Issued by Ralph West Hall Site Protection Group

The victory could not have been sweeter. By agreeing with the main arguments of the Ralph West Hall Site Protection Group, the Planning Inspector's report is a vindication for all the residents groups that have been involved in the campaign against the proposed schemes for the last two years.

The dismissal of the appeal in relation to the second scheme (which was a carbon copy of the first scheme initially proposed) flies in the face of the developer's arrogance and greediness. The Inspector agrees that the current open space is not an "ugly gap" as was suggested by the Council's planning officers and that there is no building line in need of repair since detached villas previously occupied that space.

We would like to congratulate the Planning Applications Committee members to have quite rightly so rejected the scheme twice. They too have been vindicated by the Inspector's report.

The Ralph West Hall Site Protection Group has been supported all along by many residents who were not afraid to contribute financially to the campaign, and also the Battersea Society, illustrating how strongly the local community felt about the proposals. Sadly others such as the Friends of Battersea Park did not have much to say on the matter which is discrediting for their planning 'expert' who could not see all the harm described in the Inspector's report.

Of course the residents know well this is not the end and that there will be another scheme coming next. However the Inspector's conclusions will certainly focus the minds of any developer wishing to redevelop the Ralph West Hall site so that greed is not allowed to lead to another fortress look-a-like scheme. Residents are of course ready to help the Council's planning officers to formulate a proper development brief for the site so that the next scheme is the right one.

Contact:

Stafford Mansions residents: 020 7223 0538

Ethelburga Tower Residents' Association: 0777 599 5759