Holly Park school hygene report - the fallout

Yesterday Barnet bloggers collaborated to expose a huge scandal affecting Holly Park School. The school canteen had received  a zero hygiene rating from health inspectors. As a parent of three children at Barnet schools, I was appalled that the Council could allow things to deteriorate to such a level. Even worse, it transpires that whilst parents were kept in the dark, governors, including a member of the ruling Barnet Conservative administration had known of the problems since the report was released in January.

As a result of the bloggers breaking the story, the local press have also now taken an interest. The Barnet Press acknowledges the major role of bloggers in breaking the story

http://www.edgware-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=11968&headline=School%20kitchen%20given%20zero%20hygiene%20rating

The Barnet Times makes no mention.

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/11134732._It_s_appalling____Parents_were_never_told_of_school_canteen_s_damning_hygiene_rating/?ref=var_0

What is rather amusing is a stream of tweets from the Barnet Times moaning that bloggers seemingly get better service from the FOI department at the Council than they do

Martin Buhagiar @TimesIndyEditor  ·  6h ago

That @BarnetCouncil then released information to all and sundry but not us is a tad irritating and we will find out why.

 

Martin Buhagiar‏@TimesIndyEditor 5h

Bizarre response from council. First FOI submitted on March 5 and dealt with. We then submitted ours. Council is dealing with it. Why?

 

Even more oddly, the Times seem to be taking credit for the story they missed.

 

Martin Buhagiar @TimesIndyEditor  ·  6h ago

Had we not published that food hygiene rating article this story may not have come to light. The list criticised by a certain few...

 

Without mentioning that the criticism was not for the story but for the fact they couldn't count up to ten (they said they'd published the ten worst takeaways in Barnet and listed nine establishments, two of which weren't takeaways).

 

Now whilst I take great delight in winding up Martin Bulgaria at the times (or whatever his name is), I must confess that he seems to have missed the point rather. As far as I am concerned the local press and the local bloggers should work together. The local paper reaches far more Barnet residents than bloggers can and I am always delighted when they run with the stories we break. I believe that Martin whatshisname is missing a trick by not making an effort to get on better terms with the local bloggers. It may surprise you to know I've not spoken to him once since he started doing the job (that I can remember). I've no idea whether the other bloggers ever speak to him, but if I were he I'd by the bloggers the odd pint and sandwich and cultivate a working relationship. That's not because I can't afford a pint myself, I can. I just think we'd all do a better job if we worked together.

 

Over the years I've had a good relationship with staff at he Times, going back to 1979 with Dennis Signey and Kevin Black, through the 1980's with the likes of Joy Bentley and Clarence Mitchell. Former editor Phil Crowther even invited me to be a guest blogger for a while, although it ended in tears. After that I got on well with Alex Hayes. for some reason the current crop  seem to think bloggers are a bit "beneath them". I suspect they've even avoided stories because the bloggers have broken them, out of pique.

 

I don't want special favours from the Times group. I just want a vibrant local news scene. The last thing I'd want is the local press to disappear. One good development is that Mr Mustard is now writing a guest blog on Parking. This relationship started via a twitter convsersation.

 

http://www.times-series.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mr_mustard/

 

I somehow suspect that the Times (or at least the current incumbents) would rather nail there willies to the doorframe than let me write for them again, but I do think they are missing a trick not engaging the talents of Mrs Angry and John Dix (AKA Mr Reasonable) as well as Mr Mustard. I think only a fool would claim Mrs Angry isn't a talented writer and John isn't an expert on the intricacies of the finances of Barnet Council. Both have far more of interest to say than anyone in either the Labour or Conservative Party.

 

Interestingly enough, the most read story on the Times Website namechecks myself and Mrs Angry

 

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/11133286.Barnet_politician_sparks_outrage_with_Peaches_Geldof_comment/?ref=mr

 

with a quote from my tweet. It is good that the Times at least recognises that myself and Mrs Angry have something to say that Barnet wants to read.

 

One final word must be said about the rabid rantings of certain Tory attock dog tweeters in response to the story. The Barnet Eye suspects that they don't have children so don't really understand the genuine concerns parents may have in this matter. Most parents don't care what colour the administration is, they simply want the problems at local schools sorted. They want the press and bloggers to expose stories in the knowledge something will then get done. In Barnet, there is a Tory administration, who have been in charge for twelve years. They rightly will get a good kicking from bloggers and the press about this matter, because it is on their watch. As a parent and a blogger, I would have exposed this story whoever was in charge, because what has happened is simply not acceptable. I will kick those that can make things better, in this case the Conservative administration. The leaders of the administration know this will not play well for them with an election looming. That is too bad. If they don't want this sort of story, make sure schools are properly funded and properly run. If hygiene reports are bad, fix them immediately, don't boot the report into the long grass. This has been known about since January. If the Council was doing it's job properly they would have sorted it out by now and invited the bloggers for a guided tour of how marvellous the repairs etc had been and how quickly they'd been done when it came to light. Maybe they'd have invited the local press as well and Martin Bonkarier could have bought us that pie and a pint afterwards.

 

None of that happened, so we are where we are. If the problems get fixed, that is a good outcome as far as I am concerned.

