8 Nov 2006 - Controversial plan to build flats on St Andrew's old hall site given go-ahead by councillors
The Council's Planning Committee have voted by five votes to four for the controversial scheme to build nine flats where the old hall of St Andrew's church stood. The decision was taken at a meeting at Waltham Forest Town Hall on November 7.The public galleries were packed with residents opposed to the scheme. Widespread expressions of anger followed the decision.
It is only subject to a survey as to whether the development will have an adverse impact on bats -- a protected species -- which may roost in the church.
SO, it seems, BATS ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT MIGHT STILL SAVE THIS VIEW OPPOSITE ...
... When decision time came, two Conservatives and two Lib Dems on the Planning Committee voted against the application-- and for residents' wishes.
The four Labour members voted for the application.
The Lib Dem Chair of the Committee, Robert Carey, swung the decision by voting for the application and with the Labour members.
He did exactly the same about a month before when the Committee approved the floodlights at Leytonstone School, also in the Leytonstone Conservation Area.
In both cases, the Council had an interest. It was itself the applicant on the school lights, and it was the Council which sold the land to the developer, without planning permission, who made the flats' application.
Two of our own Forest Ward councillors are on the Planning Committee.
Faiz Younis, Labour, voted for the application.
Imran Abrahim, Lib Dem, voted against.
Our third councillor, Farooq Qureshi, Lib Dem and also this year's Mayor, spoke on behalf of residents against the application.
The survey about the bats will be conducted by the developer, apparently in the Spring. Council officers have been given delegated authority to determine the application once the outcome of the survey is known.
The four Labour members voted for the application.
The Lib Dem Chair of the Committee, Robert Carey, swung the decision by voting for the application and with the Labour members.
He did exactly the same about a month before when the Committee approved the floodlights at Leytonstone School, also in the Leytonstone Conservation Area.
In both cases, the Council had an interest. It was itself the applicant on the school lights, and it was the Council which sold the land to the developer, without planning permission, who made the flats' application.
Two of our own Forest Ward councillors are on the Planning Committee.
Faiz Younis, Labour, voted for the application.
Imran Abrahim, Lib Dem, voted against.
Our third councillor, Farooq Qureshi, Lib Dem and also this year's Mayor, spoke on behalf of residents against the application.
The survey about the bats will be conducted by the developer, apparently in the Spring. Council officers have been given delegated authority to determine the application once the outcome of the survey is known.