The
Pentecostal City Mission Church, long time occupier of 2 Scrubs Lane,
Willesden, has been evicted by developers, Fruition Properties. The Mission is
a registered Community Asset and operates a nursery, foodbank, dementia care
and other local community services which leaves this vital community lifeline
in jeopardy. See previous coverage of the threat to the church HERE.
The Mayor’s
Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), local MP Andy Slaughter,
the GLA’s Culture at Risk team and other community groups have been campaigning
to save the church and the services it provides to one of London’s most
disadvantaged communities.
Fruition
Properties, the developers who are looking to redevelop the site, sought
planning permission in 2018. Critical to that permission was that Fruition
secured replacement space for the Pentecostal City Mission Church and
associated community services as part of the new development.
OPDC, as the
local planning authority, has always been very clear that its planning policy
requires the re-provision of community floorspace for the Pentecostal City
Mission Church within any future scheme on the site.
It is
understood that Fruition evicted without warning, on Wednesday 23rd March,
entering the building at 7.30 in the morning and changing all the locks,
leaving parents unable to drop off their children at the nursery and staff
unable to retrieve personal belongings.
Reverend
Desmond Hall of Pentecostal City Mission Church said:
We are
shocked and saddened that Fruition took possession of this beloved church and
vital lifeline for so many community members. As well as a valued place of
worship, many families and young children rely on us for support services and
food donations. During busy times, we can cater to up to a 1,000 people across
one day. What will they do now that Fruition have changed the locks?
We won’t
give up hope and with the support of the community, we’ll continue to fight for
Pentecostal City Mission Church.
David Lunts,
CEO of OPDC said:
It is
shocking that Fruition Properties have evicted the church. It's hard to believe
that with so much local need for services such as this, especially at a time of
increasing hardship, any developer could act with such heartlessness. It’s all
the more outrageous as our planning policy makes quite clear that space for the
church and its community facilities must be part of any redevelopment.
I have
attempted to engage with Fruition to seek an amicable resolution with the
Church, but they have refused to meet.
Andy
Slaughter MP for Hammersmith said:
It’s
unacceptable and quite frankly unbelievable news to hear that a developer has
evicted a church, nursery and foodbank at a time where so many families are
under financial strain to put food on the table. I have made my position to
Fruition abundantly clear on numerous occasions and they have refused to meet
to reach a solution, despite the planning policy clearly requiring provision
for the church.
Cllr Matt Kelcher said:
Councillors, Brent Council, the OPDC and local MPs are all in agreement on this issue and Fruition are doing themselves terrible damage by pursuing this – but there is currently a legal process that needs to be gone through first. When this is resolved we’ll be best placed to plan any next steps.
I’m pleased that in the meantime, Brent and OPDC are helping the church to find alternative local premises where possible.
