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Camden New Journal - by PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 1 November 2007

Protesters to fight for library site

Homes battle at town hall

A DELEGATION of residents protesting against the sale of scarce public land will march into the Town Hall on Monday and demand: “Buy this site and build us homes!”
Campaigners against the government sale of 3.6 acres of vacant brownfield land behind the British Library have won the right to address a full council meeting. They will demand that councillors intervene to halt the sale, and, if necessary, use compulsory purchase powers.
Protesters met this week to draw up their plans to save the site from commercial development, arguing that as a last patch of public space in the borough’s most deprived ward it should be developed for the benefit of local people.
Ossulton Tenants and Residents Association secretary Helia Evans said: “We want council houses and community facilities. We are requesting that the council makes contact with ministers and (site owners) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to halt the sale. Otherwise, we ask the council to CPO (compulsory purchase order) the site. “
The campaign has been boosted by the latest delay to hit the sale process.
As the New Journal revealed in April, the DCMS aimed to sell the land, which will become vacant in a few days when Channel Tunnel Rail Link constructors leave, by the end of 2007.
A tight schedule was drawn up which dictated that by now a shortlist of bidders would have been identified for the site, which experts estimate is worth more than £50m.
But the process has been held up while estate agents handling the sale await instructions from the DCMS.
It is understood that the government is weighing up the benefits of getting maximum cash from the sale for the DCMS and the ‘public interest bid’, a plan to build Europe’s largest medical research facility on the site.
Campaign chairman Candy Udwin said: “If we can force them to think about it at government level then what we’re saying is we want Yvette Cooper and Gordon Brown’s promises on housing to be honoured.”
The deputation at the Town Hall on Monday at 7pm, will be received by councillors Keith Moffit and Mike Greene. A petition has also be launched, and a link will be available via the New Journal website following Monday’s meeting.

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