|
|
 |
| |
Heath road: it’s not all over yet
Pledge to pursue ‘gateway masterplan’ despite opposition and cash snub
THE controversial plan for a new road on Hampstead Heath will not be shelved, despite the City of London’s failure to gain cash backing from the Lottery for the project.
At a Heath management meeting on Friday, superintendent Simon Lee said the Lottery decision was “disappointing”.
But he added that the Parliament Hill Fields project was still very much alive.
He said: “The ideas developed mean there is a masterplan that will enable this major gateway to the Heath to be improved.”
The City, which manages the Heath, had hoped to win a grant of £3.9million, which would have been used to build a car-only link between Gordon House Road and the Parliament Hill staff yard.
The money would also have been spent on vital repair work at the lido, on renovating the pool café, landscaping the entrance by Highgate Road, making the area feel more rural and on building a new café.
But the plans faced stiff opposition from campaigners, who collected 8,000 signatures on a petition.
Road opponents have warned that they will battle any revived plans.
The City is to use this summer to study the number of walkers using the Gordon House Road and Highgate Road entrances to the Heath and to monitor traffic movements, with the aim of putting together a strong argument for a vehicle-only route to the staff yard.
Anti-road campaigner Julia Dick said: “We are surprised they plan to continue to pursue it, given the strength of feeling.
“Our campaign will continue. We put forward very strong arguments to the Lottery explaining why the proposals were poorly conceived.”
She said the City should carry out a proper consultation with residents and Heath users.
The funding bid was dismissed by the Lottery because the cost of the lido work was too high and demand for a heritage learning centre had not been adequately demonstrated. |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
