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PLAYGROUND TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW FLATS
Parents’ fury as council reveals plan to build on children’s play area
PARENTS in Marylebone have accused the council of “not caring about children” after it was revealed that housing chiefs will build luxury flats on top of a popular playground.
Luxborough Street play area is listed as a “protected open space” by the council, but City Hall’s housing arm, CityWest Homes, has drawn up proposals to build a block of 19 flats on the site.
The prospect of the development has left parents in the street reeling. They are already upset that Marylebone Nursery, which looks after around 40 toddlers a day, will close at the end of August.
Mark Field, the MP for Cities of London and Westminster, has rallied behind residents insisting CityWest Homes should “see sense” and scrap the proposals.
The council denies a rift, claiming the playground is under-used and a magnet for anti-social behaviour – a claim strongly contested by people living on the street. The proposals are also likely to provoke charges of hypocrisy given the council’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP) does not “permit development on or under public or private parks, landscaped spaces, or gardens (including open spaces on housing estates).”
The council says the scheme will include provision for a new playground, but residents say that is inadequate.
Parents and residents fear children will have little choice but to cross the busy Marylebone Road to find a new place to play in Regent’s Park when the bulldozers move in next year.
They have gathered a 700-name petition objecting to the proposals, which are part of a wider modernisation programme of the council’s ageing housing stock that will see affordable homes built at other sites in the borough.
Yael Saunders, a resident on the street who is spearheading the fight, said: “It flies in the face of the council’s own policy against selling off sports facilities and open space for property speculation. It’s not true that the space is under-used. It’s been neglected by the council but you still get loads of kids from the street and Luxborough Tower playing here every day.”
Mr Field said: “I have written to the council and CityWest Homes. I know they are desperate for money but I think they should see sense over this. There aren’t that many play areas around there.”
Cllr Philippa Roe, Westminster Council's cabinet member for housing, said: “The proposed scheme for Luxborough Street is to provide high-quality market housing which will enhance and improve the whole area. Money from the sale of these homes will be channelled into funding affordable housing and improving estates across Westminster.
“Part of the regeneration on Luxborough Street will include the creation of a brand new playground just metres away from the existing poor quality open space on the estate.”
Just around the corner, staff at Marylebone Nursery have been told they face losing their jobs because of “running costs”.
A 30-day consultation process will end on August 14 with the final decision due three days later. |
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