(R.22) CRYSTAL PALACE CAMPAIGN - MEDIA RELEASE - 12 May 2000

CRYSTAL PALACE DEVELOPER CHALLENGED BY

MINISTER, MPs, GLAs and COUNCILLORS

In a major Crystal Palace Campaign initiative to clarify the status of the proposed mega-cinema multiplex in the new situation following the London elections, MPs, councillors and newly-elected Greater London Assembly members have jointly called on the developer, Ian Livingstone, Chairman of London & Regional Properties Limited to meet with them urgently.

In a joint letter to Mr Livingstone, the elected representatives note with alarm that the L&RP chairman has stated he intends to begin the multiplex construction as soon as possible, and that the so far stillborn stakeholders' forum be used to discuss "only the impact on the community arising from construction work".

Ms Tessa Jowell, MP for Dulwich & West Norwood, and Minister for Employment, as lead signatory, comments that "you appear to be reneging on the undertakings you have previously given" to hold a community forum. She notes that last May Ian Livingstone expressed his commitment to such a forum. Further that on September 25, 1999 he wrote to the Crystal Palace Campaign promising the forum would "start without commitment to particular uses or design", yet "a year has now passed without your having progressed the forum in any way". The time had now come to "review the current circumstances", she wrote.

HOUSE OF COMMONS &endash; LONDON SW1A 0AA 12 May 2000 Mr Ian Livingstone London & Regional Properties Limited 40 New Bond Street LONDON W1Y 9HB Dear Mr Livingstone Crystal Palace We represent a number of constituencies, wards and groups of residents affected by the proposed multiplex cinema at Crystal Palace. On 4 May 1999 you wrote to the London Borough of Bromley confirming your commitment to developing a Community Forum to discuss a number of issues associated with the scheme. That commitment was repeated by your Project Manager at the meeting of the Development Control Committee of the London Borough of Bromley on 6 May 1999, who stated that you intended that every avenue of dialogue and mediation should be considered. On 25 September 1999 you wrote to the Chairman of the Crystal Palace Campaign, promising a stakeholders' forum. This was to start without commitment to particular uses or design. A year has now passed without your having progressed the forum in any way at all. We now note from your letter to the Chairman of Crystal Palace Campaign, dated 19 April 2000 that you intend to commence development as soon as possible after securing approval of the remaining reserved matters. You also state that the forum would be used to discuss only the impact on the community arising from construction work. We are extremely disappointed that you appear to be reneging on the undertakings you have previously given. We wish to discuss this matter with you as a matter of urgency. With that in mind will you kindly contact Peter Hore of my office with the dates and times (outside office hours) when you are able to attend at The House of Commons so that we may together review the current circumstances. Yours sincerely (signed) Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP

Signatories:

Rt Hon Tessa Jowell	MP for Dulwich & West Norwood, Minister of Employment
Mr Jim Dowd	MP for Lewisham West
Mr Malcolm Wicks	MP for Croydon North, Minister of Education
Ms Jean Lambert	MEP, Member of the European Parliament
Mr Darren Johnson	London Mayor's Environment Secretary, Member Greater London Assembly
Mr Victor Anderson	Member Greater London Assembly
Ms Val Shawcross	Member Greater London Assembly
Cllr Hugh Malyan	Leader of the Council, London Borough of Croydon
Cllr Ian Payne	London Borough of Croydon
Cllr Pat Ryan	London Borough of Croydon
Cllr Russell A'Court	London Borough of Lambeth
Cllr Gareth Compton	London Borough of Lambeth
Cllr Janet Grigg	London Borough of Lambeth
Cllr Chris Best	London Borough of Lewisham Chair, Sydenham Community Regeneration Partnership
Cllr Liam Curran	London Borough of Lewisham
Cllr Alan Pegg	London Borough of Lewisham
Cllr Kim Humphreys	London Borough of Southwark
Cllr William Rowe	London Borough of Southwark
Mr Douglas Barnes	Chairman, Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood Chamber of Commerce
Mr Philip Kolvin	Chairman, Crystal Palace Campaign
Mr Melvyn Harrison	Chairman, Crystal Palace Foundation
Mrs Audrey Hammond	President, Crystal Palace Triangle Association (CPTCA)
Mr Adrian Hill	Chairman, Dulwich Society
Mr Douglas Brookes	Chairman, Friends of the Great North Wood
Mrs Sheila Northover	Secretary, Herne Hill Society
Mr Mathew Frith	Conservation Manager, London Wildlife Trust
Mr Philip Goddard	Chairman, Norwood Society
Mrs Pat Trembath	Chair, Sydenham Society

Acting Press Officer: Fred Emery 020 8761 0076
All correspondence to: Hon Secretary, 33 Hogarth Court, Fountain Drive, London SE19 1UY
Recorded Information: 020 8653 5995 E-mail: fred@syre.demon.co.uk
Website: www.crystal.dircon.co.uk

Last Updated: 13 May 2000;2/2/01