The Guardian: "The battle over our communal spaces"

Link to 'The Guardian' letters

"Jeevan Vasagar uses the opening of the new Granary Square, King's Cross (conveniently opposite the Guardian offices) as the hook for his piece (Sold-off cities – the rise in private ownership of public spaces, 12 June).

"In reality, Granary Square is a new, public space where people are welcome to meet, sit, eat their lunch, use the free Wi-Fi or simply wander through. Of course, the space requires some form of oversight, but that is true of all public spaces. ..."

Robert Evans

Director, Argent (King's Cross) Ltd

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"The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, as the Olympic site will be known, will be publicly accessible and largely publicly owned when it re-opens after the London 2012 Games (A democratic void in land ownership, 12 June).

"The 20-year development plans include building new homes, bringing employment opportunities to the area and developing high-quality open spaces that are for and owned by the public. They will be beautiful, completely accessible and buzzing with community life, culture and sporting opportunities that will bring people together. ..."

Andrew Altman
Chief executive, London Legacy Development Corporation