Caroline Pidgeon kicks off TCOS's action-packed week

TCOS had a busy week of taking action starting with last Saturday when Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon joined us in raising awareness of trees that are to be destroyed on the South Bank for Coin Street Community Builders' large commercial building housed within the Garden Bridge landing site.

Caroline has supported us since the start of our campaign; she is a staunch opponent of the Garden Bridge and has led the investigation by the London Assembly into the dodgy procurement process and has repeatedly brought into question the merits of such a folly given these 'times of austerity'. We are very grateful to have someone with such integrity on our side.

- As you can see from the picture above, the sparkly blue lights on the trees on the world famous South Bank boulevard have been turned off. Leaseholders Coin Street Community Builders have sold out to developers who will offer them an annual income of up to £1 million per year for the privatization of OUR public space. How dare they take away our green space - a public right of way when it is strictly forbidden in the terms of their lease? Please write and tell them to stop this nonsense and to save the trees: Chief Executive Iain Tuckett I.Tuckett@coinstreet.org

- The Garden Bridge Trust held a fundraising gala midweek where TCOS members camped out at Battersea Park and protested at the gates. We were pleasantly suprised to learn that partygoers were already wise to the controversy surrounding the bridge. But will they appreciate that we gave up our evening to make them aware that their evening was for a sham charity? Write to your MP and ask them to question why the GBT are allowed to buy up parts of the capital city and river - at public expense. Surely you can think of better ways to spend the GBT's public grant of £60 million? https://www.writetothem.com/

- And today the TCOS team went to the North Bank of the River Thames to highlight the mature trees to be destroyed on the Embankment. The North Bank Business District has been pushing hard for a shiny bauble to show off their luxury apartments and the Garden Bridge has been on their radar for a long time now. Let's hope some of them see the flowers around the trees to mark the destruction of nature - in their hands.