Bishopsgate Goodsyard decision looms as hearing date finally set

Protest: David Donoghue of More Light More Power campaign group
A date for the public hearing on the “obscenely destructive” Bishopsgate Goodsyard proposals has finally been set, the Greater London Authority has confirmed.
In the final weeks of his tenure, London Mayor Boris Johnson will on Monday 18 April decide whether to push through the locally unpopular planning application, which protesters say will ruin the area “for generations”.
Joint developers Hammerson and Ballymore want to erect seven towers up to 38 and 46 storeys high on the disused Shoreditch High Street site. Protesters object to the scheme’s scale, ‘overshadowing’ effect on the surrounding area and the fact just 10 per cent of the total 1,356 homes will be affordable.
David Donoghue of the More Light More Power protest group said: “This is the last chance local people will ever have to show their opposition to this obscenely destructive scheme that will ruin Shoreditch and Spitalfields for generations.
“Therefore we would like to invite you, your neighbours, friends, networks and members to join us on the day to make sure the sheer scale of opposition is seen and heard by Boris and his advisers.”
The hearing had been scheduled for 11 March but was then pushed back, fuelling speculation planning officers could not agree how much light would be subsequently shut out from the surrounding area.

‘Ruinous’: campaigners say the towers would spoil the area for generations. Image: More Light More Power
During the public representation hearing, which will be held in City Hall’s 250 person-capacity Chamber, the Mayor will consider the application in detail and determine whether or not planning permission should be granted.
Campaigners are urging fellow protesters to be “seen and heard” at the public meeting, by bringing “whistles, rattles and noisy stuff” and wearing “silly hats, t-shirts, sunglasses, umbrellas”.
Mr Johnson in September called in the planning application, overriding local planning authorities Hackney and Tower Hamlets, who had both rejected the proposals.
To comment on the application, email mayor@london.gov.uk or visit london.gov.uk for more information
Must quote your report:
“Campaigners are urging fellow protesters to be “seen and heard” at the public meeting, by bringing “whistles, rattles and noisy stuff” and wearing “silly hats, t-shirts, sunglasses, umbrellas”.
Quoted you.
What about the DEMAND?
What about the POLITICS?
What about the PEOPLE who are too numerous and too preoccupied to be “seen and heard” at the “city Hall”?
What about the elected Councillors of Hackney and Tower Hamlets showing their POLITICAL OPPOSITION against the two degenerating businesses and to others doing the same agenda?
Stopping that Agenda cannot be done by wearing silly hats and doing similar “stuff”.
Boris Johnson will only stop the Assault if his own career is adversely impacted by the
abuse of power.
Have the “campaigners” you obviously report for worked that out?
If so, where is the substance how they will undo Boris career?
I believe that that is the least that Boris must be convinced he will lose if he gives the plot the go ahead.
Nothing short of that will stop Boris.
0704 GMT Tuesday 05 April 2016
It seems not to matter occupy a resident of the area. I looknstraoght out on the graveyard and welcome the development – silly hats or not
Another issue, another piece of the destructive ‘legacy’ of the ‘historic’ first eight years of the “London Mayor”!
Kenneth Livingstone COULD have made a conclusive, definitive sustainable decision on the area including the Goodsyard.
But he didn’t.
All the ‘news’ is superficial.
None of the ‘leaders’, as promoted in the contents of what you have published featuring the two ‘mayors’ of Hackney and Tower Hamlets, has showed anything about the extent of those two post-holders’ ‘powers’ to do the maximum for the East End.
Nothing about Constitutional law challenges by the “campaigners” you gave directly named and or implied.
All that gives the picture that “The Mayor of London” is all-powerful!
That the People do not matter.
That there is no coherent clear case for SAYING NO to the Agenda of Big Biz that is being taken a step towards reducing every remaining physical component of East London’s spaces…
`Once again the Question is:
WHAT HAS STOPPED THE ‘elected’ Councillors from speaking out, rallying their Boroughs against the “London Mayor Dictatorial Powers’?
Why hasn’t Meg Hillier, “Chair’ of the PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE in the Commons, spoken about her ‘lack’ of ‘remit’ on MATTERS LIKE THIS?
WHERE is the LIVING DEMOCRACY when the EAST END OF LONDON NEEDS it?
1240 Hrs GMT London Saturday 09 April 2016