Looking up to the heavens

I took this picture in Barcelona earlier this year.  Great architecture is there to awe and inspire us. Barcelona is a city of truly awesome buildings some old, some new.

In the not too distant future, the planning committee of Barnet Council will make a major decision on the scheme for the regeneration of Brent Cross and Cricklewood.

Will we get something that will make us proud, which people will come from around the world to admire. Which will be a pleasure to live in and work in. Will it be the first place in London that people will want to come and see when they visit the city. Will it have a pleasant environment that is easy and relaxed. Will children who grow up there think they were lucky to have been born in such a nice part of town. There are not too many things I agree with Brian Coleman about, but we both think that the current plans will create a monstrosity.

Councillor Maureen Braun is the chair of the Hendon and District planning committee. Her boss, council leader Mike Freer is speaking in favour of the development, which is, shall we say unusual for a planning hearing. Mike Freer is trying to become the MP for Finchley and Golders Green. As the North Circular grinds to gridlock with the 9-27,000 new cars (depending on who you believe), existing residents lives will be made a misery. They will live on the edge of one of Europe's biggest building sites for many years. What is in this scheme for the average Council Tax payer of Barnet? I believe that there is nothing very nice. The residents of this high density scheme will mostly come from out of borough, putting even more strain on our schools, roads and hospitals.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, Barnet saw new, high density scheme's such as Grahame Park appear. These schemes won awards for their "innovative design". Council's of various shades and colours have spent the past 30 years trying to mend all of the serious design issues. Do they never learn?