Dear Mr Jenrick,

Re: Whitechapel Bell Foundry

I am respectfully writing to ask you to issue a “holding direction” on the case of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry which means that current planning permission cannot proceed.

Additionally, I would also like to request that you ‘call in’ the planning application for the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and hold a Public Inquiry on the proposals, as the current hotel planning application causes ‘substantial harm’ to a very important heritage asset.

The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is of important historical significance to both London as well as the international standing of the UK. It has cast bells on the same site since Tudor Times, and has cast bells of great historical significance such as the USA Liberty Bell in the 18th century as well as our very own ‘Big Ben’ which rings in the new year in the United Kingdom. The Bell of Hope in Manhattan USA was also cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and was presented by the Lord Mayor of London to the people of New York on the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In addition, the foundry also cast the ‘Bow Bells’ which were broadcast by the BBC to occupied Europe during World War II.

Bells are a universal symbol of hope and freedom and above are just a few examples of Bells which the foundry has cast over its immense history. The foundry is of national importance locally to London, but also nationally and internationally and the controversial nature of the proposal to change the use of the foundry into a quirky ‘bell themed’ boutique hotel is a quite honestly a travesty and deserves a full and detailed investigation at the highest level.

Please may I respectfully request that you issue a ‘holding direction’ and an inquiry on this case without delay.

Yours sincerely

Lets hope that with enough letters this case is reviewed as soon as possible.

GA, thanks for pursuing this wonderful cause!

Thank you, GA, for being in the vanguard.