Now that government has announced via the Budget that it is going to make life a lot easier for developers by relaxing planning laws, we are seeing what lies in store for our area. Because Lewisham has been so slack about tree preservation, the back-garden grabbers are trying via a fait accompli to get their speculative blocks of flats crammed in everywhere, in defiance of government's stated policy on back-garden grabbing and Lewisham's own local policy for the area.
Planning law, however, is still in force, as are tree preservations orders, and we need to tell our councillors, our MPs, the Greater London Assembly rep (Len Duvall) and even Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Community, that local residents will NOT stand for this.
The Honor Oak Park Residents Association, active in this area for 30 years, is fully in support of the residents of 105 Honor Oak Park and others threatened with garden grab development. We have been instrumental in the last few years in having several objectionable local schemes turned down or substantially modified and we will not let go of this one.
Our AGM and Open Meeting is on Wednesday 20 April at the Small Hall, Ackroyd Centre, Ackroyd Road, 8pm. Locals welcome - you don't have to be a member.