Lib Dem Crouch End Councillor David Winskill has been in touch with the organisers of Catrice, the residents’ campaign formed to fight a planning application on the site of the Texaco Petrol Station on Tottenham Lane. He has congratulated them for a well organised and hard fought campaign.

Commenting on the decision of the Inspector to dismiss the developer’s (Ridgewood Investments Ltd) appeal he said:

“Congratulations are due to Alison Lillystone and Ruth Selig – the Joans of Arc of Crouch End! They have fought relentlessly in a just cause and deserve this victory. The idea of a five-storey monstrosity obscuring a school’s sunlight and obstructing views of Ally Pally is despicable. I hope that this decision will encourage Haringey’s planners to be more robust in their future recommendations and take more account of the views of communities.

“No doubt Texaco will be back but I urge them to talk to the community before submitting plans and invest in some serious and committed community planning.

“There are still many campaigns against over-development to be fought and this victory will be an inspiration to other groups.”