(R53) CRYSTAL PALACE CAMPAIGN - IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE - 15 & 16 February 2001

15 February

Bromley Council’s plans to fell some 140 mature trees on the site of the proposed Crystal Palace multiplex before the nesting season begins this month have been questioned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Writing to Bromley’s Borough Secretary, Walter Million, the RSPB’s SE England senior conservation officer observes that under a recent change in the law, nesting is no longer subject to specific dates and that it is conceivable that

“nesting birds may be present in mid February”.

Mr Steve Gilbert for the RSPB added:

“it may be that deferring any felling until after the breeding season would be preferable.”

Meanwhile London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s environment advisor, Darren Johnson (GLA Green), today called on European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström to intervene with Bromley to stop the felling until all legal issues are resolved. Darren Johnson recalled that the EC has brought proceeding against the UK government over Bromley’s breaching of a European Directive through failure to require an Environmental Impact Assessment for the multiplex, and said that “it would be irresponsible for LB Bromley to fell the mature trees before the proceedings are concluded.” Also unresolved is a judicial review action against Bromley’s planning permission brought by a local resident which is to be heard by the full Court of Appeal this spring.

Mr Johnson commented:

“It would be utterly ridiculous to chop down these trees whilst the future of the multiplex is in doubt.”

An injunction preventing Bromley and its agents from felling the trees was discontinued last week in the Court of Appeal, after Bromley argued that the proposed multiplex would face serious delay were felling prohibited until October. However, the tender for the felling, CPC has learned, was for the trees to be chopped down within hours. And the developer has stated that construction would not begin before October.

Note to Editors: The RSPB referred to provisions of section 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, as amended recently.

16 February

Bromley Council’s plans to fell some 140 mature trees on the Park site of the proposed Crystal Palace multiplex before the nesting season begins this month have been questioned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Writing to Bromley’s Borough Secretary, Walter Million, the RSPB’s SE England senior conservation officer observes that under a recent change in the law, nesting is no longer subject to specific dates and that it is conceivable that

“nesting birds may be present in mid February”.

Mr Steve Gilbert for the RSPB added:

“it may be that deferring any felling until after the breeding season would be preferable.”

Meanwhile London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s environment advisor, Darren Johnson (GLA Green), has called on European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström to intervene with Bromley to stop the felling until all legal issues are resolved. Darren Johnson recalled that the EC has brought proceeding against the UK government over Bromley’s breaching of a European Directive through failure to require an Environmental Impact Assessment for the multiplex, and said tha

“it would be irresponsible for LB Bromley to fell the mature trees before the proceedings are concluded.”

Also unresolved is a judicial review action against Bromley’s planning permission brought by a local resident which is to be heard by the full Court of Appeal this spring.

Mr Johnson commented:

“It would be utterly ridiculous to chop down these trees whilst the future of the multiplex is in doubt.”

An injunction preventing Bromley and its agents from felling the trees was discontinued February 8 in the Court of Appeal, after Bromley argued that the proposed multiplex would face serious delay were felling prohibited until October. However, the tender for the felling, CPC has learned, was for the trees to be chopped down within hours. And the developer has stated that construction would not begin before October.

The Crystal Palace Campaign yesterday again wrote to Bromley’s Borough Secretary, Walter Million, repeating its request that the council not proceed with the felling.

“Anything less would be not only precipitate, but unreasonable and seen as provocative”, CPC stated.

Note to Editors: The RSPB referred to provisions of section 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, as amended by the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 [Schedule 12].

Press Officer: Fred Emery 020 8761 0076 Mobile: 0794 117 2023
All correspondence to: Hon Secretary, 33 HogarthCourt, Fountain Drive, London SE19 1U
E-mail: fred@syre.demon.co.uk Website: www.crystal.dircon.co.uk

15/2/01 Last updated 16/2/01