EastSheenMatters

As has been noted several times on this site, one of the main objections to the planning applications at the Stag Brewery is the reduction of ‘affordable housing’ to 7%. The Council has justified its position on the basis of high land values in the area. The developers justify their position on the basis of their need to make a profit on their 2015 purchase price of £158 million.

Some might think that ‘affordable housing’ at 7% is sufficient if it were to be for what used to be known as council housing. But what if its primary purpose was affordable housing for essential services like local teachers, medical and nursing staff? As presently planned little accommodation would be available for them. Like so much of the Thameside development the fine views will be reserved for the more well heeled and foreign investors.

There is no reason to think that the Government’s intentions to make local planning decisions easier to implement will affect the process of the Planning Inquiry. If the Government were to decide to call in the decision after seeing the report of the Planning Inspector, it would be inexplicable if they were to decide to accept the proposed arrangements.

Does the Council simply intend to ignore this reality, avoid any attempt at negotiation and waste our council tax for their own political purposes? And all the while they imply that local opposition is Nimbyism, when the vast majority of local residents recognise the need for housing on the site, just not as planned.

The Garden Market at the Hare & Hounds will be open from from 11-1pm.

Exhibitors this week are 

Jodie Robertson from Jodie Designer Travel 

Jane Cox from Jane Cox Photography  

Georgie Bahoshy from Tropic Skincare 

Jess Campbell from Fairytale Forest of Books (Usborne stockist) 

Sue Plowright with her handmade jewellery

Nadia with her original artwork 

Sarah Veniard from Discovering Gardens (garden design)

If you want to make a Comment on any Post in the Blog go to the bottom of the email you receive from ChildLawObserver10’s Blog where you will find a BLUE BOX. Click on the Comment and it will take you to a box within the Blog where you can post a Comment. Subject to suitability it will be approved.

It is apparent that lime bikes are a convenience for many cyclists. But their indiscriminate dumping adds to urban and park pollution and sometimes even danger for pedestrians. Is it not time that providers controlled their users more efficiently? When a cyclist leaves the bike, s/he is supposed to take a photo of where it is left. So Lime can see whether it is left on the pavement, which it should not be. And yet most are left on the pavement. Conclusion : Lime are not bothered providing the money is rolling in.

Lime e-scooters are different. They are marked with an instruction that says they should only be left in an e-scooter park. Otherwise the tab is still running, unless it is reported as stolen or has run out of battery. But Lime operates an app which shows where it is. They should not need it to be reported. If it is neither being used nor docked in a bay it is clearly malfunctioining.

A Lime e-scooter left crossing most of a pavement in Richmond Park Road was reported at 1040am today. Twelve hours later it had still not been removed, Had it not been moved into the gutter it would have caused a significant hazard to anyone with a disability or in the dark, wet and windy weather this evening.

The Council gave some astonishing evidence to the Inspectors at the end of the Public Examination of their 2024 Local Plan in relation to affordable housing. They sought to justify the low percentage at the Stag Brewery and other areas on the basis that high property values in the Borough meant that it was unlike other areas of London. So on that basis we do not need to provide accommodation for the less well off who provide essential services for the community. How myopic is that?

The Inspectors did not like it; the GLA did not like it; those councillors who have been willing to talk about it are uneasy. It will be interesting to see how the Council put their case at the Planning Inquiry in November.

11 July 2024

The Stag Brewery development on the east side of Ship Lane, if approved, would comprise alterations and extensions to existing buildings and erection of buildings varying in height from three to nine storeys plus a basement of one to two storeys. There would be floorspace for retail, financial and professional services, food and drink outlets, a hotel and public house with accommodation plus a cinema.

The heights of six of the proposed buildings exceed the maximum height of seven storeys permitted in local plans or approved by the GLA.

The Homebase development recently approved by the Mayor of London has residential units in five blocks ranging from four to eleven storeys.

At the Public Examination of the 2023 Richmond Local Plan the Inspectors heard evidence about the height of buildings planned for Kew Retail Park. Marks and Spencer, the major store at the site, are planning to demolish and redesign the store. The owners, St. George’s, asked the Inspectors to recommend to the Council that they should remove an existing restriction on the number of storeys that could be built there.

So what are the implications of current thinking from architects and developers? We seem to be at risk of becoming part of the tall buildings strip from Teddington to Vauxhall. Compare Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia. They may be financially beneficial to some. But who owns all those apartments and are they actually answering the housing problems we have?

FiSH is a neighbourhood community support scheme, established in 1963, which helps the people of Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen, in particular the older members, and those who may feel isolated and lonely. FiSH came about after a discussion between old friends. They organised volunteers and set up a helpline.

FiSH now has offices at the Barnes Green Centre, Church Road, London SW13 9HE. It has five full and part-time staff, a network of volunteers and three minibuses.

FiSH offers friendship, support and practical help and advice, via its network of volunteers, as well as events, activities and outings for members to meet each other and enjoy a social life.  FiSH also offers one-to-one befriending, exercise classes, choir, and activities aimed at those living with dementia.

In 2018 FiSH was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of its outstanding work for the community.

Find out more at fishhelp.org.uk

Office telephone 020 8876 3336

Congratulations to Sarah Olney on her victory and a much increased majority, with a 55% share of the total vote. And congratulations to the voters of the Richmond Park constituency with a turnout of 75% which must be one of the highest turnouts in the country, given the national average of 60%.

What are the implications of the change of government for Richmond Park? Affordable housing must be on the agenda, which will cause problems for the Council at the Planning Inquiry. What approach will a Labour Government have to a new academy, when local schools can provide space.

And will our new MP have anything to say to the Council about the views of her local constituents?

The stalls at this Saturday’s Garden Market from 11AM – 1pm will include

Sarah Harvey, A Quack & A Moo: homemade children’s accessories

Chiara Lobbi, Pesciolino Tales: arts and crafts

Beth Whitehead, Lupins Locker: handmade luxury hangers and cross stitch artwork

Katerina Hudspeth, KUT London: womenswear and clothing

Parisa Pourshahidi, BTS BEAUTY: beauty salon