Press+-+Haringey+Independent+-+Traders+start+petition+to+save+their+building

=Traders start petition to save their building= Neeta Dutta - Haringey Independent (Thursday 15th November 2007)

More than 100 residents and traders have signed a petition to support preserving the former Wards Department Store, in Seven Sisters, in the face of redevelopment plans.

Wards Corner, an area encompassing West Green Road, High Road, Seven Sisters Road including the Underground station and Suffield Road, has been earmarked for redevelopment since 2004.

The former department store, which houses a Latin American indoor market, is considered by many to have significant architectural merit owing to its Edwardian heritage. It includes large glass skylights and wide interior spaces supported by pillars with carved decorations.

The Tottenham Civic Society set up the online petition in a bid to ensure the building is preserved in response to developer Grainger's plans for the whole site - which include 180 flats, 50,111 sq ft of shops and leisure units, plus a public square. Matthew Bradby, chairman of Tottenham Civic Society, said: "People were amazed that such a building still exists in Tottenham, and very surprised to be told the council wants to demolish it and replace it with an anonymous eight-storey block of flats."

Grainger aims to submit a planning application before Christmas and a spokesman for the company said it had conducted a consultation with residents and traders and was working to take into account everyone's views.

He said: "As part of the planning application, a consultation statement will set out who, when and how we have consulted, what we've been told and how we have responded."

Councillor Wayne Hoban, Liberal Democrat regeneration and enterprise spokesman, said: "For too long Tottenham has seen historic, quality buildings razed to the ground to make way for characterless, often inferiorly designed buildings. "Residents and traders have produced alternative proposals which show considerable insight, knowledge and expertise regarding the potential for retaining the historic Ward's Corner facade within a sympathetic and practical development project."

Councillor Kaushika Amin, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: "We recognise the concerns of the Tottenham Civic Society, but this issue is not as black and white as it would have people believe. While some people have signed this petition - for a variety of reasons - there are others who clearly believe this site needs to be redeveloped. I don't think it's likely we will ever achieve a consensus here."

To view Grainger's proposals, visit www.wards cornerregeneration.co.uk and to see the Tottenham Civic Society petition, visit www.gopetition.co.uk/online/14551.html