Examination of Witnesses (Questions 140-142)
CARL POWELL,
ROSEMARIE MACQUEEN
AND JACKY
WILKINSON
TUESDAY 22 JANUARY 2002
140. Yes, but I cannot go round and pick up
a photograph and say, "That's a protected view"?
(Ms Wilkinson) We have famous views, which we protect;
we do not write them on a map, we expect applicants to observe
them, to understand them and to take heed of them.
141. So, if that is good enough for Bath, why
is it not good enough for Westminster?
(Ms Wilkinson) We are on a different scale, and I
think you have got to acknowledge there is quite a difference,
you need the different approaches with a large-scale conurbation;
ours is very much a smaller-scale City that you can see from end
to end in one go.
142. And, looking back from Buckingham Palace
towards Whitehall, should a protected view, or it is not a protected
view, have the London Eye poking over the top of it?
(Mr Powell) It is an interesting question and, indeed,
very topical, and I am afraid I will shy away from commenting
on that, because the application is coming up for consideration
by Lambeth and I think it would be entirely inappropriate to prejudge
my members and express an opinion on that. But I think that there
is an important distinction to make, that there are various grades
of views of interest, and I think that the explanation from Bath
of the significant views versus strategic views which are actually
protected on a map means that the contextual analysis of individual
applications needs to take into account not only whether there
is a protected view on a map but what will be the impact of any
development on interesting views, whether they are protected or
not. And so, once again, it is the contextual sensitivity of dealing
with individual applications; you cannot do planning by formula.
Chairman: Right; well, on that note, can I thank
you very much for your evidence. Thank you very much indeed.
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