What the hell is going on at Sheepwash Pond on the Ridgeway ** Updated 22/4/2015

***** Updated 23/4/2015 ****
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This evening I was on my way back from my evening walk with our dogs when I noticed an  alarming sight at Sheepwash pond on the Ridgeway in Mill Hill. The pond has huge clumps of green algae blooms covering much of the surface (Sheepwash pond is located on the land next to Mr Andrew Reids Belmont Childrens Zoo, which is home to a large number of  "exotic" animals).  Such algae blooms are often a sign of sewage or other pollutants being present in  a body of water.  It is not unknown for children to play in the pond. Maybe it was just the time of day but we are also noticed the lack of the geese and ducks which usually make their presence known. The pond is also next door to St Pauls school.

Intrigued by these rather odd for this time of year algae blooms, further inspection revealed something even more alarming. A huge pipe leading from the pond to Mr Reids Belmont Childrens Zoo property. The Barnet Eye was unable to ascertain the purpose of the pipe. It has clearly been installed at a reasonable expense and is serving some purpose for Mr Reids establishment. As far as we understand, you need a license to extract water from a public pond and there are large fines for doing this without the proper authority from the environment agency.

Mr Reid has recently been very vocal about how he has joined UKIP following a planning dispute with the council. Lets hope he's equally forthcoming explaining the exact  purpose of the pipework into the Sheepwash pond, and lets hope it serves a useful, community minded purpose. The Barnet Eye believes that Sheepwash pond is one of the local jewels in the crown in Mill Hill. The thought of it being contaminated with sewage causing algae blooms is most alarming. The source of any such contamination needs identifying as a matter of urgency.


We hope that Barnet Council visit the pond as a matter of urgency and ensure that there are no dangerous pollutants in the pond. We noted that Angel Pond, a mere 400 yards down the road had no such algae blooms. As to the pipework into the Belmont Zoo, lets hope that we get a proper explanation for that as well.

UKIP Barnet supporting green belt overdevelopment

This morning I found a UKIP leaflet on my doorstep.

I was intrigued to see the venue, at Mr Andrew Reid's "Belmont Childrens Farm". Mr Reid is, or was, a key member of the Hendon Conservative party and was a deputy chair of the association. Mr Reid also had a long running battle with Barnet Council over his development of the site.

As you will see here, Barnet Council had to take out two enforcement notices against his operation for breaches of planning rules concerning the green belt site.

Enter NW7 1QT into the "location" box for this search and you will see the details
http://planningcases.barnet.gov.uk/planning-enforcement-cases/acolnetcgi.exe


You will also see a whole host of attempts to redevelop the site on the councils website. If you click the various links you will also see how many were rejected.

Enter NW7 1QT into this link for details
http://acolaidpublic.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/

Whatever you think of the Childrens Farm, it is clear that it has been developed with scant regards to the green belt or the legislation associated. I was under the impression that the site was only to be used for activities related to farming and the operation of the site, not for meetings and activities unrelated to the farm. It is quite clear from this leaflet that the site is operating as a venue for conferences/political meetings. What this has to do with farming and the green belt, I have no clue.

The situation is quite clear. By choosing the Belmont Childrens farm as a venue for their meeting, in a widely delivered leaflet, the party are endorsing the site and its attitude to planning and protection of the green belt. We must assume that if Barnet UKIP endorse such developments on this site, they couldn't oppose such developments anywhere else on the green belt without looking like a bunch of hypocrites.

I suppose we can conclude from their statement that they are a new alternative for Barnet that this alternative is one where rich landowners are given carte blanche to build what they want on the Green Belt. Call me old fashioned, but that doesn't sound like a great "alternative" to me.

Saturday extra - London News Roundup

First up - some great news. The forthcoming film, A Tale of Two Barnets is really starting to catch the publics imagination. The story about the film is currently the most read story on the Hendon Times website. Here's th screenshot (click on the image to view the story)

From the Times Series website

Check out the film website here - http://ataleoftwobarnets.yolasite.com/. This is what the director, Charles Honderick has to say about the film.

My mother's family are from the London Borough of Barnet and I'd spent a lot of time growing up there, so in a way this film was a labour of love. I wasn't quite sure what direction the film was going to take when it began, but as I interviewed people a story emerged.  I wanted to give the people of Barnet a platform to talk about important local issues and put on record what life is like in this part of London in a year when the eyes of the world are on the great city of  London.

