The Edgware Railway Hotel – Time for Action - A guest blog by Mark Amies

Recent news stories about pubs being illegally demolished, or set on fire should be a source of great concern. No more so than in Edgware, where the Grade II Listed Railway Hotel sits in a parlous state, as it has for over a decade. Now you are probably aware of my regular bulletins about this landmark building on Station Road. I have written about it many times, I have tweeted about it more times than I can count, and Roger Tichborne and I have done two videos about it.

In recent times we were given the teasing story about Barnet Council undertaking a Compulsory Purchase Order on the building. However, that was some time ago, and there is no outward sign that this is going to happen. So, instead this fine building used by so many Edgwarians over the years is still begging at us, every time we pass it. 

This morning I altered my commute to get the bus into Edgware, and got off opposite the Railway Hotel, to have look around it. Obviously, I couldn’t actually get inside it, but I was able to walk around the outside, and it is a dreadful sight. Windows open and missing, fire damage left for months, years even. The building is an appalling state, and it needs attention now, before it gets to the point of no return. Walking on to Church Path and the fencing around the pub has been left open, and so it is easy to walk into the rear. There are no signs of security, and no signs to say it is being secured.

I am not going to mince my words any more.  Barry Rawlings, Ross Houston, Lucy Wakeley, Nick Mearing Smith and Shuey Gordon, if you are reading this, then please can you get something done? You are the public servants for the Borough. It is your responsibility to ensure that the Historic England Grade Two Listing on this building is kept to. 

The owner of building, whoever that is these days, needs to be made to do more. Lastly, I am not going to spare my wrath for Historic England. I want to know what they are doing. They have a Buildings at Risk register, is this on it? Are they working with Barnet Council and the Secretary of State to get this building back into safe condition and put into use for the people of the Borough?

This month the developer Ballymore is putting in a planning application for their development on the Broadwalk Shopping centre. Now the Railway Hotel is not inside that scheme, but it sits right next to it, and if Barnet Council, who are a partner in the new development , are keen to see Edgware Town Centre made a pleasant and interesting place, then why is the Railway Hotel such a low priority in all of this?

Come on guys, pull your fingers out, don’t let me inflict BarnetEye with another article about this again!

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Mark Amies is a local Edgware resident and the BBC Radio London Industriaal History correspondent for the Robert Elms show. Mark tweets under the handle @Superfast72

Mark refers to the video we made in 2020, just before lockdown, which has now been referred to over 8,000 times. 

Guest blogs are always welcome. Contact via the email or DM @Barneteye on Twitter

Barnet Council - Why do I bother attending meetings?

Last night I dialled into the Barnet Council planning committee. Due to the Covid regulations, virtual meetings are being held. I have to say that I found the process to be deeply unsatisfactory for members of the public. I had asked to make a submission on the planning application made by Barratts for the National Institute for Medical Research site. An associate of mine was also speaking and contacted me yesterday in a panic because he couldn't understand the process of connecting to the meetings. He is someone who has had medical issues and initially he was deeply concerned by the prospect of having any assistance with the technology, as he's been social distancing. In my previous incarnation as a freelance IT consultant, I've attended hundreds, if not thousands of conference calls, but he had never had the pleasure so didn't understand the technology. I had assumed that the council would have a Zoom like facility, but this being Barnet, this was only for councillors and officers. The public had to dial in on audio only. In the end, my associate came to my house for assistance. As the Barratts site has badly affected both his health and his business, he felt obligated to speak. So I set him up on the call in my front room in a socially distanced manner.

He feels (and I agree) that Barnet Council has badly let down both him and his business, in not taking enforcement seriously. He has been noting problems with the site for two years and has had no satisfactory service from the council in dealing with his issues. As for my submission, I wanted the councillors to look at the the guidance officers had given, which I believe had not adequately conveyed the nature of the objections or the problems with the application.

Our case was the third on the agenda. Listening to the preceding two cases was quite demoralising. There were clearly major issues with both applications, but the committee passed both anyway. From what I heard, I was quite staggered that the first was passed. Ellliot Simberg, one of the better Tory Hale councillors made a good case for rejection, but he was summarily ignored. For the second application, I felt that the councillors on the committee did not really bother to explore whether objectors had a valid case. The committee chair, a Conservative attempted to prevent a Labour councillor for asking a perfectly reasonable question of the developers spokesperson. As a lay person, I could see no reason for this intervention. The application was passed easily.

