London needs help to save Burlington Arcade from the developers – Again

19^th March 2012

‘Save Burlington Arcade’ – AGAIN!

 I am writing to ask for your help once more. The campaign to Save Burlington Arcade has been spurred back into action just a few months after our victory last year. The Arcade owners have now submitted fresh plans to Westminster City Planning Department to replace the existing floor with a brand new highly-polished black and beige quartzite tiled floor.

Hard shiny quartzite can already be seen in modern shopping malls (and bathrooms) the world over. I believe it would be completely out of character and wholly inappropriate and would doubtless lead to other major changes in the Arcade, which is not a Las Vegas or Dubai-style shopping mall.

When the original applications were submitted last year to ‘modernise’ the Arcade, celebrity protestors included Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Joanna Lumley along with other notable supporters such as Deputy London Mayor Kit Malthouse, Ken Livingstone, the Baroness Boothroyd, Rob Brydon, Alan Davies, Kelly Hoppen, Jay Rayner and Michael Winner. They all lined up alongside hundreds of ‘ordinary’ horrified Londoners and visitors alike, to make their feelings known.

The Arcade’s foreign owners (Joseph Sitt of Thor Equities & Mayer Bergman) dreamed up sweeping changes, with infamous American ‘architect’ Peter Marino, to oust small traders in favour of big-name fashion brands such as Prada, Gucci and Chanel with their infinitely deeper pockets.

Burlington Arcade is part of our heritage and must be preserved. If commercial owners do not appreciate what they are buying into when they invest into such unique properties, that is their problem – we should not let them vandalise our city just to make a quick buck.

The clock is ticking – and we only have until March 31^st to lodge objections to their submitted planning application. Anyone who wishes to object must do so quickly – details of how to object can be found at my website:

http://www.bexfield.co.uk/11/saveba.htm

You can email objections directly to Westminster planning office at: centralplanningteam@westminster.gov.uk Quoting this reference number: 12/01433/LBC (copy & paste it): Stating that you “object to the application” (you do not have to give a reason, but better if you do) Anonymous comments will not be considered, so your name & address must be attached

Or you can write to: Westminster City Planning Department, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP, quoting the reference no. 12/01433/LBC, along with your name and address, stating that you ‘object to the application’.

Thank you for your help !

Yours sincerely,

Daniel Bexfield.

Bexfield Antiques

www.bexfield.co.uk