Although it's only a small film, I hope it makes a difference  and helps affect change for the better.

Another interesting story on the Times website is about Harrow Council taking enforcement action against a Shisha Cafe, which erected an illegal structure on Edgware High Street.

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/topstories/9567676.Edgware_shisha_caf___demolished/

Many Barnet residents are watching with interest to see if Barnet Council will take a similar firm line with Belmont Childrens farm, which is reaching the end of the six month period to comply with the planning requirements. We understand that Mr Reid, former Conservative party deputy chairman is bullish about his prospects for keeping the park open, so we hope he has complied with the planning issues and the park can stay open.

On to the big issue facing London. An issue I have buried my head in the sand about for many years. Since Xmas, I've been volunteering at a day centre for homeless people - http://www.passage.org.uk/ - if you are unaware of the issues facing homeless people, please check out The Pavement - a magazine for homeless people - http://www.thepavement.org.uk/  - I think a society which looks the other way is a society which fails.

A friend of mine and occasional guest blogger forwarded me  an appeal from Crisis, who she volunteers for at a Christmas centre. Here is the contents
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Crisis Campaigns
Rough sleeping soars as cuts hit
	Dear Hilda, In my first week as the new Campaigns Manager at Crisis the Government has released its latest rough sleeping figures and I'm shocked. Stats out today show a 23% rise in rough sleeping this year. And independent research for Crisis predicts that with unemployment climbing, soaring demand for limited affordable housing, and government cuts to benefits and services, things are set to get worse. Sleeping rough is a dangerous and traumatising experience. That's why we're calling for a change in the law to make sure local councils help anyone facing homelessness. And that's why campaigners like you are so important to Crisis - we must not give up the fight to end homelessness. Share this shocking rise in rough sleeping on Twitter and facebook today. Share on Twitter    Share on Facebook Thanks for your continued support.  HelenCampaigns Manager
Thanks to photography by Amiran White

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Perhaps an even bigger issue is youth violence. Dave Hill focusses on this in the Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davehillblog/2012/mar/02/london-serious-yoiuth-violence-solutions - only a fool would pretend that youth violence is something new. I certainly don't think that Boris Johnson is to blame for it, but I do think he has not followed up his words in the 2008 Mayoral election with action to deal with it. The cuts to safer neighbourhood teams is a tragic folly. I don't know about you, but I'd be quite happy to pay an extra 50p a week for Police on the street to make sure my kids are safe. I'd forego a bag of crisps a week, wouldn't you?

But lets not end on a low note. There is a good news story for all Londoners. The Cutty Sark is reopening to the public on April 26th - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17233100 -  Greenwich is a great place for a day out. I also thoroughly recommend the planetarium show at the Royal Observatory - http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/planetarium-shows/ - booking recommended as it's very popular. We went there recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you want to really see this part of London, Here's my recommended itinery for a day out from the London Borough of Barnet. Get the train from Mill Hill Broadway to Blackfriars and take the clipper from Blackfriars pier to Greenwich. Visit the armaments musem, then do the planetarium show. For lunch, nip into the food hall in the market, cheap and tasty and then do the Cutty Sark. Get the DLR back, via Stratford and then get the North London Line to West Hampstead, to see the Olympic Park - very impressive. You will also get some great views of London and St Pancras Station. If you can time this for sunset, I believe this is a view worth it's weight in Gold.

Just before I sign off, I'd like to draw your attention to the latest Poem - Son - by local poet Paul David Hogan. Paul has set up a blog and is publishing his poetry on it. As a Father, I would say that this is probably the finest description of Fatherhood I've ever read. Please check out Paul's website - http://thetroublewithpaul.blogspot.com/2012/03/son.html

Son:

Son.
I don't tell you to keep your chin up
because I'm afraid of how it looks if you don't.
It's important to know how to win and lose
and accept both with grace.

Son.
I'm not open and honest with you about everything
because I'm proud or boastful of all I've done.
But because I want you to learn from my mistakes
and for you to thrive on goodness.

Son.
I don't want you to be the mirror of me.
You are unique, not insular, strong, funny and kind.
You have already become your own person,
In spite of my failings as a man and father.

Son.
Your budding being, inspires me every waking hour,
to remember that no one is perfect, least of all me.
But I'm intelligent enough to know, that as long as we stay close,
I'm succeeding, for now, where many 'better' men have failed.

