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Tower in
the park would be a real blot on the landscape
• I was appalled to read the news of the British
land and crown estates being given permission to go ahead with
their planned controversial redevelopment work on Osnaburgh
Street, Longford Street and Euston Road site (Towering Row for
Ex-Mayor).
What a stab in the back for the tenant and residents of
the Regent’s Park Estate and especially those living next
to the planned tower block site.
Many of these people I know how have fought so hard to prevent
the building of the monstrous and imposing 20-storey tower block.
This area already has a number of high-rise buildings, and this
one will totally disfigure the landscape. It was no surprise
to hear that the West Euston Partnership had given its support
to the site and tower block being built, as they get funds from
the site owners British Land.
And under no circumstances must the planning committees vote
five-six for the tower block and site being built, especially
now that we hear the deciding vote was made by Councillor Heather
Johnson (Chair of the planning committee), who is also a director
of West Euston Partnership.
Justice must prevail. Even with Heather Johnson’s vote,
the result was too close, especially when so many council tenants
and residents lives are at stake. This all smells to me and
many others. If the planning committees vote is allowed to stand
by Camden Council, tenants should show this New Labour Council.
What they really think of it, by voting against it in the coming
local elections. Where are the local councillors for the Regent’s
Park Ward ie Councillor Theo Blackwell.
These councillors should be listening to and supporting the
Regent’s Park tenants campaign against the tower block
being built.
You may not yourselves have to live on top of this planned tower
block, but you should at least defend your tenants and voters
against the interest of big business. What a shame Cllr Brian
Woodrow was forced off the planning committee because he supported
tenants’ rights.
Ellen Luby
Address supplied
• Sir Terry Farrell’s buildings have a muscular
quality which I admire and he may be right in saying that towers
form part of London’s changing character (Carry On Star’s
Home Goes to Make Way For Terry’s Tower, February 16),
but Osnaburgh Street is cheek by jowl to Regent’s Park
and a tower of some 20 storeys here would undoubtedly dominate
and further compound the damage inflicted on its pastoral quality
by the baleful presence of Joe Levy’s Euston Centre, a
tower that, arguably, should never have been erected over 40
years ago.
I believe it is not widely acknowledged by the powers that
be that the Royal Parks are one of London’s greatest assets,
if not the greatest. Which other capital city has such a wealth
of wonderful and varied green space at its heart?
An act of architectural deference is required by the architect,
the Crown Estate and British Land. I am confident that all three
are capable of standing back to acknowledge the special qualities
of Regent’s Park, a stance that British Land in particular
should not find difficult as it has long occupied offices in
Decimus Burton’s Cornwall Terrace – within the park.
George Tuffs
Willoughby House
Barbican, EC2
• Defending his proposed tower block near Albany Street,
Sir Terry Farrell says many such towers “are quite liked.”
I would suggest that readers check out The Visage, the controversial
development on the site of the old Swiss Cottage market based
on a Farrell design, and decide whether they “quite like”
it or if they think it is a blot on the landscape.
By the way, New York’s Central Park is flanked by handsome
pre-war apartment buildings, not modern skyscrapers.
E Stein
Rona Road, NW3 |
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