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Last Saturday, we reported on the Brixton Arches third anniversary solidarity action, and the Save Brixton Arches campaign has now released a press statement and video with more information about the action.
We’ve reproduced it in full below. As ever, feel free to add your thoughts in the comments box below. We’ll also be inviting Network Rail to counter the points raised.
SAVE BRIXTON ARCHES
FULL PRESS STATEMENT
7th February 2018On Sunday 4th February we delivered a 3-year anniversary action at the Brixton Arches. The protest was covered by national news channels including ITV, London Live and BBC London. However, whilst we appreciate the coverage, due to time constraints for local television news, the critical points and urgent nature of the protest was almost completely missed. We hope to clarify this now.
It is true we took action to demonstrate our solidarity with the three remaining tenants who will be taking Network Rail to court, to challenge the arguably unlawful termination of their leases. However, our main objective was to highlight and prevent the SERIOUS DANGERS AND RISKS that we believe this development continues to pose to the health, safety and livelihoods of those in our community.
LOSS OF MARKET TRADERS ON BRIXTON STATION ROAD
When Lambeth Council granted planning permission to Network Rail, the planning officer stated that external market traders on Brixton Station Road must not be impacted upon during construction and must be able to operate normally. However, market traders hygienically preparing, handling and selling fresh food in the open air in Brixton Station Road market will not be able to operate normally and almost certainly be forced out of business because of the dust and air pollution that will be generated by the demolitions and other building operations that will last for many months.Network Rail have already forced dozens of traders out of the Brixton Arches, Lambeth Council must not allow them to end the livelihoods of our external market traders too.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Fire risks: Inadequate fire detection, warning systems and safe muster points are proposed and these are designed to only protect contractors operating within the separate sections of the viaduct. Nothing is planned to provide early fire warning to the businesses, employees and general public, (some who may have mobility, sight or hearing issues), who will also be inside the viaduct, sharing party walls, directly next to or even above the various building sites, on the train platforms. Please find a full list of health and safety concerns here.For a clear indication of Network Rail’s dangerous approach to this development you only need look at their official response to Sunday’s demonstration.
Network Rail told ITV News:
“Our priority is completing the works on time in order that the majority of our former tenants can return to a completed arch as soon as possible…”It is alarming that Network Rail’s priority is to complete works on time, as the absolute priority for any developer is completing any construction project – especially one as difficult and sensitive as this – safely and without incident. Safety and lives should always take priority over time and cost savings. When priority is placed on meeting deadlines, this puts saving money before saving lives.
Furthermore, if Network Rail’s priority is indeed to complete works on time then they have already proved themselves grossly incompetent, given that works were supposed to have been completed in 2016, but as of today’s date, they haven’t even properly begun.
Network Rail have consistently made false claims that delays in starting this project was because of legal challenges by the three remaining tenants, however this does not explain why Network Rail took over 12 months to release submissions to discharge the outstanding planning conditions and a further 6 months for these inadequate and in some cases semi-literate documents to be revised many times before the planning officer closed down any further consultations within the community and gave planning approval the very next day, on 7th December 2017.
This was a full 18 months after the original planning approval for the development was achieved.
In a statement released yesterday after our 3 year anniversary action in Brixton, Network Rail told London Live:
“Appropriate fire safety, vehicle management and dust control has been scrutinised and approved by Lambeth Council”
We have noted this and can confirm our understanding that Lambeth Council and Network Rail will both be held accountable if an incident occurs. Expert members of our team are now monitoring the works daily and are committed to making our findings available to both the public and relevant authorities.
We want this work to start as soon as possible. We wish only for it to be delivered safely and without compromising the livelihoods of external market traders on Brixton Station Road.
@SaveBrixton
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Brixton Arches background & resources:
Read the latest news and join the big discussion on the urban75 forums (over 1,500 posts)
More info:
The vote to redevelop Brixton Arches: smear campaigns, doublethink and foregone decisions
Brixton’s A&C Deli: the inside story of a small business destroyed by gentrification, Network Rail & Lambeth Council.
About the Save Brixton Arches campaign:
Save Brixton Arches official website
Twitter: #savebrixtonarches