St Alban’s – Opportunities and Options!
Please help in the final push to keep St Alban’s for community use and prevent its loss to the community forever. Many thanks to those who have helped us along the way.The application for a change of use to residential flats and rehousing the nursery in one of two buildings beside St Alban’s church is due back before Ealing Planning Committee.In November, the application was withdrawn from the Committee at the last minute. A rethink was forced by objections and comments, including from the Council’s own conservation officer. Strong feelings were expressed by the local community and people interested in using the site for community uses, including a school, a theatre, an arts cinema, a mixed-use community and start-up business centre and even as a Christian church . . . and everyone wants a café on the Green.There is huge pressure on community facilities and a need to promote arts, culture and education locally. During the summer the petition started by Colin Bastin and promoted by St Alban’s Community Association (‘SACA’) attracted attention and over 4,600 signatures demanding proper consultation about the site. Signatories include our local politicians of all persuasions, our MP, Angie Bray, the shadow minister for culture and communities, Hilary Benn and our patron, Richard Briers.The applicant has been slow to provide documents required by the Council, but we can expect a last minute rush and intense pressure from developers desperate for planning permission.The Bishop of London has said of churches: “It would cost billions to replicate the country wide social infrastructure that such buildings already represent.”Please lend your support:-Join SACA – send your details to our secretary: chris@chauncy.co.uk Write to Ealing Borough Council Planning, Attn. Peter Lee, Planning Officer: Application ref no.: P/2010/5108 Email: planning@ealing.gov.ukPost: PO Box 14941, London W5 2YPVisit: Percival House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2HLWrite to the Bishop of London: The Old Deanery, Dean's Court, EC4V 5AA bishop@londin.clara.co.uk Come to the site visit: The Saturday before the Planning Committee meeting – next days for site visits: 10th March, then 31st March – Site visits fixed 4 days in advance – Watch this space!Come to the Planning Committee meeting: Next meetings: Wednesday 14th March, then Wednesday 4th April – Agendas fixed 8 days in advance – Watch this space!If you are part of or interested in a group or activity in need of space then now is the time to act before yet another space is lost forever. Contact us and Save St Alban’s for the community.Colin BastinChair, St Albans Community Association
Colin Bastin ● 5317d0 Comments ● 5317d