‘We’ll have a five storey monstrosity’

"Don't Destroy our High Street" is the name of a petition that has been put together by residents who do not want to see plans to knock down a row of shops in the High Street given the green light.

They say the plans, which will see the shops Gordon's, Lily's of London, Woolworth's and D J Jewellers replaced with a multi-storey block of flats and shops, are completely inappropriate for the area.

Phil Groom, a member of St Matthew's Church in the High Street, who helped launch the petition, said: "We'll have a five-storey monstrosity that will dominate the skyline and completely change the character of the local High Street. There's not a single red brick to be seen in the plans just concrete, metal balconies and glass.

"Change is good, development is good but why propose something that's so utterly out of place compared to the existing buildings?"

The plans to build the complex which will have shops on the ground floor, 60 flats on the uppers floors, and basement parking were announced a month ago.

Residents had until yesterday to object to them and some 40 people have already signed the petition.

The plans are actually the brainchild of Gordon Ede, the owner of the High Street shop Gordon's which will be knocked down if the development is built.

Speaking on the internet discussion forum HillingdonChat.com, Mr Ede said: "The days of living in the past are long gone, as are the days of Yiewsley being known as a village. They the shops should have been pulled down years ago.

"I am the owner of five of these buildings and it was I that initiated a development that I believe will benefit Yiewsley as a town centre.

"I asked AHA Architecture to work with Hillingdon council to come up with something good and fresh for our town (Yiewsley means a lot to me as you well know. I have been trading here for 28 years now).

"For over a year now we have changed plans several times and have presented what we and the town planners and architects see as an exciting project."