THE entire community of Southall, along with all councillors of Southall-Ealing, unanimously rejected the the plans to build 3,500 homes on the Southall Gas Works site.
The Gurdwaras, Mosque, Mandirs and local community campaign organisations have sent their objections to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.
Additionally, they have collectively requested the Mayor to come to Southall and listen to the concerns of the community and uphold the wishes of the community. Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall has offered its services to write on behalf of community organisations and provide a venue for the meeting.
The plans were rejected on the basis that the building of homes on this scale would disturb the contaminated chemical poisons such as asbestos and cyanide in the soil, further poisoning the environment and posing serious health hazards.
The community already suffers from a life span 10 years less than neighbouring areas. It has a high rate of asthma, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and skin disease. The pollution will aggravate these problems.
Traffic congestion in Southall is among the worst in the country and this development will worsen the situation, creating a traffic gridlock.
Southall needs development to improve the quality of life of the community. This should not be sacrificed for the sake of increased profits for private concerns.
The intervention by the Mayor of London to review the application is an insult to the community and a violation of democracy as we have already given our verdict and the wishes of the community should be upheld. Local democracy must be defended.
SALVINDER DHILLON Indian Welfare Association
Southall
