Crystal Palace Park Masterplan gets go-ahead

10.14.13pm GMT Fri 19th Dec 2008

Cllrs Papworth and Canvin review Ledrington Green, which the LDA plan would destroy. “The battle is not over,” said Cllr Canvin.

Lib Dems welcome renovation of area

Local councillors express concerns over building on green spaces

Plans to invest up to £67m in Crystal Palace Park were given the go-ahead this month by Bromley Council.

Local Liberal Democrats welcomed the overall plans but expressed reservations about building on parkland.

Millions of pounds will be spent to remove tarmac and to re-landscape the park. The scheme, backed by the London Development Agency (LDA) will be a massive boost to the area, finally reversing decades of neglect by Bromley Council.

Cllrs Papworth and Canvin at the park. All the buildings in the background will be removed.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr John Canvin urged Bromley Council to tackle the issue once and for all: "Crystal Palace ward desperately needs action on the Park. I urge the Council to get on with it before another generation has to grow up with a dilapidated, under-managed park."

However, in a heated debate that lasted over two hours, the Lib Dems gave their support to local residents as they clashed repeatedly with developers over building on green spaces.

Lib Dem councillors voiced the opposition of many residents to building houses on parts of the park - including areas of Metropolitan Open Land - and to the citing of a new college building that will destroy Ledrington Road Green.

Cllr Tom Papworth said "The Park is the single biggest issue facing the area and there is no doubt that Bromley Council has allowed it to become a disgrace. We should welcome the LDA's vision of a more open, greener, more welcoming park that will attract visitors and benefit residents. However, there is widespread opposition to building houses on the park."

Speaking in support of Ledrington Road residents, Cllr Papworth added "Plans to build a 15m high, 14,000 cubic metre building on Ledrington Green will seriously harm local residents. The extent to which the LDA have pushed this stinks of a big, Mayoral bureaucracy riding roughshod over a small, local community. The LDA should find a new site for the college."

Liberal Democrats on Bromley's Development Control Committee (in charge of planning) called upon the committee to defer its decision so that planning officers could negotiate with the LDA on these concerns. However, the LDA's plans were forced through by Tory and Labour councillors.

After the meeting, Cllr Canvin explained "The overall plan will be hugely beneficial for local residents, and we strongly support it. But the battle over building on the park is not over and Lib Dem councillors will continue to fight for local residents against excessive development."

Related Link:

Click here for datails of the LDA's vision for the Park.