Both myself and Cllr Naheed Qureshi attended the Planning Committee meeting Last night to speak on behalf of residents of Oliver Close against the plans from London and Quadrant to build 18 houses and 16 flats on the Edith Pearson Lodge site in Oliver Close. Despite a call from residents of Oliver Close, particularly those from Robinia Crescent, Magnolia Close and me to reject the planning application as an over-development of the area: Labour Councillors used their majority to vote against residents wishes and voted in FAVOUR of the development being built in Oliver Close, Leyton.
London & Quadrant (L&Q) have acquired the former Edith Pearson Lodge site in Oliver Close and submitted an application to build 18 three and four bedroom houses as well as 16 one and two bedroom flats.
All three Liberal Democrat Councillors on the Planning Committee listened to local residents concerns about over-crowding the possible increase in crime and lack of parking and in particular the over-development in this small area of Oliver Close. They all voted AGAINST the application by L&Q. One Conservative Councillor voted against the application and the second abstained. The four Labour councillors on the committee voted for the developement. This meant the Labour Chairman Cllr Masood Ahmad – Labour Councillor for Lea Bridge Wards casting vote pushed the plans through.
After the meeting, the L&Q representative who attended the meeting became very abusive towards residents and Cllr Naheed Qureshi and I – stating that he had not attended a residents meeting called a few weeks ago by myself as he did not believe such meetings were ever effective and were an excuse for so called ‘mud-slinging’!
The Lib Dem FOCUS Team appreciate that there is a dire need for more HOUSES to be built in Leyton and welcome new houses – as there are far too many families living in overcrowded and appalling conditions. However in a small area in Oliver Close do we need to cram in 18 large houses and 16 1 and 2 bed flats as well. With minimal parking space? The site once completed will potentially accommodate 34 more families!!!! In such a small space? This could be a recipe for disaster…………….