FORA letter to Council about floodlights at Leytonstone School

FOREST RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
FORA
3 August 2006

The Planning Department
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Municipal Offices, 16 The Ridgeway
Chingford E4 6PS

Dear Sirs,

Application no 2006/0905/LA:
Leytonstone School, 159 Colworth Road, E11 1JD
Erection of six Floodlight Columns

The Committee of the Forest Residents Association (FORA) have seen the plans for these six flood light columns and, being well acquainted with the area, make the following observations:

1. There is a substantial gap between the School Building and the School Sports Hall. In this gap there is just one tree that only partially obscures the space where the MUGA area is situated.
2. Nos. 1-5 Forest Road, the back upper stories of Nos. 122-128 Colworth Road and also 329 Hainault Road are in direct line of the gap and will be affected by any activities carried out in the MUGA area.
3. Two of the floodlight columns (comprising eight floodlights) are also in direct line of this gap. Light spillage from the floodlights will affect all these properties.
4. The problem of noise pollution will also be exacerbated by the sounds reverberating down the gap and into the road and the surrounding properties.
5. Whilst accepting that the School needs to utilise all its assets, both during the day but also in the evening and at the weekend, it must be pointed out that the MUGA pitch, at present in use behind the Leyton 6th Form College, causes problems for the inhabitants of the surrounding roads, as the curfew is not always adhered to and sometimes the lights are left on all night.
6. The local inhabitants have the right to enjoy their homes 'without let or hindrance'; as well as the right to expect their representatives (i.e. the Borough Councillors) to protect these same rights.
7. The site is in the Leytonstone Conservation Area. The Council's policy for Conservation Areas was recently reaffirmed in section BHE13 (Built and Historic Environment) of the LBWF UDP 2006. It says the Council will "Refuse permission for any development in those areas which does not preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area." These floodlights, which would be used for sporting purposes, cannot be said to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area.

In view of the foregoing, the Association strongly objects to the present scheme to install these floodlights and their columns and urges the Council to refuse this Application.

Yours faithfully


MINA PATEL, Chair, Forest Residents Association
Info.fora@hotmail.com, www.forestresidents.org.uk



Secretary: Carla Reid-Adam, 224 Hainault Road, Leytonstone London E11 1EP
Tel 020 8539 6258, info.fora@hotmail.com, www.forestresidents.org.uk Back to top