petition. No map was ever included in the CPCA petition against residential and commercial development in Crystal Palace Park, BUT a map was included with an on-line petition that had absolutely nothing to do with the CPCA. It is a matter of concern that Dr Novitsky, Principal Planning Inspector at the Planning Inspectorate, with all the resources available to him, failed to establish this cardinal distinction, and his criticisms were therefore both ill judged and baseless.
People power makes a difference I was proud to be a ‘founder member’ of the original Crystal Palace Campaign, an ad-hoc group dedicated to defeating the massive multiplex proposed by Bromley for the hilltop of our historic and much-loved Park. The success of the Campaign became legendary. Mass rallies and marches, huge public meetings that included politicians and other prominent people, a 50,000 signature delivered to Downing Street, extensive national press and TV coverage, High Court legal challenges and referral to the European Court. Finally, after Bromley spent millions policing the Park and evicting environmental protesters, the scheme collapsed and Bromley Council was taken to the European Court. People objected to the sale of public parkland for commercial development and recognised the precedent it would set. Well, here we are again – only this time it is housing; more insidious perhaps, but even more damaging as it will not only threaten Crystal Palace Park but all UK parks. We must be just as resolute in our opposition to this if we are to pass on our heritage to future generations. John Payne
ALIVE AND WELL ... THE REAL PARK MASTER PLAN During stakeholder discussions and the Local Public Inquiry, supporters of the proposed LDA Masterplan described Crystal Palace Park as dilapidated and rundown, and the alarmist threat frequently used was ‘something must be done, we can’t go on like this’. After one of the coldest winters on record, the early summer weather brought thousands to Crystal Palace Park enjoying the sunshine in a beautiful setting of grassy banks and trees and shrubs in spring foliage, that was anything but ‘dilapidated and rundown’. The CPCA conducted a survey amongst Park users over two week-ends, who when told that the Park was under threat of sale of part of it for residential development under LDA Masterplan proposals, which included further loss of parkland, at first simply refused to believe it, saying this was not possible as public parks were protected and safe. When told that despite Grade II* registration and Metropolitan
Open Land status of the Park, some of which is within the Conservation Area, Bromley Council and Secretary of State Eric Pickles had approved the LDA Masterplan application, many people became furious. It is abundantly clear that despite the ‘hype’ and costly promotional campaigning of those supporting the LDA Masterplan there remains overwhelming stakeholder opposition to it. Following withdrawal of Government LDA funding and proposed abolition of the LDA it is virtually certain that the £100 million+ LDA Masterplan will remain just a plan! Providentially, a master plan more powerful than the LDA, Bromley Council and other parties to the LDA Masterplan, that will not be subject to the hypocrisy of politicians and other petty bureaucracy, is at work annually regenerating and restoring Crystal Palace Park ... It is the Master Plan of Nature. Mike Warwick Page 5