Wildlife Circus

Outline plans for the full redevelopment begain in 2022, with detailed planning applications coming forward for each phase. Completion of the first phase of the regeneration (452 new homes) has been much delayed. Some newly planted trees and the distinctive Piper road Cherry tree are dead or dying and sewage surcharges from manholes have ended up disappearing down two of the storm drains (to the Hogsmill river a mere 200m away).                                                One of the more 'friendly' videos of the sewage surcharges                                            If we want to see some improvements in these poor standards, it is important to comment on the above application. In the second phase of the development, a detailed planning application for...

 GLA Assembly member former chair Dear Andrew, You may remember we corresponded & subsequently met with you in 2021, re: local environmental degradation, including green space provision in the plans for the  regeneration of the Cambridge Road Estate, loss of footpaths etc. in advance of the planning application. One of the issues was increasing the population in an Area of Deficiency of access to open space. The attached map of AoD, was drawn by Greenspace Information for Greater London and the purple is the Area of Deficiency.  Kingston Council had an Independent Assessment of Open Space provision in Norbiton Ward stating that it was below the qualitative standard of 1.11ha of public parkland per 1,000 population (Atkins). This was before the population was to rise considerably when  the number of residences > double. Knowing this, the developers consultants, Barton Wilmore, stated that Kingston Cemetery was to be the new Open Space, and was in fact a Park. F...

  I took these photos in August during the 'Covid Years', before reports of developing this 50 acre site hit the headlines. It seemed unlikely that a development on such a scale could go ahead, without access from KT9 1DW, as it would be unrealistic to use the existing narrow access roads. At the time, I had discussions with the Tree Officer, about the different levels created when the lorryloads of spoil/hoggin were brought to the site (planning application 13/10228/FUL & subsequent CEMP 14/10126 requiring the creation of habitat, including woodland). It would be interesting to know how much of the latter - 'here today, gone tomorrow mitigation'- will remain in the new scheme. The oak trees on site are magnificient and a natural asset to the borough. But we know that the developers have said that this site is 'compromised', 'serving no green belt purpose due to its proximity to the A3', and as the focus of many anti-social behavioural issues, should...

Yet another major application in the Greenbelt from Chessington World of Adventures see 24/03150 is under consideration. 'Demolition and removal of rides, buildings and structures. One existing ride to be retained and rethemed and repositioned. Erection of new buildings and structures to provide a new themed land including a part indoor and outdoor rollercoaster, indoor children's ride, themed play areas along with associated buildings for various purposes, structures, landscaping, infrastructure above and below ground and other works'.                                                                             Tree grave...

Myth-busting bats, newts and the economy vs nature protections Tuesday 28 January 2025 Joe Keegan There has been widespread misinformation blaming nature as a blocker to growth in the run up to the Chancellor’s speech this week, writes Joe Keegan, public affairs officer at The Wildlife Trusts. In 2021 Rachel Reeves announced her ambition to become ‘Britain’s first green chancellor’ – however, recent announcements on planning and airport expansion put this aspiration in jeopardy. The irony of Rachel Reeves's crusade for growth is that these policies risk undermining the UK’s natural capital – an essential foundation for growth.     Nature is not a blocker to growth  Nature does not block growth – it is the very foundation on which growth is built.  Research by PwC  found that 47% of the companies on the London Stock Exchange are highly or moderately dependent on nature....