Two Highgate Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed concern over Haringey Council’s plans to sell off a crucial site – and are calling for a full planning brief to be prepared to protect development in the Archway Road site in the Highgate Conservation Area.

Secret papers to go before Haringey’s Cabinet on Thursday will propose the sale of the site at 505-511 Archway Road, which lies next to the Wellington Gyratory at the top of the Archway Road.Lib Dem councillors say that Haringey Council must ensure that every opportunity is made to improve the site, and that the future of the whole area needs to be considered – including discussions with Transport For London over the future of the gyratory system.

Local councillor Rachel Allison comments:

“This is a crucial gateway site in an area that has been the victim of terrible planning decisions by Haringey Council in the recent past.We need to ensure that the Council looks at the whole picture, as I would like to see a review of the gyratory system. We also need a bus stand in the area, so the loss of this site could be crucial to any future improvements.”

Fellow Highgate councillor Neil Williams adds:

“We will be pressing to ensure that local people are consulted about the future of this site. It mustn’t be about whatever cash Labour-run Haringey Council can trouser on a sale. The wider benefits to this part of Highgate, and the Conservation Area,must be considered. We must have a full planning brief.”