Last Ditch Election Rally Cry Over The Oaks

Tories believe it can still be stopped - Labour disagree

The Conservatives say the controversial Oaks plan can still be stopped - but only if they're elected.

The plan to build 142 homes (nine storey building) a multi-storey car park and new retail space in the town centre has already been approved.

Despite opposition and appeals neither the Mayor or Department for Communities and Local Government called the application in and Acton Regeneration Company (ARC) is expected to start work on site later this year.

However, the Conservative opposition say if the sale of the council owned Churchfield Road car park - a key component in the scheme - hasn't already gone through and they regain control of the council on the 22nd May they will stop negotiations with ARC.

The Lib Dem group has also agreed to commit to not selling the car park.

Conservative Opposition Leader Councillor David Millican said:

''We will only sell the car park to support a scheme that works for Acton.  Of course the Council should get a good deal from the sale, but it needs to be a good deal for Acton not just the Council’s coffers.

“There would be no scheme without the sale of the Churchfield Road car park site.  The project can only progress if the Council sells the car park.''

Acton resident and former Conservative Councillor Vlod Barchuk says:

''The Oaks scheme has been developed with the Labour Council's support.  All the Labour councillors on the planning committee supported this scheme, including Acton councillor Kate Crawford.  The Council can stop this scheme at any time by refusing to sell the car park.'' 

But Labour Leader Councillor Julian Bell says the sale is going through:

''Conservative politicians at all levels have had the chance to intervene through the planning process and chose not to. Both the Conservative Mayor and the Conservative Secretary of State have approved the plans.

''The sale of the of the car park will be concluded before the election so this is just political game playing by the local Tories.

''If they had their way the site would be left as it is and a gold chance for jobs and investment in Acton would be wasted with the chance for Waitrose to return to Acton with all the associated regeneration lost.

''The Tories had four years to regenerate the Oaks but they squandered the opportunity and let the high street decline''.

27th March 2014