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Peter Cuming |
Talacre Gardens set to be capital’s first ‘town green’
Historic decision on protecting land causes split at Town Hall
A KENTISH Town park could be protected from development forever after a historic ruling which split the coalition governing Camden Council for the first time last night (Wednesday).
The Conservative and Lib Dem cabinet splintered along party lines as Lib Dems voted to ignore the advice of Town hall lawyers and grant Talacre Gardens the status of a “Town Green”.
Once lawyers have ironed out the details in July, Talacre will become the first town green in London under new laws which mean that the land can only be built on with the permission of a cabinet minister.
The decision, reversing the decision taken by the same executive committee last year, represents a victory for Friends of Talacre Gardens campaigners.
The group’s chairman Peter Cuming said last night (Wednesday): “I am not exuberant because there is still a degree of discussion over the boundaries, but this a subdued satisfaction. It has been like protecting the icecaps – a little of Talacre has disappeared over time. This will mean this important park can no longer be nibbled away.”
Kentish Town councillor Matt Sanders said: “This is another great chapter in Talacre’s history. Camden has shown that we’re a borough prepared to make history.”
The two-year campaign ended with a passionate debate at the executive committee, normally a rubber stamp for council business, because town green status for open spaces raises serious issues for the council as a land owner and landlord.
A public consultation on the proposals, widely seen as an attempt to delay making a decision, was carried out over the winter and found strong support for the town green.
Council lawyers and finance officials were strongly against granting the status as it ties the hands of future councils in controlling land and creates a precedent for residents in other areas of the borough, where the council may want to sell or develop land.
Last night, the four Conservative members of the executive committee voted against their Lib Dem colleagues for the first time since the two parties went into coalition in 2006.
Conservative leader Councillor Andrew Marshall said granting the town green would make a nonsense of the council’s planning guidance for protecting open spaces, would do nothing to bolster trust in elected councillors, and could mean greater anti-social behaviour in Talacre.
He was joined by Conservative colleagues in questioning the large sums of money the Town Hall had spent on legal advice, only for it to be ignored.
But finance chief Cllr Ralph Scott defied the officials’ advice on the grounds that Talacre, with its history as a reclaimed bombsite, was a special case, and was supported by his five Lib Dem colleagues to create a majority decision. |
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