25 July (Part 2) - Railway freight yard hits the buffers
Bexley Council’s planners were not wildly enthusiastic about
approving the
construction of a rail freight yard to the North of Slade Green but believed that
refusal would only result in a cost to taxpayers when they lost at appeal.
Dartford Council was made of sterner stuff despite their interest in it being
relatively minimal, they rejected the application.
It would appear that Bexley’s pessimism and failure to protect the borough’s
green belt was a misjudgment because the Mayor of London has vetoed the idea.
He has directed Bexley Council to reverse their decision “under the powers
conferred on me by Article 6 of the Order”.
“The proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt and very special
circumstances have not been demonstrated which would clearly outweigh the harm
to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm.”
Wildlife groups will be happy, though maybe not for long given Bexley
Council’s regeneration plans for Slade Green.
In similar vein the Bexley’s wildlife group
has found rare bees on a site
given outline planning permission
for industrial building last year.