SOS battling on despite L&Q's rebuttal of plans

SOS campaign leader Ricky Holloway yesterday came out fighting in the face on a letter from developer London & Quadrant that appeared to pour cold water on his group's plans to revive Walthamstow.

The letter, sent on October 2 following L&Q's meeting with SOs on September 17, issued a detailed rebuttal of the SOS plans and proposals, concluding: "In light of our meeting we will be continuing with our development plans for affordable housing on the site. Our intention is to apply for planning permission shortly and be on site in the latter half of 2009."

Holloway, however, was scornful of the letter's contents. "There is no way they will get planning permission for the site from Waltham Forest council," he blasted, "and no way they will be on site in 2009.

"Their letter is far stretched from the truth. Their own chairman [David Montague] stated previously they will not be building anything for the next 18 months, and that the model for commercial/affordable housing developments is broken, so we ask why there's no mention of this in their letter.

He continued: "As we speak we've got two independent valuations of the land taking place, and when the SOS group has its next meeting on Thursday, those valuations will be complete. We will then be in aposition to make a bid.

"We're glad L&Q are now coming out and being open with the media if a little economical with the truth. We would ask why they didn't correct statements issued by the Chandlers when they had an option on the land over a year prior to their statements, causing massive job losses and the loss of leisure facilites for the people of Waltham Forest and surrounding boroughs that provided inward investment into the borough.

"We will be issuing a strongy worded letter containing true facts, and not omitting the seven million pounds that they were offered under one scheme by SOS."

Holloway stated that he is looking for an urgent meeting with Waltham Forest council leader Clyde Loakes to discuss the issues, and reiterated that Lib Dem council leader John Macklin had lauded the SOS proposals to use 'scrubland' around the stadium in their scheme as "brilliant".

*The full text of theL&Q letter can be found at www.lqgroup.org.uk/info/media-centre/news-press-releases.