OPPONENTS of a plan to demolish a row of family homes next to a listed war memorial are preparing to do battle once again after the developer appealed against the council's decision to reject the scheme.
Residents in Woodford Green High Road celebrated in September last year when an application to knock down four houses on the site of Sylvia Pankurst's former cottage and replace them with a block of 14 flats was rejected by Redbridge Council.
But the campaigners, who say the scheme is too large, would overload the area's infrastructure and increase its already serious parking problems, face another fight after developers Yasfind appealed against the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.
Mario Grattarola's home in Mews Place backs onto the site - which is directly opposite the historic Grade II listed 'Stone Bomb' anti-air war memorial erected by Pankhurst during the 1930s.
He showed the Guardian a copy of a letter he is sending on behalf of Woodford Green Resident's Group to the Planning Inspectorate, together with a petition with the names of more than 170 people opposed to the scheme.
It reads: "It is unprecedented in this area, for four perfectly good houses to be demolished for the sole purpose of profiteering.
"Although we recognise that it is the prerogative of householders to sell their homes – we totally object to Yasfind's intention to demolish these houses and replace them with an apartment block.
"It is an irresponsible proposal that would have a huge and negative impact on the area as a whole, while adversely affecting many neighbouring properties."
Mr Grattarola said the properties - built in the 1920s and 1950s - were desirable family homes and that the community could see no 'logical reason' for them to be demolished.
He said: "They are good examples of valuable and sought after homes in this area, and we as a community cannot find any logical argument for their demolition – apart from financial gain for the developer.
"If this application were to be approved, it would set a precedent for future exploitation of our established community and the continued erosion of the special character of this area. Fundamentally this is the wrong development in the wrong place."
Yasfind's application was rejected by Redbridge Council because it did not include enough affordable homes, would have brought too many extra cars into the area, and did not offer the council enough money to offset the development's impact on local services.
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