Boris Johnson declares Brent Cross regeneration scheme "dead in the water"

The Evening Standard is reporting that Boris has torpedoed the Brent Cross regeneration scheme, declaring it "dead in the water".

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24028395-pound-45bn-brent-cross-revamp-is-set-to-shrink.do

Is this a cynical ploy to boost Brian Coleman's popularity ahead of the GLA elections? It is telling that the shopping centre expansion is still set to go ahead. As I think it was a rotten scheme which would have destroyed the character of a large part of the Borough of Barnet, I am quite pleased. I predicted all along that the scheme would never actually see the light of day and that the shopping centre element would be the only element retained. When Brian Coleman came out against the scheme a couple of years ago it was clear this was the only likely outcome.

So should we thank Coleman for all his "behind the scenes" lobbying of Boris? Not on your nelly, what he's done is tried to drive another nail into the coffin of local small traders. Where will all the customers for the new improved Brent Cross come from? From the local High Streets, currently being ravaged by the Councils car parking policies. The traders I met yesterday, along with all their families and friends will see straight through this.
I hadn't realised just how hated Brian Coleman was by the local small business community until yesterday. Hearing natural Conservatives describing Coleman in the terms I heard, just reinforces the fact that he has lost the dressing room (in football terms). I wonder how many people will ask Boris why he supports the small traders in Westminster against the Tory Council, but in Barnet he indulges Coleman. I suspect both Boris and Brian will find there is a price to pay in May.

Brent Cross redevelopment - Questions requiring an answer

Brent Cross and Cricklewood Application number C/17559/08

There are too many major unanswered questions to allow this scheme to proceed in its present form.

The need by the Officers to get some cash into the Councils coffers quickly has obscured the longer term best interests of the residents of Barnet and the wider community of North London

There are a number of questions that need satisfactory answers:-

 Is there a need for another new town and extended retail centre?

Why has the council relied on the developers assessment of the need for more retail space?

Why has the council not carried out its own assessment in light of the large new Westfields development at White City and the imminent opening of Europe’s largest shopping mall by Westfields at Stratford?

Why has the council not had regard to the change in shopping patterns eg the rapid growth of internet shopping?

Why has the council not considered the impact of a new town centre and extended retail mall at Brent Cross on the other 22 town centres in Barnet plus others further afield?

Why is the council ignoring the impact of 29,000 extra cars a day coming to the site?

What evidence do the officers have that leads them to believe that 70% of all current Brent Cross users plus 70% of all future users will leave their cars at home and travel to the centre by bus?

Do you as Councillors with knowledge of your electorate honestly believe this will happen?

Do you believe that the Edgware branch of the Northern line will be able to cope with tens of 000s of shoppers for Brent Cross, 20,000 occupiers of the new high rise flats at Brent Cross, 30,000 new residents at Colindale plus c 20,000 for other new residents up the rest of the Northern Line every day?

Why are the officers refusing to safeguard the route for a possible future light rail/rapid transit system?

Why has the Council ignored the opposition in writing to the proposals from the neighbouring Borough of Brent?

Why have the officers misled the Councillors in respect of recent changes in National and Regional Planning policies?

Are you aware that only phase one with the retail mall extension, the rubbish dump and a few flats are guaranteed to be built if permission is granted?

Are Councillors aware that the developer can build the most profitable first phase and then use the flexibility they persuaded the officers to build into the legal agreement to walk away from the remaining phases?

Are Councillors happy to proceed with a £4.5billion scheme on the basis of a deal with a shell company eg no assets or parent company guarantees?

Have the councillors seen the evidence that “the air leaving the 140 metre high chimney will be cleaner than the air entering the plant” as stated by Cllr Freer last year?

Have the developers been given examples of successful pollution free heat from waste plants as promised by the developers last year? We have only been able to find examples of the new technology failing in the UK, Germany, Austria, Norway, America and Australia. Is that why the developers are keeping quiet?


