On Wednesday night, Labour and Lib Dem members of Ealing planning committee voted to approve a massive 288 flat tower block development on protected green space in Greenford.
The now approved development is situated just off the Greenford Road by Grove Farm.
This protected green space has the status of Metropolitan Open Land, which is afforded the same protection as the Green Belt and usually can only be built upon under special circumstances, such as a valuable community asset like a school or hospital.
The towers range up to 11 storeys in height and contain a massive 288 flats, completely dominating the surrounding area and it also involves the heart-breaking removal of 107 mature trees – a valuable wildlife habitat.
Many local residents are concerned how the increase in population will affect already under strain local services, which are currently struggling in the aftermath of the global pandemic. Others are worried that the development will increase congestion and pollution on the existing gridlocked road system, causing nightmare traffic along the Greenford Road and Whitton Avenue.
The two Conservative representatives on the committee, Cllrs Fabio Conti and Joanna Dabrowska voted against the proposal citing several concerns, such as the removal of mature trees and whether there was sufficient justification for building on a protected green space. Unfortunately, their pleas fell on death ears as Labour councillors, including two councillors elected to represent wards in Greenford, Cllr Simon Woodroofe and Cllr Shahbaz Ahmed supported by a Liberal Democrat all voted in favour of this overdevelopment.
Three other Labour councillors failed to attend the meeting.
With the May 2022 Local elections fast approaching, Residents will finally have the opportunity to elect Conservative councillors that actually care about our area and will represent resident’s interests, not ignore them. We oppose inappropriate tower blocks.
