Councillors must wake up to dangers of Dalby Street development

Like many local people who have written over the last few weeks, we would like to record our continued opposition to the development of 55 flats to be built, literally, on top of Dalby Street.  If built, the popular Talacre Sports Centre, including Treet

Like many local people who have written over the last few weeks, we would like to record our continued opposition to the development of 55 flats to be built, literally, on top of Dalby Street.

If built, the popular Talacre Sports Centre, including Treetops, will be seriously and adversely affected. This is due to the frankly bizarre access arrangements which seem to involve the developer and his successors controlling access to this public building.

We are also extremely concerned that the promise that 19 of the flats will be "affordable", perhaps the scheme's only selling point, cannot be sustained with service charges for social housing projected to be over £60 per week per flat.

The original planning permission was given without any firm access provisions to the Sports Centre being considered, so final approval for the order to stop up Dalby Street will be considered by the Executive Environment Sub-Group on Thursday night (19th June). We very much hope that councillors on this committee will see that the access proposal is unpopular, unworkable, and potentially hazardous.

Many of us who live in the local area, and many who don't, hugely value Talacre Gardens and its Community Sports Centre. The inappropriate access arrangement and the failure to offer the promised affordable housing are just the latest flaws in a proposal that has caused huge controversy from the start. We urge the committee to address these concerns and do all they can to challenge a scheme that will harm our neighbourhood.

Your sincerely,

Cllr Matt Sanders, Cllr Jill Fraser (Lib Dem, Haverstock)

Cllr Ralph Scott, Cllr Philip Thompson (Lib Dem, Kentish Town)