Objecting by writing letters

Please take a moment to read the sample letters on this page as they highlight the main issues concerning this planning application.

• You could of course write your own letter.
• You could use any of the sample letters available here. All you have to do is put your name and address at the top and your signature at the bottom then send it to the address at the top of the letter.
• Letter 9 |Letter 1| Letter 2 | Letter 3 |Letter 4 |Letter 5 | Letter 6 | Letter 7| Letter 8
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Head of Development Control Environmental Services Directorate:
Paul Tomkins
Head of Development Control
Environmental Services Directorate
Planning, Environmental Policy and Performance
639 High Road, Tottenham
London N17 8BD
development.control@haringey.gov.uk

Local MPs

Hornsey and Wood Green

Lynne Featherstone
You can write to
River Park House
225 High Road
London
N22 8HQ
Tel: 020 8340 5459
Email: lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org.
Surgeries are by appointment only
Call 020 8340 5459 for an appointment

Tottenham

David Lammy
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Tel:020 7219 0767

Appointment advice surgeries: first and third Friday of month and first Saturday of month. Appointments should be made by written request to the above address
or call 020 7219 0767 between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon only in the week prior to each surgery.

New Haringey Mayor

Councillor Eddie Griffith (Labour)
Mobile: 07870 157 701
Email: eddie.griffith@haringey.gov.uk

First Saturday of the month, 12.00 - 1.00pm
Hall alongside Christ Church, Waldeck Road, N15

Third Wednesday of the month, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Professional Development Centre, Downhills Park Rd, N17

New Executive member for Environment & Conservation

Councillor Peter Tariq Hillman (Labour)
Home telephone: 020 8493 8242
Email: peter.hillman@haringey.gov.uk
Third Saturday of the month, 10.30am - 12.00pm
Marcus Garvey Library , Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, Philip Lane, N15

Local Councillors

Crouch End Councillors

Councillor Ron Aitken (Lib Dem)
Home telephone: 020 8374 2682
Ronald.Aitken@haringey.gov.uk
First and fourth Friday of the month, 6.00 - 9.00pm
The Railway Tavern, Crouch End Hill, N8.

Councillor Peter Floyd (Lib Dem)
Home telephone: 020 8374 7230
Peter.Floyd@haringey.gov.uk
First and fourth Friday of the month, 6.00 - 9.00pm
The Railway Tavern, Crouch End Hill, N8.

Councillor David Winskill (Lib Dem)
Home telephone: 020 8374 5650
David.Winskill@haringey.gov.uk
First Saturday of month, 11.00 - 12.00 noon,
Hornsey Central Library, Harringey Park, Crouch End, N8

Hornsey Councillors

Councillor Judy Bax (Labour)
Home telephone: 020 8347 8700
Judy.Bax@haringey.gov.uk
Second Wednesday of the month, 7.00 - 8.00pm
St Mary's C of E Junior School, Rectory Gardens, N8

Councillor Richard Milner (Labour)
Home telephone: 0795 851 4439
Richard.Milner@haringey.gov.uk
First Saturday of the month, 11.00 - 12.00pm
Hornsey YMCA (Boardroom), Tottenham Lane, N8

Councillor Quincy Prescott (Labour)
Home telephone: 07967 336 447
Quincy.Prescott@haringey.gov.uk
Third Saturday of month, 12.00 - 1.00 pm
Hornsey YMCA (Boardroom), Tottenham Lane, N8

Stroud Green councillors

Councillor Laura Edge (LibDem)
Home telephone: 020 8374 6510
Mobile: 07967336171
Laura.Edge@haringey.gov.uk
Second Saturday of each month, 11.00am - 12.00 noon
Stroud Green Library, Stapleton Hall Road, London N4

Councillor Andrew Krokou (Labour)
Andrew.Krokou@haringey.gov.uk
Fourth Wednesday of the month, 6.30 - 7.30pm
Stroud Green Primary School, Woodstock Road, N4

Councillor Katherine Wynne (Labour)
Mobile: 07947 280414
Katherine.Wynne@haringey.gov.uk
First Wednesday of month, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Hornsey Vale Community Centre, 60 Mayfield Road, N8  
Please contact Cllr Wynne for an appointment

Third Saturday of month, 10.30 - 11.30am
Stroud Green Library, Stapleton Hall Road, N4.  
Please contact Cllr Wynne for an appointment.

