Dear Ed, PLANNING permission to build 208 flats on the controversial former Safeway car park at Roman Road in Bow was granted last year by Tower Hamlets Council. Following threats of a Judicial Review to stop the plans, the council is now putting through a duplicate application as an insurance’ policy

Dear Ed,

PLANNING permission to build 208 flats on the controversial former Safeway car park at Roman Road in Bow, East London, was granted late last year by Tower Hamlets Council.

Following threats of a Judicial Review by residents to stop the plans, the council is now putting through a duplicate panning application!

It is on the agenda for the Strategic Development committee at the Town Hall on April 2.

The authority has done nothing to address the legal faults with the previous documents.

At first we couldn’t understand it, but now realise it’s an insurance’ policy.

The Judicial Review threat is against the previous application. If the council puts a new identical application through, the Judicial Review process will have to start all over, this time against the new application number.

This is hardly the best example of democracy in action!

The six Labour councillors representing Bow should be ashamed of themselves.

Only 22 objections have been received (March 24) against the new application and Tower Hamlets is saying the previous thousands of objections don’t apply.

However, objections will be accepted up to noon on Wednesday, April 1. They will be listed in an addendum to the Strategic Development committee minutes.

The plans still involve building a 10-storey development of 208 flats on the entire car park. There will be only 30 pay and display’ visitors’ car spaces.

Alan Tucker

Cardigan Road, Bow