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Conservative-led RBKC Council rejects well-supported petition to halt demolition of Earls Court Exhibition Centre

6/26/2015

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Conservative-led RBKC Council rejects well-supported petition to halt demolition of Earls Court Exhibition Centre on public health grounds. Disturbing questions on asbestos and other public health issues go unanswered. Residents now urge Hammersmith and Fulham council to intervene.

On the 24th June, 2015 the Conservative-led RBKC council quashed a petition of over 1,700 signatures demanding an immediate halt to the demolition of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre on public health grounds and for an urgent, comprehensive, independent health review to be carried out. 

Here is the petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/petition-for-an-independent-health-review-of-the-earls-court-redevelopment

Despite lead petitioner Robina Rose’s plea to councillors to work together in the public interest, the full council meeting rejected the call for an independent health review with no abstentions. RBKC council has thus loftily  ignored the valid concerns of the Earl’s Court Action Group, local residents, businesses, trade unionists and environmentalists as the public health risks of asbestos, noise and vibration, pollution and poor air quality now coming to light as the demolition of the iconic building proceeds. 

They also ignored the peaceful protest outside Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall in support of the petition. 

Asbestos

Speaking in the debate about the 235 tonnes of asbestos in the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Cllr. Robert Thompson (Labour) said:

“What is most disturbing in relation to the issue of asbestos is that Capco, this Council, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have declined to make public the asbestos report, even under Freedom of Information requests. This begs the questions - does this council have a copy of the report? Why is this council not making that report public?”

Noise and vibration

Cllr. Linda Wade (Liberal Democrat) pointed out that there were concerns over the impact of prolonged long-term impact on the health and wellbeing on residents, particularly babies and young children: 

“The developer’s submission appear to be assessed on the impact of ‘10 days in any 15-day period or for a total of days less than or equal to 40 in any 6-month period’ and do not consider the accumulative impact of noise over the course of the 20-year project on the health and wellbeing of residents.” 

Lack of trust in the Demolition and Waste Management Plans (DWMP) of the Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre

Cllr. Mo Bakhtiar (Labour) speaking on behalf of Cllr. Emma Dent Coad who was indisposed said:

 “The residents of Earl’s Court are right to distrust this process. We support the demand for a cessation of demolition works and an Independent Health Review to revisit the inadequate plans currently in place. If not we are condemning residents to 20 years of intolerable conditions that for some could have fatal consequences.”

Petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/petition-for-an-independent-health-review-of-the-earls-court-redevelopment

The petition is addressed both to RBKC and LBHF councils as the Exhibition Centre straddles the two boroughs. Petitioners will now look to Hammersmith and Fulham Council to open these matters up to the meaningful public scrutiny denied by RBKC. 

As, in September 2014, the DWMP were approved BEHIND CLOSED DOORS under delegated powers to planning officials,  ECAAG is rightly worried as to whether the petitioners will be granted a fair hearing. 
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Cross party support for the petitioners and residents calling for an immediate halt to the demolition of Earls Court on public health grounds

6/26/2015

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Prior to the Earl’s Court Area Action Group’s peaceful protest outside Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall and the full council debate on the petition calling for an immediate halt of the demolition of Earls Court Exhibition Centre on public health grounds, the following three statements were issued in support. 

Shahrar Ali, Deputy Leader of The Green Party (23.06.15)

"Earls Court Exhibition Centre's demolition shows us everything wrong about how property developers are able to call the shots, whilst our local and regional government betrays the people they are meant to serve.

What's to like about increased air pollution on top of already dangerously high levels across the capital, with greater traffic pollution to come? What's to like about residential stacks marketed at already asset rich investors and out of reach of the ordinary Londoner desperate for a quality home?

Greens have made vigorous representations against this development, both locally and in City Hall, and will continue to expose the disbenefits that will be imposed upon the many for the sake of the few."


Cllr. Robert Atkinson, Leader of the Labour Group in Kensington (23.06.15)

“These two local authorities are putting the long term health and well-being of thousands of their residents at serious risk.

Labour in Kensington and Chelsea has campaigned vigorously against this redevelopment, which seems to be for the interests of greed, speculation and foreign investment.

It is high time that our Council woke up and protected its own communities.”

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the London Assembly Caroline Pidgeon (24.06.15) has called for a halt to work on the Earls Court Exhibition Centre demolition ahead of a crunch council meeting today 

Campaigners have asked for an independent health review to be carried out due to the existence of asbestos in the building and the dust and pollution caused by the demolition process.


Commenting on the demolition Caroline Pidgeon said: "I'm pleased to support local campaigners including Councillor Linda Wade in calling for a halt until a health review has been carried out.

“Local residents are right to be concerned about asbestos in the building and the potential severe health effects caused by dust, pollution and noise.”

“Over 1,500 people have recently signed a petition calling for the health review and I think it is very concerning the Kensington and Chelsea council are so keen to proceed with the plans."

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