Local MP John McDonnell has claimed Victory for Local Residents in 15 year Campaign on Grange Site

For over 15 years as the local MP, I have campaigned with local residents to secure the Grange site for a community centre after the council closed the original centre, demolished it and left the site a derelict eyesore. I helped set up the local Grange Residents Association to act as the voice of local residents on this and other community issues. To prevent the council selling the site off I took the council to the Lands Tribunal after local residents discovered that the site was protected by a covenant. The council has now agreed to the scheme put forward by the residents 5 years ago that part of the land be sold for housing and the remainder used for a new community centre.

This is a major victory for our local campaign. I am so pleased that after years of campaigning the council has been forced to agree to our original compromise proposal. All those many, many public meetings I organised with the local residents association have proved to be worthwhile. I feel vindicated in our action to take the council to the Lands Tribunal hearing because it was this action that eventually forced them to accept our compromise proposal. I have convened a public meeting at 7.30 on Thursday October 9th at Grange School in Lansbury Drive to discuss the proposal and how we can secure speedy action from the council to build our new centre. Do come along.

submitted by John on 29 Sep 2008 at 06:31