Press+-+Tottenham+Journal+-+Campaigners+call+for+Mayor+Boris+to+block+Wards+Corner+scheme

=Campaigners call for Mayor Boris to block Wards Corner scheme= Tottenham Journal (Wednesday, 26 November, 2008)

ANGRY residents met City Hall chiefs to demand a block on plans to demolish a historic site at the heart of Tottenham.

The Wards Corner Community Coalition (WCC) met Sir Simon Milton, Boris Johnson's deputy mayor for planning and policy, yesterday (Wednesday).

They appealed for the Greater London Authority to block developer Grainger's plans to bulldoze the Wards Stores building, dubbed "Haringey's Harrods", and replace it with a seven-story tower of 197 flats and retail units.

Roy Jose, of the WCC, said: "The best case possibility is that he will turn the Grainger plan down and we can keep the building. Our fall back position is that local businesses and the market can be saved and have an affordable place in the new development."

They criticised Haringey Council's planning committee's decision to approve the Wards Corner scheme on as a "terribly poor democratic process".

Hundreds of Latin American traders from the Pueblito Paisa market fear they will be priced-out if the new development goes ahead.

Tottenham Conservatives are planning to run on a "stop demolition" ticket at the upcoming Seven Sisters ward by-election, triggered by the death of councillor Fred Knight.

Justin Hinchcliffe, chairman of Tottenham Conservatives, said: "Boris Johnson could reject this monstrous decision by the planning committee of Haringey Council and that's what we're lobbying him to do."

But developers Grainger said the decision was a "vote of confidence" for Tottenham and that they hope for a new era of cooperation with the community.

David Walters, development director for Grainger, said: "We will work closely with the market traders so that the new Seven Sisters Market is tailored to the needs of the local community and is a place for everyone to enjoy.