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BEXLEY: Row over engine house’s road plan
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| The Victorian engine house retains its ornate wrought ironwork BE8548 |
Controversy over a road is all that stands between one of London's most important industrial buildings and a £3m restoration project.
The Crossness Beam Engine House in Belvedere Road, Abbey Wood, is one of only two Grade I listed industrial buildings in London. The other is Tower Bridge.
Funding has been put together from a variety of sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, by the Crossness Engines Trust to pay for the restoration project and a new visitor centre, to create an industrial museum.
Last week, the trust's proposals went before Bexley Council's planning control committee.
The trust's patron is Peter Bazalgette, whose great-great-grandfather, Sir Joseph Bazalgette, built the engine house to rid London of its sewage problem.
It opened in 1865 and retains its steam-driven giant beam engines and ornate wrought ironwork
The committee heard from two residents about their objections to the proposed new access road, which would lead off Fairway Drive, Thamesmead, and run along the riverfront.
Rob Schwarz said he was speaking on behalf of a number of groups including residents, cyclists, environmental charity Thames21 and Bexley Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
They were concerned a road would spoil the peaceful natural environment, create dangers for walkers and cyclists using the adjacent Thames Path and encourage an increase in flytipping.
Simon Knell was worried about attracting more quadbikes and off-road motorcycles to the area, and their fears were backed by ward councillor Sandra Bauer.
Mr Schwarz said residents supported the restoration project but suggested the car park for the engine house could be sited further away and visitors could walk to the building.
Mr Bazalgette, the former chairman of the television production company behind Channel 4 show Big Brother, told the planning committee without a new access road into the site, the funding would not be given.
He said the trust took residents' concerns very seriously but without the road, the project would collapse.
Mr Bazalgette said the history of Crossness told "the fascinating story of the cleansing of London" and was an important heritage site which was now "decaying around us".
He added: "It will become a community asset for Bexley, encouraging tourism and the regeneration of part of north Bexley."
Committee members took on board residents' concerns and said the new road had to be made to work for them.
One suggestion was gating the road just after the entrance to the adjacent golf club.
The plans were approved, but details of the access road will have to be approved separately by the committee.
12:49pm Wednesday 21st May 2008
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