Harringay Councillors

Councillor Gina Adamou (Labour)
Gina.Adamou@haringey.gov.uk
Second and fourth Saturday of the month, 11.00 - 1.00pm
48 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, N4

Councillor Ron Blanchard (Labour)
Ronald.Blanchard@haringey.gov.uk
Second and fourth Saturday of the month, 11.00 - 1.00pm
48 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, N4

Councillor Takki Sulaiman (Labour)
Takki.Sulaiman@haringey.gov.uk
First and third Saturday of the month, 11.00am - 12.00pm
48 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, N4

Planning subcommittee Councillors

Tom Davidson (Chair)
thomas.davidson@haringey.gov.uk
0797 471 4545
First Thursday of the month, 6.00 - 7.00pm
Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, N22

Reg Rice (Vice-Chair)
reg.rice@haringey.gov.uk
07973 223 150
Second Saturday of the month, 10.30 - 12.00 pm,
Marcus Garvey Library, Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, Philip Lane, N15
Fourth Saturday of the month, 10.30 - 12.00 pm,
Earlsmead Primary School, Broad Lane, N15

Bob Hare
robert.hare@haringey.gov.uk
020 8348 2710
Second and fourth Saturday of month, 11.00am - 12.00 noon
Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution, 11 South Grove, Pond Square, Highgate N6.
First and third Wednesday of the month, 7.00 - 8.00pm
Jackson's Lane Community Centre, 296A Archway Road, N6

Gail Engert
gail.engert@haringey.gov.uk
020 8489 4005
First Saturday of the month, 11.00-11.30am
Moravian Church Hall, Priory Road, N8
Third Wednesday of the month, 6.15-7.00pm
Last Saturday of the month, 11.00-12.00 noon
Muswell Hill Library, Queen's Avenue, N10

Gina Adamou
gina.adamou@haringey.gov.uk
All surgeries held at 48 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, N4
Second and fourth Saturday of the month, 11.00 - 1.00pm

Fred Knight
fred.knight@haringey.gov.uk
First and third Friday of the month, 10.30am - 12.00pm
Triangle Community Centre, St. Anne's Road, N15

John Bevan
john.bevan@haringey.gov.uk
07967 336 448
First and second Monday of the month, 6.00pm  - 7.00pm
Neighbourhood Resources Centre, 177 Park Road,Tottenham N17 0HJ.

Herbie Brown
herbert.brown@haringey.gov.uk
020 8376 4977
Second and fourth Saturday of the month, 10.00 - 11.00am
Miller Memorial Hall, The Avenue, N17

Sample Objection Letter 9 | 26.7.05

Your name
Your address

David Paton
Planning, Environmental Policy and Performance
639 High Road,
Tottenham
London
N17 8BD 25th June 2004
Your Ref: HGY/2004/1265

Dear Mr Paton / Dear Councillor,
 
London Concrete Ltd, through their agents have lodged a second application before Haringey Council to erect a Concrete Batching Plant with associated hoppers, conveyors and ancillary facilities at Ferme Park Depot, Cranford Way, London N8.
 
I strongly oppose the application and would urge you to support the surrounding community that is in opposition to the proposed development.
 
From studying London Concrete's Application and Commissioned Reports I am sufficiently concerned as to have no hesitation in requesting that London Concrete and its agents be refused any opportunity to develop a plant on this site.
 
The transport infrastructure in this area is already congested without adding further Heavy Goods Vehicle traffic. The possibility of some 56 daily cement truck movements through Tottenham Lane will only add to the problem. This figure has been supplied by London Concrete, whilst their managing director admitted in a public forum that these numbers only apply to the proposed plant running at some 50% capacity (therefore we can expect that in a shortish matter of time London Concrete will wish to increase capacity towards 100%, or in excess of 110 truck movements per day). These figures do not take into account non-London Concrete cement trucks, as London Concrete will also be supplying independent operators who would come to the site, nor delivery by daily tanker of liquid cement.
 
The immediate transport effect may seem to be concentrated around Tottenham Lane but the trucks will be operating within a 4 mile radius ensuring the transport issues generated will not be so localised.
 