For the application we spoke about, my associate read out his long list of issues. The committee did not bother to ask him any questions. One member, in an act of extraordinary bad manners, did not mute themselves and started loudly clearing their throat during his submission. I was quite shocked that the chair did not reprimand the culprit or give my associate extra time. As someone who is registered deaf, the format that was being used was less than ideal. I could hardly hear what was being said. When it came to my submission, I found I had a loud echo ringing in my ears, making it extremely difficult to concentrate on the text I was reading. I am used to public speaking and performance so I got through, but it was extremely difficult. At the end of my submission, again there were no questions. The application was passed 12-0 by the committee. The officers made some observations that I strongly disagree with. Amongst these they stated that the Mill Hill Preservation Society had not objected. This surprised me as I'd been advised by a member of the committee that they had objected. No comment from the MHPS appears on the Council site. It may well be that due to Covid19, the MHPS had been unable to meet to formulate a response. It strikes me as worrying that such organisations will be excluded because their committee are isolating?  Given the format of the meeting, we had no opportunity to query this.

I have been to hundreds of Barnet Council meetings over the last ten years. Few have been satisfactory, but last nights was the worst. Given my hearing issues, I felt excluded and I felt the complete lack of interest by the committee in what members of the public had to say to be high handed and rude. Not for the first time, I asked myself why I bother attending these meetings. The simple answer is because I find it quite repulsive that councillors, who we elect, can treat the public with such disdain and someone has to call them out. There is no reason why we should not have the same access to the Zoom style meetings as councillors, so that at least we can see their faces and see who is blowing their nose so rudely. In council, we can see when councillors role their eyes at the public. Now it is anonymous. I hadn't expected the council to reject the developers plans. That's not what happens in Barnet these days. I had a faint hope that they might at least enquire why I'd chosen to give up an evening making the points I'd raised. I said that I felt the officers had not properly represented objections by the public in their report. Given that I was limited to three minutes in my submission, I at least expected someone to ask what had lead me to that conclusion, but not one of the 12 councillors on the committee could be bothered to enquire.

People ask why I bother writing a blog. It is so there is a public record of what happened, should anyone be interested.I hope, probably in vain, that one day the electorate of Barnet will wake up to how badly their elected representatives are doing their job. Councillors get an allowance of over £10,000 a year. One would expect them to at least read the paper work and engage with the public. Sadly that is something they have no interest in doing (in my experience). I spent a long time reading the paperwork, I believe there was a serious problem in the presentation of the report. I gave up my Wednesday night to share this. And what did I get for my trouble? Totally ignored.

I stopped hoping that these councillors might feel the slightest need to do their job and represent the general public a long time ago. I just hope that at some point, the voters decide that they want people who will listen to them and at least give them a fair hearing.

Mill Hill News - Barratts seek planning to add another 52 additional homes to the NIMR site

I have been contacted by residents and businesses affected by the development at the National Institute for Medical Research on the Ridgeway NW7, alerting me to a new planning application from Barratts, the developers. This is seeking planning consent to increase the number of dwellings by 52.

The details are as follows

19/3208/S73 | Minor Material Amendment to condition 2 (Approved Plans), Condition 26 (Play Equipment), Condition 32 (Car Parking), Condition 44 (Inclusive Design), Condition 45 (Energy Statement) and Condition 49 (Accessible Units)of Planning Permission for 16/4545/FUL dated 22/12/2017, to provide for the following design changes: Amendments to the approved floor plans of Blocks A, B and C to allow for the provision of 52 additional homes (within the same building mass of the original approved scheme, with no change to above-ground building volume or floorspace); Amendments to the basement floor plan of the Cruciform Cluster (Blocks A-C) to enlarge the basement, in order to provide a pro-rata increase in the provision of car parking spaces (52 additional spaces); Associated floor plan amendments to Blocks A-C and basement to accommodate pro-rata changes to cycle parking, refuse storage, private amenity space etc; Minor changes to elevations of Blocks A-C as a result of floor plan amendments; Pro-rata increase in the provision of affordable housing (to maintain 35% by habitable rooms); and Minor alterations to the floor plans of Blocks J1 and J2, to allow for an increase in M4(3) wheelchair adaptable units within these blocks | National Institute For Medical Research The Ridgeway London NW7 1AA
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I am quite shocked to see that they are describing the addition of 52 additional dwellings and parking spaces as a "Minor Material Amendment". This will increase the scale of what most people in Mill Hill already regard as a bad scheme by a significant amount. It is clearly an attempt by Barratts to squeeze even more profit out of the scheme. Anyone familiar with the scheme will know that it is already pushing the local roads and transport infrastucture to the limit. The existing scheme went through a full review by The Mayor of London. To try and change this under the false pretences of a "minor amendment" demonstrates that Barratts are keen only to maximise profits.