More point to ponder:

· the regeneration scheme does not conform to a number of national planning policy issues. For example, the Government’s Climate Change Law has agreed to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. However, this scheme will generate thousands of extra car journeys per day, and this will only detract from the required reduction in CO2 emissions. In addition, residential buildings will only achieve a 3-star rating under the Code for Sustainable Homes, further contributing to CO2 emissions.

· the adverse impacts arising from this scheme (the large increase in noise, traffic congestion and air pollution) extend far beyond the London Borough of Barnet boundary, so decisions concerning the scheme should not be left to Barnet councillors alone

· there is increasing confusion over what is being proposed. For example, the large waste handling facility is unspecified. Arguments abound concerning incineration and gasification; both could have adverse effects on the health and safety of residents.

· there has been a significant lack of adequate and meaningful consultation concerning this scheme, including with Brent and Camden residents. Although Barnet Council mostly adhered to the letter of the law, they did not adhere to its spirit.

· Barnet Council are unable to take an impartial view of the scheme due to a conflict of interest, since they are supporters of the scheme, major landowners in the area, and acting as ‘objective’ Local Planning Authority decision-makers.

· the current scheme is simply a way of extending Brent Cross Shopping Centre, a proposal that was strongly opposed and thrown out by a public inquiry in 1999, and a Judicial Review and a High Court judgement in 2003. The recent reduction of other elements of Phase One, but still allowing the doubling of the shopping centre, seems to support this view. No other phases are guaranteed to be delivered by the developers.

Brent Cross Redevelopment Alert : Find out just how marvellous the extra 27,000 cars will be

Register NOW for FREE! Don't miss the opportunity to hear from speakers focussing on central and suburban London by registering for this FREE to attend digital event, broadcast live to your computer! speakers confirmed to for London Live are: Richard Akers Land Securities Ian Mason Schroders  Paul Clark, The Crown Estate Tony McCurley, GM Real Estate David Kenningham, CB Richard Ellis  Paul White, Frogmore Property Company Nick Maltby, Bircham Dyson Bell Keith Berryman, Crossrail Alistair Subba Row, Farebrother Tim Roberts, British Land Jonathan Joseph, Brent Cross Cricklewood partnership  Tony Westbrook, Barnet Council  Register today for FREE to hear from all these speakers discussing the London Property Market! Webinars confirmed for London Live! include:  9.30am live debate - London 2011: Recovery or    relapse?   11.00am Webinar - Capital investment: what lies    ahead for development, transport and Crossrail?   12.30pm Webinar - The outlook for Offices: kick    starting development and tackling the supply shortage  2pm Webinar - Retail therapy: the evolution of London    retail via pioneering new developments  3.30pm Webinar - A revolution in the suburbs: a closer    look at the outer boroughs

Webinar – A revolution in the suburbs: a closer look at the outer boroughs

The 20 London boroughs which comprise outer London have been hit particularly hard by the economic downturn of the last few years. However, with 60% of the capitals population, several major regeneration schemes already underway and a plethora of untapped resources – the suburbs will be fundamental to the recovery of the London economy. In this session find out why commercial developers, investors and occupiers should be looking to the suburbs as the way forward. Learn more about  the main growth sectors which are set to bolster the outer London economy and gain deeper insight on some of the most innovative regeneration schemes in London, including: 

• Examining the key growth sectors for the outer London economy: office based sectors, public sector, retail, leisure and culture

Speakers include:

• Ian Mason, head of UK property fund management, Schroders
• Jonathan Joseph, development director, Brent Cross Cricklewood partnership
• Tony Westbrook, Principal Planner, Barnet Council 

A must for everyone interested in Brent Cross

Brent Cross - They don't give a toss

Have a look at this picture, mocked up by the architects to demonstrate just how lovely the new Brent Cross is. Look really carefully at the "riverside scene". What do you see? Can you see the toddlers playing by the River Brent. Can you see that there is drop of a couple of feet into the river? Are they really promoting picnics in such dangerous spots? The use of perspective in the picture intrigues me. By clever angles a river which is 25ft wide appears the same size as a huge block of flats six stories high. The backside of a young mum is larger than the top three stories of the tower at the back of the picture. There is another view of this idylic development. Try this

