I wholeheartedly welcome the

recent approval of Piers Gough's stunning and inspirational plans for Lansdowne

Road.

The tower will offer Croydon a glamorous landmark for any

visitor entering the borough by car, as will the Menta development for those

visiting the borough via East Croydon. 

I would agree with the local resident who recently spoke in

favour of the scheme at council, that old and new can work in symbiosis and

that the Wellesley Road approach could become "The Golden Gateway" of Croydon.

To argue that the aesthetic of the building lacks artistic

merit shows a complete lack of understanding. We should embrace the fact that

such names as Alsop, Shuttleworth and now Gough are seeing the real potential

of our town, whilst backward thinking Nimbys seem to be doing little or nothing

to promote and maintain our town's true potential. 

I was a little confused by Cllr. Scott's comments made at

Council on the night the plans were passed, and recently reported by this

paper. Although I am a fan of oxymoron, to argue that the development will

merely provide "rich ghettos for the wealthy stuck up in the air" does not work

and is a weak argument. The application complies with planning regulations and was

thoroughly scrutinised by a group of well-informed and highly trained planning

officers. The scheme will provide £99,400 for education and £137,200 for our

health services which is surely to be welcomed. The scheme itself will offer a

four-star hotel, 100 serviced apartments, 25,000m2 of office space, 360 new

flats and a new gym.

Speaking with a fellow Croydon resident who attended the

planning meeting he felt that: "the design is both generous and glamorous in a

time where it has become fashionable in architecture to cut back and scrimp." I

would have to agree.

The riots of last year saw Croydon at its very worst. It is now time for Croydon to rise from its ashes and renew what it has always been proud of. A visionary, modern, forward thinking town which embraces change and all the benefits such change may bring.  Croydon needs to be bold, and, in doing so, will secure Croydon's prosperity for generations to come.