22nd May 2002
Dear Paul
Many thanks for your detailed reply to my letter regarding the Enfield Town
Phase II development. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my queries.
I assure you, that I believe that Enfield Town needs to be developed. Had I
been asked during the consultation exercise in 1995, I would have and would
still agree that additional retail on the Sydney Road is a good idea. However,
I think there are some serious issues with the current plan, which make it
unacceptable.
a) The closing of Sydney Road creating an large island of shops with no
through routes late at night
b) The multi-story car park being built too far forward, out of line with
the current buildings south of it in London Road.
c) The shop mobility unit being built on the 1st floor with no direct access
to dial-a-ride buses
d) A library/museum/health centre etc being built on the Cecil Road site
e) Genotin Road being used as the main southbound route through the town
f) The demolition of the Town House
g) The moving of the Free Evangelical Church
I totally agree that the developers are experts in their field, but I'm not
sure whether their designs are suitable for a "market town". I believe that
most of the issues above can be addressed, alternatives could provide as much
if not more retail space and would be commercially viable and still be in
keeping with a "market town".
You say the Council are legally committed to the scheme, but are they legally
committed to the design? What are the outstanding issues that need to be
satisfied?
What is a "premium payment"? What are the amounts of the section 106 money and
the premium payment? I asked the developers directly at an EPS meeting if they
were paying for the fitting out of the civic building and they said it was all
down to the Council. Have you any rough budgets, at all, for the library and
civic building fitting costs?
Have you any details of the library move in Edmonton? Has a report been
published on the advantages of moving the Central library?
I have spoken to the papers and they have agreed to assist me. However, it
would be great if you could provide me with photocopies of the press cuttings
you already have collated. I have noted that some details of the development
has now been published on the website. I have asked Laings directly for
permission to publish their visuals on my website, but they have refused this.
I think details of the plans and visuals would be of interest on your website.
Where can I obtain copies of the transportation studies for the development?
I apologise too, for the length of my email and my original letter. I am not a
professional in any area of planning, building or retail, but I am a concerned
resident who feels this development as it is currently planned will ruin
Enfield Town. The last thing I want to see is for Enfield Town to die.
Best regards
Ian
Ian Bishop-Laggett
www.enfieldtown.org.uk
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