Do we want thousands more luxury homes for overseas investors: or do we want to ensure that the Royal Marsden can continue to expand their world leading cancer research and treatment facilities.
It's a black and white choice..
Please make your views felt to a council which fails to listen to its residents.
From: Kim Howell <kim-howell@live.co.uk
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 21:38:39 +0000
To: 'kim-howell'<kim-howell@live.
Cc: 'Joseph Carol'<cajoseph75@hotmail.com
Subject: Royal Marsden
Dear Neighbours
As you may be aware, the Royal Brompton Hospital is planning a major redevelopment, including selling off a large part of their estate in order to raise money to consolidate and redevelop their Sydney Street premises. The Royal Marsden Hospital has long had an interest in the Fulham Road hospital wing, which is just one portion of the Brompton’s extensive estate and sits between the Royal Marsden and its close academic partner, the Institute of Cancer Research (“the ICR”).
The Royal Brompton wants to redevelop the Fulham Road Wing solely for luxury residential use in order to maximise proceeds for their Foundation Trust. As such, they (and the current Royal Borough “supplementary planning document” or “SPD”) have ignored the needs and repeated requests of the Royal Marsden to acquire the Fulham Road buildings so that they can expand their world-leading cancer research and treatment facilities (which are now at maximum capacity). It is astonishing that the Royal Marsden is not mentioned anywhere in the SPD.
The SPD is now out for consultation with the general public. If you are interested, two public drop in sessions are being hosted by RBKC to give advice to people on how they can respond to the documents. These sessions will be held in the Small Hall of Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, SW3 5EE on Saturday 29 March 2014 from 10am to 1pm and on Tuesday 1 April from 6pm to 8pm.
Even if you don’t attend one of these sessions, I urge you to respond to the consultation and, if you see fit, to communicate support for a requirement that the Brompton’s Fulham Road Wing be sold to the Royal Marsden. I am a member of both the Marsden and Brompton Foundation Trusts. And I support the Brompton’s desire to consolidate on one site. However, that doesn’t mean the real needs of other important health providers in our community should be ignored. In order to redevelop the Fulham Road Wing for residential housing, the RBKC must approve a “change of use” which potentially goes against the Royal Borough’s current planning policy. However, unless strong public objections are made, they are currently indicating they will approve the change of use.
The consultation period ends on 10 April, so any comments you may wish to make must be submitted in writing to the RBKC by this date. You can view the Brompton documents and comment on them at www.rbkc.gov.ukroyalbromptonhospital.
Comments can also be sent via email to neighbourhood.planning@rbkc.
Even a short email would be helpful stating the following:
I am a resident of the Royal Borough.
In relation to the Royal Brompton Hospital redevelopment, I am not supportive of a change of use for the Royal Brompton’s Fulham Road Wing. The buildings should not be used for any purpose other than for the expansion of the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research.
If you want more, please find attached a briefing document which the Royal Marsden has prepared.
Also, my wife, Dr Carol Joseph, is the lead governor at the Royal Marsden Foundation Trust and will be more than happy to discuss the situation with you (see her email copied here and our phone number below).
Lastly, I only have a few emails of neighbours. I would ask that you please forward my email to others who live in the Royal Borough so that they also can comment on the plans which will have a major impact on all of us.
Many thanks and very best wishes
Kim
Kim Howell
13 Evelyn Gardens
0207 244 6642
The system is corrupt. Money talks. Brompton will raise loads of money from selling off their land for luxury housing. Cllr Warwick's Planning Committee will sign off the "change of use" assisted by Bore's "SPD".
ReplyDeleteThe Marsden needs to wise up to the ways of the world. They should buy cheap land in Swindon and expand there - they can bus their patients out to the country
DeleteSpot on. The free market, dear boy
DeleteI am sure you will relish your trips to Swindon if you ever suffer from, and need treatment for, your cancer.
DeleteDon't be so silly Kensington. You would not know a free market if it punched you in the face! Probably never done a proper days work in your life.
The "luxury housing" will remain empty after being acquired by wealthy foreigners who want to park hot money in a safe haven. This does nothing for the Chelsea community - no spending from occupants in supermarkets, restaurants, shops and utilities. In short, a cancer on society. BUT, no people means no demand for hospital beds either. So maybe the Marsden does not need to expand after all!
ReplyDeletePaget- Brown, your Council stinks to high heaven
Writing to object or to take part in a consultation is a complete waste of time. All it does is use more Council Tax to employ more officers to read more bits of paper which are filed and ignored. The planning system is thoroughly corrupt and Paget-Brown is not man enough to do something about it and create an honest council
ReplyDeleteNot true if enough people respond. I have seen them change their minds in the face of large public outcry. Don't be so cynical that you let it all happen. Respond!!!
DeleteKensington and Chelsea is earmarked for housing for wealthy foreigners. The Council and developers have an "understanding".
ReplyDelete12:05 is absolutely right.
ReplyDeleteIn not responding to Kim's appeal we insult all those who work tirelessly to protect important local institutions.
It is our duty to write to this Council making our feelings felt.
It is possible for public objections to make them change their minds. It's not that they listen to our message, but in the face of a huge negative groundswell, they become concerned with their image. Numbers scare them. Sloane Square was such a case. We stopped the ghastly Moylan in his arrogant tracks. It can happen again, particularly if the Evening Standard & Telegraph run the story.
ReplyDeleteSo how do we get the Evening Standard & Telegraph to run the story?
DeleteTodays article in Kensington and Chelsea Today is a good start.
Deletehttp://www.kensingtonandchelseatoday.co.uk/news/comment/pr76cg3zh6.html
Q: Just what is the Brompton planning to do with the proceeds of sale?
ReplyDeleteA. Plough it back into its redevelopment.
Q. Does it really need to redevelop?
A. Yes: its current facilities are hugely outdated and not remotely fit for purpose. Patients are suffering as a result.
Q. Will it really reinvest the proceeds in the new facilities?
A. Yes. The RBKC has made clear that this will be a condition of allowing a change in use.
Q. What is the Marsden's position on this?
A. It is more important that the Marsden should expand than the Brompton's patients should get the facilities which they so badly need.
Q. What's wrong with that? After all, the Mardsen's patients have CANCER.
A. The Brompton's patients include many with incurable, life-limiting and progressive diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis and Primary Ciliary Dyskenesia. At the moment these patients receive treatment in often unsafe conditions and essential treatment (such as inpatient admissions to treat pulmonary exacerbations) is often delayed due to chronic under-capacity.
Q. Is there anything else I should know?
A. Not sure. But the Marsden's charity's most recently filed accounts show it is sitting on a cash and equity investment pile of more than £50M.