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Green
Councillor campaigns to save New Cross nature reserve
Lewisham
Green Councillor, Darren Johnson, has hit out at Council suggestions
that the New Cross Gate Cutting Nature Reserve might be developed
for housing. In a recent consultation on the draft Local Development
Framework the Council asked if the site should continue to be protected
or developed for housing instead. The document says the Council
was following up a suggestion from a local resident that the site
be developed.
Cllr
Darren Johnson, whose Brockley Ward borders the nature reserve said,
"I cannot believe the Council is taking this ridiculous suggestion
seriously. I have been contacted by a number of local groups and
individuals alarmed at suggestions that the nature reserve be built
on for housing. As well as being an important wildlife haven locally
it is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.
Developing this land would be contrary to both Lewisham Council's
and the Mayor of London's current planning policies."
Darren
has tabled a formal question to the Council for next week's full
Council Meeting on 14th December 2005.
Notes
to Editors: Proposals to develop the site for housing are contained
in the Council's "Local Development Framework Issues and Options
Paper 10 - Site Allocations". The New Cross Gate Cutting Nature
Reserve is situated on the corner of Vesta Road and the Brockley
to New Cross Gate Railway Line and is currently managed by the London
Wildlife Trust. The site is said to contain "probably the finest
suite of railside wildlife habitats in London."
PRESS RELEASE contact for more information: 07887 737 276
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