![\"DSCF1567](\"http:\/\/sthelensresidents.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/DSCF1567-reduced.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSwiftly nicknamed the ‘Towers of Terror’ a local campaign got underway to get lobby for these adverts to be removed. \u00a0It emerged that the Westway Development Trust had leased small plots of land to JC Decaux, the outdoor advertising company.<\/p>\n
It also emerged that Kensington & Chelsea had refused planning permission, but this decision had been overturned by the Planning Inspectorate (based in Bristol). \u00a0While it seemed extraordinary that a Planning Inspector had approved such a structure on the edge of a conservation area, the decision was made and nothing could be done.<\/p>\n
Only a handful of residents in Oxford Gardens had received any notification of the original planning application, or the appeal. \u00a0And such notifications that were sent out by the council made no mention of the height and scale of these structures. \u00a0Hence only a couple of objections were submitted. \u00a0Most residents had no idea of what was coming.<\/p>\n
Westway Development Trust chief executive Martyn Freeman was memorably confronted by a mother, at a packed meeting at St Helens Church Hall, who asked how he would like it if his young daughters went to bed and awoke to the sight of an illuminated David Beckham, 25 feet high and in his underpants, gazing into their bedroom.<\/p>\n
Martyn Freeman’s explanation that the Trust needed the income from advertising to support its activities did not convince. \u00a0 We have never been told what sums are involved, despite repeated requests. \u00a0 And the Trust is a charitable body, managing public amenity land for the benefit of Londoners. \u00a0It does not have the excuse that it is a commercial landlord.<\/p>\n
After a long campaign by the Association, the council gave written undertakings that ‘discontinuance action’ would be taken on the advertisements, once their initial five year approval had expired. \u00a0 This felt a long time to wait, but gave some prospect of relief from this blight on the neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
The five years expired in May 2013. \u00a0Since then, the Association has regularly reminded the council of its commitment to halt the display of the adverts. \u00a0We have been given various reasons why such a decision will take time to make, and are now told that the matter will be decided by the council’s Planning Applications Committee, some time after the May 2014 local elections. \u00a0This will make it 6 years of waiting.<\/p>\n
We have asked to make an input to the committee report, and the material we have sent is at this link\u00a0WESTWAY ADVERTISING TOWERS – input from SHRA to PAC report.final<\/a>. We will keep local residents informed of the date of the committee discussion, which will not be before June, and hope to see plenty of you there for the occasion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Back in 2009, residents were puzzled to see a new construction emerge on the skyline, at the Westway Sports Centre. \u00a0Was it part of a film set, or a sports project? \u00a0Surely it was only temporary? It turned out to … Continue reading