Forum Topic

What's going on at the bottom of Q Caroline Street?

H Johnson has noted in another thread that Lovell have erected hoardings around the grassy patch overlooking Hammersmith Bridge.  We are wondering what is planned.  I have peered through the gate and note that the grass has gone.  Anyone know?

Sarah Taylor ● 6108d23 Comments

thanks very much Jackie.  No need to call the council now, you've given us plenty of information.

Sarah Taylor ● 6093d

Thanks for clearing that up, Jackie.

Andrew Broadbent ● 6093d

Works are due to take place within the flats on the estate. There is no great secrets going on. The land is council we believe - on other estates land to an estate is often railed off.  I am sure that the end flat would prefer this as they have no privacy - so think of them.  This actuall affects people that live in the flats more than everyone who uses the path next to the estate.  Incidentally the flats may have been mostly council but many are now private leaseholders - more than half in fact.  The site is in place because of the works - nothing more nothing less and will come down at the end of this.  If anyone wants to know anything about what is going on in the borough they can phone the council and ask for the relevant department.

Tina Pemberton ● 6094d

"We have every right to know what is happening to us in all aspects of our life  The days when the Town Hall ruled us and we tugged our forelocks are over"So have you asked anyone at the Town Hall, then ?  What did they say ?

Andrew Broadbent ● 6096d

Wake up  We have every right to know what is happening to us in all aspects of our life  The days when the Town Hall ruled us and we tugged our forelocks are over

H JOHNSON ● 6097d

well it depends what they are building, doesn't it?  It might be a sauna, or a viewing gallery, or a free bar.

Sarah Taylor ● 6098d

I would hardly call a thread on a website that has a few hundred readers 'begging'.  Perhaps you should direct your enquiries to someone who might know, like a planning officer, since this posting hasn't produced any information?  As has been pointed out elsewhere, we don't really have a right.  You compare it to building a nuclear reactor in your garden, but I'm pretty sure that would require planning permission of some sort.

Sarah Taylor ● 6098d

I wonder if anyone has considered the "rights" of the people who are unfortunate enough to inhabit the block of flats that are now almost obliterated by the mystery site

H JOHNSON ● 6098d

I do not believe that it is privately owned land, it forms part of the estate which I assume to be mainly in the hands of the Council or the relevant Housing Association and therefore by default it is public land and belongs to US. Anyway it is irrelevant who the land belongs to. I feel that I have a right to know what is happening to the area in which I live without having to beg for the information

H JOHNSON ● 6098d

That was the purpose of this thread, really, to find out if anyone knows what's going on, who it belongs to, any information at all.  I think 'rights' is putting it a bit strongly at this point.

Sarah Taylor ● 6098d

Maybe I wasn't clear enough, but I was asking a serious question :  If it's privately-owned land, what rights do residents and tax payers have to know about what's being done with the land ?  Do we have any rights or none at all ?

Andrew Broadbent ● 6098d

Good point well made Andrew.My interest is fuelled by a) dismay that they've wrecked the grassy area and b) curiosity.

Sarah Taylor ● 6099d

So    working on your theory...  my garden is privately owned by me which must mean I can build a nuclear reactor in it without telling anyone ...does it ?

H JOHNSON ● 6099d

You said "I am merely a resident of the Borough and a rate payer...why should I need to know what THEY decide to do with my environment".If it's privately-owned land, what rights do residents and tax payers have to know about what's being done with the land ?  If it's publicly-owned, then I guess we have more rights than if it's not.  If it's provately-owned, then maybe 'THEY' (whoever 'THEY' are) aren't duty-bound to tell 'US' what's happening.....

Andrew Broadbent ● 6099d

Too right question everything    believe nothing    have another drink and move on

H JOHNSON ● 6100d

They are a mix    but basically it is still an estate of "social housing "  The area under discussion always formed part of the Estate. The new railings were installed to replace the ones that were removed when the walkway was widened last year or maybe the year before

H JOHNSON ● 6100d

Is that relevant ?

H JOHNSON ● 6100d

aha.  that's where you're wrong!  Question everything!

Sarah Taylor ● 6100d

well, as I recall, the patch of grass that is now encased in hoarding used to be open, as if it were part of the riverside path. Then, when that area was recently jazzed up, it was fenced in by low iron railings, which would indicate it belongs to the flats beside it.  I think, but do not know, they are council flats.

Sarah Taylor ● 6100d

Is it publicly-owned land, then ?

Andrew Broadbent ● 6100d

I am merely a resident of the Borough and a rate payer...why should I need to know what THEY decide to do with my environment

H JOHNSON ● 6100d

I wonder if it's a site office for that huge building beside it that's all boarded up. Clearly no one knows, judging by the lack of response on here.  We shall have to keep speculating ...

Sarah Taylor ● 6100d

All I know so far is that there seems to be parking space for several vehicles in there so they have made themselves very cosy. If you look along the side of the hoarding ( in to the flats ) they have even erected street lighting so they obviously intend to be there for quite some time. Normally on hoardings of this nature they are only to pleased to blow the trumpets about what is going on and who is paying for it. Maybe in this case they are ashamed of their deeds ?  But surely not in our free democracy ?

H JOHNSON ● 6103d