Officers agreed with the object and there is a request for enforcement going before planning committee on 20th Jan - http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/i...4&MId=1896

All - summary of the decision, below.

"8.0 RECOMMENDATION
8.1 Authorise the Head of Law to take all the necessary action to secure the removal of the brick walls, concrete steps, concrete hardstanding, balustrades, hand rails and front boundary railings for the following reason:-
The unauthorised works have resulted in material harm and have had a significant negative impact on the frontage of this prominent building in David's Road, and this has had a detrimental impact on its contribution to the character of the Forest Hill Conservation Area. The works are thus contrary to Policies URB 3 Urban Design, URB 16 New Development, Changes of Use and Alterations to Buildings in Conservation Areas and URB 20 Locally Listed Buildings in the adopted Unitary Development Plan (July 2004) and relevant government policies as set out in PPS 5: Planning for The Historic Environment."

Great result and thanks to all who wrote in.

Apparently in recent weeks officers have been working with the owners of this church to work out ways to remedy the problems with the massive steps and railings here. The giant posters have now been taken down (hopefully they will stay down).
For this reason the planning committee voted to defer this enforcement for 6 months to allow the owners to work with the council to find a suitable solution.
A little disappointing but at least we know that the council are treating this seriously.

There is a HSS near the Harvester, what other help do they need?

I'm relieved the Church has taken the signs down. Besides looking better, it's a gesture that suggests they are taking this seriously. At the end of the day this will all go quicker if they co-operate. If I see them collaborating with the Council and making positive changes it will also go some way (for me at least), to repairing the damaged relationships with us as a wider community. I'll feel much more like they are a Church that respects the local community and the law. So my view is good on them and the Council. I hope the Church keeps on in a similar vein, and I wish them well in finding a cost-effective solution that also complies with the Conservation Area rules...

Be great if they find shorter railings too so you don't feel like some untouchable they want to keep out every time you walk past!

I have to say that this whole thing has given me confidence in the Council. I hadn't really had any dealings before so didn't have any experience to go by, but so far .

I would have some sympathy with the church if they had not understood the planning requirements in the first place, or if they had been considerate towards their neighbours over the years.

On the first point, however, they understood the planning requirements from the beginning, and submitted some very nice plans with a winding path and lots of greenery. Once these plans had been accepted by the council, however, they went ahead with an entirely different set of building works.

On the second point, those of us near to the church had to endure years of very serious noise from them, going on long past midnight on weekdays as well as weekends. Lewisham Noise Pollution and Alex Feakes eventually got this under control, but the church persisted for as long as they possibly could before being forced to stop.

This is the same all over again. The church is now persisting with these building works for as long as they can before being forced to remove them. The only difference is that as yet we're not sure that that will happen.

Were they having services through the night ? Or was years of night building work a problem.
You could mention to them that Jesus preached in the open air and clients did not come by car.
I am still anoyed at their closing the short cut that had been in use for years between Devonshire and David's Rd

The noise was caused by late-night services, with massive amplifiers, that went on long past midnight, sometimes until 1am. In the beginning they may not have known that 11pm was the cut-off point, but they certainly knew pretty soon after. But they just carried on doing it, as if they had no neighbours at all.

And of course with any sort of noise, if you phone the Noise Pollution team, you then have to get dressed and stay up to let them in, which might be a while if they have other calls to make. So you're wide awake by the time you eventually get back to bed. But if you don't phone them you just don't know when the noise will ever end. Sometimes it would quieten down for a bit, and you'd think it was over - then after a bit it started up again.

They didn't co-operate with their neighbours or with the council. They only complied when they were forced to. It was dreadful.

If services are being held that late it is wrong.
Why do they need loud speakers. Jesus spoke on the Mount with no help from loud speakers.
Council should forbid loudspeakers at ANY time of the day or night.

Does anyone know what is happening with regard to this?

Michael's post (20/1/2011) said that "the planning committee voted to defer this enforcement for 6 months to allow the owners to work with the council to find a suitable solution."

I fear that some tacky compromise may take place, and if that seems likely I think we should reactivate the whole protest campaign. Therefore any information that anyone has would be very welcome.

Hmmm. Good question. It's all gone v quiet and no sign of any more progress...

I think I'm losing my mind!!

Has anyone else noticed a planning permission notice outside the church suggesting the church is applying for planning permission to keep the concrete steps, balustrades, massive railings and also to errect two large vinyl signs.............

Not sure whether I want someone to tell me I'm delusional or not!

Can't find the application on the Council's system. What's the application number on the notice.

Hopefully it's old then. It's number 139501 Lewisham 4
And DC/10/75507 and DC/10/75506

Thanks!

Usamagpie: "Has anyone else noticed a planning permission notice outside the church suggesting the church is applying for planning permission to keep the concrete steps, balustrades, massive railings and also to errect two large vinyl signs............."

Don't worry. This is the old application from October last year, which was turned down.

On the hand, I'm still concerned about Michael's earlier post:

Michael (post 43): "Apparently in recent weeks officers have been working with the owners of this church to work out ways to remedy the problems ...
For this reason the planning committee voted to defer this enforcement for 6 months to allow the owners to work with the council to find a suitable solution."

What on earth does this mean??

That the 'church' is going to get its own way...

Exactly.

Thanks though! Just pleased to know this is an old notice. Just have to stay vigilant I guess until we see something happen...

Good news. I talked to the Planning Dept today and am very reassured. They are indeed talking to the Church, but they are not going to agree to anything that breaches the rules. New plans should be put before the committee in due course (not sure how long) and we'll get to see them. But it sounds like they'll be fine.

Ah, fabulous!! Thanks Hillsideresident :-)