In this picture, you can see just how big the blocks are. Nope they are not the same size as a young mum's Bum. They dwarf the London Bus in the bottom right hand corner. The Leader of Barnet Council proudly boasted that the Brent Cross Development would give the Borough an exciting new Town Centre. What sort of a Town will it be? It will be one with the largest road junction in London, an eleven lane highway, clogged with traffic dividing it in half. It is bounded by the Brent Cross flyover to the East, and the M1/Staples Corner flyover to the West. As to being a safe environment to raise children, well I'd guess that there wouldn't be anywhere in London with more cars spouting out pollution than this. Is there a larger conglomeration of roads anywhere? Of course the planners of this feel that this already polluted air quality is not polluted enough and are planning an incinerator. It is no secret that there are all sorts of cancer hotspots in the vicinity of such installations. Where is the "green space" for children to play? Down by the ungarded banks of the River Brent where there is no fencing to prevent them falling in? A river prone to flash flooding. There is also the railway passing by to the East. I guess if the kids get bored with the river, they could play on the tracks, maybe a nice game of chicken in front of the Freight Trains carrying nuclear waste to Sellafield, which rumble through.

At  a hurriedly convened meeting of the Hendon planning committee last week, the plans for this monstrosity received approval. For some strange reason, the whole process was suddenly speeded up just as the holiday season started.

I attended  the Hendon & District residents Forum where Barnet Council Official, Martin Cowie informed us that the meeting was only discussing the extension of the time limits, as a legal requirement, which seemed reasonable enough. This week the Times tells us that the extension will give stakeholders a chance to give extra input- They said "These controls will ensure Barnet Council and the other stakeholders and in particular TfL will continue to have real control and input into how the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration is taken forward - and that public transport, infrastructure and community investment keeps pace with development." So who thinks this is a good idea? Well it seems that the chair of the planning committee does. Her name Wendy Prentice.


Wendy Prentice thinks that children who grow up in an extremely polluted environment, with no green spaces to play, bounded by dangerous roads, railways and rivers will grow up into happy, healthy children. So what sort of a road does Ms Prentice live in.  Well I googled her road and looked at the streetview? What does Ms Greenspan see when she walks down her road? Well she sees something like this :-

Make no mistake, if you live in the London Borough of Barnet, you are a stakeholder. How many people of the board of TFL live in Barnet. It is telling that the most important stakeholder mentioned in the Times article is TFL, who are responsible for the roads which run through it. Their remit is not the well being of the children of Barnet. If like me you think that this whole scheme is scandalous and we are building a future slum city, with huge urban problems, which will blight Barnet forever, please don't sit on your hands. Send an email to Ms Prentice, who is the councillor responsible for the decision and tell her that you think Barnet should put the wellbeing of children before the profits of developers and that you think multi story tower blocks, roads, dangerous rivers, railway sidings and gas incinerators are no environment to raise your family - cllr.w.prentice@barnet.gov.uk|

Brent Cross Redevelopment - Were we spun a porkie on Tuesday?

I attended the Hendon Residents forum on Tuesday night. The subject of the Brent Cross redevelopment came up. Why was the meeting hurriedly announced. Barnet planning officer Martin Cowie told us that the discussion on Thursday was only to allow more time for the proposals to be fully fleshed out, which is a legal requirement. Nothing was being approved. At least that's what I thought was said. Then I read this

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/topstories/8304707.Protesters_to_fight_on_after_latest_Brent_Cross_approval/

Here it says that the whole thing has been approved and that Martin Cowie has the power to order section 106 benefits. I must apologise for not listening properly. If anyone was there who could confirm whether I just got the total wrong end of the stick or whether Martin Cowie has spun a complete porkie, I'd be really grateful. I'm going to email John Hart and ask him what he thought had been said, as he's the chairman.

Barnet Architecture Special - what the hell is going on

What is the biggest story in Barnet right now? Actually it's not the Allowancegate scandal where Councillors voted themselves a huge rise. Sadly though this is disgusting, I doubt anyone will remember is in ten years time. The same cannot be said for the Brent Cross regeneration scheme. That will be around to haunt us forever. This is a huge scheme, one of the largest in the UK. What has interested me all along, is whether it will be as bad as the prophets of doom are making out?

