8:28am Saturday 28th July 2007
By Chris Wickham
Concerned residents have reiterated their objections to a controversial planning application in Teddington after heavy rain brought floods to the area.
Protestors opposing plans to extend a housing development in Sandy Lane, on a plot of land known as the Seeboard or Jewson site, have raised fears about the drainage system in the area after roads were flooded during the rainstorm last Friday, July 20.
Developer Linden Homes have sparked controversy by seeking permission to add an extra 40 apartments to the 198 they originally planned to build and Hampton Wick and Teddington householders have formed the Sandy Lane Site Action Group (SLSAG), to lead formal opposition to the scheme.
And many have contacted SLSAG in the last week after the stretch of road next to the building site turned into a river with the bow-wave from a passing fire engine sending water cascading over the top of the wall of Bushy Park and motorists struggling through water that reached the top of wheel arches, threatening to strand them on a busy thoroughfare.
David Harnden, SLSAG chairman, said: "Linden Homes have only just started on the first building and already the drainage system around Sandy Lane cannot cope with the kind of downpour we had last week.
"People are genuinely worried about what could happen to their homes if Linden are allowed to cram another 40 apartments onto what's already a high-density housing project.
"Everyone knows that global warming means these flash floods are likely to happen more and more often in the future."
Mr Harnden raised concerns about a planned basement, to house cars and a wood-chip burning boiler and asked how this would affect drainage on the site.
He said 600 people have petitioned Richmond upon Thames Council and he hoped the amended plans would be turned down.
Richmond council is currently carrying out a public consultation on the proposals and plans for the scheme can be viewed at Teddington Library, on the council website richmond.gov.uk or by appointment at the Civic Centre.
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