St Alban’s Councillor Concerned About The Future Of Havering Islamic Cultural Centre Following Approval Of Site Development With New Homes.

The Ward Councillor for Bridge Close Industrial Estate in Romford, Councillor Judith Holt, has expressed her disappointment at the approval of the Planning Application P1765.23 to redevelop the site with over 1,000 homes, community buildings and spaces, at Thursday evening’s Strategic Planning Committee Meeting.

“Although I don’t object to building in principle, this is a gross over-development. As well as bloating the site, it will adversely overshadow nearby roads like Regarth Avenue and Atlanta Boulevard,” said the Conservative Councillor for St. Alban’s Ward. “Also, there is practically no parking, plus we were told at the meeting that the new school and health centre are only ‘maybes’ – these will be up to the DfE and the NHS.”

Most of all, Councillor Holt is very concerned about the future of the Havering Islamic Cultural Centre. Told by Havering Council that they cannot stay at their current site by the railway line, where they have worshipped since 2007 and from where more recently they have run their soup kitchen and food bank, no firm plans have yet been drawn up for the Centre’s re-provision.

“I attended the Strategic Planning Committee Meeting on Thursday evening and spoke for the HICC. Two new sites have been suggested – the old Page Calnan site at 222-226 South Street or use of one of the new community buildings. However, the Page Calnan site has not even yet been acquired by the Council and sharing a community space is not practical for the mosque, which is fundamentally a place of worship. I feel the HICC have been treated with disrespect by Havering Council.”

Martin Firmstone, the Conservative Candidate for St. Alban’s Ward, blames the Labour Mayor of London and the present Government for forcing ludicrously high housing targets on to London Boroughs. “To an extent, Havering Council’s hands are tied. However, I do feel these plans for Bridge Close have been drawn up by officers who don’t know Havering and, unlike local residents, won’t have to live with the consequences of thousands of extra people in Romford.”

Despite the planning application being approved, will it every happen?

“The Bridge Close development has been in the pipeline over seven years, since before I became a Councillor,” added Councillor Holt. “It makes me wonder whether it will ever actually be built!”

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