Objections and Comments to the PAAP Scoping Report
On January 30 2007 the Willowbrook Centre facilitated a public meeting to discuss the Sustainability Scoping Report for the Peckham Area Action Plan.
The main concerns raised by the residents that attended the meeting were:
- The proposed boundaries for the Area Action Plan don't seem to have a clear logic and more attention should be given in the sustainability assessment and in the PAAP itslef to the synergies that exist with neighbouring areas and how they will be effected by the PAAP;
- The lack of evidence to support retail and business development strategies in the Peckham Town Centre. In particular the scoping report shows little or no understanding of the retail dynamics, both in terms of supply and demand that present and future residents of the area will manifest;
- The lack of knowledge on the actual provision of and demand for community facilities and youth services will make it very difficult to evaluate where these are needed and if the PAAP is fulfilling its objectives of promoting social cohesion, diversity and equality, particularly in light of recent fatal accidents and criminal activities reported in the area.
The Willowbrook Centre has submitted these concerns to Southwark Council as formal representations to the consultation of the Scoping Report.
Other comments have been submitted on the following issues:
- The lack of consideration for the proposed Conservation Area for central Peckham and for the historical architectural heritage of the Peckham Town Centre.
- The lack of clarity in the document itself as to which area the Scoping Report is referring to, with references to Peckham and its Town Centre as interchangeable;
- The need to ensure that new housing and especially affordable housing meet the need of families with sizes of 3 or more bedrooms.