Architects are normally keen to "Big up" there work. They normally shout from the rafters about it. Given this huge project, I found a rather strange fact out. There is an organisation called Open City which promotes good architectural practice. They hold an annual festival promoting their aims - you can find out about it here -  http://open-city.org.uk/vision/index.html . There are only two London Boroughs not participating. Barnet is one of these. What does it tell us about Barnet and it's architecture that they are just not interested. I suspect the reason is that they think the less we all know about the proposal, the better. The protestors seem to agree - here's their latest press release
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Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan - Press Statement

Barnet Rushes Through Brent Cross Plans

For immediate release 26^th July 2010

This Thursday 29^th July, Barnet Council planning and environment committee will be discussing the controversial Brent Cross Cricklewood planning application.  The proposals have been recommended for approval by the committee.   The Coalition of groups opposing the controversial scheme is questioning the need to rush through the detailed proposals, given that the planning application has to come before the committee in October in any case.  A number of Brent Cross Coalition members have applied to speak in opposition at the meeting, and the opponents will be holding a demonstration outside Hendon Town Hall at 6.30pm .

David Howard, Chair, Federation of Residents Associations in Barnet and BXC Coalition spokesperson, says:

“Barnet Council’s decision to rubberstamp plans for the Brent Cross Cricklewood redevelopment at the end of an ordinary planning meeting this week is suspicious, but not surprising.

“The scheme has been inadequately negotiated between the Council and developers, and reneges on conditions applied in November.  Given that section 106 documents have largely been rewritten, it is completely unclear what the Council is being asked to approve at this week’s meeting.

“We would like to know why Barnet have brought the Brent Cross report to committee this week, with barely a week’s notice and at the end of July, when it could have been more fully considered in October. We believe that documents sneaked through without proper scrutiny now will become more difficult to challenge at the October meeting - or at least, that is the Council's intention. ”

The scandalous destruction of Barnets Town centres by Barnets Conservatives

I asked one of Barnets leading Conservative Councillors whether they supported the Federation of Small Business  manifesto for Barnet. As a small businessman who employs 9 people, I believe that this is the best way to reinvigorate the local economy. His response :-

I don’t think it would be appropriate for the Council to be supporting any particular lobby group’s manifesto. 

Fair enough you may say. It is not an unreasonable position to take. Whilst I had hoped for a more positive response to a sensible set of proposals, in the dull, unimaginative world of Barnet council, it is probably to be expected. I talk to many other small businessmen in Barnet. Many run shops in our High Streets. The story I am told time and time again is that they get no support from Barnet Council. When the Barnet Lib Dems proposed changes to parking fees, making the first hour free in Mill Hill Broadway, a move supported by all of the traders, the council refused point blank on cost grounds.

Parking wardens seem to approach CPZ ticketing with a military precision. If the CPZ starts at 11am, they pounce at 11am and get as many tickets in as possible, knowing some peoples watches are a couple of minutes slow. All of this pushes shoppers away from the High Streets, towards large shopping centres such as Brent Cross, where parking is free. It has long seemed to me that Brent Cross shopping centre and the large chains which inhabit it operate under a completely different set of rules to the rest of us. Whilst I understand the need for Barnet to encourage a thriving business, such as Brent Cross, this cannot be to the exclusion of small business and small shopkeepers. The question I've often wondered is "Does Brent Cross get special treatment from Barnet Council". Until yesterday I thought that this was unlikely. Now I'm not so sure. Let me share with you a response to an FOI which I was shown.
There are no such committees.  They meet informally with the CE, Deputy CEs and Assistant CE.
 

Non-Executive Directors of Barnet Council

a) How many Non-Executive Directors does Barnet Council have?  

