Dick Turpin used to ride Black Bess up Maiden Lane, known to us as York Way – now the public is suffering a modern highway robbery.  Something very weird is happening at the end of Randell’sRoad – the Council seems to be giving away free land – pile in now to stake your claim. 

The old York Way used to run straight past the front of the run down premises of Transeuropean Autos at 176 – 178 York Way at the junction of Randell’s Road.  The pavement was parallel with the perimeter fence. 

When York Way was radically realigned a few years ago the road curved a bit and a new bit of open space was created between the highway and Transeuropean.  This space was marked for a theoretical stop in the North South London tram project. 

Now Transeuropean are fencing in the piece of land apparently with permission of the Council.  Transeuropean is hardly short of space they have a huge site and rarely use the outer yard.  They are using a hideous steel security fence that make the entrance to Randell’s look like a prison yard.  Cllr Convery is taking it up with council officers:

‘The stockade fencing is an absolute eysesore and it appears that a patch of precious public greenspace appaears to have been commandeered by a commercial concern.’

The Council has controversailly sold leases all over the borough, prepared to threaten lots of small businesses and take political flak to rake in some capital.  But seems to be giving away a prominent patch of land that could have had a nice flowerbed to someone who never owned it.  The land will be valuable when the area is redeveloped, it is big enough to fit a Texco metro store or a couple of Starbucks.  It would be of huge value for the Transeuropean owners giving them a frontage up to the kerb.  I’m baffled why it wasn’t kept public or auctioned and the money given to local charities.