BRENT CROSS CRICKLEWOOD COALITION FORMED

A COALITION of local groups – spanning the boroughs of Brent, Barnet, and Camden – has formed to oppose the current £4.5-billion Brent Cross Cricklewood (BXC) redevelopment, and to win a public enquiry, at which the developers and Barnet Council can be held to democratic account.

The coalition consists of residents groups, three political parties, two Members of Parliament, one London Assembly Member, three Friends of the Earth groups, two cycling campaigns, London-wide and local transport campaigners, a large local employer, and individual local residents. It does not mandate its members, but works on a basis of common aims – to seek rejection of the planning application, or to achieve a public inquiry to stop BXC redevelopment as it is currently intended.

Lia Colacicco, Brent resident and Coalition Co-ordinator, says:

“This scheme is unsustainable in many ways, despite the green-wash painted by the developers. Our Coalition objects to many aspects of the plan -- transport provision, increases in pollution, environmental degradation, and lack of social sustainability.

“In view of the huge negative impact this regional-scale development will have on a wide area of north-west London, all our diverse groups have come together to oppose it. We welcome regeneration – Regeneration is Exciting! – but we do not accept it has to be this ill-conceived, pre-climate-change plan that has incensed a great number of local people across our three boroughs.”

Alison Hopkins, Brent resident on the border with Barnet, adds:

“This is an attempt to build Manhattan or Canary Wharf in a suburban setting, destroying much of our quality of life in the process. Frankly, the whole scheme is overbearing, and smacks of over-ambition, especially in the current fragile economic climate. People will only live there because they have to, not because they want to.

“This scheme contains outline planning permission for the next couple of decades, for the developers to do what they want. Only an unprecedented Act of Parliament could undo the tremendous power they will gain, if this outline scheme is approved.

“Furthermore, the developers have slipped FULL planning permission into what Barnet has always called an outline application, so they can immediately make huge changes, convenient for them, even though they have no commitment to see them through, over the years ahead.”

Over 3,000 petition names, calling for the development to be called in for a public inquiry, were handed in John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, last June.