Billy Bragg backs Potters Fields alternative

"This South London site at Potters Fields offers a place for people to visit, play, and picnic and enjoy the river views, so I would prefer to see something there which maintains local people's access to the river, rather than a collection of tower blocks which cuts them off from it," says Billy Brag.

"The Hill offers a positive solution for the site by creating a building that can sustain itself without draining local resources, creating a legacy for our children's children – something for everyone to enjoy, rather than just those privileged enough to own an expensive apartment in one of the tower blocks."

Billy Bragg's message of support was read out at a meeting on Friday evening where residents were invited to give their ideas to Aah! architect Kathryn Findlay who is working on drawings.

The early stage concept is a "grass not glass" hill with art attractions below ground.

Designs are to be presented in March as part of a bid for the project to be an official 2012 Olympics cultural attraction benefitting the community.

The packed meeting also heard a statement from Southwark Council which seemed to suggest that – despite previous assertions from Berkeley Homes – the developer would be unable to proceed with just three of the planned eight residential towers without the co-operation of the council.

An online petition against Berkeley Homes' proposal for the site has now attracted more than 400 signatures.

Tower of London status under threat

Unesco is now threatening to place the Tower of London on its list of endangered World Heritage Sites because of concerns about the impact of nearby developments, including the Shard of Glass at London Bridge.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has to demonstrate to the World Heritage Committee why the Tower of London should not be included on the list and give a timetable for "corrective action".

A joint team from the World Heritage Centre and the independent International Council on Monuments and Sites visited the Tower in early November and toured the sites of nearby planned developments, including Potters Fields where they were met by a Southwark Council planning officer.

"Our response to these criticisms will be that our planning controls are among the most sophisticated in the world," says a DCMS spokesman. "As a result we are pretty confident we will not be placed on the danger list."

Unesco's final decision is expected in June.