The Saturday list #53 - The ten biggest cock ups in Barnet

I was pondering what have been the most stupid decisions made in Barnet. What decisions have been made, which we can now look at and say "hey, that was a cockup on a monumental scale". This week, the plans to "redevelop" Brent Cross were passed by Barnet Council. Only time will tell whether this was the biggest cockup in the history of Barnet. We have also seen the announcement of closure of Age UK day centres and the redevelopment of Pavillion Way playing fields passed. Is this the blackest week in the history of Barnet? In years to come, will these decisions make the list?

Here is my current list.

1. Closing the railway between Mill Hill East and Edgware. Of all the cockups, I believe  this to be the worst. Had our lords and masters been a little less short sighted, link between the Edgware and Barnet branches of the Northern line would have been finished and we'd have a useful way of getting across the Borough. There would have been an interchange between the Northern Line at Mill Hill Broadway and a station at the Saracens Rugby stadium. This would have made match day traffic far less of an issue. It would make getting across the Borough by public transport far easier. Sadly the powers that be put the M1 in the way and have allowed building of houses on some of the track. I still think the line should be extended to Copthall. The line closed in the 1960's to freight and to passengers in 1939.

2. Closure of Church Farmhouse museum. This attack on our history by the current Tory administration is a scandal and a disgrace. I believe closing museums to be on a par with burning books. How can we appreciate what we've got if we don't know about our past. Do the local Tories believe that the history of Barnet is so boring that it isn't worth preserving? If they are, they are philistines who are completely clueless.

3. Closure of Totteridge Library. I believe all libraries are precious. The current leader of Barnet Council, Richard Cornelius first became a councillor on the back of a campaign to retain Totteridge Library. What sort of people want to close libraries? They are either extremely ignorant or they believe the rest of us should be kept in the dark.

4. Closure of Edgware General Hospital. This was a tragic mistake. The whole of the western side of the Borough has been without an A&E and without any sensible method of getting to Barnet General by Public Transport. To the Tory masters who made the decision, the problems for pensioners without cars is never a consideration.

5. Closure of Mill Hill Swimming Pool. Another criminal act by a former Tory administration. This was a beautiful public asset. It had fountains, a slide, a paddling pool and a large grassy area where as a kid I would play and relax on hot sunny days. It was set up after a generous bequest, as a gift to the people of Mill Hill, in perpetuity. Sadly the Tory administration at the time thought a Garden centre was something kids and teenagers needed more, and took the cash. It is now Etz Chaim free school.

6. Closure of the Torrington as a music venue. The Torrington was a classic Pub venue. It was a popular venue and well used. Sadly the owners at the time didn't give a stuff about the Rock and Roll history of the Borough and deprived us of yet another pub music venue.

7. Closure of Mill Hill Sports Club. Yet more fields closed, yet more sports facilities shut. Yet more amenities lost. I have no argument that a school was needed in the area, but they did not have to destroy such an important local facility.

8. Closure of St Josephs college, Mill Hill. This was a Roman Catholic Missionary Training College. It is now being redeveloped as luxury flats for the rich. The developers took it on solely to turn a quick profit. The site was designated "for educational use". Barnet Council used the lack of suitable sites as the reason for destroying the Mill Hill Sports club. They had a school site in Mill Hill, but rather than insisting that the site was used for its correct designation, they allowed a change of use. As a result, other community assets have been lost. The site should have been used as a school/college with cheap accommodation for local students.

9. The Mill Pub. Just one of the dozens of pubs in the Borough which have been destroyed by property developers for a quick buck. It could be any of them, but I was particularly fond of this one, because it was a venue for the Mill Hill Music Festival. It had a large, beautiful garden. Any pub with a garden is now a "target for redevelopment". We need an urgent change to our planning laws, which will protect these.

10. The North Circular Road. This is a nightmare. It is a death trap for cyclists, a nightmare for drivers and an impassable barrier for pedestrians for much of its route through Barnet. Ask any local politician what can be done and they will either bury their heads in their hands or blame someone else. It is a marvellous example of the quality of leadership we've had in the Borough.

This is my list. What have I missed? What should make the top ten?