A PROTESTER chained herself to the gates of a controversial development this morning (March 22).

Protestors were at the Loampit Vale site for around two hours.

They put up banners with slogans saying “yes to housing, no to highrise” on the hoardings surrounding the site.

The protestors eventually left after police and officials from developer Barratt Homes arrived on the scene.

Members of the Action for Lewisham group are angry that the project, which will see a a 24-storey tower, commercial space and a new leisure centre built beside the railway station, has been given £20.5m in Government cash to kickstart work.

But Helen Mercer from the action group said the money was being used to “bail out” a failing project.

She said: “We call on the council to stop patching up unworkable schemes and enter into fair and open discussions with local residents about what they would like to see.

“We hope that all the other political parties will now pledge to call an end to these ill-fated unsuitable schemes to Croydonise Lewisham.

“Stop throwing good money after bad.”

The protest comes after Lewisham Council’s head of planning John Miller admitted the neighbouring Lewisham Gateway development is currently financially unviable due to the economic situation.

Action group members claims not enough social housing has been included in the projects, and their combined effect will be to massively increase the population density of Lewisham.

A spokesman for Lewisham Council said the planning application always included a future Government grant.

He said: "Funding of £20.5m has recently been agreed and the level of social housing has been determined based on this amount.

"Groundwork to prepare the site, which would not constitute a commencement of development, is nearing completion and work on the new development will start in the very near future."

He said the level of affordable housing could be increased if the market improves.