Report on meeting: Sunday 14th July; 2.30 pm
till 5.00 pm, The Arcola Theatre, Ashwin Street (part of Arcola’s Green Sunday)
Cllr Vincent Stops, LBH Planning Chair explained recent
planning decisions on major developments in Dalston and the modifications
achieved through the application process despite the limits within which the
Council operates. Ray Blackburn of Dalston
Conservation Area Advisory Committee wanted conservation areas extended to
cover the centre of Dalston to better protect the traditional streetscape. Bill Parry-Davies of Open Dalston used a
series of slides to show what had already been lost and what new developments
were proposed. Oliver Schick of Hackney
Cyclists explained how the redesign of Dalston Lane to increase bus flow had
created a dangerous junction for pedestrians at Queensbridge Road and created
conflicts with pedestrians near Dalston Junction station. He suggested ways in which junctions could be
made more permeable to create more direct and safer routes for cyclists. John
Thornton of Disability Backup welcomed the formal role they had now been given
in the Hackney Planning process and some achievements such as the removal of
street clutter such as A boards and tables on public pavements. He noted that bus access was now far worse
than before the changes around Dalston Junction. Russell Miller of Sustainable
Hackney warned that current planning policies failed to address the scale of
the challenge posed by climate change and the loss of biodiversity. He characterised new homes with inadequate
open space as “prison homes guarded by crippling debt”.
In a spirited discussion Ursula Huws of the Rio Cross
residents complained that current planning and licensing policies seemed to
give priority to business need over residents’ concerns. Disability campaigners
were concerned that permeability for cyclists made streets less safe for users
with disabilities. Bill Parry-Davies
complained Hackney Planners should be less scared of losing planning decision
on appeal. Vincent Stops said Hackney’s rate of success at appeals was already
in decline as Planning Inspectors ensured decisions better reflected the light
touch policies of the current government.
Dave Holland pointed out that popular protest was needed to effect long
term change in the Planning Framework within which decisions are made. Both Oliver and Ray said current management
through guidance instead of rules created a presumption in favour of
developer’s proposals. Oliver said this
was highly unusual compared with other European countries and inevitably led to
poor planning outcomes while encouraging land owners to hold onto land rather
than release it for development.
Cllr. Stops then left the meeting so it could discuss
concerns about the proposals for the Dalston Cross Shopping Centre for which
there is a public consultation exhibition at the Kingsland Shopping Centre on
the afternoon of Friday 19th July and the mornIng of Saturday 20th
July. In discussion the following points were identified as needing
clarification;
·
How it could be described as a retail
development when the overwhelming use was to create new flats?
·
Why existing green space would be lost to grey
paved areas?
·
Why the plans did not properly fit into existing
street patterns?
·
What would be done to mitigate the impact on the
existing infrastructure such as child play that was already overstretched?
·
How current use of the Eastern Curve garden
could be maintained if it was turned into a public thoroughfare?
·
How would the new flats will benefit local
residents space when none are at genuinely affordable rents or prices?
·
What could be done to prevent flats being kept
empty as investment properties?
·
Why is the bridge over the railway line not on
line with St Marks Rise?
·
How can Dalston take more car use from the new
parking spaces?
·
Artisans, designers and light industry are being
driven out of Dalston by residential conversions so how will the new development
create premises they can use?
·
Will the development so change the demography of
Dalston that it will kill the market?
