Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tim Godsmark on December 21, 2018 at 11:24

I have written on behalf of GLERA objecting to the proposals. It may be hard to object on health grounds as it is Central Government policy to provide a network but the planning grounds for an objection are strong.

My email is as follows:

Dear Ms Skerrett,

I have been sent the pre-planning consultation documentation for the above mast. Could you note that any future consultation should be copied to myself as chair of the registered residents’ association.

We will strongly oppose the installation of your equipment on the roof of any block on our estate. As you may be aware the Estate is a combination of Grade 2 and Grade 3* listed. It is also going to be in a soon to be designated conservation area. The estate is a considered architectural composition and the buildings were designed with a variety of roofscapes and roof levels.  These survive largely unaltered and it is unacceptable to harm views within and outside the Estate with the proposed equipment.

There is a new, taller block of flats being developed opposite Bowater house and, if it is necessary to place your equipment in the immediate area, could I suggest that you discuss with Taylor Wimpey to locate it there.

Regards,

Tim Godsmark

Chair Golden Lane Estate Residents’ Association

07815 437 028

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Permalink Reply by Tim Godsmark on December 21, 2018 at 11:25

If and when they make a planning application we will then be able to put in a fuller objection.

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Permalink Reply by GLE Website Comms Team on December 21, 2018 at 12:42

Click links to read letters to Councillors and Mark Field MP from GVA (real estate advisors)

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Permalink Reply by JoJo on December 21, 2018 at 13:41

Thanks for the additions to the discussion. I didn't want to make what I wrote too long but as Tim makes clear  the estate is protected as a prized example of modernist architecture and would be ruined by this installation. Likewise I tried to upload the associated documents with my text last night but unfortunately the attempt failed, so I uploaded without them. But it is great they've been added.

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Permalink Reply by GLE Website Comms Team on December 24, 2018 at 23:09

From Councillor Vivienne Littlechild  - an edited response to the GLE mailing about the plans:

I have written opposing the application for a phone mast on Basterfield House or GLE and copied our MP, Mark Field.

I have objected to the short consultation, that it has been arranged over Christmas/New Year, probably in the hope that the issue would go unnoticed. I have had a reply from Mark Field who agrees with my view about the late “consultation”. He will be back at the office on the 7th January.

These are worrying applications as the power appears to be with the applicants. We had a similar issue some years ago when the then Barbican Director arranged a contract for such an installation on Brandon Mews but unfortunately no information about this became available until it had been installed. We objected but the contract agreed could not then be reviewed. Please encourage everyone to oppose this application.

I argued that it should be removed and proper consultation should take place but the then director, Sue Benjamin, had signed the agreement with the telecom company, for a not very impressive fee, and though she claimed it had been checked by independent solicitors instructed by the CoL, it was an agreement from which we could not extract ourselves.

If you are holding any meeting with residents let me know as I am happy to emphasise how important it is not to hope someone else will deal with this.

Regards,

Vivienne Littlechild MBE JP

Elected Member for the Ward of Cripplegate

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Permalink Reply by Jacqueline Swanson on December 25, 2018 at 1:22

I emailed the following message to Rebecca  Skerrett of GVA, copied in to Mark Filed MP:

Dear Ms Skerrett

I am a resident of Golden Lane Estate and I am writing to you with regard the proposed telecomms base station on Bowater House.

Firstly, I can't help feel that the timing of preplanning application consultation period being so close to Christmas is both deliberate and cynical.

Secondly the proposal itself:

Golden Lane Estate is grade 2 listed (in parts grade 2*) and also now a designated conservation area. 

The estate is currently undergoing major restoration works which will continue over the next couple of years including roof repairs. It is therefore completely impractical to consider any addition to the roofs - there are already a number of issues with leaks and damage to the homes below.

This is a densely populated area with two schools and a nursery school bordering the estate. Whilst the negative affects on health are not universally accepted there is no doubting the additional stress that the anxiety will cause residents and parents.

I would urge you to recommend your client consider placing the installation in a less contestable location.

Kind regards

Jacqueline Swanson

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Permalink Reply by JoJo on December 25, 2018 at 10:24

Just to reiterate, Mark Field is easy to contact. We all need to do this now to make sure he and others know how unhappy we are about the proposed mast installation of the roof of Bowater House. Best way is email or letter. There is also a phone number on his website and he has Twitter and Facebook.

Office of Mark Field MP, House of Commons, SW1A 0AA

fieldm@parliament.uk

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Permalink Reply by Chamoun Issa on December 26, 2018 at 12:42

Dear neighbours,

first of all Merry Christmas!

Who at the City should I email about this?

Happy new year,

Chamoun

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Permalink Reply by JoJo on December 26, 2018 at 13:08

This hasn't gone to planning yet but will do early in the new year. So for now the best people to email seem to be:

Mark Field MP: fieldm@parliament.uk

And sympathetic City councillors. The Cripplegate councillors to have expressed concern are:
Mark Bostock: mark.bostock@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Sue Pearson: Susan.Pearson@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Vivienne Littlechild: vivienne.littlechild@cityoflondon.gov.uk

One would hope other Cripplegate councillors who'd be sympathetic would include:

Mary Duncan: mary.durcan@cityoflondon.gov.uk

William Pimlott: William.Pimlott@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Because the information was sent out on on 17 December to too few people to create a 2 week consultation period over the holidays, it may just be the Cripplegate councillors who have yet to express a concern have been away and are as yet unware of the issues.

If you feel like emailing everyone that's great but I'd prioritise Mark Field as the MP for the area and then Sue Pearson as the councillor most immediately involved in this as she lives on the Golden Lane Estate - although there have been problems with the City of London Standards Committee attempting to gag Sue and stop her speaking on on behalf of those who elected her.

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Permalink Reply by Chamoun Issa on December 26, 2018 at 20:00

Thank you Stewart!

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Permalink Reply by Bas Raijmakers on December 30, 2018 at 14:32

I sent out this email to express my concern today:

Dear Rebecca Skerret,

I write to you with regards to the phone masts your company plans to put on Bowater House on my estate.

Firstly I strongly object to your timing, to start this over the Christmas holidays. This suggests you want to get permission 'under the radar' while residents have their minds set on family and friends. This is nor respectful, really. If you would like to introduce these masts to our community, you should collaborate and communicate, instead of applying stealth tactics. 

Secondly, these masts would have a very negative effect on how our estate looks. I came living on the estate for its architecture, and was assured by it being Grade 2 and Grade 3* listed. The rooftops and skyline of the estate is an important part of this, and your plans are threatening to destroy these. Moreover, my fellow residents warn me that rooftop contruction will deteriorate as a result of these plans. 

I suggest you look for another location that is less sensitive to the negative effects of your masts, and communicate and collaborate much better with the local residents and businesses there, than you do with us.

Bas Raijmakers,

resident Hatfiled House, Golden Lane Estate since 2006.

cc Mark Field MP, Sue Pearson, Mark Bostock, Vivienne Littlechild, Mary Durcan, William Pimlott, all elected councillors, to express my concern to them too.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Godsmark on January 9, 2019 at 19:23

Two other residents and myself met with journalist from the Islington Tribune to publicise the opposition to this. Expect to see something in an issue soon.

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