Ally Pally consultation 'insult to the public' (From This Is Local London)

Ally Pally consultation 'insult to the public'

7:23am Monday 23rd January 2006

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The public consultation process to determine who will run Alexandra Palace for the next 125 years has come under fire from angry residents and councillors.

Only a week was set aside for the public to view the proposals of one of the bidders, Firoka (Heythrop Park) Ltd.

The other bidder, Earls Court and Olympia (ECO), decided not to display their plans, despite both companies being asked to as part of their bid.

The process has been branded a "sham" and an "insult to the public" by the chairman of Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association, John Hadju, who is seeking further consultation with both bidders and a longer consultation period.

"The fact that ECO failed to provide any information about the bid makes the consultation null and void, with not enough information available for residents to make any comment," he said, adding that there had been little publicity and no details on traffic implications, noise and pollution.

A spokeswoman for Alexandra Palace said: "There is no statutory requirement to consult the public at this stage of the process.

"However we have proactively sought to provide the local community with the opportunity to comment on the proposals."

She added that two committees containing representatives from community groups have been advising the boards of trustees and kept informed throughout the consultation process.

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