British Museum planning enquiry promise broken

Published: 25 February 2010
by DAN CARRIER

SENIOR councillors have been accused of going back on a promise they made to launch an investigation into advice they received from ­English Heritage.

The Camden Civic Society had asked for an opportunity to speak to the Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee – the Town Hall’s senior policy body to study planning issues – this week after they heavily criticised the heritage body’s role in getting through controversial plans for an extension at the British Museum.

But the society was shocked to discover they were banned from ­presenting their case to the panel of politicians.

At the planning meeting that gave the go-ahead for the extension before Christmas last year, Lib Dem councillor Matt Sanders, who chairs the scrutiny ­committee, promised opponents his committee would look at the advice English Heritage gave officers. They recommended the scheme go ahead.

A council spokesman said: “We advised that the deputation should not be heard as we did not feel it was within the scope of the ­committee.”