| Topic: | Putney development, high-rise and localism | |
| Posted by: | Nicholas Evans | |
| Date/Time: | 01/06/12 10:34:00 |
| I was interested to read the summary of the meeting held by the Putney Society. I am glad that some are beginning to wake-up to the damage that over-development is doing to Putney. I have lived in Putney for over 30 years and like being here. I chose this town because it had pleasant open spaces, the river, good local primary schools and buildings in proportion to the roads. I did not want it to become a sort of "Croydon-on-Thames" which is what will happen if the Council's development plan is followed through. Already our Councillors have approved huge blocks of flats on the river without thought to building the necessary infrastructure to support the influx of people. They have sanctioned the sell-off of school playgrounds for flats, the inappropriate development of Putney Hospital with more flats and a huge primary school, plotted with the Conservators to build new roads on the Common, and have many more 15+ storey buildings in the plan. Putney High Street will become a canyon flanked by high-rises and the Upper Richmond Road ruined. But why am I surprised? After all the Chair or our Planning Applications Committee who nods through these property developments is Nick Cuff, who is himself a property developer working for Essential Land, a specialist in urban development. Just one example of how close our Councillors and their officials are to the property developers who build, make millions and then move on. It is time that our representatives, town planners and officials consulted residents about how to retain what is best in Putney and to allow only appropriate development that is in proportion to what we have already. Should we build on brown field sites? Yes, let's allow building, but of a size that enhances the environment not damages it. Or in five years we really will be trapped in "Croydon-on-Thames". Nick |