Son. Forever, my Son.

© Paul David Hogan 2012


Have a nice weekend

Belmont Childrens Farm - The Zoo is on BBC London 94.9 righ now

Just listening to the breakfast show on BBC London 94.9. Jo Ann Good and Simon Lederman are currently up at Belmont interviewing Shane Harrison, who is the manager. Very interesting interview. Belmont are having a naming contest for their pigs. All you have to do is go the Zoo on the 28th and pick a great name for one of the pigs. Any suggestions?

The Barnet Eye saves Belmont Childrens Farm Animals !

Today the Barnet Eye blog read with great distress that the owner of Belmont Childrens Zoo, celebrity Racehorse owner, Top City Lawyer and former deputy chairman of Hendon Conservatives,  Mr Andrew Reid stated that if Barnet Council did not grant the zoo planning permission, the animals may have to be put down.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23996376-animals-face-death-at-illegal-childrens-farm.do

The Barnet Eye was most distressed to hear this news and immediately rang around all of our contacts in the local wildlife and conservation movements. We are delighted to announce that we have found an organisation willing to provide homes for all of the mammals and birds. Waveney Wildlife in Suffolk have offered to help rehome all of the animals. Mr Reid should have the details for them as they supplied animals when the zoo was opened, but if he has lost the details - here is the company -

http://www.waveneywildlife.com/

 We hope that all of the sad children in Mill Hill can sleep a bit more soundly tonight knowing that the Belmont Childrens Farm animals have been saved !

Is former Hendon Conservative Deputy chairman planning to set up a refuge for travellers from Dale Farm in Totteridge Valley

I kid you not. Belmont Childrens Farm, Barnets best zoo, has been told by Barnet Council that it has to close, due to lack of planning permission. It is owned by local celebrity Mr Andrew Reid, racehorse owner and big time lawyer. Mr Reid was previously a deputy chairman of the Hendon Conservative Party, with a special role for membership and fundraising. Following the enforcement notice being upheld this week, Mr Reids Farm have issued this press release on their website.

You will surely note the fourth paragraph and it's reference to the residents of Dale Farm. Is the press release a rather unsubtle attempt to use the Dale Farm situation to get Barnet Council to drop their objections? Surely not?

You can check for planning applications here -
http://planningcases.barnet.gov.uk/planning-cases/acolnetcgi.exe

I put in the Belmont Centre's postcode and could not find the planning permission for residential use referred to below - NW7 1QT - so I'd be very interested to see where this is?

Anyway, we'd welcome a guest blog from Mr Reid or one of his staff explaining the background to the case and why Barnet Council have been so horrible to him, in making him close the zoo, purely because he didn't apply for planning permission.  As ever we'd print this with no editing or alterations (assuming it was legal and decent).

There's more about the zoo here - http://www.belmontfarm.co.uk/save.php

and here - http://www.belmontfarm.co.uk/

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Belmont Staff Press Release

 The appeal decision hearing held 21^st June 2011 by Diane Lewis an inspector appointed by the secretary of state for communities and local government has finally come back with a decision on 27^th September to decline our appeal.

We, the staff of Belmont Farm, feel so let-down by Barnet Council and the planning authority and feel we have been unjustly set upon. How is the council now going to provide 15 jobs for us in the present job desert? Especially when in this current financial depression a business focused toward community adhesion and education, providing apprenticeships and work experience, all fitting towards the BIG SOCIETY OBJECTIVES – sitting within an ever declining child friendly borough – is privately funded and is to be closed within 6 months.

We are a farm and have always have been a farm! It has been stated that in the conclusion Belmont Children’s Farm has become a primary use as opposed to an ancillary to the existing planning for agricultural or equestrian uses. Yes it has become a necessity as a main income generator for the agricultural and equestrian as farm diversification IS a necessity to survival within an ever changing business climate, we are still farming – our animals are mainly breeding stock for resale, we have no toys or gimmicks, just animals and education. And the farm has been loved by over 60’000 visitors.

We feel we should unite with Dale Farm as we understand their plight foe homes as being the same as ours for a job. If they close the farm maybe they could come here, after all we have residential planning

Does the council and neighbours prefer the car park, which has always been there, to go back to a farm storage area with hay and silage and Machinery parking? How is the closing of Belmont Children’s Farm helping the community use of the greenbelt?

