Re the proposals to redevelop the Rainbow Industrial Estate, I have a record of opposing the last two developments on this site.

Not because the site isn’t an eyesore -it is, but because in both cases the developer was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I’m afraid they are attempting to do the same again.

There are a number of points which should warn councillors about giving the go ahead. I will mention just two here. Firstly, the sole, narrow access, which is a real safety issue. Secondly, the air quality monitors on Grand Drive and Worple Road, before they were removed, were recording levels of particulates and oxides of nitrogen way over the EU limits. No proper assessment has been done on what the likely effect will be on the air we breathe if this development goes ahead. The extra traffic will potentially increase stop start driving in Grand Drive - creating the conditions for worsening the concentration of particulates, and adding to the figure of 4000 premature deaths in London due to poor air quality.

Shas Sheehan

Parliamentary Spokesperson, Wimbledon Liberal Democrats

 


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