'The fightback starts' - campaigners talk tactics over Cat Hill (From Enfield Independent)

'People feel betrayed' - campaigners talk tactics over L&Q's plans for Cat Hill in Cockfosters

11:55am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Hermione Wright

Campaigners refusing to back down over plans for a major housing development in Cockfosters are setting up an urgent meeting to talk tactics.

Enfield Borough Council last week waved through developer L&Q's plans to demolish Middlesex University buildings in Cat Hill to make way for 232 homes.

Kim Coleman, who has been leading the campaign against development for more than two years, is calling for people to attend a meeting in Vita et Pax Roman Catholic Church in Bramley Road on Thursday, March 21.

She said: “We are not giving up, the fightback starts, and if L&Q thought we were going to lie back and take it, they are in for a bit of a surprise.

“The residents are so angry. You walk up the street in Cockfosters and you find people talking about it constantly. People feel betrayed.”

Dr Coleman urged people to write to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson to encourage him to block the developers from building the homes.

She has been in talks with lawyers about how the campaigners can continue the fight, which she will discuss during next week’s meeting. 

Despite L&Q being given the go ahead from the council, Dr Coleman remains “very hopeful” that the campaign will be a success and the development will not be built.

Although she said she cannot reveal how the group plans to fight the proposals before, the campaigner has spoken to people during the 7.30pm meeting, and promised residents will not give up. 

L&Q’s land and projects director Andy Rowland told the Enfield Independent last week he is “pleased” the plans were approved, and said the developers “look forward” to working with the council, residents and other stakeholders as the plans progress.