Which past events now make a little more sense following the revelation that the
borough’s most prolific property developer is a high profile Tory with ready
access to Councillors including the Planning Committee Vice-Chairman?
Everyone knows by now that Bexley Council did nothing when
the borough’s oldest
pub was torn down. They ignored reports that adjacent property was in danger of
a land slip and there was no protection from falling masonry for passers-by.
When the Health & Safety Executive took an interest and requested evidence Bexley Council chose not to
cooperate and the H&SE had to rely on photographs taken from this website and social media.
Incredibly, H&SE had to threaten legal action before Bexley Council began to play ball.
Bexley Council’s own surveyor reported that an edifice constructed in the garden
of 238 Woolwich Road encroached on Lesnes
Abbey Woods but Councillors quietly overlooked that finding.
The massive concrete bunker was built without planning permission but with only
minor modifications it was retrospectively permitted. It was such a monstrosity
that the occupants of 240 were forced from their home which became virtually
unsalable. As such it fell into the hands of the same property developer.
In Heron Hill the same developer put forward a plan for a new Care Home but it
was rejected on the grounds that Bexley didn’t need more Care Home places.
Virtually the same plan was resubmitted and suddenly Bexley did need Care Homes.
Isn’t that what good friends are for?