The proposed £10 million sports and leisure development in South Norwood has been approved by Labour controlled Croydon Council and the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. However, the Government has now called in the plans and there will be a public inquiry.
Darren Johnson said, "There has been considerable public opposition to this development and it is right that it was called in by the Secretary of State. Local people are not against improved leisure facilities but this is not the correct site to consider this major complex. The surrounding infrastructure cannot cope with the proposed level of traffic increase and it is important that we keep Metropolitan open land."
Shasha Khan, Green Party Assembly Candidate for Croydon and Sutton said, "The whole issue regarding the proposed site smacks of underlying motivations and hidden agendas. Those that hold power regrettably manipulate the issue to result in their preferred outcome. The Labour Council has paid little attention to the environmental consequences and the views of the local residents. I am disappointed that the Mayor did not listen to the considerable opposition from the local residents and use his powers to block this development."
Sue Kennet, local resident and a member of NAG who is to meet Darren and Shasha said, "The original Public Consultation Survey conducted by the Council presented the choice of two locations, the current Portland Road site and the MOL at Ryelands Field Arena site. Planning permission was granted for both sites without presenting fully detailed architectural plans for the Portland Road development. It is now maintained that the Portland Road site is not large enough and will cost additional millions to develop. These are risible arguments."
The Green Party and NAG maintain that it will nearly always cost more to develop a Brownfield over a Greenfield site. If this argument is taken to its logical conclusion, on a cost alone basis, then Councils would only ever build on Greenfield sites.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Darren Johnson is 37 and was selected as the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor of London in May 2003. He was elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 where he is Leader of the Green Party Group. He was also elected to Lewisham Council in May 2002.
Shasha Khan, 31 has lived in Croydon for over 20 years. He is the Operations Director for the family run business. He is standing for the Green Party for the London Assembly Constituency of Croydon and Sutton.
ENDS
Further information and interviews contact Penny Kemp 07711 760692