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Developer’s eyes on our ‘protected’ park
• TALACRE Gardens is already a protected open space, according to a Town Hall official (Bid to turn Talacre into a town green, May 17). Is this some sick joke?
Over the past few years, Talacre Gardens has had numerous real threats of encroachment. In 2004, a private developer was granted planning permission to “consume” a chunk of the park on the south-east side and, together with it. the reduction or lopping of mature trees. Then in January last year, the Town Hall signed a covert agreement to allow the developer to build a road across the park.
Recently, the developer has included in his Dalby Street road closure proposals the removal of a section of park fencing and the introduction of some car parking in Talacre Gardens itself.
At its recent February exhibition at the sports centre, the developer’s architect showed off his latest redesign of their building with an overhanging canopy along the park whereby trees will be seriously affected.
The developer has claimed, and continues to claim, a substantial piece of forecourt land from Talacre Sports Centre.
If this is what the Town Hall calls protected open space, then residents should remain resolute and apply swiftly for Talacre Gardens to be become a town green. The sooner, the better.
B KURT
Grafton Terrace, NW5
q NOTHING could have inspired more suspicion about our council’s ulterior motives than its response to the desire of residents to apply to make Talacre Gardens a protected town green.
Having literally offered the park to Trac, the private developer, the council now says: “Talacre Gardens is already a protected open space”. The hypocrisy knows no limits. What is the Town Hall up to?
ST SCOTT
Harmood Street, NW1
• RESIDENTS have long feared that the Town Hall had plans to run a road through Talacre Gardens once the Dalby Street scheme was up and running, irrespective of past and recent announcements by the developer and council officials that the park would not be encroached on.
This is because everyone knows the alternative access to Talacre Sports Centre – the narrow and bending Dalby Street – will never be able to service both the busy sports centre and the 55 flats and commercial units the developer intends to build on the Dalby Street site.
Residents are now resolved to apply for Talacre Gardens to become a town green and hope to be among the first communities to use the new Commons Act introduced last month.
Meanwhile, the Town Hall seems less enthusiastic. Why else would it issue this outrageous statement: “Talacre Gardens is already a protected open space?” If it hoped residents would believe the council and do nothing to protect their park, then they must think we are complete fools.
TREVOR PONTING
Wilkin Street, NW5
• THE Town Hall missed a unique opportunity to show goodwill towards residents by wishing them well and offering their support with respect to the imminent application to make Talacre Gardens a protected town green.
Instead, it seems to dismiss this genuine need of the community to feel safe about their local park by saying that “Talacre Gardens is already a protected open space”.
Past behaviour has demonstrated that Talacre Gardens is anything but safe in the hands of the Town Hall.
Wild horses would not stop us from going ahead, with or without the blessing of Town Hall officials, councillors or indeed those running for the Haverstock by-election on July 12.
VICKY BROWN
Mansfield Road, NW3
• I READ with astonishment a Town Hall press official stating that “Talacre Gardens is already a protected open space”.
This is a rather cheeky comment if one considers the Tribune article (Fury as developer confirms green space will be sliced in two, November 30, 2006). That, the developer claimed at the time, was “imposed by Camden Council as part of the planning conditions”.
With reassurances like that from Camden, I am fully behind residents wishing to make Talacre Gardens London’s first town green.
This, if not the council, will ensure the park remains free of any developer’s encroachment in future.
DR ELIZABETH WEEKES
Savernake Road, NW3
• LAST November residents were in a state of deep shock when it was announced that a private developer was to be allowed to cut Talacre Gardens in half to allow trucks and other vehicles to gain access to the sports centre.
This was to assist a private developer in his scheme to erect a seven-storey development of 55 flats on Dalby Street across the park.
I and literally hundreds of residents wrote about our anxiety at the thought of such a monstrous development.
Now I read with total dismay that a Town Hall press official has given as a reason for residents not to apply for the park to become a protected town green that “Talacre Gardens is already a protected open space”.
If that is the case, then why did it take months of campaigning by residents to get the council to reverse its position vis-à-vis allowing a private developer to destroy our park?
The reason we should be encouraged to apply for town green status is that we cannot obviously rely on our councillors and Town Hall officials to protect the park, whatever they may say about the already existing so-called protection of our open space.
We should be commended for taking pro-active action rather than discouraged.
RENE ADAMS
Athlone Street, NW5
• THE Commons Act 2006 came into effect on Good Friday this year. It confers a right to people who have enjoyed their local open space to continue to do so permanently.
This will remove the fear that deals with private developers might encroach in any way on their green space.
It will not only benefit current residents, but their children and grandchildren and those who come after that. It can only be good for everyone.
We need you to show up and give your support for the residents’ bid to turn Talacre into a town green at Talacre Community Sports Centre in Dalby Street, at 7pm on Tuesday.
CELINE LA FRENIERE
Talacre Road, NW5 |
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