None in the usual sense of the term, but the executive heads of the five principal partner bodies advise the Council's Chief Executive and senior colleagues on an informal unpaid basis.  They are referred to as Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), although they have none of the usual responsibilities associated with this function.

 b) Who are they?  
•    Tom Nathan, Commercial Director, Brent Cross Shopping Centre
•    Cameron Ward, Chief Executive, NHS Barnet
•    Stephen Knight, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Middlesex University
•    Neil Basu, Borough Police Commander
•    Marilyn Hawkins, Principal, Barnet College
c) What organisations do they represent?

See above

d) What criteria does Barnet Council use to engage these Non-Executive Directors?

They are not "engaged" but have accepted invitations to meet with the CE and senior colleagues on an informal advisory basis, the only criterion being their posts as heads of the five principle partner bodies listed above.

e) How often do they meet?

Monthly

f)  What is the name of the Council Committee(s) in which they assemble? 

The CE of NHS Barnet attends Cabinet meetings in an advisory capacity.

g) How much are they paid to fulfil this Non-Executive Director role?

Nothing

 
h) What influence do they have on Council Policy?

The Council has a role of civic leadership amongst the above partner organisations.  The NEDs informally advise the CE and his senior colleagues in fulfilling this role.

i) How long has Barnet Council had Non-Executive Directors?

Since 2006

j) Do these non -executive Directors represent Barnet Council in any capacity on Committees outside the Borough?

No

k) Which Council Officer appoints them in their role as Non-Executive Directors?

No appointment is made - they are invited to take part in this advisory process by the Chief Executive.

l) What is their period of Office as a Non-Executive Director and how do they cease to
become a Non-Executive Director?

The arrangement is purely informal.  No period of office is stipulated.  Their  position as NEDs is consequent on their appointment as heads of their respective organisations.

As you can see, one name sticks out. Mr Tom Nathan, Commercial director of Brent Cross shopping centre. All of the other NED's are members of public bodies. The sole commercial representative is Mr Tom Nathan, from Brent Cross. As you see, this job is the gift of the CEO of Barnet, Nick Walkley. Although unpaid, Mr Nathan gets unprecedented access to the chief executive. I attended a Leader Listens business breakfast with Mr Nathan last year. He was a fine speaker and I'm sure that in many ways he's an asset have in Barnet. It's just that I can't possibly agree that letting Mr Nathan have an executive position within Barnet Council is good or healthy. Just suppose the Lib Dem proposal to allow free parking comes up before Mr Nathan in his meeting. If local shopping centres get more trade, Brent Cross gets less. How will he use his influence with the CEO? I was rather concerned about the issue of democratic scrutiny of these NED's. I asked the Leader of the Lib Dems, Jack Cohen for a comment. He was shocked. He wasn't aware of this arrangement. So it seems there is an executive arm of senior management within Barnet Council which is completely outside of Democratic control.


The biggest, most fundamental change to take place in the London Borough of Barnet is the Brent Cross redevelopment. There are many Borough wide issues which this impacts. Barnet Council wheeled out the Leader of the Council to support the planning application. The only senior Tory to oppose it was the Mayor, Brian Coleman, who has since been marginalised.  Do you feel comfortable in the knowledge that someone as closely associated with Brent Cross and the redevelopment as Mr Nathan has a position of executive responsibility on Barnet Council, purely by way of his job?

This whole issue is a can of worms. Is it any wonder that Town Centre regeneration is bottom of the list of priorities for Barnet Council and its Tory overlords.

Oh, one last thing on the subject of Town Centres. Please sign the petition for one hours free parking in Mill Hill Broadway -
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-free-parking-in-mill-hill-broadway.html

We are facing an urban hell

By Brian Coleman

A huge glossy document entitled Cricklewood, Brent Cross and West Hendon Regeneration Development Framework arrived at my flat just before Christmas.

 There we have it in full colour: a future for the western side of our borough involving various New Labour buzzwords such as "Sustainable Community", "Street Hierarchy", "Rapid Transit Systems" and other meaningless tosh designed to provide us with thousands of high-density homes for an ever-expanding population.

