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Petty politics over King's X
UGLY petty politics reared its head at the Town Hall last
night (Wednesday) during the debate over the very future of
King’s Cross.
Before the planning committee members lay heavy reports, more
than 800-pages thick, setting out a proposed redevelopment of
acres of derelict space around St Pancras and King’s Cross
stations.
This project, costing several billion pounds, will not only
change the face of that area but will also affect neighbouring
areas – land values will rise bringing about higher property
prices and thousands of extra people will come into the area
to work in the new office blocks. The effect of these changes
will wash up in places further afield, Camden Town, Holborn
and parts of Islington.
Never has Camden Council been asked to take such grave planning
decisions since its formation 40 years ago.
Yet what happens within a short time of the start of this historic
meeting? A set-to between the chairwoman of the committee, Councillor
Heather Johnson, and a veteran committee member Brian Woodrow.
She asked him to leave the chamber because of a long-standing
feud over his right to sit on any committee deliberation of
the King’s Cross scheme. He was accused last year of bias
against the project, and faces a Standards Board inquiry.
We believe Woodrow was right to refuse to leave his seat.
For years he was regarded at the Town Hall as a safe pair of
hands as a committee chairman.
Woodrow was known as a member who viewed applications judiciously.
He was never drawn to rash decisions.
Cautiously and carefully – too conservatively some would
say – he has navigated his way through committee decision
making.
More than that, he has been involved for decades in planning
debates, especially involving King’s Cross and Holborn.
In the 1970s he played a significant part in the successful
campaign to save the elegant 19th-century houses in Calthorpe
Street.
Few, if any of the present committee, can equal his experience.
In taking a decision of such momentous importance surely it
would be politics at the pettiest level to suggest Woodrow should
not participate in the King’s Cross debate.
Yet somehow Cllr Johnson was driven to take such a petty course
We remain of the opinion that the decision-making process for
this application is fatally flawed.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the final report
has been virtually sprung on the committee at the last moment.
Committee members should have been given far more time to digest
it than a mere 16 days! Bad decisions outlive the politicians
who make them. |
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