A public inquiry giving people the chance to oppose changes Bexley Council wants to make in its blueprint for the borough has just begun. And, as LINDA PIPER found, it was not long before the fireworks started ...

CONSERVATIONISTS have attacked Bexley Council and some of its officers for breaking promises and pushing their own agendas over the future of Erith marshes.

Objections to plans to build on part of the marshes were ruled out of order by the council before the start of the Unitary Development Plan public inquiry.

But, after hearing of objectors' concerns for the future of the marshes over the first few days of the inquiry, the inspector, Ian Broyd has asked for more information.

Despite being excluded from the inquiry, Mr Broyd has asked for a map of the disputed area of the marshes and details of all planning permissions on it.

The area is owned by Tilfen and zoned for the East Thamesmead Business Park. But people who fear unless something is done soon, it will be too late to save the site, were determined to make their anger public.

One objector, Tim Chapman, claimed a meeting held with officers about excluding the marshes from the inquiry, had ended in "a stand-up row" which almost resulted in blows being traded. Objectors claim they were promised by two planning officers that the marshes could be included in the inquiry. Their decision was later overruled.

"This was backed by an utter determination to build on a priority habitat to the extent of openly repudiating the Biodiversity Action Plan and refusing to accept Greater London Authority advice," objector Michael Winship told the inquiry.

He said: "A small but influential group of planning department officers appear to have decided any inconvenient policy or principle can and will be ignored, if it stands in the way of a favourite project."

He claimed GLA experts had made it clear to Bexley the land zoned for industrial use should be included in the area of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.

He accused some council officers of adopting an attitude of "we will build on this land at all costs and despite clear advice that this is inappropriate."

The campaigners want the land rezoned for nature conservation. But Bexley Council disagrees.

July 16, 2002 12:00