Call me old-fashioned, but I like our borough, with its rows of semi-detached houses and gardens and green spaces. I am the first to argue that we need to rip down the dreadful 1960s estates in which some of our council tenants live, but I fail to see the logic of replacing one failing flat-roofed estate with another higher density one.

The current proposals for the Stonegrove estate in Edgware, for example, completely fail to take account of the current environment on the edge of the green belt.

The proposals for West Hendon, including a 24-storey tower block, are inappropriate for the edge of the Welsh Harp, one of only two sites of special scientific interest in the borough, the other being Hampstead Heath. I suppose we should be grateful no greedy developer is suggesting we need social housing in Hampstead Garden Suburb.

Which brings me to Cricklewood. This, we are told, is the largest brownfield site in Greater London. When I was elected to the GLA I was told that development work on King's Cross would begin within months: well, it is four years later and nothing much has happened. The lesson to me is clear: allow development as the market dictates in manageable parcels, acceptable to the local community.

Before anyone tells me that you end up with no infra-structure, then point me to the new roads, improvements in public transport, leisure facilities and education in the document that landed on my front door mat.

Are we seriously suggesting we can accommodate 11, 000 extra residential units and 33, 000 extra vehicles between now and 2016 on the minimal infrastructure improvements proposed?

The real villain behind all this is Ken Livingstone, whose draft Spatial Development Strategy for London puts pressure on the boroughs to accommodate a projected increase in London's population which few experts believe will happen.

He talks of "landmark buildings" and indeed one of more than 40 storeys is proposed for Cricklewood. If you want to see a landmark building in this borough, visit North Finchley and see the monstrosity Labour foisted onto an unwilling community.

I have seen the future - and it is urban hell Let us all commit ourselves to preserving a greener Barnet in 2004 and send over ambitious developers packing.
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Brian Coleman is the Mayor of Barnet and GLA member for Barnet & Camden. This article was originally printed in "The Press" on January 8th 2004. Thanks to the NODIE archive for the story and Dont Call Me Dave for the Tip off and most of all, thanks to Brian Coleman for his words of wisdom about overdevelopment in Barnet.

The Barnet Eye always welcomes GUEST AUTHORS - Please CLICK HERE TO EMAIL YOUR BLOG FOR PUBLICATION

Editors Note : The Barnet Conservative administration, of which Brian Coleman is a key member passed the Brent Cross redevelopment plan last week.

Brent Cross planning permission granted

By John Cox

Brent Cross Cricklewood was passed by Barnet Council tonight.

Pressure is now on Boris to reject it (unlikely!) and the Sec. of State to call it in.

Did several lobbying sets of leaflets to all councillors, and spoke to committee yesterday.

Several accepted that approval would mean no light rail ever through Brent Cross. Developer said today to the committee that "light-rail was still possible". (His speech lasted the twenty minutes allowed to the second. That's rehearsal for you.)

There were several mentions of light-rail today. It was agreed to add an informatory to the approval that "the light-rail people" would be consulted by the on-going transport working parties (three-letter acronyms that I have forgotten). 

We will fight to overturn approval entirely, but also start a damage limitation exercise so that ON-ROAD light-rail might be possible in the years ahead. Seven-and-a-half hours of committee meetings in two days!

Phew!

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John Cox is a campaigner against the Brent Cross redevelopment scheme and has been actively lobbying for the Brent Cross Light Rail Scheme.

Guest contributors are always welcome at Barnet Eye. Click on my profile and use the email link to send me your story.

The basic dishonesty of the Brent Cross / Cricklewood redevelopment

The picture shown above is one that forms part of the artists illustration of the Brent Cross /Cricklewood redevelopment scheme.  It was the one which they've been punting to the papers such as the Hendon Times.Now take a look at this picture taken from google earth of how it looks today. I've added a nice pink arrow to show which angle the artists impression is looking from.

As you may notice, the way it is represented by the artist, it looks like there's a lovely green area that is part of the development, however this is a bit of the land adjacent to the plan and unaffected by it.

Now look at this picture.

