Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
June 1999: To: all Residents, Businesses and those who love Covent Garden -------------------------------------------------------------- ST PAUL'S HOSPITAL, ENDELL STREET, LONDON WC2 The Hospital Group Ltd has spent much time and money seeking local support for their revised scheme. Although the CGCA has financially been unable to compete with their skilful media campaign and their army of professional advisers and spin-doctors, we care about our community and feel that their proposals will seriously damage the neighbourhood. Last year the application by the Hospital Group Ltd for the redevelopment of St Paul's Hospital and 34 Betterton Street was refused by Camden Council because: 1. the site is designated as a preferred housing site in Camden's Unitary Development Plan 2. the proposed media uses, the restaurants, bars and function rooms, will inevitably cause noise, disruption and further traffic problems 3. the scheme will result in more noise and disturbance in a part of Covent Garden that is predominantly residential. This decision by Camden Council had the CGCA's full support. The new proposals are different from those rejected last year in that: · the restaurant space has been increased but the café removed · the housing that is being lost is to be partially replaced in the area However, the scheme is fundamentally the same and the CGCA is still of the view that it should be rejected and that the inducements the developers are offering are not sufficient compensation for the adverse effects which their proposals will have on the area. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We ask you to write urgently to Camden Council to give your views: Mrs K Robinson, ref PS9904338, Development Control Department, London Borough of Camden, Argyle Street, London WC1H 8EQ. This needs to be done in the next week, as Camden are considering the scheme on 16th June 1999. We suggest that your letter could include some or all of the following points: a. the scheme is a fundamental departure from the strategic plan for the area - if this is approved it will imply that other developers will be able to do likewise b. the noise and disruption that will result from the development (e.g. taxis/mini-cabs, late-night revellers, visitors, traffic congestion, club users, deliveries) will significantly worsen for those who live nearby - the applicants acknowledge that up to 675 people can be on the premises at any one time c. the development is so large that it requires a new service road cutting through the site from Betterton Street to Short's Gardens, which could endanger pedestrians and cause yet more traffic congestion d. about 20% of the whole development is to be used for entertainment purposes (some 13,000ft2) - the two restaurants, the bars, function and reception rooms; the experience from equivalent venues in Soho make it quite clear what the result could be e. the loss of a potential residential development on the St Paul's site f. the St Paul's site could be developed for housing which could be economically viable g. housing on the St Paul's site would provide more affordable housing in the area than the Hospital Group Ltd are offering. The CGCA has suggested other suitable sites in Covent Garden to the Hospital Group, e.g. Holborn Town Hall, which they have rejected. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What we are doing: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We are holding a third public meeting to discuss the proposal (before Camden makes its final decision) on Monday 28th June at 6:30pm in the Community Centre, 46 Earlham Street, WC2. What we ask you to do: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Please write to Camden today. You can email your objection (for attention of Mrs K Robinson) to: mailto:env.devcon@camden.gov.uk > Please send a copy of your letter or email to the CGCA (mailto:cgca@aol.com) > Please come to the public meeting on 28th June. Drawings and further details of the latest scheme can be viewed at the CGCA office, 21 Macklin Street, London WC2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This email message was sent to you by: Covent Garden Community Association 21 Macklin Street London WC2H 8JB tel (020 7) 836 3355 fax (020 7) 404 2820 e-mail mailto:info@coventgarden.org.uk http://www.coventgarden.org.uk If you do not wish to receive further free up-dates on Covent Garden and information about the area by email, please ask to be removed by emailing liam@coventgarden.org.uk
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