We are desperate for Belmont Farm to stay open and, in reading the appeal decision; it is seen in our view that if we apply for new planning then this will be granted now the Inspector has corrected Barnet’s unreasonable conditions. The inspector Diane Lewis has weighted the decision in this way with a large number of the council’s objections getting a slap on the wrist. We the staff plan to ask the council that if an application is put in following the inspectors recommendation that it will be granted in eight weeks so as not to affect the closure of the farm and loss of jobs?

We still have so much to give to the community and London. The NFU is coming to Belmont Farm on 27^th and 28^th October to emphasize the need for farming and food production education.

 PLEASE HELP is all we can say!

Incidentally our London Mayor forgot in the London Plan to make mention of children’s farms in green belts. What is he going to do?

Shane Harrison

PH: 02073184420 Email: sharrison@belmontfarm.co.uk

Belmont Childrens Farm - Planning appeal decision - the appeal by the farm owner has been rejected

Many people in Mill Hill, the London Borough of Barnet and elsewhere will be interested to read the results of the appeal by Mr Andew Reid (former deputy chairman of the Hendon Conservative Party), owner of Belmont Childrens Farm against the London Borough of Barnet, who issued enforcement notices against the farm. This blog has closely followed this issue, given the issues at stake for the conservation area and Mill Hill.

I look forward to comments from various local Conservatives, who were very keen to give their views on the situation at Dale Farm, where a travellers camp has been erected without planning permission. They rather lamely claimed "they didn't have the details to comment". Well they do now, as the whole decision is published here.

Please read the judgement in full and form your own opinions. I have.

Belmont Childrens Farm

Mill Hill Special : Belmont Childrens Zoo take to the streets !

There were some great pictures in the Hendon Times this week of sheep on the village green outside Hendon Town Hall. Not something you see every day. They turned up with the staff and about six supporters of Belmont Childrens Zoo in Mill Hill. The zoo is a fantastic place for a visit, having attracted over 70,000 visitors in the first year of operation. It has all sorts of interesting and exotic animals and even has theme park style rides.

The dispute centres on the fact that the Zoo's owners failed to get planning permission or change of use for the former riding stables. Local neighbours have also actively campaigned against the noise from the various exotic animals on their doorstep and the traffic. The owners have also claimed that the cafe, serving tasty waffles, is not a change of use from the staff canteen.

Sadly, whilst thinking that the Zoo is a great addition to the facilities in Mill Hill, the truth is everyone has to follow the rules. It is odd to note that the owner of the Zoo is Mr Andrew Reid, who was a deputy chairmen of the local Conservative party and a big friend of planning boss Councillor Maureen Braun. You'd think she'd be able to advise him on the rules, especially those concerning the building of large sheds without planning permission. The zoo complained that no one had complained about the planning permission application. This was rather clever, as one had not been submitted.

Can I suggest that the owners open up their wallet, get the planning permission, make the changes so the neighbours are happy (moving a few animals to elsewhere in the complex won't cost a fortune) and follow the rules. Then they will have a legal business and they can develop it

A new strategy for Green Belt destruction in Mill Hill

Make no mistake, the Green belt faces a  massive threat in Mill Hill.  I was incredibly disturbed to read the following article in yesterdays Mail on Sunday :-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1280275/Solsbury-Hill-Local-residents-fight-property-developers-save-rural-icon.html

This article contains the following two paragraphs near the bottom of the article.

And the alpaca farm ruse is an easy way of getting round planning restrictions in areas with toothless councils. GVP has three other sites in the South-West where it is using similar schemes to justify mobile and permanent residences.

Marc Willis, agent for GVP, has set up more than 35 alpaca farms for people wanting to build houses in restricted areas. Willis is the only Chartered Town Planner who is also a member of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants, giving him a rare specialism in rural planning.

So what has all of this got to do with Mill Hill? Well check out this picture of Mill Hill Childrens Farm, on the green belt fields of the Ridgeway. See the animals on the right of the picture, drinking from the pond. Any prizes for guessing what they are? That's right, they are Alpacas. 

So is Barnet Council one of these toothless councils referred to by the Mail on Sunday? Well to date it has taken no enforcement action against the owner of this establishment, despite having concluded that the changes to the site require planning permission which has not been applied for.