On this picture I've helpfully put a border around the part of the artists picture which actually shows the development. Now if I was an architect and I was proud of my designs, would I give greater promennance to the sky, the allotements and the playing fields than my lovely buildings. Well, yes I would, if I was trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. If I was trying to pretend the plan was a fantastic, green, innovative design, when really it was a high rise hell, comprising rabbit hutch flats.

The evidence is there. How can they possibly think this is a great plan, if they hide it like this. You'll note that the high rise element is in the far distance. I saw the picture and thought "that looks quite nice" until I analysed it. Then I though "cheeky B*******s".

What disturbs me is that when Councillor Maureen Braun chairs the planning committee, people might fall for this ruse. Her political master, Councillor Mike Freer is speaking in favour of the proposal. Of course, I'm sure this won't put her under any pressure at all. Interestingly enough, even Councillor Brian Coleman thinks it's a rotten plan and has come out against it. What is the difference between Coleman and Freer? Well Mike Freer doesn't come from Barnet and he's hoping to move to Westminster some time soon. Brian Coleman has lived in Barnet all his life and plans to hang around.
What does this tell you?

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?

Councillor Maureen Braun and the two faces of Barnet

There are two faces of Barnet. There is the beautiful green, leafy suburb, where we all would like to live (see the picture Top Left).

Then there are the high density estates where children don't have gardens to play in, they have skips round the back of shops (see picture bottom left). Where the wildlife they will see isn't beautiful horses grazing in fields, but rats running emerging through broken manhole covers.

Who, you may ask yourself, who in the Borough of Barnet is lucky enough to have a view such as the one pictured top left, as the scene they are greeted by every morning when they wake up and look out of the window? Well there's one person who you may have heard of. Councillor Maureen Braun, head of the Hendon & District planning committee. This view of St Josephs College fields in Mill Hill, is exactly what she see's every morning (No I haven't been in her bedroom taking pictures, a neighbour 2 doors down took this picture). Now I've fought tooth and nail to preserve the view for Councillor Braun. I've attended meetings, written letters and written blogs. I've even helped put a deal together to get those very horses grazing on the fields. Why? Because I passionately believe urban areas need green space.

Sadly, too many people in Barnet are more likely to see a view such as this skip if they look out of their bedroom window. This will be their childrens playground if they let them out of the house at all. Barnet Council are currently considering all sorts of regeneration plans, encompassing areas of high density flats. This week Councillor Maureen Braun, as leader of the Hendon and District Planning Committee, decided to defer the decision on the Cricklewood regeneration scheme for a month. This is to reportedly give the committee time to consider more thoroughly the plans.

What do we know about these plans? That there will be thousands of new residents living in Barnet if they go through. We know that there will be between 9,000 and 27,000 more cars on our roads. The flats are not designed to accomodate existing residents, but to encourage more people to move to the Borough. My biggest fear for the Cricklewood scheme is the lack of houses with gardens for children. Mrs Braun clearly likes a nice view and a bit of greenery out of her window. What sort of legacy does she want to pass on to her grandchildren? Every scheme like Cricklewood puts more pressure on area's like St Josephs College fields. More greedy developers sniff around and look for loopholes in the green belt legislation.I nearly resigned from the Labour party when John Prescott started talking about building on the green belt. Whilst the Cricklewood regeneration scheme is nowhere near the green belt, the pressure it will create on the rest of the Borough will be enormous. As the borough fills up with people, 60,000 more if all the scheme's go ahead, we'll reach a point where there will be no choice but to concrete over the fewer and fewer green spaces.

Now Councillor Braun clearly has a massive decision to make. I don't know about you, but I want whoever makes that decision to be someone who I trust. I want them to be someone who's record on issues of planning is exemplary. I want it to be someone who understands and has compassion for people with families, as many families will be affected by these decisions, when schools fill up and children can't get in. When gangs form on the alleys and street corners of these new sink estates, the legacy of these schemes will sink in. Most of all, I want someone who knows the rulebook inside out and has a proven track record of good judgement in all these things.

I thought I'd check Maureen Braun's record on such matters.  I went  to the Hendon Times and put the following key words into a search - "maureen braun" hendon planning - and I got the following three stories.

