South Norwood school children win fight with homes developer
by Ross Lidbetter
ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk
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CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION: Headteacher Della Williams with happy pupils from South Norwood Primary School in their outdoor learning area
In a modern-day David versus Goliath struggle, a group of school children have beaten a developer who wanted to build six homes next to their wildlife garden.
The 24 members of South Norwood Primary's school council were worried that the development in Birchanger Road would have affected their lessons.
They also feared increased traffic problems and that their outdoor learning areas would be ruined.
So they wrote to Croydon Council bosses and the council's planning committee turned down the application to build the single-storey development in January last year.
The developer launched an appeal, but now the Planning Inspectorate has agreed the council was right to agree with the children's fears and has thrown it out.
However, the determined youngsters could have a further battle on their hands as the developer, Mel Designs Associates, is set to submit a new planning application.
Della Williams, head of the school in Crowther Road, says she is very proud of the children for fighting the plans.
She explained: "The children looked at this very maturely and they were very excited to have been involved. That was the key thing.
"They were very objective where they needed to be.
"The children designed a leaflet which went out to other children and parents to get their views.
"They were concerned about the building of the development and the dust from the trucks coming in."
Ellen Wilkinson, chair of South Norwood Residents' Association, believes it is a "great example" of grass roots campaigning.
She said: "For the children, it is good that they have learnt to stand up for their rights in an organised fashion.
"Then to be rewarded like this is particularly excellent.
"The first application being defeated was round one, this victory is round two so we are leading 100 to the developers' zero.
"But developers never seem to give up and we have to remain vigilant."
And this call for vigilance was well justified as Martin Lloyd, from Mel Designs Associates, in Chipstead, confirmed another application will be submitted.
He added that it hasn't been decided what this will include yet.
8 Comments
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by Richard, South Norwood
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 7:19AM
“We have to hope that after the next general election,the Conservative are running government.
When they get back into power im sure they will remove the faceless bristol inspectorate.
Put the decisions back in the hands of the local authorities.
Local councils then will be able to have the final say.”
by S, croydon
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 2:52PM
“I have to agree with Mark on this one. Two years ago my parents appealed against an overdevelpment proposal of 14 houses behind their land, and it was backed all the way by Croydon Council and was turned down twice by the council. However , the government came down and totally rode roughshod over Croydon Council, and overturned their decision and now there is 16 new houses going up instead!
This government would build a house on a grass verge if you turned your back long enough.”
by Mark, South Norwood
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 1:06PM
“Arfur. What I mean't is that Mel Designs Associates are almost certain to put forward another application that would be pushed through. It is also very naive to think that government policy does not determine what happens in so called 'independant' area's of the civil service. Prescott said a few years back that he wanted half a million new homes in London and the south east by 2010. The result of this is dense developments in already crowded area's.”
by CLAIR, south croydon
Monday, March 01 2010, 5:06PM
“Sorry for the capital letters,but as for rude?! please”
by Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher
Monday, March 01 2010, 1:30PM
“Mark, instead of being a Tory activist 24/7, try reading the article - it says that the Planning Inspectorate have upheld the Council's decision.
The Planning Inspectorate are independent and not an arm of a particular party.
That goes against your naive and twisted assertion that "The bad news is that Labour government pen pushers in Bristol will be quite likely push this application through against the opposition of local people".”