Now many parents have visited the Childrens farm, the waffle cafe and the other attractions at Barnets newest theme park. Those I've spoken to quite liked what they have seen (and eaten). I am sure that many parents relish the opportunity to take their children to see the animals and would not like to see the theme park shut down. This isn't the point. The point is that the owner of the facility hasn't submitted a request for planning permission. Whilst many people throughout the London Borough of Barnet have to go through the process for their loft conversions, extensions, etc, a theme park has been built on a field on the green belt without a scrap of official planning permission. Not only this, but as the Mail on Sunday has shown, it may be using a ruse specifically designed to circumvent such planning legislation in farming Alpacas.

The threat to the Green Belt won't come from one single rich landowner concreting over the whole lot in one go. It comes incrementally from developers using loopholes to nibble away at the edges. It comes from dodgy schemes to circumvent the rules designed to prevent all of this from happening. It comes from planning specialists such as Marc Willis inventing ruses which allow such developments to take place, so developers can get around the rules.

As you tuck into your waffles, show your kids the Alpacas and park your car on the car park, (much of which was a green belt field last year), you are unwittingly helping to ensure that your kids won't have the same luxury in Mill Hill when they are your age. It is essential that we all support organisations such as The Mill Hill Preservation Society in their struggle to preserve the best of Mill Hill  - http://www.mhps.org.uk/ - if we don't Mill Hill could become the new Elephant and Castle.

One of the reasons I write this blog, is because I want to ensure my children can appreciate Mill Hill in the way I appreciate it today. Walks on green fields. Spectacular panoramic views of London and the Totteridge valley. Diverse wildlife and greenbelt fields. If we want this to continue to be the Mill Hill we love we'll have to fight for it. This means supporting campaigns which fight to preserve it and shunning those who seek to destroy it. (the field shown to the left is the ground of Mill Hill Village FC which recently had a massive rent hike from Tory Barnet Council).

The lines have been drawn.
Who brought the Alpacas to Mill Hill? The man who was elected to be Deputy Chairman of the Hendon CONSERVATIVE Party with responsibility for fundraising and membership. What did Brian Coleman, the CONSERVATIVE cabinet member on Barnet Council in charge of the ENVIRONMENT say his top priorities were for making Barnet a nice place to live? "Roads, Roads, Roads" (strangely this commitment was absent from their manifesto and absent from all of the leaflets which helped them win in Mill Hill) - check this press release from Barnet Council if you don't believe me - http://www.barnet.gov.uk/press_releases.htm?id=2212.

****** Update 18:27 ************
Further to the comments left by the management of Belmont Childrens Zoo, I've added a link to their website :-

http://www.belmontfarm.co.uk/index.php

It appears that there may be a misunderstanding as to the nature of my comments and I've added the link to allow anyone wishing to find out more about the establishment. As I thought I'd made clear above, in many ways the establishment is an asset to Mill Hill and many people are pleased it has opened.

As such I think it is only fair to the establishment to qualify my comments. The only issue I have with the establishment is the dispute with Barnet Councils planning department as to whether it requires planning permission. As the site is on green belt lands within the conservation area, I am of the belief that it should rigorously and pro-actively comply with these rules, before it even considered opening. This should have been sought and obtained through the usual channels.

If this had been sought and obtained, I would be championing the work done in preserving rare breeds.

I must say I find it odd that they claim not to be a theme park, given that their website has an entire page devoted to "Parties" which is clearly a "fun" activity and not educational or related to farming.


 http://www.belmontfarm.co.uk/parties.php

When I visited the "farm", they were hosting "face painting" which again is an activity unrelated to farming or education. It struck me as being a commercial leisure activity. I also see from the website that "tractor and trailer rides" are available as part of the "theme park" activities for May. I must say that advertising ride does reinforce the image of a theme park, rather than a serious commercial farm.

As to the comments about Alpacas, as the establishment calls itself a farm and keeps Alpacas, which are specifically described in the Mail on Sunday article, one must presume they were being farmed.If they are not being kept for farming purposes, then surely it again lends credence to the claim that the establishment is not a farm in the true sense of the word.

In short, my concern is protection of the green belt. If the Belmont Childrens farm has complied with all of the planning rules and regulations, this blog would be fully supportive of it as it would be an asset to Mill Hill. If it hasn't then I'm afraid that we'll have to campaign for the Council to enforce planning regulations, just as we would for any other usage where full permission had not been obtained on the green belt. Maybe the management would be so kind as to update us on their view of the situation regarding planning permission as they have with other activities.