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/932954.No_permission_for____stealth____shed/

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/1036167.yes_no_maybe_to_shed/


http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/hendonnews/1859048.House_extension_for_disabled_child_refused_due_to_council_regulations__/

Does any of these three stories fill me with confidence in Councillor Maureen Braun's ability to protect families, uphold the planning law and do what's best for the ratepayers of Barnet? I'll leave it to you, dear reader to guess the answer, once you've read her form on such issues.

The Grapes of Wrath & a row of cars 16 miles long

What a beautiful day. Just been out in the garden picking the last of our grapes. Completely delicious, they are too. Is there any greater and simpler pleasure in life than going into your garden, walking up to a vine and picking a lovely, ripe, juicy grape. My children know what a grape tastes like picked fresh off a vine.They know that a south west facing fence in a sheltered spot is the best location. They know that the frogspawn in our pond turns into tadpoles and that tadpoles turn into frogs, toads and newts. Due to the M1 motorway chopping a hunk of land off some old railway sidings, I've got a rather large garden for a London dwelling. I've indulged myself in it with grapes a pond, Strawberrys, raspeberry, blackberrys, a cherry tree as well as apples and pears. I'm the worlds laziest gardener and I only grow stuff that is easy. One day when I get off my butt, I'll get some loganberries and a greengage tree and maybe some plums.   Why on earth am I rambling on about all of this? What's it all got to do with the price of fish? Well this week Barnet Council was meant to make a decision on the Brent Cross development. As I said, my kids get all the things we grow and thoroughly enjoy them. Deluded fool that I am, I believe that this makes them happy. How many children raised in the thousands of Rabbit hutch homes, will get the same simple pleasure? They'll get to watch the TV, play computer games and if they are lucky a visit to a farm with the school, where they are told not to touch the animals because they'll die if they do. They'll think that Grapes come from Lidl's and that apples comes from Asda.

My concern is the way it will change the Borough of Barnet. Barnet is undoubtedly a pleasant place to live for the majority of it's residents. Generally the less desirable places to live are the ones where there is a high density of people and a complete lack of greenery. If we were undergoing a  baby boom, then I'd understand the desire to build dwellings for 60,000 new people, but we're not. There is not a skills shortage in Barnet and we have a rising unemployment rate. It is all very well claiming that the new developments will create jobs, but this is negated if they bring more people to the area. The figures I've seen indicate that far more people will be imported than the number of jobs created. This cannot be good for the existing residents

Another issue is the traffic. There is a dispute between the developers and the protestors. The developers say a mere 9,000 cars a day will be added to the streets of Cricklewood. The protestors say that it's 27,000. Do you know how long a line of 9,000 cars is (assuming it's single file). It's 16 miles long. What about 27,000 cars - that's 47 miles long. Does this sound to you as if this will be negligible.

Last of all, what sort of Barnet do we want our children to grow up in. I believe that there are already too many who don't have a garden. I think we owe it to the next generation to hand over a better Barnet, not a worse one.

Pictures  - Grapes in my Garden

An open invitation to Mike Freer - Leader of Barnet Council

Dear Councillor Freer,

As I'm sure you are aware, much as you dislike this blog, it is probably the most read Barnet blog. We've had links from the BBC and National newspapers and we get tens of thousands of hits. Whatever you think of The Barnet Eye, people read this blog and visit it repeatedly.

Next week the Cricklewood Regeneration plan is being discussed. I cannot see what benefit this proposal will give to the people who elected the Conservative administration. I believe it will cause traffic gridlock and will overload the local infrastructure. If you send me an email explaining exactly how this proposal will benefit the people who voted for you and pay your allowances, I will post it here, unedited and without comment from me.

If you really believe it is a great idea, please share your thoughts with us. It won't cost you a penny and it will give you a chance to address your critics.

Mrs Thatcher used to deride her critics as "Frit" when they refused to engage. Here's your chance to prove that you are not scared to make your case in an open honest forum. Unlike mailshots etc, it won't cost you or me a penny of taxpayers money.

Yours Faithfully,

Rog T

The Barnet Eye