GLA MEMBERS, MPs AND COUNCILS AMONG OBJECTORS TO KICC PLANS
KICC have provided little evidence to demonstrate any serious commitment to the D2 components of the proposals says GLA member Steve O’Connell in his objection to Bromley council.
Neither have they demonstrated any serious local interest and need which could not be met and better served through existing community venues,
“In view of the proposal not being for the good of the entire local community, there is little or no support in the local community for the project” he argues.
London Assembly Member Mr O’Connell (Con Croydon and Sutton) has also objected on the grounds that the proposal would cause the loss of the only remaining dedicated and valuable community facility in Crystal Palace within the D2 use class – and also have a negative impact on transport and parking in the local area.
“Church Road is already very congested and the problem will
be exacerbated by a congregation of up to 450 people amassing at the venue twice weekly.
“In view of there only being two car parking spaces on site, the rest of the congregation will have to park in streets adjacent to Crystal Palace, resulting in parking chaos.
“But if the site remained a D2 venue, events would be staggered throughout the week and a ‘bottleneck’ situation would not arise on any one day, thus avoiding extreme local congestion.
“There is mention of public transport being required to bring people from outside the local area which gives the impression there are not numbers locally to support a church.
“Furthermore local bus services are already oversubscribed.
“There is no need for further places of worship in the local area. “There is already a place of worship diagonally opposite the site” he adds.
Another London Assembly member Valerie Shawcross (Lambeth and Southwark) has objected to the proposal on the basis of the potential sustained impacts on traffic and road safety in the vicinity of the venue should large events be regularly held there.
“The events seems to be aimed at attracting large numbers of attendees from other parts of London rather than the local community which gives rise to concerns regarding traffic congestion and possible parking issues in residential roads around the venue” she says.
Steve Reed MP (Lab, Croydon North) has expressed concerns that the roads around Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood are already very narrow and often backlogged.
“Further cars being added to this would lead to disruption. “The site is also the last dedicated Class D2 venue left in the area and has an important role in furthering social, recreational and cultural interests of the local community.
“The proposed development would generate unacceptable noise and disturbance as a result of worshippers accessing and leaving the site.
“This would be exacerbated to harmful levels by virtue of the intermittent en masse gatherings associated with the proposed timetable of worship on both Sundays and Tuesdays.
“This effect would most certainly be felt over the course of any Sunday when the proposal would be operating at its peak intensity.
Adjoining planning authorities were consulted and have responded as follows:
Lambeth council continue to raise objection on land use grounds as they consider that there could be a potentially harmful impact from the loss of the lawful Class D2 use on leisure opportunities within the Westow Hill/Crystal Palace district town centre (as designated within the London borough of Lambeth Unitary Development Plan (2011).
“Such facilities make a valuable contribution to town centres and the local communities that they serve and should be retained.
“Notwithstanding the work the applicant has undertaken in the intervening period between the refusal of the planning application and the submission of the current application, Lambeth council still consider that the transport assessment submitted is deficient.
“Although the document is more robust and detailed than the earlier submission it still fails to include the future growth calculations which were requested previously.
“On this basis it is considered that the applicant has not adequately demonstrated that the proposed change of use would not have a harmful impact on parking stress and highway safety within the area.”
Croydon have objected on the grounds that the proposal would have a detrimental impact upon the vitality and viability of the Upper Norwood Triangle and that the transport assessment does not satisfy the requirements of policy 6.3 of the London Plan with insufficient information to be able to assess that the proposal will not have a negative impact on the surrounding highway network contrary to Policy 6.13 of the
London Plan.
Lewisham: no response received at time of officers report.
Southwark: no response received at time of officers report.
