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Huge hospital development will swamp us, say residents
Neil Millard13.02.09
A multi-million pound scheme to transform a notorious south London mental hospital has caused outrage in the community.
Campaigners have opposed Springfield Hospital's plans for the new development which includes 1,200 new flats, a new mental health care complex, shops, offices, restaurants, bars and a primary school.
They claim the scheme, which South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has submitted to Wandsworth Council, will swamp the area with up to 3,000 new residents.
The hospital gained notoriety after a series of break-outs, including one in September 2004, when escaped paranoid schizophrenic John Barrett stabbed cyclist Dennis Finnegan to death in Richmond Park.
In November last year two men, including one facing a murder trial, absconded. One was accused of two knifepoint robberies during his week-long absence.
Campaigners will tomorrow submit a 2,000-strong petition to the council opposing the development.
Thom Reilly, 38, a civil servant who lives in neighbouring Hebdon Road, said: "The development is going to swamp both Springfield Hospital as it stands and the whole community spirit we have around here.
"The developers have been completely arrogant about this and have seen no reason to consult properly with the local community. Everyone is in favour of upgrading the hospital but not in favour of putting 3,000 new residents in there."
The Trust also plans to demolish a number of listed buildings as part of the redevelopment, as well as building on Metropolitan Open Land.
The campaign has the backing of Labour's Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, who said: "That land is the lungs of the area and I think they could be doing something better with it. These plans are awful and the developers haven't listened to the concerns raised."
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust would not comment.
