I would like to mention a few reasons showing how wide of the mark is Ealing planning committee's rationale for approval of the current scheme for Dickens Yard and, by implication, that of Glenkerrin.
Instead of improving the area it would be destroyed and Ealing centre be degraded.
* Retail proposals for Dickens Yard: Retail proposals were based on information that came out in the winter of 2006-07, so using it is less than satisfactory or reliable.
Since these rather flawed proposals were made the number of units in use at Ealing Broadway centre has decreased and what was once a lively shopping centre has changed.
This suggests that additional shops are no longer required and the current recession will cause even fewer retailers to be interested in renting units.
Now the huge Westfield site at Shepherd's Bush has opened interest in Ealing Centre will further lessen.
* National heritage organisations: It seems that members of the Planning Committee have ignored recommendations from English
Heritage and CABE, both national organisations which have long worked on the preservation of important sites throughout the country.
Current planning now looks very short term.
* Public opposition: Residents are already hugely opposed to the scale of the proposed development as seen in the objections on pages 17-19 of the committee report.
* The London Plan: the plan (made by former mayor Ken Livingstone) has been used to overrule or ignore the formal planning guidelines for the Dickens Yard Site.
Local guidelines were prepared for Dickens Yard after public consultation, so they reflect an acceptable balance between concerns of local residents and those wishing to develop the site.
The London Plan has now been used to drive a coach and horses through local residents' decisions.
This looks like a misuse of the plans and something which the current mayor and the GLA should carefully examine.
HERIONE R SACKS
Via email
