Day 7 of the Public Inquiry into the Compulsory Purchase Order of The Green, Southall heard further evidence from the objectors and the closing statement on behalf of Ealing Council.

Balraj Purewal (The Asian Health Agency) sought some clarifications from the Public Inquiry Inspector Matthew Nunn.

His response was "I can't quash the planning permission. I can't find the planning permission legally invalid because I have no powers to do that under the procedure that I am currently involved with."

"My powers relate to whether I can decide to confirm the CPO or whether I decline to confirm the CPO. And in order to confirm it, I have to reach the view that there is a compelling case in the public interest to confirm. And in reaching that decision, I will have regard to all the evidence that I hear at this inquiry. I will take into account everything that I've heard."

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Mr Purewal said "I have alluded to the white mindset and the white prism, through which we as black communities, have been seen through in the context of the design of the development."

That mindset cannot see a site that is of national significance to the community. It's a small plot of land but historically that land was the first Sikh temple in Southall and is probably one of the first few Sikh temples in the country.

If I look at the interpretation of civic and community assets, in the first development, the Tudor Rose was included. The white mindset did not see that as an Afro Caribbean community or civic asset. It took a prolonged community campaign for the consultation team to recognise that.

The monsoon banqueting hall is just not a commercial building or business. It is to us a civic institution, we many of us, including my own agency, relies on it and has used it for community events.

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It's at the heart of our objections, The issues around the fact that they have not taken due regard to the fact that we are digitally excluded.

We are the public. Our interests are paramount and must be incorporated.

No effort was made whatsoever to engage the faith organisations.

On weekends, not only is the Dominion car park full but the whole of the street, which is designated for parking in front of this gurdwara gets full and the Dominion Centre car park is an important parking provision for people who come there often. There are two weddings halls and if anybody understands Indian weddings, we're looking at a minimum of 500 people.

Finally the issue of the village, the design, the development, their own documents say that at some point that planning should take account of the character.

Parm Kular (Highway Coaches) spoke on behalf of his father Jagdeep Singh Kular. It seems like a complete blur. How did we come to this. They were first approached by Lance Cantor in 2015/16 and nothing resulted from that.

We provide group transportation for schools and charities situated nearby to us. We employ over 20 people. We are being forced out of our premises and no information provided on any relocation. The car park is full every (weekend).

After initial interest to purchase by the new developer and a possible offer, nothing has been heard and no discussions have taken place. An offer was made in August 2021 but Mr Parm Kular is unaware of this.

Manjit Singh (Monsoon Banqueting)
They have made my life hell for 8 years. My partner made deal with Lance Cantor. Due to the long duration of this process my business has suffered. Th bookings have dropped. I have the largest business in the development and I have not been consulted.

They said they were consulting with my father. He passed away 32 years ago. No, they consulted my business partner. But he passed away 2 years ago. Where will you relocate me? When will they relocate me? I have waited 5 months for an answer.

They have kept saying don’t take booking for years. My business is suffering due to this. Nearly 300 jobs will be lost with this development.

Ealing council is good at wasting money. Monsoon Banqueting is a community asset. I offer free facilities to (community/charity events.)

Response from Mr Simons was that Mr Singh had been consulted. This has been going on for months. The relocation search is ongoing. Mr Singh needs to contact JLL to instruct them whether he wants to relocate or extinguish (to proceed further).

Harvi Bhogal (JB autos) speaking on behalf of father.
They were approached by Lance Cantor 2015 and were eager to sell and agreed a price. They received monthly payments from the options contract which was extended for another 2 years to 2019 with higher prices.

Only heard now that Ealing Gateway and Mr Cantor were nothing to do with this development.

This (confusion) was created intentionally or they just did not care. I am disappointed about the way we have been treated. I have submitted the agreement I made 7 years ago for inspection. T7 years of living in limbo. You cannot sell a unit under CPO.

They are offering me a fraction (of the Lance Cantor price). You cannot buy anything similar for that price.

It was pointless renovating the businesses if it was going to be (demolished). Lifetime businesses are being taken away. My life has been ruined. Lance Cantor paid us every month for 4 years.

Ealing council made us feel that our land is worthless. We could not speak out due to agreement. I am truly disgusted. The contract has expired and we can talk. Cutting down parking is bad.

We have been tricked. 90 new jobs. [What about the (250) jobs that will be lost]. Why keep stringing us along?

Is Peabody a charity? Why ruin our lives?

We project our beliefs onto others. This could have been better dealt with the right people with the right training.

Who fired Keith Murray and why?

He mentions waiting for payment for 5 months from Ealing Council and Avison Young. [He was paid the next day]. During to frustrations with the progress Mrs Bhogal wrote to him alleging (corruption) and seeking legal advice it. The developer tells us he was disinstructed. Who disinstructed him?

Mr Bhogal did not.
The developer did not.
Did he disinstruct himself?

The developer tells us he was happy not to have been paid for 5 months as he did not say he will no longer work for them. He only said unable to do any further work" until paid.

Mr Bhogal was unaware that Keith Murray had been disinstructed. He assumed he was taking orders from the developer.

Mr Murray stopped working with everyone. Why? (Surely, he should have just stopped working with us and not the rest)

Why was he disinstructed from other cases (and by whom?)
Just adds to the general confusion.

"Time after time, the emerging theme is that communications were not good".

This will be updated with more information later.