Guest Blog - Open letter to Lynne Hillan, Leader of Barnet Council

By David Howard,

Dear Councillor Hillan,

As members of the Coalition FOR a Sustainable Brent Cross and Cricklewood the Federation of Residents Associations in Barnet (FORAB) is most concerned that politicians elected to represent residents at Borough, London and National level should have totally disregarded the interests and views of Barnet residents, as well as those of the wider communities in the surrounding Boroughs. The scheme for redeveloping Brent Cross and Cricklewood as currently proposed is planned to take 20 plus years to implement:-

They will lead to the destruction of a stable existing community in Cricklewood and replacement with high density, high- rise “hutches for hobbits”. There will be few family or affordable units
We question the need for another new town centre, as well as doubling the size of Brent Cross. What studies have been done on the impact of Westfields in White City and Westfields Stratford, both of which will be more accessible from tubes and railways? Why are Hammersons (the landlord at Brent Cross) saying that they are proposing to concentrate their investment in France for the next five years? Will only phase one with the doubling in size of the shopping centre (and cars but no additional car parking) plus the incinerator be built and the rest deferred , possibly indefinitely?

The proposals will have a serious impact on the 22 existing town centres in Barnet, as well others in Brent, Camden and further afield. No impartial studies have been carried out on the impact on surrounding town centres. There has not been enough money in shopper’s pockets to keep them all alive in the past, let alone in future if the scheme goes ahead.

There will be 29,000 extra cars a day on the already congested roads. We do not accept the spin doctor’s solution of mode shift. We do not believe that 70% of existing shoppers as well as 70% of new future shoppers will leave their cars at home and travel to Brent Cross on buses. There is no new TfL or Dept for Transport money for upgrading the Northern line which will have to cater for 30,000 more people from the new Colindale developments further up the line. There is no future - proofing built in for an alternative light - rail transport system to serve north west London, including Wembley, Brent Cross, Colindale and Mill Hill.. The new railway station is designed to meet the needs of workers in the new office blocks in phase 5 some 20 years away. Will the offices be built? Will the new jobs be created? Will the new station ever materialize?

We are in favour of more recycling but do not accept that the proposed gasification incinerator is safe, as it will produce harmful nanoparticles which are not covered by current regulations.

The area would benefit from investment, and we regret that there has been no real consultation carried out with the wider community by Barnet Council, which has been blinded by the financial benefits the development will bring to it as the significant land owner in the area. This appears to have led to bias in the planning process. The proposals are contrary to both the Conservative party manifesto for the last election and the joint manifesto with the Lib Dems – “Coalition: our programme for government” which promise a bottom - up approach to planning and redevelopment in future.

The community has much to offer in making the regeneration of Brent Cross and Cricklewood a beacon for sustainable regeneration fit for the 21st century. Why won’t the Council engage in dialogue with the community? What has it to lose? This could be a win - win development, but as proposed at present it is going to be a lose - lose disaster.

The approvals to date are only in outline. There is still time to rethink the proposals at detailed planning stage. Barnet Council, you have a second chance. The community is willing to engage in true partnership. Are you willing to engage with the community?

I am sending this open letter to Councillor Richard Cornelius and the local press as well.

Yours sincerely

David Howard

Chair of FORAB

(Picture at top - Developers image of the Brent Cross Concrete Jungle)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Howard is the Chair of FORAB and an active campaigner for a better quality of life for Barnet Residents. Guest blogs are always welcome at the Barnet Eye. Email me via the link in my profile

Would we be so compliant if we really knew what was going on with our money?

By David Howard,

For years Barnet Town Hall has been  showing signs of old age, doors creaking like old knees. Lights dim like fading eyesight and debates inaudible like failing hearing . Mere mortals reluctantly accept that these are the inevitable signs of old age.

Fortunately buildings can respond to tender loving care and be restored to meet the needs of the next generation .  There has been rapid progress in improved light fittings that give out more light with lower running costs and are still in keeping with the ambience of their surroundings.  Sound amplification  systems have also moved forward  so it is possible to have good quality all round sound without large ugly speakers and huge desk mounted microphones.

Why is it therefore that when Barnet takes on such  project it fails dismally?

The ground floor has the air of a transient hotel lobby due for a refit instead of the headquarters of the Council striving to be the tiger economy of North London. The power base of a traditionalist Mayor and thrusting Leader

The lights in  the council chamber and especially the meeting rooms has not improved and strains the eyes as one tries to read the 902 pages of the Brent Cross planning application.

As for the sound enhancement it is a disaster.  The portable microphones are battery operated and clearly run down during the meeting so they have to be changed.  Either the battery capacity is too small or they have not been recharged prior to the meeting.   Not that it really matters as even when they are supposed to be working  it is not possible to hear in the public areas.  It could be that the council bought good equipment and installed it on the cheap or they did not commission it correctly to save money.

Ah but they did not save money.  According to the report on the action taken under delegated powers by an officer (28/02/09) the lowest quotation that was accepted for the Microphone system was £111,768 plus VAT.  It is not clear what the final cost of the amplification installation turned out to be.   But we do know that the overall works cost for the town hall refurbishment which was estimated to be about £1,000,000 finished up at about £1,500,000 .   We should be grateful it was only a 50% overspend.  It could have been an over 300% increase as with the Aerodrome Road bridges disaster which went from £3,000,000 to over £11,000,000.

The people responsible for these financial horrors are the same people who will oversee the Future Shape outsourcing programme  If they can overspend £8,500,000 on a £4,000,000 budget think what they will be able to do with a £200,000,000 budget.  They think how lucky they are that there are over 350,000 people to pay the increased Council Tax needed to make up these shortfalls.  But I wonder do we want to pay for these overspend especially as the end product is either worse or at best little better than what was there before?
Would we be so compliant if we really knew what was going on with our money?
From Dai,  a worried ratepayer or if you prefer Do call me David

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Howard is the head of The Save New Barnet Campaign and a trustee of the New Barnet Community Association. Thanks to David for a very interesting article

Barnet Eye always welcomes contributions from guest writers. If you have something suitable for The Barnet Eye click HERE to EMAIL me.