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The Covent Garden Community Association (CGCA) fought a successful battle against the comprehensive redevelopment of the area being promoted in the late 1960s by the Greater London Council (GLC). Tim Pharoah was one of the many who appeared at the public inquiry into the scheme to present evidence against it. He was speaking on behalf of the London Amenity & Transport Association.
Personal account includes the following amusing story:
"I was a witness on behalf of the London Amenity and Transport Association who had formally objected to the redevelopment plans for Covent Garden on the basis of its London-wide significance. It was a very high profile inquiry, and was attracting a lot of attention from the media and high profile people. John Betjemen was one of the objectors. On the day of my appearance the public gallery was packed with Covent Garden Association people as well as many of the other objectors.
"I had been cross-examined by the QC for the GLC, and then it was my turn to cross examine him. ?All redevelopment plans must provide a date by which they will be implemented; can you tell me what the proposed end-date is for this plan?? The QC turns to the bank of GLC officers sitting behind him and asks them for the reference. Much frantic shuffling through the papers, to no avail. After a very pregnant silence, the QC draws himself up to his full height and says ?Mr Pharoah, if you turn to Appendix C you will find a table which gives a date in relation to certain intended actions. That is what we lawyers would say is ?deemed to be? the plan date?. I reply ?we had rather been hoping that this plan would also be intelligible to people other than lawyers?. This produced a spontaneous and loud cheering from the public gallery. Wonderful. From that moment my questioning was taken more seriously, and I was shown some respect!"
More to come....
| Location | London UK |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | 1970s |
keywords
"Covent Garden", conservation, regeneration, redevelopment, "Covent Garden Community Association"
