ANGRY RESIDENTS 'MUST BE CONSULTED' SAY LIB DEMS

23.6.03

Angry residents from Bidwell Gardens, N22 met with Lib Dem councillors last week to discuss their concerns following the decision by the Council's planning sub-committee to send construction vehicle traffic for the Alexandra Park School development scheme through their road rather than Albert Road recreation ground as originally recommended.

Residents are particularly upset that this decision was made despite council planning officers and the school developers stating in the planning application that they considered that Bidwell Gardens should not be used due to safety concerns. The committee's decision to overrule this advice has therefore raised significant fears among residents that their safety will be compromised during the development phase of the school.

Alexandra ward councillor Wayne Hoban is concerned about the Council's failure to ensure that Bidwell Gardens' residents were adequately consulted prior to the decision to send construction traffic down their road. He has asked the Council to arrange, as a matter of urgency, a meeting with residents and key council officers to address their concerns at the earliest opportunity.

Cllr Wayne Hoban comments:

"This issue is very serious, Bidwell Gardens Residents Action Group are already seeking legal advice and the Council needs to meet with them immediately to resolve the problem.

"Once again, a lack of consultation by the Council has caused this situation. This development is essential for Alexandra Park School but the Council must learn that compromising peoples' quality of life or safety is not acceptable."

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