Exclusive: North Ockendon residents hit out at Havering Council over their ‘staggering hypocrisy’ over greenbelt land.

Residents living in North Ockendon near the proposed Data Centre site, have hit out at Havering Council over their ‘staggering hypocrisy’ with councillors praising their new village green spaces across the borough, yet allowing a huge Data Centre to be built on greenbelt land.

Residents who live near the possible site on Fenn Lane, have been fighting to stop the development as they fear it will destroy over 200 hectares of greenbelt land.

One residents who did not wish to be named told the Havering Daily: “The Havering Residents Association were elected on a Pledge to protect the greenbelt land. This Pledge was also repeated in their Local Plan.

The proposed East Havering Data Centre will destroy over 200 hectares of virgin greenbelt land. This is not the only greenbelt which the council intend to allow industrial installations to be built on in this area. There are now planning applications submitted to build the following:

• A Voltage Management System on Green Belt near Acacia Gardens in Cranham.
• A battery storage facility on Green Belt in St. Marys Lane, Upminster.

This is in addition to the three solar farms being built on local Green Belt.

When is far too much, enough?”

These residents are not only angry at the possible development, but disappointed that those councillors who they put their trust in to protect local greenbelt land, are now the ones willing to hand it over.

The North Ockendon resident continued:

“The Council waving through the mega data centre proposal under cover of an LDO (still not formalised), has opened the floodgates and we now have a race to the bottom to turn Cranham, Upminster and North Ockendon from Green Belt and Conservation Area into an industrial power and battery storage wasteland.

Clearly, the Council have looked no further than the financial inducements on offer, allowing the permanent decimation of our precious Green Belt, whilst they continue their shameless propaganda campaign of influence peddling, ridiculous spin and ludicrous greenwashing in support of this destruction. 

For Councillor Morgon to crow about protecting a few Village Greens, as an example of the Council’s commitment to their Pledge and safeguarding of our green spaces, is staggering hypocrisy.”

Another resident who lives on Clay Tye Road, told the Havering Daily:

“I have always voted for the Residents Association for the last 37 years. However, after the meeting last week at the Top Meadow Golf Club I have made my mind up to never vote for them again. Councillor Morgon made it quite clear he was in favour of the development. I thought as RA councillors that they would be there to support their local people.”

One North Ockendon resident told the Havering Daily:

“It is believed that Councillors are advising others that the farm land around Home Farm is no longer being used for farming and growing crops and that the land is unused waste land.

The nature park is a large open space for people to walk. There is a public footpath down the side of Home Farm to Bury Farm.

The council say we need more open spaces, if this is the case-why did they build homes on the Crazy Golf course in Upminster?”

Residents in North Ockendon are angry and feel that their voices are being ignored. The destruction of so much greenbelt land has shocked them not only in North Ockendon but right across the borough with so many environmental groups such as Havering Friends of the Earth supporting them.

Lorries taking away crops on nearby land.

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.

Support Local Journalism
We at The Havering Daily appreciate your support of quality journalism. Your generous donation, no matter the size, allows us to continue bringing unbiased and informative news to the community. Your contribution helps us maintain our independence and allows us to continue providing high-quality journalism. Thank you for valuing the work we do and for supporting our mission

Thank you