Following my coverage of Mayor Johnson's intervention in the Southall gas works affair, Tory-run Ealing Council - which, along with neighbouring Hillingdon, recently rejected plans for the site's redevelopment - provided me with a statement from its leader Jason Stacey. I'd been told it was fairly bland, but it seems pretty pointed to me:
The planning application for the Southall Gas Works site was refused after long and careful consideration by Ealing Council's Planning Committee. The decision reached was based on real concerns being expressed by councillors and residents of the area alike about aspects of the application and aided by the local knowledge and expertise that local councillors bring to these planning discussions.
It is regretable that the principles of local democracy may now be overturned by the Mayor and I would reiterate that the reason for refusal of the application remains as valid now as it did when the Planning Committee took the decision. Any attempt to ignore this and impose this development without addressing these issues upon Southall would be wrong and fly in the face of the principle of borough's being best placed to make decisions on behalf of their local community.
Take that, Mr Mayor.
