CENTRAL HILL WORK WILL TAKE TEN TO FIFTEEN YEARS – Warning to homeowners living near threatened estate / Plea to people to join campaign
A warning of the ‘shape of things to come’ when Lambeth council start their hugely controversial demolition – and rebuilding – of the Central Hill estate, Crystal Palace has come from people living there.
In an open letter to the people of Crystal Palace Nicola Curtis and Karen Bennett of the estate’s tenants and residents association say: ” If you live in the surrounding area, you need to be aware that Lambeth plan to start building work on this site in 2019/2020.
“By building work, that starts with asbestos removal (currently safe), demolition and clearance, before any construction can actually happen.
“Once this begins, we know from the experiences on other regeneration schemes, that you will likely notice a big increase in traffic to and from the area, including construction vehicles, plant (removal of debris) etc. adding to the congestion in the locale of the Central Hill estate; up Central Hill, along the arterial roads coming into Crystal Palace from other boroughs and around the triangle itself.
“You will probably notice additional difficulties in parking. “Once the machines start, it is unlikely that you will fail to hear the daily noise in construction work, or notice that the dust from demolition is affecting the air quality for you and your families.
“Lambeth have confirmed that these works will likely take 10 – 15 years to be completed as they are planning to replace 472 dwellings with up to 1500 dwellings in high rise blocks of flats.
“Finally, and this is relevant; homeowners on the estate already have blighted properties. “This means it would be very difficult to sell them, at least at the market value.
“But what it also means is that homeowners living around the construction site that the Central Hill estate will become, will ALSO likely have difficulty in either selling their homes, if they wish to move, or to realise the expected market value.
“We don’t know yet how businesses will be affected by the construction works and whether it will deter visitors to our shops and markets while this is going on, but there are likely to be barriers and road closures affecting access for those coming into the Palace.
“We all know that this scheme is not for the benefit of you or us. “It is for the benefit of council coffers and residents some 20 years in the future, who will be able to buy a very expensive flat on the new estate.
“Please stand with us to oppose this scheme, preserve our homes and trees, our beautiful neighbourhood and the quality of life we all have in this wonderful Crystal Palace that is home to all of us.
“The residents on the estate are already fighting against this travesty and to get much needed repairs done, where the council have deliberately failed to maintain the estate and allowed it to become run down.
“You have a different fight on your hands. “While we hope you will support us, you also need to think of the impact this regeneration scheme will have on you and your family, not only while it is ongoing, but once it has been completed.
“Around 1,000 more families in this area will be using our infrastructure; schools, health services, roads, parking etc.
“We desperately need the community to come together in unity to ensure that Lambeth council do not succeed in their ill thought out and destructive plans.
So please join the SAVE CENTRAL HILL COMMUNITY campaign, go to facebook, Save Central Hill Community, www.savecentralhill.org twitter Save Central Hill, or contact Nicola Curtis or Karen Bennett (chair and secretary of the Central Hill Residents Association) to find out more about what is going on, and how to get involved in the campaign. Thank You.
Further reading: CENTRAL HILL SURVEY SHOWS RESIDENTS OPPOSE DEMOLITION – BUT LAMBETH COUNCIL’S CABINET JUST VOTE FOR IT ANYWAY News From Crystal Palace March 24, 2017