Ferme Park Depot, Cranford Way is tightly surrounded by a thriving residential community, with many young families attending a number of schools and playing areas within a few hundred metres of the proposed site. There is a potential for dust fallout from the plant, and from the trucks as they travel through the community on their deliveries.
 
Cement trucks are large and often seen as dangerous by cyclists and many road users. Haringey, alongside other environmentally aware boroughs, has encouraged their citizens to leave the car behind and walk or cycle where possible. Parents are encouraged to walk their children to school. I believe that this trend will be seriously reversed with the advent of cement trucks on our narrow roads and it will ensure that yet more cars will be added to future congestion figures.
 
For those of who live close to Cranford Way, there will be a large increase in noise levels, from the operating plant, from the rail delivery, and from the stream of trucks accessing and leaving the site. Diesel engines are not quiet, reverse warning beepers are intentionally loud. The site is based in an amphitheatre-like location, thus noise will rise and reverberate from the buildings of Uplands Road and Chettle Court.
 
From a nature viewpoint, I also have concerns about the environmental impact that the plant will have as the site will encroach within the Stroud Green Railway Bank, an area designated by Greater London Authority as of importance for nature conservation.
 
Haringey Council initiated a Cleaner, Greener, Tougher campaign. London Concrete's plans would seem to be at odds with the Council's stated objective. Cranford Way currently accommodates a number of warehousing, distribution, food processing and light industrial businesses which integrate into the local residential community without damaging the ecological and environmental surroundings. Some of these businesses have expressed concern that they will be forced to leave the area due to adverse problems caused by the presence of a concrete batching plant.
 
Perhaps you are aware of a more environmentally friendly and non-disruptive use that this parcel of land can be best used for, which would also be of greater employment benefit to local people.
 
As a member of the Planning Sub-Committee, I hope that you are in a position to look at this issue and find sufficient reason to oppose the development.
 
I look forward to your support.
 
Yours sincerely,

Your name
Your address

Councillors' Letters

Laura Edge |Councillor for Stroud Green Ward

Liberal Democrat Group Room
Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, N22 8LE
Direct Line: 020 8489 2950    Fax: 020 8489 6901

To: Paul Tomkins
Head of Development Control
Environmental Services Directorate
Planning, Environmental Policy and Performance
639 High Road, Tottenham
London N17 8BD

19 August 2004

Dear Mr Tomkins,

Ref: HGY/2004/1265

I am writing in my capacity as councillor for Stroud Green ward and on behalf of Councillors for Crouch End and the Haringey LibDem Group to express our opposition to the above planning application.

The site in question is situated directly behind Uplands Road and Chettle Court, both of which are in Stroud Green Ward.

As you will of course be aware, the proposals have met with immense opposition from residents in Stroud Green and other affected wards. Having looked at the plans myself and attended the Planning Forum to discuss the application on 15 th July, I share the legitimate concerns of residents as regards the potential impact of a concrete batching plant on the local environment.

A major concern is that, whilst some materials will be brought to the plant by train, the concrete itself will be transported to surrounding building sites by road. London Concrete has stated in its application that this would result in an estimated 56 additional lorry movements each day. It is important to realise the context in which these movements will occur, the streets giving access to and from (notably Church Lane and Tottenham Lane) the Cranford Way estate are already heavily congested, are very narrow and heavily residential in character.

There is also a legitimate concern as to what guarantees there will be that London Concrete will adhere to this proposed number of lorry movements; if the demand for cement increases, won't the number of lorry movements also increase in response? Moreover, even where limits on lorry movements were imposed in the case of a successful planning application by London Concrete for a similar plant in Battersea it seems that the company later applied for that limit to be extended and was successful on appeal.

The question of the extent to which the estimated number of lorry movements/rail movements etc in this application can be relied upon in the future also relates to a second concern, which I share with local residents - that the application represents a change in the current employment uses on Cranford Way.

There are currently no heavy process industries operating on the Cranford Way estate: all the businesses conducted there are concerned with warehousing and distribution. I recognise that the UDP designation of the area does not preclude the construction of a concrete batching plant on this site, however, to do so would be to drastically change the current character of the area, and residents are understandably concerned that this might be the "thin of end of the wedge".

