Park Plaza plans give in to public Pressure

DEVELOPERS behind controversial proposals for a huge printing plant in Waltham Cross have caved in to pressure from angry residents, and revised their plans.

Broxbourne Council received notice this week that architects working for News International - the media conglomerate behind the highly unpopular £600m scheme at Park Plaza - had rethought their plans.

A council spokesman confirmed to the Mercury that the revisions were intended to "refine" the application after fierce opposition from residents, as well as feedback from councillors and council officers.

Among the changes included are:

* the size of the building slashed both in height and length;

* the delivery and loading areas moved away from homes to the A10 side of the site;

* the site's power plant shifted to the south of the site, nearer the M25; and

* better landscaping to shield the plant from its surroundings, plus road improvements.

The concessions come amid furious campaigning against the proposed plant, which is intended as a replacement for News International's current press division HQ in Wapping, east London.

If built, the Waltham Cross plant would print editions of The Sun, The Times, the Sunday Times and the News of the World newspapers, at a rate of 86,000 copies an hour. It would employ around 300 staff.

When the plans were first unveiled last year, Broxbourne Council's then-leader Cllr Liz Clayton (Con, Goffs Oak) backed the scheme, saying it would be a boost to the borough and improve Waltham Cross' unemployment problem.

But councillors have cooled on the issue since the extent of local opposition became apparent. The Park Plaza Action Group, run by Steve and Maria Mendrys, who live at the edge of the site in Park Lane, has mounted a high-profile campaign against the plans.

This week the council's current leader Cllr Ken Ayling (Con, Hoddesdon Town) insisted the ruling Conservative group was keeping an open mind on the Park Plaza proposals.

"We certainly have not made up our minds on this," he told the Mercury. "We want to listen to all of the representations that are being made to get a better understanding of what this development, if it goes ahead, would mean for the borough.

"We definitely don't want to rush into any hasty decisions."

Mr Mendrys said he wanted to reserve judgment until he had seen all the details.

But he warned: "Even if this improves matters for the residents of Sandringham Way, Theresa Gardens and Park Lane, by taking the development further away from their houses, it still leaves the problems of light pollution, noise pollution and traffic which will affect the whole borough."

The new plans could go before the council's planning and licensing committee in August.

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