Individuals

Thirty years campaigning in King's Cross on planning issues (1983 to 2014) taught me the importance of local input. Islington Council (where I lived) was very good by and large at involving and respecting local people's input, Camden Council less so. With Islington's support we were able first to defeat the plan to bring the Channel Tunnel Rail Link to a low level station in King's Cross (involving demolition of much of the KX area for no good reason) and then to get significant improvements to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (aka High Speed 1) design and construction (we didn't oppose the rail link, just wanted it built better, and it is). Less successful getting any changes to the King's Cross Central development, but that was mainly in Camden. Without the right to object, we will be reduced to the level of lowly peasants--but the peasants are the people who live in a place and know what would be best.

WE need to retain and enhance democratic involvement and control over development for the good of the community as a whole.

We need really-secure and really-affordable rented housing, and therefore need to be able to participate and to object where necessary within the planning system to resist developer priorities. Say NO to No say on planning.

This land is our land. We must all be involved in its development and use.

Holmer Green and Hazlemere Neighbourhood Development Forum is a Facebook group which is giving a voice to people in these villages. We aim to let people know about prospective development plans, rather than relying on a poster on a random lamppost. Agreements have been signed between Planning Officers and Developers without the Community being told. We live in these villages, we want to be informed and we want a voice

This Charter not only accurately represents my strong views on this subject but also accurately highlights the anger and frustration resulting from the helplessness of being powerless to influence what happens in my own community.