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This week and next week, hearings are being held on the draft “Local Plan” by a Planning Inspector. This document was produced by the council and contains various planning policies for the next 10 years. I have been strongly opposing some of the things in it, and I’ve taken time off from the campaign trail to make my own representations in person to the Inspector at the Town Hall. These include opposing the planned “intensification” near All Saints Church in Sanderstead (I can think of few places less suitable for “medium rise buildings”) and around Kenley station, opposing the proposed Gypsy & Traveller site by the Purley Oaks tip and of course opposing the Purley Skyscraper (which will, after my intervention, be the subject of a separate public enquiry later this year but is in the Local Plan too). I have also made written submissions asking that the protection of Crohamhurst, Sanderstead Plantation and Purley Downs Golf course be maintained. The results of the Planning Inspector’s work on the Local Plan will be known in a few month’s time.
The Labour-run council has recently granted some awful planning consents, against the strong wishes of local residents. This has included the Purley Skyscraper, flats on Norman Avenue near Purley Oaks station, on Montpelier Road in Purley and Tollers in Old Coulsdon besides dozens of smaller but still intrusive schemes. If re-elected, I intend to step up the campaign to ask the council to stop doing this to our neighbourhood.
