| Topic: | Re:Pergola mark 2 | |
| Posted by: | Sandra Phelan | |
| Date/Time: | 17/11/18 17:02:00 |
This 'new' Palmhouse development does not address one of the most serious local concerns raised by the original planning proposal: pollution. We all know Putney High Street is blighted by toxic air - far exceeding the legal limits. This new development will attract large numbers of visitors from outside Putney, some of whom (no matter what the developers say) will arrive/leave by car or uber and therefore increase the deadly pollution. Visitors parking in nearby streets will also exacerbate the existing parking problems for local residents. Both air, light and noise pollution is bound to increase. In their marketing material the developers say the design will: "contribute to the mitigation of the high degree of air-pollution in and around Putney High Street". Actually, having a few palm trees and some green planting inside a plastic enclosure will be an insignificant contribution to any mitigation of the air-pollution. If only it were that easy! On the contrary... the extra cars, delivery vans, refuse collection, cooking smell extraction, energy use and waste - combined with the air-conditioning the 'enclosed' three restaurants & kitchens require, can only add to the pollution. The number of potential visitors is really concerning. Look at the Incipio Group's website and you will see the numbers of visitors to their existing (similar) restaurants & bars: the Pergola Olympia attracted 15,695 bookings before it even opened, their outlet in White City attracted 120,000 visitors in its first year, in Paddington 180,000 visitors in 6 months - this company is in the business of catering on a very large scale. How would this affect those living close to this proposal? Some houses back directly on to the Exchange and I'm convinced their lives could suffer - residents are understandably very concerned at the possibility of their evenings being blighted by noise, light pollution and cooking smells. And the departure of that number of customers late in the evening could result in other anti-social issues for locals. I'm amazed the developers have the nerve to re-apply at such a totally inappropriate location knowing full well the distress their original plan caused. This new plan is simply trying to mask their intentions: get as many people as possible, to consume as much food and alcohol as possible. The council should be taking urgent action to help existing businesses - some of the smaller local restaurants are struggling - this new development could well make things tougher for them. The council surely wants to reduce pollution, not allow a development that could make it worse. Developers providing ecologically-sensitive schemes that enhance the quality of life of residents & visitors to Putney and create vibrant successful businesses should obviously be encouraged but this proposed development is attempting to mask the damage it will cause by including palm trees & green planting in the interior, and using claims that cannot be substantiated in their marketing material. Please don't be influenced by the marketing ploy that this development will somehow alleviate some of the toxic air-quality in Putney - or the way Incipio have linked this with the Royal Horticultural Society. The display/marketing material at the two consultation sessions includes the following: "the project also comes with the full endorsement of the Royal Horticultural Society" - I hope the RHS will come to realise they have linked themselves to what is clearly not a 'horticultural project' but an environmentally-damaging food & beverage outlet on a huge scale. Incipio's website states: "We go into an area and create hype", so I assume they also do this with their marketing material - it also says "No project stays the same for more than a few months with themes, restaurants and sites revamped and relaunched regularly to keep the venues varied and current", so the twee, deceptively environmentally-friendly named 'Palmhouse' theme could suddenly be changed into what? This development would be a blight on the environment and on the lives of Putney residents. I encourage everyone in Putney to check out the reality of this proposed development and hopefully like me, strongly object to the proposal when it reaches planning stage. |