Residents living closed by also have several concerns about the extra noise that the plant is sure to bring, particularly from lorries entering and leaving the site, extra rail movements, mixing operations and associated activities.

There is also much worry about the dust likely to be created. This part of Haringey has a substantial number of children who suffer from asthma and other respiratory diseases: we are unimpressed with assurances that the plume of dust will not exacerbate these problems, especially when the proposed site is situated within a few hundred yards of the playground and basketball court in Chettle Court and in a densely populated area with several schools and a very high proportion of young children.  

Finally, there are also issues around the fact that the site directly adjoins a site of importance for nature conservation.

I believe that the proposed site simply is not suitable in human or environmental terms for such heavy industrial use. I would be most surprised to learn that a more suitable site, closer to a major transport hub, could not be found.

On behalf of my constituents and those in neighbouring wards, I would urge you very strongly to recommend that this application be rejected. It has united the local community in opposition and I believe that the concerns that have been expressed are legitimate and should be given weight when assessing this application.

With thanks and best wishes
Yours sincerely

Laura Edge
Councillor for Stroud Green Ward

Andrew Krokou | Cllr Stroud Green Ward

Civic Centre,
Wood Green
London N22

24th July 2005


To: Shifa Mustafa (Assistant Director Planning)
      PaulTompkins (Haringey Planning Division)
      Councillor Tom Davidson (Chair Haringey Planning Committee)
      Cllr Kate Wynne

CC: Green N8


Re: Concrete Factory Cranford Way N8


Dear All,

This is my formal objection to the development of a concrete factory in my ward on the land adjacent to Chettle Court/Hornsey School for Girls etc.

Having carefully considered written submissions and the views of the overwhelming majority of my constituents I have formed the view that:

• The proposed development would cause long lasting and permanent damage to the local environment
• The proposed development directly abuts a residential area
• HGV’s and the factory will inevitably bring noise and general pollution to the area, along with increase dangers of lorries in residential areas.

I would be grateful if my views could be brought to the attention of the Planning committee.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Krokou
Cllr Stroud Green Ward

Cllr Kate Wynne | Cllr Stroud Green Ward

To whom it may concern

Please take this letter as my formal objection to the development of a
concrete factory in N8.

Having read all associated paperwork, and listened to the representations of
local residents and campaign groups I believe that the establishment of such
a factory would cause irrevocable damage to the local neighbourhood.

The area where the concrete plan is hoping to be located is directly next to
a residential area; thus the transport route the HGVs would need to use can
not avoid residential areas.

I am concerned about the environmental impact such HGVs and factory would
have noise and engine pollution being just two of these concerns.

In addition the sheer volume of traffic too and from the plant , despite the
companies revised figures, is still of sufficiently large to have a
noticeable and unpleasant impact on residents and local small businesses.

Finally pressures on local school places indicate the large number of young
children in the area. I am not convinced that the priority for these
children to have safer school routes, as indeed I have lobbied for
additional monies for in Stroud green, could be maintained given the
transport route of the concrete vehicles.

Please share my formal objection to this planning application with
appropriate members.
Regards

Cllr Kate Wynne
Stroud Green Ward (Labour)

Sample Objection Letter 1

From: your name
Your address

To: Paul Tomkins
Head of Development Control
Environmental Services Directorate
Planning, Environmental Policy and Performance
639 High Road, Tottenham
London N17 8BD

20th June 2004

Your Ref: HGY/2004/1265

Dear Mr Tomkins,

I am writing to you with regard to planning application put forward to you by London Concrete ref:HGY/2004/1265 of the proposed erection of a concrete batching plant with associated hoppers, conveyors and ancillary facilities by London Concrete Ltd and its agents at Ferme Park Depot, Cranford Way, N8.

Having studied the plans available at Hornsey Library, I feel I must strongly express my objection to this project altogether.

The reasons for my objection are:

1. Turning our residential area into industrial park:
The site in question is very close to highly populated and predominantly residential area. The historic use of the site in question, has been so far used by businesses of a storage, dispatch nature and although noisy and traffic creating, it is far from being classed as ‘industry’ and certainly not of the kind that generates pollution!

2. Creating a precedent:
I fear that approval of such a development in our neighbourhood will create a precedent allowing other businesses of such heavy industrial nature to follow into our area, with all that it entails in terms of impact on our environment and quality of life.

