RARE and protected species including newts, woodpeckers and dragonflies are among the wildlife whose habitat will be under threat if a new tower block is built, campaigners claim.
Members of a local campaign group created to fight Hands Off Our Triangle (HOOT) is campaigning against an eight storey, 124 unit tower block that could be built in Bollo Lane, Chiswick, behind Gunnersbury Triangle, a Wildlife Trust reserve.
Jan Hewlett, a HOOT organiser, said: "I was one of the original volunteers when the triangle was going to be built on in 1982 and it is really sad that it is threatened again. What local people really like about the nature reserve is that it is a peaceful place and to have this great high building is going to spoil it.
"The proposed flats don't have a garden area, so people will use the reserve like a park and loud music and barbecues will damage it. The building will overshadow the reserve during the day and create light pollution during the night, ruining the habitats of birds and bats.
"HOOT are not against the site being developed for residential use, we just want a more sensitive development. This is too tall, too large, and too close to the reserve boundary."
The details of the development listed on Ealing Council's website describe to project as: a redevelopment (following demolition of existing industrial/warehouse buildings) to provide a mixed-use development of two blocks; one up to six storeys containing 33 affordable housing units of 1,2,3 and 4 bedrooms and the other of eight storeys containing 91 private units of 1,2 and 3 bedrooms.
Also there are allowances for 589sqm of office space and a childcare facility of 478sqm. Cars would access via Colonial Drive and there is planned to be 12 disabled car parking spaces and four cycle stores.
Other details include a plant and refuse storage/recycling areas, a footpath on North to link Bollo Lane to Chiswick Business Park.
Residents have until March 2 to give their views to Ealing Council. Visit the council website, access the planning section and use the code P/2012/0338
For more information visit http://handsoffourtriangle.wordpress.com
