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Is it just highway robbery?
• PETER Cuming astutely suggests that the corner of Dalby Street and Prince of Wales Road could be put to better use as an extension of the Talacre Sports Centre (Swimmers get a bit of good news at last, October 12).
He seems unaware, however, that the land occupied by the former gypsy site is actually already designated on the LBC unitary development plan as open space.
So is all the land occupied by the Talacre Gardens and the sports centre, including its forecourts and parking lot.
The only part of the developer’s scheme which is not open space is Dalby Street itself. It is owned by Highways.
What is astonishing about the Dalby Street scheme, however, is how little we the taxpayers seem to be getting in return for all that we give up.
What do we give up exactly?
The former gypsy site which runs alongside Dalby Street and the Talacre Gardens.
The sports centre parking lot and a large forecourt, plus some of Talacre Gardens itself will also be taken over by the private developer.
Plus an entire road (Dalby Street) which is the only vehicular access to the Talacre Sports Centre and which becomes part of the developer’s site.
Trees will need to be felled or lopped at Talacre Gardens.
There won’t be any waiting or dropping off area at the sports centre in the future. There is no visible means for buses and other large vehicles to be turned around.
Prince of Wales Road at the junction of a new Dalby Street will be narrowed from 9m to 6m making that particular area extremely dangerous and could cause traffic snarl-ups.
What do we get in return?
Some percentage of the flats will be allocated to low cost housing, but that is something which all larger residential developments have to provide by law, in any case.
The big question which should be on the new council’s mind, is whether the developer has to pay something for the prime land he is acquiring. If he were to pay market price for the land which is composed of public open space and a busy highway at the just and appropriate value for prime land with planning permission, it would amount to a considerable price tag. Probably enough to pay for a worthwhile part of the refurbishment the Lib Dem/Conservative coalition is planning at the Kentish Town baths, for instance.
If the developer is getting the land for less than market value then it is highway robbery and a scandal.
It should be exposed by the council and stopped, if at all possible.
Are the proposed road closure at Dalby Street and alterations at Prince of Wales Road really worth all the disturbance and long term problems they will cause?
Are we getting enough in return?
Or are we just simply being robbed or our valuable assets?
T RUSH
Shirlock Road
NW3
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