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An increasingly colourful #London #regeneration battle is taking shape in #BethnalGreen, pitting the forces of preservation, led by Dame Judi Dench, against the forces of destruction, led by, it seems, the God Thanatos (stay with me) 
[1/7] ...
[1/7] ...
The battle concerns the former London Chest Hospital - @CrestNicholson has planning permission from @towerhamlets for 299 homes, including 35% affordable - but the plans involve moving a Mulberry Tree said to be the oldest tree in #EastLondon [2/7]
https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/campaigners-lose-battle-to-stop-developer-knocking-down-part-of-3605356
![The battle concerns the former London Chest Hospital - @CrestNicholson has planning permission from @towerhamlets for 299 homes, including 35% affordable - but the plans involve moving a Mulberry Tree said to be the oldest tree in #EastLondon [2/7] https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/campaigners-lose-battle-to-stop-developer-knocking-down-part-of-3605356](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es5qaVYXMAAQAMi.jpg "The battle concerns the former London Chest Hospital - @CrestNicholson has planning permission from @towerhamlets for 299 homes, including 35% affordable - but the plans involve moving a Mulberry Tree said to be the oldest tree in #EastLondon [2/7] https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/campaigners-lose-battle-to-stop-developer-knocking-down-part-of-3605356")
![The battle concerns the former London Chest Hospital - @CrestNicholson has planning permission from @towerhamlets for 299 homes, including 35% affordable - but the plans involve moving a Mulberry Tree said to be the oldest tree in #EastLondon [2/7] https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/campaigners-lose-battle-to-stop-developer-knocking-down-part-of-3605356](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es5qeeIXMAM6dEh.jpg "The battle concerns the former London Chest Hospital - @CrestNicholson has planning permission from @towerhamlets for 299 homes, including 35% affordable - but the plans involve moving a Mulberry Tree said to be the oldest tree in #EastLondon [2/7] https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/campaigners-lose-battle-to-stop-developer-knocking-down-part-of-3605356")
![The battle concerns the former London Chest Hospital - @CrestNicholson has planning permission from @towerhamlets for 299 homes, including 35% affordable - but the plans involve moving a Mulberry Tree said to be the oldest tree in #EastLondon [2/7] https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/campaigners-lose-battle-to-stop-developer-knocking-down-part-of-3605356](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es5qgUyXYAMeYAU.jpg "The battle concerns the former London Chest Hospital - @CrestNicholson has planning permission from @towerhamlets for 299 homes, including 35% affordable - but the plans involve moving a Mulberry Tree said to be the oldest tree in #EastLondon [2/7] https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/campaigners-lose-battle-to-stop-developer-knocking-down-part-of-3605356")
https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/campaigners-lose-battle-to-stop-developer-knocking-down-part-of-3605356
Anti-development campaigners @GeoffreyJuden, @EastEndPSociety & the @thegentleauthor now have Dame Judi Dench's support in their campaign for a judicial review of the planning decision - they don't want the tree to be moved & oppose the plans [3/7] https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/judi-dench-bethnal-green-tree-high-court-b901451.html
Now a somewhat provocative #yimby campaign has launched - they claim the other side is "hiding behind the tree" to stop the #housing. Their message? "We are the future generation & we want to destroy the tree" [4/7] https://www.change.org/p/tower-hamlets-council-destroy-the-bethnal-green-mulberry-tree
In the middle of this, a serious question about to what extent the fate of a tree - any tree - should be put before the need for #homes. #TowerHamlets decided on a middle way, moving the tree to a spot where it can be seen & enjoyed, allowing for the homes to be built [5/7]
But the preservationists - let's call them the Denchists - claim moving the tree will destroy it & the scheme should not go ahead.
The other side - channelling the spirit of Thanatos - say the "tree must be destroyed" to make way for homes to help tackle the #housingcrisis [6/7]
![But the preservationists - let's call them the Denchists - claim moving the tree will destroy it & the scheme should not go ahead.The other side - channelling the spirit of Thanatos - say the "tree must be destroyed" to make way for homes to help tackle the #housingcrisis [6/7]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es5vO3kXIAMLdbs.jpg "But the preservationists - let's call them the Denchists - claim moving the tree will destroy it & the scheme should not go ahead.The other side - channelling the spirit of Thanatos - say the \"tree must be destroyed\" to make way for homes to help tackle the #housingcrisis [6/7]")
![But the preservationists - let's call them the Denchists - claim moving the tree will destroy it & the scheme should not go ahead.The other side - channelling the spirit of Thanatos - say the "tree must be destroyed" to make way for homes to help tackle the #housingcrisis [6/7]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Es5vqLUXIAYIaR3.jpg "But the preservationists - let's call them the Denchists - claim moving the tree will destroy it & the scheme should not go ahead.The other side - channelling the spirit of Thanatos - say the \"tree must be destroyed\" to make way for homes to help tackle the #housingcrisis [6/7]")
The other side - channelling the spirit of Thanatos - say the "tree must be destroyed" to make way for homes to help tackle the #housingcrisis [6/7]
Who is in the right?
Call me dull - & I'm no arborist - but I tend to think that after wide consultation @towerhamlets reached a balanced decision & decided on a sensible path ahead.
But now a High Court judge will be asked to decide instead
[7/7]
Call me dull - & I'm no arborist - but I tend to think that after wide consultation @towerhamlets reached a balanced decision & decided on a sensible path ahead.
But now a High Court judge will be asked to decide instead
[7/7]
