National petition for Archery Ground

National interest has begun to focus on Gladedale Homes’ proposed desecration of St Leonards Archery Ground, with a leading Nooks & Crannies article in Private Eye that details the distinguished history of the site and the plans for its ignominious future.

Private Eye goes on to report that developer Gladedale is also trying to build flats and a hotel opposite Hampton Court Palace, supported (what a surprise!) by the local Elmbridge council. After a legal challenge brought by architect Keith Garner (at first dismissed because he wasn’t famous enough!), it was found that the council “were required to have special regard to the desirability of preserving the setting of Hampton Court Palace” but had “failed to weigh properly the relevant policies and other material considerations”. But it seems Mr. Garner doesn’t expect this alone to stop the development, and he’s set up a Downing Street petition.

While Hampton Court is a little bit better known nationally than the Archery Ground, we will watch the outcome with some interest, and maybe STAG can gain from the Hampton Court connection?

Both campaigns have a Downing Street petition. The STAG one is petitions.number10.gov.uk/Archeryground/ and if you wish to deliver a double smack in the eye to Gladedale, you can support both. Mr. Garner’s petition is petitions.number10.gov.uk/hampton-court/

Disappointingly, Kay Andrews, Chair of English Heritage, “postponed” a planned visit to see the site, quite explicitly so as not to be “confused” with the STAG campaign”, although their Regional Director Andy Brown did say that Gladedale’s scheme “as it stands” was not in character: “St Leonards in a special area which deserves top quality new development”.

Also in: Home Ground