to ignore our conservation and safety concerns. At the planning meeting, its highways officer actually admitted they had yet to consult the local fire officer. We had, and he said it will be impossible to get a fire engine down Church Grove and on to the site. Also, the only access to the site is Church Grove, which the Council has measured as providing only 2.5 metres width clearance. Government guidelines say the minimum width must be 3.7 metres; but worse still, many travellers have German travelling caravans which can be 2.55 metres in width! Yes, the plan is to raise the land under the travellers' buildings, but this will just increase water flow into Church Grove!
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