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BEXLEY COUNCIL RESPONDS TO CPO CLAIMS
Following last months report in Gateway News , Bexley Council have responded to the claims of the compulsary purchase order.
The Council states “It is not true that the Council is proposing the Compulsory Purchase of the Running Horses. No decision has as yet been made by the Council as to future proposals for the site. Work has only just commenced by Council consultants on the opportunities offered within the Western Gateway area and concrete proposals are still some way off. Compulsory purchase could be an option in the event that land needs to be secured for development but would only ever be used as a last resort.
“Council officers have recently had a very positive meeting with Lorraine Davidson where there was clarification of a number of key issues on both sides. The Council acknowledged the significant investment currently being undertaken in the Running Horses and confirmed support for the improvement of such facilities at Erith Riverside. These recent developments will be taken into account by the Council when progressing the next stages of the Erith Western Gateway project.”
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COMMUNITY TRIBUTE TO “BUSTER”
Local MP, John Austin, joined Thamesmead residents at a “memorial fun-day” in Lensbury Way on Sunday, in a tribute to the memory of Julian “Buster” Knight who was tragically stabbed to death earlier this year. John Austin was attending at the request of Buster’s family.
John Austin said: “This was a tragic waste of a young person’s life, which must spur us on to do more to tackle violence and knife crime in our communities. But this tragic event has brought the community together in organizing the event on Sunday and in creating a demand for improved recreation facilities for young people in the area. I am grateful to the council for making the field of the former Abbey Primary School available for Sunday’s community event, but I share local residents’ views that this should become a permanent public recreation and play area.”
Earlier this year, in February, John Austin had approached the council about the future of the former school playing field after speaking to Buster’s mother some months before Buster’s tragic death. Following the closure of the Abbey Primary School, the school buildings and playground have been used by the Pupil Referral Unit but the field has remained vacant. John Austin said: “There were fears that the site would be sold off for development and I urged the council to retain it as open space for public use. In March I was told that the site was part of a strategic review. One of the considerations was possibly to sell part of the site and use the rest as a play area. I have now written to the council asking them to make the field a permanent play area for the community.”
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