Enfield Lock

A group in Enfield Lock, North London has been fighting the development of the former Royal Small Arms factory in their area. They were given a discretionary Public Inquiry against the building of a causeway bridge by the Department of Transport. In an attempt to outmanoeuvre this, the local council and the developers did some pretty legal footwork and have decided that the bridge is to be a private bridge built on private land (Section 90 or 93) and they therefore do not need a bridging order from DoT.

The Public Inquiry was lost about 2 weeks ago and the group has complained to the DoT but as the council have withdrawn the application nothing can be done - same bridge, same design, same location - on land sold by the Lee Valley Regional Parks, through a road with Grade II listed building and through a Conservation Area. Contractors have started fencing off the land where the bridge is to be built.

The only thing that is holding up the bulldozers is the need for a decontamination strategy - the whole area is contaminated with the leftover chemicals of the Royal Small Arms factory. 1300 plus homes are to be built on the factory site, land that is heavily contaminated with lead, arsenic, mercury, asbestos and possible other experimental weapons. Help is needed. Contact Elaga@AOL.co.uk.