London Square has said it will review the name Blackheath Gate for the new Leegate development.
After a protest letter was sent by the Lee Green Consortium, representing 15 local community groups, London Square said it would review the comments with its marketing team, and in the meantime will remove the hoarding panel (pictured above) which has already been defaced,
Sean Gavin, Managing Director, South, of London Square, told the Consortium ” London Square recognises the importance of local heritage and identity, and we value constructive engagement with the community.”
The Lee Green consortium of community groups has called on London Square to reverse its plan to name the Leegate development Blackheath Gate.
In a letter to the firm, the Consortium Chair Jim Mallory said “We appreciate that, as a private company, you are free to name any development what you want, but given its size and impact on the local community, we would have thought it might prove helpful for you to involve local people in its naming. As the name has appeared without notice, we assume there has been little if any consultation.”
Mr Mallory added ” Associations with Lee and Lee Green are paramount, not least because it is sited in Lee Green. We in Lee/Lee Green are fiercely proud to live in an area rich in its own history and one to which we hope we have contributed and wish to retain. We say that without wishing in any way to disparage either Blackheath or its residents, who can rightly be proud of their area which, of course, has a rich history, too, but it is a completely separate entity from Lee or Lee Green.”
The letter sets out some of the history of Lee dating back to Saxon times. It urges London Square to reconsider and carry out a consultation on the new names with the community.
And it warns the firm “By renaming it Blackheath Gate, London Square will successfully alienate most people who live in the Lee/Lee Green area. In reconsidering, you might manage some local buy-in to the place you are hoping to create.”
Lee Green Councillor James Rathbone has told the Consortium he agrees with the letter and is happy to have his name added to the signatories.
London Square’s shiny new branded hoarding at Leegate has already been embellished by a graffiti artist, reflecting the disquiet of Lee residents at the new name.
The Lee Consortium of community groups, including the Lee Manor Society, plans to write to London Square asking them to reconsider their plan to name the new development Blackheath Gate,.
The groups acknowledge that Blackheath has a rich history, but it is a separate entity from Lee or Lee Green whose residents themselves are proud of their own identity and rich history.
So now we know. The Leegate development will be called – Blackheath Gate.
Residents – how do you feel about the name of Lee being replaced by Blackheath, which although nearby, is a mile up the road? Post your replies below.
London Square’s marketing blurb makes no mention of Lee, even though the development is on Lee Green crossroads, the historic centre of the area. Meanwhile it mentions the proximity to “Blackheath Common” which as every local knows is not what it is called.
“With 562 new homes planned, the development is set within a highly sought-after area that strikes a harmonious balance between urban convenience and local charm. Residents will enjoy easy access to the independent shops, cafés, and traditional pubs of Blackheath Village, while Blackheath Common provides expansive public green space perfect for outdoor leisure and relaxation.”
