In October 2013, London Mayor Boris Johnson announced proposals for development by the Chinese group Zhong Rong International Group Ltd of a new 900,000 sq ft plus ‘Crystal Palace’ on the hill-top of the park, which would also require acquisition of further large areas of precious parkland. At totally inadequate ‘public consultation’, ARUP, representing the Chinese interests, were unable to provide even fundamental information, and at disastrous meetings in the Paxton Suite, where hundreds were excluded from admission, ARUP conceded, under heavy questioning, that the large ‘glossy pictures’ of the proposed development were no more that artist’s impressions, which might not resemble the final building. In desperation, ARUP said that…

Two Community Consultation meetings arranged by ARUP were held on Saturday 1st March 2014 at 11.30 and 13.30 at the Paxton Suite in The Lodge, Crystal Palace Park. These meetings, though inadequately publicised by the organisers, were well notified by the CPCA and other local organisations, which perhaps contributed to the inauspicious start to the first meeting, when more than 200 people attending at 11.30 were unable to gain admittance, finding the room already packed to capacity, with every seat taken and many more standing and even sitting on the floor. Predictably, people unable to attend were furious at this fiasco, which was not helped by the sublime arrogance of…

The Coalition is preparing a new assault on planning laws that will give developers legal powers to force through planning applications without council approval or environmental assessments. Under new proposals, described by one planning expert as a nuclear option, developers and builders will be able to by-pass local authorities that delay decisions on conditions attached to planning approval. Even worse, the Coalition also proposes to remove requirement to assess the impact of some large residential developments or housing estates, super-markets and shopping centres on the countryside. Campaigners, including concerned Tory back-bencher MPs representing rural areas have warned that these radical reforms could result in communities being “held to ransom” and…

Appeal Lords say no Three Lords of Appeal found against the CPCA at hearing on Tuesday 23rd April 2013 rejecting submission by Robert McCracken QC that the LDA Masterplan application should not have been outline application and that proposal under it for sale of land to raise money disregarded the importance of Habitats Directive Regulations concerning bats. CPCA Chair John Payne said “Whilst naturally disappointed we are greatly encouraged by the messages of support from all quarters and it is as though we had won the challenge to the Masterplan not lost it. It is gratifying that all the efforts and costs in bringing this matter into the courts have been…

The battle for the future of our Upper Norwood Library continues albeit in a very different form. The following information explains the current position on the formation of a ‘Trust’ and the role it will play in the future management and governance of the Library. The CPCA would like to thank all those who are working so hard on ensuring the future of our Library for this update. The Upper Norwood Library Trust Update Who we are?We are a group of local residents committed to saving the library. We have all been involved in the library campaign over the last few years, some longer than others. In the summer of…