Still time to stop this folly

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Published: 24 June 2011

IT was pleasing to read your report on the Queen’s Birthday Honours for June A Stubbs, chairman of the Thorney Island Society and Friends of the Green Park, “for services to conservation in Westminster” (MBE for pioneer of conservation, June 17). 

It is ironic at a time when June and the Friends of The Green Park have for more than a year been in total opposition to Westminster’s planning sub-committee decision. 

This was to approve of the building in The Green Park of the huge memorial to Bomber Command; equivalent in length to nine double decker buses and a double decker bus in height.

The failure to protect the unique character of The Green Park, deemed to be “countryside in the city” for some 400 years, is a travesty of the highest order and a failure to respect a first principle of conservation.  

This is particularly so when a much more appropriate site is available on the Victoria Embankment opposite the national Royal Air Force Memorial to World Wars One and Two, 

There was no justification for the deplorable action of Westminster City Council against conservation of The Green Park. 

At present planning agreement has not been reached and therefore there is still time for all right-minded men, women and children, to protest and prevent this appalling folly, in the name of “service to conservation”.

Tom Ball AADipl RIBA DipCD MRTPI(Rtd) FRSA
Friends of the Green Park