Thread by @Andrewwood17

Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets planning decision this Thursday 6.30pm 1st Dec
9 Councillors have to decide whether they should approve or reject a planning application for largest embassy in London & largest Chinese Embassy in Europe
🧵why should reject so that @michaelgove
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can call it in to decide
This🧵based on talking to local residents & @going4golds who will be speaking against
Main unresolved planning issues relate to security & heritage & we believe need more work before any final decision
See Council report
democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ieListDocument…
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This is a very complex application
Not least because embassies raise a number of unique issues (this would be the first one in Tower Hamlets)
The main issues relate to security
For example, 1980 Iranian Embassy in London seized by terrorists
bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictur…
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PC Yvonne Fletcher shot from inside the Libyan Embassy in 1982 (not that I expect this to happen here)
In 1998 al-Qaida killed 224 people on 2 attacks on American embassies in east Africa
See new US Embassy in London for security precautions
dw.com/en/when-al-qai…
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The threat is not just to Embassy staff inside but to protestors outside from staff inside
This was last month in Manchester & the investigation continues
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-632805…
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Sunday night there were major peaceful protests outside the existing Embassy
Notably, so many people attended that there was not enough space on the pavements so protestors had to occupy road
Outside Royal Mint not a lot of space & a much busier road

https://twitter.com/yifanxxx/status/1596954967557828614?s=20&t=p78dbw9ITA5qBAv4mQX7Mg

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Security issues affect Embassy staff inside, residents & office workers nearby, visitors & protestors
Threats come not just from terrorists but accidents between protestors & traffic
See 1996 IRA bomb next to Canary Wharf for possible devastation
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Dock…
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How are the Council dealing with these issues (many on its own pavements & roads?)
We don't know
Main document is restricted access (even though I believe it was written by a commercial company not Police/Security Services)
Issues over the independence of who wrote that doc.
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have been raised with the Councils legal team
Some security issues will be dealt with later by planning condition which means they won't involve local residents, they maybe lucky to find the document inside the planning system years later
This is unusual
In other planning
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applications proposed changes to the public realm (on Council land) have been included within the application e.g. new Westferry DLR hotel
There is simply not enough detail to reassure residents/businesses that all of these issues are being properly considered by the right
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people at the right level
Local residents have struggled to get those in authority to respond to some concerns
We think this is best dealt with by Michael Gove as Secretary of State as he will have better access to Security Services advice on how security for all will work
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Some residents remember the year-long protests that started in January 1986 right next to this location as part of the failed strike against Rupert Murdochs changes to the print industry
They worry about similar disruption to their lives
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wapping_d…
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Another reason for rejection are concerns over the consultation process, too many nearby not involved
Residents only get to speak for 6 minutes Thursday !
In a government led process would have more time (at Westferry Printworks Inspector set aside one evening for residents)
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This is one of the most important sites in London
Next to Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Katharines docks
And the site itself includes a number of very important historical sites (not all excavated!) including the abbey, mint, Royal Navy supply base & then Royal Mint
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We should have done more in previous applications to open up this history & Chinese have made some welcome suggestions
But letter from Historic England etc suggest more could be done in terms of access etc
We know SoS interested in these issues (see Whitechapel Bell Foundry)
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so another reason why it should be called in
But he will want I assume to give local Councillors first decision
But we are not used to dealing with a planning application like this as it raises many unique issues
All suggest the decision should be made at a higher level
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Michael Gove or the Mayor of London can call this in, either today or after a decision
Given strategic issues probably best done by central government
This would cause some delay as Inspector would be appointed, public hearings would be held, before Minister makes decision
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Planning decisions should not be based on politics (otherwise risk Court appeal) but clearly that it is China raises issues e.g. Hong Kong, Uighurs, Tibet
Personally, I believe a new Embassy should be built, it represents the Chinese state and people
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(and our issue is with the Chinese Communist Party who may not always be in charge)
And diplomacy is important (but no Police stns inside)
But again these decisions should be made by the government, see the PM's speech last night
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…
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Decision Thursday night at the Town Hall, you can view the meeting in person (first come first served tickets) or watch it online via video
towerhamlets.public-i.tv/core/portal/we…

@RoyalMintEstate, @LutfurRahmanTH, @benedictrogers, @RabinaKhan, @OnLondon, @OfficialFOSKD @TH_Labour
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