Westfield to unveil five point plan with 'Telephone Town Hall' (From Croydon Guardian)
Contact us: Got a photo? Text SLPICS to 80360, click to upload your story, or call
020 8722 6350
Westfield to unveil five point plan with 'Telephone Town Hall'
11:50am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in Local news
Westfield have submitted plans to redevelop the Whitgift Centre
Retail giants Westfield will to unveil their five point plan to boost economic growth in Croydon with a live phone in.
Telephone Town Hall, is an hour long event taking place on November 21, starting at 7pm.
Similarly to a radio phone-in show, the event will give anyone in Croydon the chance to speak directly with John Burton, Westfield's Director of Development.
Mr Burton said: "The move is part of Westfield's ongoing commitment to ensure the public have their say in Westfield's plans ensuring they are right for Croydon and meet the needs of local businesses and residents.
"It is the first time the new technology- used extensively in the US during the presidential election, has been used in this way in the UK."
toplard says...
11:07am Tue 20 Nov 12
http://gco2e.blogspo
t.co.uk/2012/11/west
field-property-devel
oper-we-own.html
Property developer Westfield are proposing a "5 point plan" to revamp a shopping mall in Croydon.
They seem to be claiming that we need them so badly.
Yet if an enterprise invests its savings into more enterprise, it receives its full reward in the returns to that capital formation, all else being equal. Nothing more is due. Any more received belongs to someone else by rights.
What Westfield hope to do by gaining planning permission is to boost the community created value of the location. So that they can RAISE RENTS. They are helping themselves at the expense of the Croydon people plain and simple. Snouts deep in the trough.
Westfield are hoping we will not see this and try to convince us by saying:
"WE" will "BOOST THE ECONOMY" by investing £1 billion. Surely any additional boost is a result of the work and enterprise of the people working here?
"WE" will "SUPPORT" local businesses re-establishing Croydon as a premier retail centre. Again in what way exactly are they "supporting" Croydon here. What additional capital have they invested in this support over what they invested in the building?
"WE" will "TACKLE" long-term UNEMPLOYMENT, creating 5000 new jobs. This is classic 'jobcreationism". The monstrous idea that an employer or the state has the right to allow people to either start or stop work. This right has nothing to do with Westfield. It is the natural right of the individual unless we are slaves
"WE" will ADDRESS Croydon's HOUSING SHORTAGE with 600 new homes. There are 4000 empty homes in Croydon. There is no shortage. The problem is speculative land hoarding by landowners and property developers. Besides even if there were a shortage they will have been paid in full for these new homes. They are giving nothing extra.
"WE" will make Croydon more accessible by "IMPROVING" public TRANSPORT links. But this will be paid for in full by the tax payer already. What extra have Westfield provided to improve it?
I believe Westfield own most of the development. 25% is owned by a 'charitable' Landlord, the Whitgift Foundation. When the chairman of the Croydon Planning and Transport committee signs off planning permission for this development, there will be an enormous boost in the value of the location, a massive tax free windfall, given away for free, all in the name of the people of Croydon.
The people of Croydon having granted that permission have released this extra value. This charitable Landlord and this philanthropic property developer will be able to collect it all. And will raise rents significantly. Lowering relative wages, salaries and enterprises profits. Increasing need for welfare, raising taxes even further. Driving even more vitality from Croydon in the end.
Westfield. CROYDON DOES NOT NEED YOU. Either cough up for benefits you receive from this town or go away.
We of the Young People's Party have a simple and radical policy to put an end to this. You need to elect us first though. I'll be hoping to get a call from LBC's Nick Ferrari to put this to the Director of Development John Burton Wednesday evening.