Last week, (February 12th) the Waitrose Planning Inquiry (PI) was finally closed.
The inspector (who chaired the PI) now withdraws to make up his mind about West Ealing’s future. We expect him to announce his decision in the next few months or so.
The PI opened last November and included just over two weeks of intense hearings.
The Inspector then adjourned proceedings on 3rd December for the parties to digest the Government’s new planning policies and make representations on what they meant for JLP’s Waitrose Towers plans.
We returned to the inquiry in January, with JLP insisting their development would help tackle the increased urgency of the housing crisis but STT’s planning consultant, Simon Greaves disagreed. He argued that the new policy didn’t change the position in Ealing such that it increased the case for more house building here. He said there was nothing in the Government’s new planning policies that would justify the considerable harm that the impact of the Waitrose Towers would cause in West Ealing.
Most surprising was Ealing Council’s silence in these exchanges over the last 12 weeks, despite being the Local Planning Authority, whose purpose is to decide on local planning issues. In fact, Ealing Council’s only contribution throughout the inquiry was on the first day when an expensive barrister (a KC no less!) stood up to deny the Council’s silence had let down the West Ealing community. More resident’s council tax money well spent? We think not!
Councillors and sometimes MPs attend and often speak in support of local objectors at planning inquiries. Yet astonishingly, for this most controversial of schemes not a single Ealing councillor, or MP for the Waitrose site, bothered to even show up to the PI. In fact on one of the days, Cllr Driscoll (from Ealing’s Planning committee) was sitting in the foyer having his packed lunch and wasn’t even aware of the inquiry when quizzed by a member of STT. We have to ask what they were doing instead? Fiddling whilst Rome burns?
STT is deeply disappointed by this lack of support, and yes, we do think their silence is a betrayal of the West Ealing Community they claim to represent.
So now we await the decision. When it comes, even if the inspector decides in favour of JLP we believe it is unlikely they’ll go ahead any time soon, at least on the basis of the plans they presented. JLP’s financial experts have told them their scheme has become increasingly loss-making. Instead of contributing to Waitrose’s profits as they hoped, they now forecast a £77million loss.
Whatever happens, there can be few doubts that STT was right to challenge JLP and the Council and fight this case on behalf of everyone in West Ealing. Developers and Ealing Council between them have treated West Ealing as easy prey, but by standing up to them STT gave us a chance, we would not otherwise have had, to push back.
Our work and participation at the PI has cost STT a lot in professional and legal fees. We still need help in paying the lawyers who fought heroically on our behalf. If you can contribute to settling our outstanding bill please do so here.
Gurnell Leisure Centre & Flats and Developing on MOL
On 15th January, The LBE Planning Committee approved its own application to build a new leisure centre along with 300 flats on current run-down swimming pool, car park and some parkland off Ruislip Road East. 11 Councillors voted for scheme and just one voted against it. Estimated build cost is £50 million for the new ’all singing all dancing’ leisure centre and £100 million for the flats.
The scheme is now awaiting Stage 2 approval from the GLA and you can still make your objections known by commenting on the GLA website here
For helpful reasons to object, please do read Eric Leach (vice Chair of West Ealing Neighbours) objection here
Talking of building on MOL and park land…..
Last chance to Object to East Lodge Lammas Park
As mentioned in our last email, today is the final day for formal objections to the shocking plans to build a six storey concrete tower of flats INSIDE Lammas park. The current Victorian park lodge would be demolished for this tower. To join the thousands of local people who have already objected, please click here to object
OBJECT NOW
Click here to watch this excellent video about the mess in Lammas and this application
Thank you again for all your support. And once again a plea, that if you have not already done so, please chip in to help pay STT’s costs which have been considerable.
If you can help, please do so by any of the methods, through this link to our Go Fund Me page PLEASE DONATE TO OUR FUNDS or scan the QR code below
NB the GoFundMe ‘tip’ can then be reduced to 0% – Once you have selected a donation amount (or amended it), the tip can be reduced from the default 18% to 0% by moving the slider to the far left hand side.
2) To avoid any fees, donations can be made by direct bank transfer.
Click here to email for STT bank details
3) Cheques to ‘Stop The Towers’ can be posted to 40 Hastings Road Ealing W13 8QH
Many thanks in advance
Stop The Towers