3. Unacceptable Noise and Vibration levels
Our neighbourhood has recently seen a great increase in noise levels and although our property is in the main double-glazed we can hear:

• The trains screeching up and down the tracks day and night, as well as vibrating our houses.
• Constant beeping of trucks reversing from one of the warehouse at the bottom of Cranford Way, day and night.
• We can also clearly hear the amplified intercom system of one of those businesses at the bottom of Cranford Way
• We have also seen a great increase in air traffic noise and especially disturbing are the constant hovering of helicopters in our area.

The last thing this neighbourhood needs is more noise generated by more trains day or night, or more trucks, not to mention the noise that the plant itself will generate doing what it does.

(The landscape formation in our area is like a natural amphitheatre. Sound gets amplified as it travels up the hill and gets echoed by the wall of Chettle Court.)

4. Pollution:
The introduction of a concrete cement factory / batching plant into our residential neighbourhood will inevitably lead to unwanted fine dusts being deposited on our environment.

Looking at the product list of London concrete I am also concerned by the kind of emissions created by the production of such products as:

Concrete
Plasticised / retarded concrete
Superplasticised concrete for high strength and workability
Air entrained concrete for paving and durability
Waterproof concrete for watertight construction
Coloured concrete for aesthetic applications
Polypropylene and steel fibre concrete
Self compacting concrete
Lightweight concrete
Heavyweight concrete
Long distance pumped concrete

Aggregates
Granite
Limestone
Gravel
Heavyweight (magnatite / barytes)
Lightweight (lytag / leca)

Cement
Portland cement
Sulphate resisting cement
Pulverised fuel ash
Ground granulated blast furnace slag

I find the pollution report submitted as part of this planning application - an eye opener. It clearly states that the level of air pollution in our area equals that which you would expect to see in an industrial area already!

I would take this to be an alarming fact, which necessitates immediate action to reduce pollution back to acceptable residential level, rather then actively and knowingly allowing further deterioration of the quality of air in this area.

I was also surprised to see, that when stipulating the direction that this pollution would travel, the report based it’s findings on weather observation done at Heathrow.
I can clearly state that the wind in this area definitely travels up the hill like the noise and we will with no doubt become heavily dusted if such application is approved!

5. Increase of heavy traffic:
Although London Concrete and Aggregate Industries present their environmentally friendly face by following government guidelines in using the rail infrastructure to transport their goods into London in order to reduce overall pollution, I fail to see how introducing an extra 25 heavy cement mixer trucks per day is going to reduce pollution and traffic congestion here in Crouch End - a residential area already congested with narrow roads.

If London Concrete’s Wembley plant is the example of what is planned here, we are going to see much more traffic then the suggested 25 trucks a day.

“London Concrete is delivering with its own fleet of readymix trucks, but also provides a collect service for a proportion of its business.

"Customers in urban areas want a quick and reliable pick up service for relatively small quantities of material," says Hillam. "We also deliver from Wembley, although our collect customers get priority because the site is geared towards this end of the market.”

http://www.aggregate-uk.com/index.html?press23.html&2

So by their own admission their business will encourage more traffic into their facility from customers who prefer to pick up their products.

6. The destruction and pollution of ‘The Stroud Green Railway Bank’
‘The Stroud Green Railway Bank’ is clearly defined as a site of importance for nature conservation by the Greater London Authority. It is classed as a
"Site of borough importance G" and is the home to many wildlife species. This is clearly stated in the report compiled by the wildlife trust, and played down in significance by those who undertook or commissioned that search.

7. No benefits to our local community:
“Better Haringey- £5 million programme, launched this summer to clean up the borough. The aim is to improve the quality of life for people in Haringey”

“We're working hard to make Haringey Cleaner, Greener and Tougher through a number of service improvements, coming to you in the next few months.”