I have spoken to many local residents who have their lives blighted by dust, noise and congestion. It is most unfair that Barratts are now seeking to make their lives even worse. I would ask all Mill Hill Residents to object to this scheme as a matter of urgency. 

Please object to this scheme via this link

https://publicaccess.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=PSOMPWJII0F00

I would suggest that the following grounds be considered.

1. Lack of parking and public transport infrastructure to support such a development
2. Overdevelopment of an already intensive development
3. Will interfere with the activities of Residents, Finchley Nurseries and the MillHill Village Cricket club.
4. The Mayor has already approved the previous plan, which Mill Hill Residents felt was over intensive

This scheme is clearly an attempt by Barratts to squeeze even more profit out of an already very flawed scheme.

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If you want to see some of what local residents have had to put up with, checkout these videos.

This one shows what residents and businesses have had to endure.

And this one, filmed for my band The False Dots,  shows the destruction of the NIMR building as a backdrop for the final scenes. We wanted to ensure the destruction was filmed for posterity.

Please object to this planning application that puts children at risk

I received this communication from local the local scout groups. There is a serious safeguarding issue as this propasal will mean the Scouts field and camp will be overlooked by flats. There is a proposal that the scouts plant trees on their land to obscure the view. This is ridiculous. We need as many people as possible to object to this. I have requested to speak at the meeting. I will be working with Scout groups etc to ensure that the committee are made fully aware of the objections. We need  astrong public response

You may be aware the Developers at Millbrook Park have put in amended plans regarding Phase 6B (Next to the Barry M building). They have taken the building back about 2m from our boundary but its still 6 storeys high. It will be at least 1 storey higher that the Barry M building!

The revised plans can be found on the web at 

www.barnet.gov.uk/planning-applications

You can follow the link by entering the application reverence 18/6640/FUL

Some of you may have received letters from the LBB asking, if you wish, you can make additional comments. 

If you haven't already do so, we would urge you to make additional comments today, the more we have the greater the effect. 

Time is short, we have asked for an extension but, as of this morning, we haven't received confirmation of this.

Please pass this onto all your Leaders, Parents and supporters.

Thank you for the support. 

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This is my objection

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This application is unacceptable.
It is recognised that there is an issue with the planned building overlooking the adjacent scout camp. There is a clear safeguarding issue. The suggestion that the scouts need to plant trees is quite frankly ridiculous, as should they fall down, become diseased etc, they will not obscure the site. 

The Scouts are an integral part of the local scene and planning applications that interfere with their activities and put children at risk are simply unacceptable
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Please add yours here - https://publicaccess.barnet.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=PHQ6QHJIGZH00

Green Belt protection special : Why you cannot trust the Conservatives to protect the Conservation area

Within the next few weeks you will receive a copy of the the Barnet Conservatives manifesto on the doorstep. I have been reliably informed that "protecting the green belt" will form a major part of their manifesto. Given that the words "Conservative" and "Conservation" share the first ten letters, you may think that in Mill Hill, they would care about protecting our green spaces. Let me show you a couple of pictures and a couple of links to newspaper articles. You can then make your own mind up.

Firstly the pictures. These two pictures are both of a field in Mill Hill. They are owned by the man who was elected Deputy Chairman of the Hendon Conservative Party, with special responsibility for membership and fundraising (an extremely popular chap in the Hendon Conservatives one might conclude). The only difference between the two pictures is that one was taken in 2008 and the other was taken in 2010.

BEFORE - Taken in 2008


See the lamb grazing in the background. Now look at how it looks today.

AFTER - Taken Jan 2010

Now, you may ask, in a green belt conservation area, would  planning permission be required for such a change? Well read this article in the local paper and see what actually happened.

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/5000180.Council_says_children_s_farm_needs_planning_permission/

Sadly this isn't the first time that senior local Conservatives have decided that they don't need to apply to Barnet Council for planning permission for work on their property. If I was to ask you which Conservative, out of all of them should know the rules apply to them, I guess you'd say that the head of the Hendon and District planning committee should. The person who is responsible for making he decisions which affect the ordinary people. Read this article in the local paper.

