West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published:3 April 2009
Strict criteria for traffic ban
• IT was interesting to read that Westminster City Council had not provided an explanation as to why none of the Moxon Street proposals our architect consulted the public on, had road closures (We can do better than ‘shoddy’ plan, March 27). The explanation is very straightforward.
Banning traffic from the site is not specifically precluded in the planning brief, neither is it permitted, and it would only be considered after being assessed against very strict criteria.
It is open to anyone to submit a planning application that proposes road closures, however, a full assessment of the impact of potential road closures would need to be undertaken to assess whether that would be acceptable.
The adopted planning brief makes it very clear that if proposals do not follow advice to reinstate historic building lines, the scheme would need to demonstrate that the benefits of doing so would outweigh any disadvantages.
The brief does however, seek to protect the existing streets as “public routes” and preclude any buildings being built onto or overhanging the public highway.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about the planning brief can view the adopted document, which is publicly available on the council’s website.
Cllr Melvyn Caplan
Cabinet Member for Finance
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