“Cleaning the environment is the focus of the programme”

“SUSTAINABLE HARINGEY LOCAL AGENDA 21 ACTION PLAN
FIRST MONITORING REPORT

Reduce Environmental Impact of Motor Vehicles
M23 1. Air pollutants in the National Air Quality Strategy 36
M24 2. Level of pollutant – Particulate Matter 36
M25 3. Emissions & fuel efficiency of vehicles/stock 36
M26 4. Noise nuisance complaints notices & prosecutions by type of nuisance, monitoring of levels of noise
from transport 36
M27 5. Progress towards number of road accidents targets 37 Footnotes”
http://www.haringey.gov.uk/council/strategies_and_policies/better_haringey.htm

I can’t see any benefit or necessity to our community by approving this application! And it definitely doesn’t align with the promises of a Better Haringey!

Rather increased road activity, noise and vibration and pollution levels from traffic and plant operation.

The creation of 12 new jobs generated by this development (of which 2 will be administrative, based at their site headquarters) cannot be guaranteed to go to local people, and even if they did I would see it as a very poor exchange for our green way of life!

I would suggest that the only people who will benefit from the approval of this planning application are the share holders of London Concrete Ltd and Aggregate Industries Plc along with a handful of Property developers who are not necessarily residents of N8.

I sincerely hope that you and your colleagues will take all of the above into consideration when contemplating this planning application

Kind regards

Your name

To download this letter in word format click here (52kb)

Sample Letter 8

From: your name
Your address

Date                                                                                      

David Paton
Planning, Environmental Policy and Performance
639 High Road
Tottenhan
London N17 8BD

Dear David,

Further to my phone call to you on Friday, I am writing to ask that you include the residents of Rathcoole Gardens and the southern end of Uplands Road in your consultation on the planning application by London Concrete (ref HGY/2004/1265 ) for a concrete batching plant at Cranford Way Industrial Estate. I also request that you extend the consultation period to reflect the fact that we have only just been informed of the situation.

I have seen a copy of the planning application and it stated that although the aggregate will be delivered by train, the cement will arrive in road tankers, several times a day, driven through the Industrial Estate on the existing access road. Furthermore, the concrete, once mixed, will driven from the plant back along the access road in the estate to leave Cranford Way. This will mean heavy traffic along the boundaries with residents in Rathcoole Gardens and Uplands Road - an average of 56 vehicle movements a day according to the Bellamy Roberts Partnership quoted in the planning application.

The access road in the estate runs along the bottom of our garden and I have concerns regarding the following:

Noise - the road is currently used later at night than agreed with the Industrial Estate and is therefore already of current concern to residents. Any increase in noise would be distressing to the residents whose properties are adjacent to the road and the estate's boundary. There are many elderly residents and families with babies and young children who would be affected.

Environmental impact - there are bats in the trees on the land adjacent to the access road, and also in the trees of 71, 73 and 73a Rathcoole Gardens. As you are aware, these are a protected species and would be detrimentally affected by any further development of the area or increase in traffic and large machinery.

Additionally, Waterbridge (one of the Property Management companies who own part of Cranford Way industrial estate) have written to all residents whose property borders their section of the estate, stating that they wish to either clear the land of all trees and re-instate their boundaries, or to sell the land off to the residents. Due to this letter, to clarify Wtaerbidge's true intentions, I rang the planning department a few weeks ago, to ask if there were any current planning applications for Cranford Way Industrial Estate and was told that there was not. I was therefore doubly surprised to find out about London Concrete's application second-hand through a resident rather than through Haringey Council.

I look forward to your reply,

To download this letter in word format click here (28kb)

Sample Letter 3

Your name
Your address

David Paton

Planning, Environmental Policy and Performance
639 High Road,
Tottenham
London
N17 8BD 25th June 2004
Your Ref: HGY/2004/1265

Dear Mr Paton,

Thank you for your letter informing us of the proposed erection of a concrete batching plant with associated hoppers, conveyors and ancillary facilities by London Concrete Ltd and its agents at Ferme Park Depot, Cranford Way, N8.

Having looked at the plans and documents available in Hornsey Library, I feel I must object to this project and express my wish that it should not proceed.

The site is very close to our property. This will inevitably lead to unwanted dust emissions being deposited on our property and those around. The amount of increased road activity will add to the noise levels that we currently endure.

I can see no benefit to the community in general around the site – the batching plant would appear not to be bringing anything beneficial into the area, rather increased road activity, increased noise levels from traffic and plant operation and potential dust coverage and possible pollutants into the local environment.

