Grove Park: Developer warned not to damage protected land

Cllr Paul Bell said the situation is being monitored “closely” after fears were raised by Grove Park residents and ward councillors that 3242 Investments plans to damage land the community wants to turn into a 7.2-hectare park.    

The Grove Park Neighbourhood Forum aims to turn the land from the South Circular to past Elmstead Woods Railway Station into the ‘Railway Children Urban National Park’, a new district park for Lewisham.    

See related: Feature: Railway Children Urban National Park

The plan reimagines the site as an accessible nature trail with Grove Park Nature Reserve at its heart.    

The GPNF has already put forward a neighbourhood plan, though it is yet to be accepted by Lewisham Council.    

And the plan is also under threat from private landowners who have attempted to develop it numerous times, and have damaged it by cutting down trees.  

Stuart Oldroyd, of 3242 Investments, who owns a patch of land behind the Ringway Community Centre called the horse meadow, recently had the gates to it illegally padlocked to prevent people coming through.  

Children attending the Adventure Applied learning programme provided by the Centre usually walk through the horse meadow to get to the Grove Park Nature Reserve. They, along with the local community, have easement rights to it.   

The council responded by putting a TPO on the land, but construction workers arrived at 8am one morning with heavy machinery after it was put in place.  

They claimed they were there to “clear some brambles”, but locals – who were not warned in advance – were sceptical, noting what “looked like tree chippers”.   

Locals and ward Cllr Suzannah Clarke fended them off, but remain concerned they could come back at any time.  

Cllr Bell said on Monday (November 16) that the developer was told “any works, including planned works to remove scrub and brambles, would require permission due to the presence of young tree saplings in the area”. 

3242 Investments was previously investigated by The Forestry Commission after an area of ancient woodland it owned in Crawley “was wrecked by contractors, turning it into a muddy wasteland”.     

Crawley Borough Council said a “significant number” of trees were felled in Burleys Wood without permission before it was informed.  

Earlier this month at an overview and scrutiny meeting, Cllr Liam Curran urged the council to protect the land from “damaging” developers and accept the GPNP.  

Following this site visit, officers reiterated to the land owner and their representative that any works, including planned works to remove scrub and brambles, would require permission due to the presence of young tree saplings in the area

In his statement this week Cllr Bell said the council was “committed to protecting nature and biodiversity” in the borough. 

“When the council was made aware of allegations of unauthorised tree works, officers visited the site to investigate and contacted the land owner’s representative to seek assurance that no unauthorised works would be undertaken. 

“Following this site visit, officers reiterated to the land owner and their representative that any works, including planned works to remove scrub and brambles, would require permission due to the presence of young tree saplings in the area. 

“Officers continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure appropriate enforcement action is taken if required.  

“We will endeavour to keep local representatives and ward councillors updated about any other developments in relation to this issue. 

“Climate change is a real and present danger to all life on the planet. We must protect our open green spaces not only to protect our environment but also for the well-being of our residents.”