Darren declared,” The crusade against the multiplex cinema development was a highly successful battle in my last campaign. Again, Crystal Palace Park will be a major issue and I will be fighting to preserve the site as open green space.”
Darren is warning that even though the controversial multiplex cinema scheme collapsed in May 2001, there are real fears that other unacceptable development proposals are in the pipeline.
Clearly, the site has suffered chronic neglect over the years and Greens argue that it needs to be enhanced. There is no need to build on it to enjoy it, they say, and will therefore be opposing any development proposals to build on the site.
Commenting on the fence, Jenny Jones, Green party Assembly Member, said, “This appalling fence is an affront to local people’s feelings and freedom of movement.
Whilst stopping ordinary folk from using the site, it has patently failed to stop rubbish being dumped there. It is painfully obvious it is serving no useful purpose and should be removed immediately.
Quite simply, it is destroying the area, turning it from parkland into a building site.”
Bromley Council’s building-site style fence prevents public access to part of the Park, but has failed to prevent illegal fly tipping. The initial cost of the fence was £25,000 but this has gone up, as repairs have been required due to unauthorised entry.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. 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.
2. The Mayoral election will be held next year at the same time as the elections for the London Assembly. At the last Assembly elections the Greens scored one of their best ever results in the Party’s history, securing 11.1% of the vote across London and winning three seats on the 25-member Assembly.
For further information and to arrange interviews with Darren Johnson contact: Keith Magnum on 07739 968 825