The proposal projects that London Concrete anticipate a certain number of their truck movements per day – but don’t mention customers who may supply their own trucks coming to the site.

I note from Aggregate Industries website (51% owners of London Concrete Ltd) that in their Wembley plant, railstock deliveries occur at night – will this be the case here? If so, does this mean that we will have to endure more noise during the night?

With the highest point of the batching plant some 4-5 stories high it will be clearly visible to many of the properties in the area.

I also have concerns about the environmental impact that the plant will have as the site would appear to be within the Stroud Green Railway Bank, an area designated by Greater London Authority as of importance for nature conservation.

Haringey Council has recently initiated a Cleaner, Greener, Tougher campaign. London Concrete’s plans would seem to be at odds with the Council’s stated objective.

Yours sincerely,
Your name

To download this letter in word format click here (28kb)

Sample Letter 4

From: your name
Your address

Environmental Services Directorate
Planning, Environmental Policy and Performance
639 High Road
Tottenham
London
N17 8BD
29th June 2004

Your ref. HGY/2004/1265, dated 11th June

Dear Mr Paton,

Last week I wrote a letter to your colleague Mr Tomkins to voice my objections to plans proposed by London Concrete Ltd to site a concrete batching plant at Ferme Park Depot, N8. Having now had further time to consider the implications of having such an installation, practically ‘in my own back yard’ and the wider consequences for inhabitants of Hornsey and Crouch End, I feel compelled to write again to expand my argument against the proposal.

I recently paid a visit to the Ferme Park Depot at Cranford Way, to familiarise myself with the existing businesses working there. I noted that the units are occupied mainly by companies involved in storage, packing and distribution. None of these activities could be construed as industrial or chemical and they certainly do not generate anywhere near the levels of noise, traffic, emissions, dust and environmental disruption as a concrete batching plant and all its ‘ancillary facilities’ would. Such a facility is entirely out of keeping with the make-up and demographic of the existing site, situated as it is, in the midst of a highly dense and urbanised living space.

Haringey Council, by allowing the development and building of more and more private dwellings, is clearly committed to attracting more and more residents into the borough and more specifically into the area surrounding the proposed development site. This is already putting the existing infrastructure of N8 under increased strain and causing concerns over the poor state of roads, increased volumes of traffic and noise pollution, increased demand for roadside parking and attempts to develop green spaces and backlands in the area. These concerns have been well documented by the local press and local pressure groups. The arrival of a concrete batching plant is only going to increase many of the problems experienced today and invite many other adverse side effects.

Although the proposed location for the batching plant is given as the Ferme Park Depot, closer scrutiny of the local map clearly shows that the site is actually at the extreme end of the depot site and occupies a designated ‘green spot’ referred to locally as the Stroud Green Railway Bank. Is this site really an official part of the Depot, or is the proposed development attempting to piggy-back the site? It is known that the Council actively supports a policy committed to reducing emissions in the borough and to encouraging and protecting biodiversity amongst the plant and wildlife population of the area. This ‘green’ policy is clearly at odds with any decision to give the go-ahead to London Concrete to develop the site for industrial use. Such a decision would also set a very dangerous precedent by changing the type and profile of businesses operating in the borough.

The quality of life and well being of local residents will be adversely affected by any decision to site a concrete batching plant so close to homes, schools, playgroups and a resident’s play area at Chettle Court. Many will be certainly be affected by round the clock noise, emissions and pollution, which will at best aggravate and in the worst cases could even harm the more frail members of the community such as babies, the elderly and those with allergies or respiratory conditions.

The lives of countless people trying to drive or walk through the town will be frustrated and possibly endangered on a daily basis by the increased number of large, open-topped HGVs carrying ready mixed concrete and, possibly for the short term, the raw materials and aggregate needed for the process. Let it be noted that the entrance and exit to the Cranford Way Depot is part of a one-way system, which will undoubtedly force residents in the adjacent streets to experience the noise, dirt and vibrations emitted from these vast vehicles. I am frustrated that the Council has been obliged to make such a limited mailing about such a controversial planning application as I am sure that the wider population of N8 will share the concerns of these extremely near neighbours.

Thank you for taking time to consider my observations. I intend to be at the discussion forum on July 15 to support this written objection.

Yours sincerely,
Your name

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