Comments on: Save Brick Lane!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 13:42:49 +0000

I hope & pray you are successful in saving what is left of the east end. Development is not always for the best.

By: Caroline Murray

Caroline Murray — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 10:55:44 +0000

Yet again, a council trots out the pusillanimous reply that we have to say yes now as we can’t afford the appeal. This is precisely what the developers are relying on, and it makes me furious that nobody ever seems to call them out!

By: Lizebeth

Lizebeth — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 14:37:29 +0000

I join David in marching with you in spirit. It is truly hard to understand why this Council refuses to see the writing on the wall for projects such as these. It’s a new world, and huge office-cum-shopping malls are a thing of the past. This will be a white elephant that destroys its community just by the process of being built. Shameful. But I agree that those of us working to preserve our wonderful and diverse London histories and cultures must try and elect officials who are responsive to community needs. Not those of developers, as is the case with the current Council. Good luck with the fight.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 14:19:48 +0000

Unfortunately honesty and integrity are not values that can be ascribed to the vast majority of politicians. No matter whether they sit at the opposing ends of the political spectrum, or somewhere in between, they only have to get the scent of money being dangled in front of them and they will follow it.
It is interesting to note that following the outrage in 2020, when the Minister of State rubber stamped the development of the Westferry Printworks site for Tory party donor Richard Desmond, just a day before a community infrastructure levy was to be introduced, therby avoiding him paying £40 million towards schools etc. Labour Mayor John Biggs said “It’s right that the Secretary of State’s decision is fully investigated so the public can have confidence proper processes are in place to stop costly deals between politicians and developers”. Hmmm! The Kettle and Pot analogy springs to mind!

By: Akhtar

Akhtar — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 13:40:19 +0000

I heard from a local person that Tower Hamlets have over decades helped the Truman Brewery to publicise events there by using public funds – can anyone shed more light on this?

The land owners recently removed the historic cobbled stones… where is the money coming from to carry out the whole scale development on the Truman Brewery site?

By: David Antscherl

David Antscherl — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 11:53:47 +0000

I’ve seen some of these developers’ tricks before. Aerial views of the development minimise the actual height appearance of the project. A ground level point of view gives a more accurate impression. The ‘Shopping Mall” view posted looks thoroughly sterile and depressing. It reminds me of something out of the movie ‘Blade Runner’. ‘Corporate Plaza’ is no better with its scanty plantings that will receive insufficient sunlight to thrive. Ghastly!

Were I not the other side of the Atlantic I’d march with you on Sunday. Best wishes on arresting this travesty of a ‘development’.

By: Sarah-Jane

Sarah-Jane — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 11:51:53 +0000

Most large companies are downsizing their office space as more people are working at home for most of the week. This proposed huge office space will most likely be obsolete before building even commences!!!

By: Lucy

Lucy — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 09:40:50 +0000

These good planning reasons for refusal show that Labour shouldn’t need a party whip in favour of the development, as so often happens.

Agree with mlaiuppa – there’s an opportunity for radical change in the councillors who represent us.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 08:53:15 +0000

Shopping malls are dead. They are ‘old hat’ – all those l have entered since the sweeping trend of online shopping and the devastation of ‘lockdown’ have been empty with most shops inside closed and gone bust. There is a lot to be said for having a visible drive-by presence and the hidden away cavern of the shopping mall has become the ghost of retailing.

Using the objection to an almost obsolete method of shopping will be to.no avail judging by the committee’s hellbent agenda to obliterate local needs and heritage, tradition, l therefore heartily agree with the well though out tactic in MLIUPPA’S comment above.

I am a great believer in not wasting energy fighting a negative entity only with objection, but by creating a new stronger force to be reckoned with – joining their ranks to even the balance seems an excellent forward plan.

By: Heather Dyer

Heather Dyer — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 08:09:38 +0000

What you said about the council’s disastrous planning decisions rings so true – this council is not working for the local people and communities nor is it interested in preserving its rich architectural history – and yes you’re right as a life long Labour supporter I feel I can no longer vote for them. I think Rushanara Ali is a great local MP and I apologise to her but next local election I shall consider voting Green if the council nods this appalling insensitive greedy development through