PORTABLE CABINS BLOCK THROUGH TRAFFIC IN CAWNPORE STREET AS NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION STARTS : “The whole pub has been reverberating” – licensee
PORTABLE CABINS have been placed on Cawnpore Street off Gipsy Hill – blocking through traffic while work on constructing the new Paxton primary school goes ahead.
Dave Llewellyn, licensee of the Railway Bell which stands right next to the new development says the whole pub has been reverberating while drilling and digging works are being carried out.
Regulars have also complained of increased damage to wing mirrors and to the sides of vehicles since work began early last week, he says.
Mr Llewellyn, a City trader – and Railway Bell regular – before taking the pub over almost three years ago, says: “They could have put the portable cabins on the green opposite.
“If they had talked to us about what was going on, we could have come to some sort of sensible agreement.
“There were no notices about road closures. “On the Thursday they said they would be closing the road about three days later.”
Traffic to Woodland Road is currently being re-routed via Woodland Hill which is opposite Christchurch, Gipsy Hill. Only the pavement on one side of Cawnpore Street remains open.
Mr Llewellyn has been told work could continue until next September – but he thinks the work will take longer.
Talking to News From Crystal Palace on Thursday mid- afternoon Mr Llewellyn said: “It’s quite quiet at the moment but the whole pub has been reverberating as they have been drilling down and digging.
“My guess is the school probably turned round and said to them: ‘You can’t do this while we’re trying to teach children.’
“They have been bringing trucks in at 7.30am . “Work now starts from 8 am to 9 am. “For the first week it was all day. “The pub was shaking all day.
“All the consultation (which I wasn’t invited to) was a complete and utter waste of time. “They were always going to do it.
“I feel really sorry for the residents because, going forward, the parking and the traffic is going to be unbelievably bad.
“The views to the city, the light, all the rest of it is going to impact on their lives in a massive way – the strength of the feeling of the people coming in the pub, the sense of frustration that they have no opportunity to make it a sensible proposal.
“I don’t think the council know what they are about to create. “It’s becoming chaotic at drop-off and pick-up time because the streets are narrow. “It’s already half-gridlocked with 220 pupils.
“With 680 pupils it’s going to be unbelievable. “The council say all the pupils, teachers and parents will be cycling – which we know is fantasy.”
