Local Labour Party Vote Against Park Road Allotment Plan
Proposal set to be decided at planning committee meeting in August
A visualisation of how the development might look from the planning documentation
The Brentford & Isleworth Constituency Labour Party (CLP) General Committee voted unanimously at a meeting held on 23 June to oppose Northumberland Estate's proposals to redevelop the Park Road Allotments site.
The councillors who are members of Hounslow Council's Planning Committee exempted themselves from the vote as they are required to remain neutral. It is understood that the vote will not be binding on the councillors on the committee who are obliged to make their decision based on planning law.
This means that the CLP, as an organisation, will now be joining the three Isleworth councillors, Salman Shaheen, Daanish Saeed and Sue Sampson, together with Brentford and Isleworth MP, Ruth Cadbury, in submitting its formal objection.
Although the date has yet to be confirmed, it is now thought likely that the application will be considered at a borough planning meeting in August.
Councillor Salman Shaheen said, "As Chair of the Brentford & Isleworth Constituency Labour Party, I welcome this decision from our GC delegates and hope the many Labour members of the Planning Committee will take note of the concerns their comrades raised tonight. But this is not a party political issue. This is a planning application that seeks to destroy an Asset of Community Value, causing the loss of Local Open Space and a key wildlife haven and lifeline for the community. I believe the councillors, irrespective of their party, will be able to see this for exactly what it is."
Annie Aloysius, secretary of the Allotment Holders said, "We all so heartened by the huge and diverse support received to save the site from development. The Northumberland Estates have only allowed a few of us to use plots and actively sought to discourage even this to make it appear unused and surplus to requirements. However, all can see from the growing support this is not at all true. We will keep fighting to preserve them as an Asset of Community Value for the whole community for the future."
Sue Casey, Chair of The Isleworth Society urged anyone against the plans to register their objection, “It’s encouraging to hear that so many organisations and individuals in the community are united in their opposition to these proposals to build on designated Local Open Space and an Asset of Community Value. There is still time to send in objections before Hounslow’s Planning Committee meets. Visit www.isleworthsociety.org for more information.”
The Park Road Allotments. Picture: Val Snewin
The proposals will see seven blocks containing 80 flat built on the three acre site which has been used for allotments for over 100 years. The land was leased to the council in 1917 by the 7th Duke of Northumberland as allotments for the local community, including returning soldiers, to help them grow their own food.
Northumberland Estates says the rent from the proposed development is needed to help fund future repairs and improvements to Syon House and Grounds and has offered all existing allotment holders an equivalent sized plot at in part of the existing site that will be retained for their use. It has warned the allotment holders that the provision of new plots is dependent on planning permission granted and the allotments will not reopen if it is refused. The development will include affordable housing and units that will be made available to key workers at nearby West Middlesex Hospital.
The planning reference is P/2020/4292. You can find further details of the application and make comments by visiting this page.
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June 25, 2021
