council asking for views on their final idea regarding building on the open spaces

Development seems to be:



1/ for your information: the somers town planning forum consulted with residents by sending people out to knock on doors around the area and found predominately that residents do not want building on the park. They are now working on the development plan for the area and the draft is available for comments (see attached later). Eventually residents in the area will all be consulted on it and it will be adopted if it is voted on by a large number of people. (This is the idea behind this new planning law). See attached for a draft.



2/ The council are developing the CIP and have eg architects working on consulting people further. A small group walked around the area with an architect, which was arranged via the planning forum. There is to be another one during the daytime this time in January. Apparently there is a stall in the market on Fridays. Larger consultations are expected.

Building of the flats is now expected to be n 2018 and of the school in 2016. There is a new cabinet councillor now involved in this project.

Although "the people's" idea, would clearly be not to build on the open spaces and the mature tree area (is a linked issue), I'm sure everyone would agree who listens to what residents express.

Rather it seems that "compromise" (regarding what? what are the issues?) are considered necessary and there is also an idea being stated amongst the seeming confusion something like that building private flats on the open spaces is a quick move for needed school rebuilding.

Even worse, there is much unclarity regarding what that might involve ie size it would seem (because the small pitch area, at the Brill Place border of the park, has been mentioned but simultaneously that 5 flats considered to fit on each floor! whereas at least with the Council's suggestion it seems there has been given a clearer idea regarding the size suggested (although they are reluctant to make promises) it would seem they had listened to people and made it much smaller and seems quite small for a building (although there was a disagreement about that it can be checked out). I think the people's view is generally that there should be no building on the open spaces, that it will be too big and take up the open space.

 

The consultation of the council mentioned above is finishing this Friday 18th October.  This is regarding the open spaces and building on the open space (and adjacent to them) in order to fund the rebuilding of the Edith Neville primary school, which is situated in between these two (Central Somers Town - the other being Goldington Crescent in the North) open spaces.  See above for ways to give your view to the Council.

An "alternative" idea is currently being considered at the Somers Town Planning Forum.  (This forum was set up more than a year ago for local input into land and building (planning) decisions.)  It involves an idea of a Community Land Trust and this would seem to involve residents and others at the planning forum involved (along with the Council?) with "management" of (or decisions) regarding the 2? Central Somers Town open spaces as well as the possibility of the same regarding other parts or the wider area (is something that is considered a possibility based on it seems that this has been done in other places.)

Although various sites it seems are considered as real possibilities for building on in order to fund the school rebuilding (as well as consideration that there is potentially a range of building possibilities in order to produce [these] funds) there has been disappointment that not building on the open spaces has not seemed to have been considered as any clear alternative.

You can search internet for "central.somers town" to see the drawing. The following has been taken from the poster:
Find out about the latest design concept for the ‘Central Somers Town’ project and let the team know your thoughts. This is not the final detailed design for Central Somers Town but your views will help us to make sure we get this proposal right for you and your local community.       • Thursday 26 September, 3pm – 6pm in Polygon Open Space • Friday 27 September, 9am – 12pm in Polygon Open Space • Saturday 28 September 11am – 2pm in Purchese St Park You can also take part in the consultation by filling in the online survey  camden.gov.uk/somerstown pick up a paper copy of the consultation document in lots of venues in Somers Town or call 020 7974 5717 or  email cip @ camden.gov.uk for more information