A Mount Pleasant Lane Resident Association representative recently attended the Clapton Conference – a series of meetings organised by the Clapton Pond Neighbourhood Action Group, chaired by Councilor Ian Rathbone.
Randall Macdonald, Hackney’s new Head of Strategic Projects and Spatial Planning, outlined the thinking behind the new Area Action Plan for Clapton. His department will commence work on this in July this year, taking into account developments such as the proposed new Clapton Hart pub, formerly Chimes nightclub. The entire process is geared to the government’s Localism Bill, which will have a major impact on the existing planning system.
Controversy surrounds the new bill and how it will work in practice, in particular the role of local residents. The Chatsworth Road Group has already undertaken some impressive work in anticipation of the Localism Bill; their homegrown Neighbourhood Plan can be seen online: http://www.ma3t.co.uk/blog/?p=376.
Upper Clapton currently has little in terms of tailor-made planning legislation, so this is the opportunity to put our concerns first – the more contributions the better. With sufficient interest, we can call a meeting of Mount Pleasant Lane residents, possibly before the next Clapton Conference meeting scheduled for 4th July (venue to be confirmed). If you can help, contact us at: mountpleasant.ra@gmail.com
In the meantime, we anticipate more developers flooding the area with large-scale housing schemes. Developments marked as ‘pending’ on our earlier map (see posting, 27th March 2011) may be about to become a reality – unless we do something about it!
For a useful list of local stakeholders, resident associations and news of current developments in the area – including the Clapton Festival, which takes place between 9th and 6th June – see claptonpond.org
For further news of developments, see: http://www.narrowboatworld.com/index.php/leatest/3018-essex-wharf-in-the-balance
