…perhaps he needs to consider safeguards against
a smaller adversary?
Because it’s not
just the Green Belt that (some) people have problems with…
The 11-year-old girls from St Christopher’s School, Hampstead, protested to stop developers demolishing a Seventies two-bedroom bungalow and replacing it with a three-bedroom house, with a swimming pool, gym and sunken courtyard.
The nearby Marie Curie Hospice also wrote to the council about its fears for the effect on its cancer patients.
The girls said they were concerned that dust and noise from the building work would interrupt their science lessons because their laboratory block is just a metre away from the proposed building site.
And they won! Gosh! How on earth did they manage that?
And they recruited the help of one parent, a leading international lawyer.
Fiona Parkin QC, specialises in advising multi-national companies, governments and public bodies.
Ah. That’ll be the thing that swung it, I guess.
She said: “Any replacement building should enhance the conservation area to a greater extent than the existing building. That is the test that has to be applied.”
Another parent, Jackie Orlick, said she was delighted the girls’ protests had persuaded the council to turn down the plan.
She said: “This was the only way the girls could make their voices heard. We are always being told about young people being disengaged from the political process, so it was great that they came here [the town hall] and engaged with what is going on in their community and had their say.”
And what sort of ‘say’ did they have? Was it really totally voluntary, and unprompted by their teachers?
Nearly 100 primary children convinced planners to turn down the scheme after they stood outside Camden town hall chanting: “Education, not excavation.”
Goodness me! I really hope that was in their lunch break, or after school hours. Or at the weekend…
Local councillor Chris Knight said: “I’m absolutely delighted for the children. It has given them an insight into local politics.”
It’s certainly given them an insight into the way the world works, yes…
Goodness me! I really hope that was in their lunch break, or after school hours. Or at the weekend…
ReplyDeleteIsn't "organising a protest" all part of the diversity curriculum these days?
Seriously. Children now control the planning process. And this is supposed to be a good thing?
ReplyDeleteChildren now control the planning process. And this is supposed to be a good thing?
ReplyDeleteWell, yes, infantilisation of the population is now complete, no?
I wonder why they took any notice of them? Not as if they can vote now is it?
ReplyDeleteThat said, I suspect the councillors were just looking for any means to stop such developments...
Surely not?
Monday mornings: Maths, French, double Rabble-Rousing?
ReplyDeleteI'll bet a pound to penny it's not a fee paying school.
How wrong can you be?
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a bunch of Trot-teachers who couldn't stand the thought of a company making some cash by actually doing something, abusing their position and cajoling the kids into 'protesting'.
Turns out it was Nimby parents instead.
PS, Just looked at the linked photo, and either Clarissa, Sophie and Felicity have picked up healthy tans from a recent holiday, or there are more than a few dark sorts knocking around Hampstead these days.
Why couldn't they have made the noise during the school holidays?
ReplyDelete"Well, yes, infantilisation of the population is now complete, no?"
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
"That said, I suspect the councillors were just looking for any means to stop such developments..."
Because they'd rather have a derelict building near the school? Makes no sense!
"Why couldn't they have made the noise during the school holidays?"
Good point!