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

Now you might say that perhaps I'm being unfair. You might think that there are cases where it's OK to bend the planning rules a little bit. Maybe, for example if you had a sick two year old child and you urgently needed space for medical equipment to make life manageable? Well when someone is an ordinary Council Tax payer, the woman with the Stealth shed, Hendon and District Planning committee chief Councillor Maureen Braun takes a different view of planning rules - read this :-


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

This is what Councillor Braun had to say about the families request for a loft conversion :-

We carefully considered this application, taking into account the difficult circumstances the family are in. However, the application was very far from what we could possibly allow under existing planning regulations.

Now what sort of view do you think Barnets other Conservatives took of Councillor Braun not following her own rules? They promoted her to Mayor the following year.  Indeed during his testamony to the Standards investigator, the Current Mayor of Barnet, Brian Coleman actually used the fact that I'd criticised Councillor Braun for not following planning rules as a reason for sending me an offensive email. For the record, I'd sent a letter to the local paper saying that Councillors should follow the rules themselves. The Times printed the letter.

So when you get your copy of the Conservative Party manifesto for the Council elections plonking down on your doormat and it says that they will protect the green belt, you may want to ask yourself this. Do I believe them? I know what my answer would be.

Barnet Council : Keeping things above board

I received an email from a rather concerned resident of Mill Hill drawing my attention to this article in the local press about the new Childrens Zoo on the Ridgeway in Mill Hill. The main concern of my correspondant was that such a major change could take place to the Greenbelt, in the conservation are, on a protected view (mentioned in the Barnet UDP). Given that you can't even double glaze your windows without planning permission, which will be denied if the appearance is changed, I was puzzled. I went to Barnet Coucils planning portal to see what conditions were placed on the planning approval for the new facility.

I was rather puzzled to find that there was no mention of the planning approval on the Council website. How could this be? It clearly states the following in the article :-

We've worked extremely closely with the council to make sure it comes up to scratch and we hope we have created a safe and enjoyable environment.

 Now the owner of the site, renowned racing horse owner Mr Andrew Reid, has clearly spent a small fortune on the site. It is rather impressive and a few locals have told me that the capuccinos and the waffles are rather good in his restaurant. Clearly he would not have considered doing any of this without ensuring it was all legal, ship-shape and above board. He would have sought assurances that the Council were happy with the setup prior to making such a huge inverstment. After all he is a promanent member of the local Conservative party, being elected to be the Deputy Chairman of the Hendon Conservative Association.

Which leads me to the question. The politician in charge of the Hendon Area planning Committee is Mill Hill Resident, Conservative Councillor Maureen Braun. One has to ask exactly what advice Councillor Braun has given Mr Reid. Ultimately she would chair any planning decision for such an application. There is also another local Conservative Councillor who belongs to the same association as Andrew Reid and presumably supported his election as Deputy Chairman. This is Councillor John Hart.

Whilst I cannot possibly see how a Childrens farm and zoo containing Wallabies, Owls and Alopacas and a Restaurant, along side a huge car park could appear on such a site without planning permission, especially when the owner is such an esteemed member of the local Conservative party, I am not an expert in planning law.

Mr Reid is a lawyer and as such, clearly will have followed the rulebook to the letter. As such I must assume that he contacted Barnet Council and explained his plans and was told "that will be fine, just go ahead". He clearly states this in his interview, so my question is this. Do Councillor Braun as head of the Planning Committee and Councillor Hart as the local Mill Hill Conservatives have the ability to advise officers that such a development is allowed as "permitted development" and can be done without planning permission? Where did the decision that planning permission was not required originate from? Was it a Council officer?

I've spent a few days checking the planning rules in Barnet and I cannot see how the Council agreed this move. I urge Councillor Braun as head of the Hendon Planning Committee to issue a public statement clarifying how this development could be agreed by the council, when every other resident of the "conservation area" is bound by such tight rules. I'd also like to see a public explanation from Councillor John Hart as to why ordinary residents in Barnet have such stringent regulations applied to them in the Conservation area,  when people who are senior members of the Hendon Conservative Association are not.

I have no doubt that Mr Andrew Reid has gone about his business in his usual dignified and law abiding manner. There is no reason why he shouldn't. I just worry that certain local Conservative Councillors are rather too keen to do their wealthy friends a favour. As both Councillor Braun and Hart are Mill Hill residents, experienced Councillors and experts on planning law, it is inconceivable that they were unaware of all of this. They have much explaining to do. It is vital that Barnet Council are seen to be above board in these matters.