 

 

 

Holly Park Primary School Barnet - A Shocking Food Hygiene Report - A Joint Blog

We all have an expectation that our children will be cared for when they are at school, and we rely on our local council to ensure their safety, with a rigorous enforcement of the regulations regarding food hygiene. Young children are at a higher risk from the consequences of failing to uphold the high standards expected in these areas, and the result of such failures could be devastating for pupils.

On 12 December 2013 Holly Park Primary School kitchen was inspected  by an Environmental Health Officer from Barnet Council. They gave the school a zero rating, the lowest possible, citing amongst other things:

• Cobwebs and insects over food preparation areas;
• Flaking paint from the ceiling;
• Windows that don’t shut allowing in rain, leaves and insects;
• Leaking pipe;
• Damaged floor tiles;
• Broken ventilation allowing pests into the kitchen;
• No pest control contract;
• Work surfaces and storage areas which cannot be properly cleaned;
• Mould and condensation to the skylight and ceiling in the dry store where food is stored;
• Kitchen staff using broken electrical sockets and extension leads because other electrical sockets were not working;
• No evidence of a current electrical safety certificate;
• Broken lights ;
• Broken and disused kitchen equipment which were difficult to clean behind;
• Kitchen staff WC with holes in the walls and ceiling;
• Leak in the kitchen floor;
• An insecticutor  (one of those blue light machines  you see in kitchens that zap flies and insects) full of dead insects;
• Inadequate and overflowing bins.

Having read the food hygiene inspection report at Holly Park, as well as the follow up visits report, it is clear that something has gone very badly wrong at this school, and that this matter needs to be brought to public attention.

In total there were 21 contraventions of law listed with timescales for remedy ranging from immediately to 28 days. Bear in mind this inspection took place a week before the school broke up for Christmas but, as far as we are aware, parents were not informed of this situation and food continued to be served from this kitchen.

On 14 January 2014 a follow up visit was made by the Environmental Health Officer. Given that this was more than 28 days after the first visit, all of the contraventions of law should have been remedied. Sadly that wasn’t the case and the follow up report reveals the following:

• The walls and ceiling had not been cleaned and there were still cobwebs and insects in the kitchen;
• The floor had only been given a temporary repair but the Environmental  Health Officer required them to monitor the leak;
• Pests could still get in through the windows because they could not be shut – it was suggested that this was because the windows could not take the weight of the roof and had bowed out of shape.
• The work surfaces and shelves that could not be properly cleaned had still not been replaced;
• The electrical safety certificate had still not been produced;
• The flaking paint had not been dealt with.

 This visit took place a week after the children had gone back to school and food was still being served out of the kitchen. You can read the full report here.

What is apparent is that most of these issues are structural and denote a total lack of investment in this school kitchen. Barnet are always ready to claim credit for the excellent standards in schools but this indicates they have completely overlooked essential safety in the kitchen of this school.

We would also note that two there are two other schools in the Borough that achieved inadequate food hygiene ratings, Deansbrook Junior School in Hale Drive which scored just one point (Major improvement necessary) and Underhill Infants School  which scored two points (Improvement necessary).

You can read the food hygiene ratings for all Barnet schools here:

http://www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk/

Serious questions about the situation at Holly Park must be addressed. 

1.  Have the problems now been completely resolved and if not why not?
2.  Were parents fully informed of these problems? If not, why not? Surely they had a right to know -especially those parents whose children have school dinners?
3. Were the governors of the school, including Cllr Brian Salinger made aware of this report? If not, why not, and if they were, did they not think parents had a right to be informed of the situation?
4.  Why did Barnet Council allow a kitchen in such a poor state of repair continue to operate, and why, when they were given a zero rating, did they fail to remedy so many of the contraventions within the timescale set by the Environmental Health Officer?
5.  Were there any conflicts of interest between Re, the council’s contractor  who now operates Environmental Health, and the Council over the role of the Environmental Health Officer, given that the Officer now has two employers – Capita, before they enter and after they leave the premises, and the Council, whilst they carry out the inspection?

 In the best interests of all families with children at Barnet’s schools, we ask Barnet Council to respond in full to the concerns raised here, as soon as possible, so as to reassure residents that the privatisation of council services and management of statutory roles in the One Barnet programme is not placing children or any other residents at risk.

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This blog is also reproduced on other Barnet Blogs to ensure as wide an audience and as many local parents as possible are made aware of the situation. 

A few thoughts on Gay Marriage on my 19th wedding anniversary

Today is my 19th wedding anniversary. It may or may not surprise you to know that, unlike me, my wife hasn't got a willy. Does this fact bother you? Would it bother you more if she had? The most surprising thing for me is that she hasn't booted e out yet, but hey ho, there's still time. Why did I get married? for one simple reason, to give our children a sense of stability and security. I didn't get married because I love my wife, not because I don't, I do, but I never felt I needed a public declaration of this. I didn't get married so I could have a sex life, I already had this, we'd been going out for ten years. I didn't get married because I thought life would be wonderful afterwards, it has had ups and downs. I simply got married to safeguard my childrens future.

But that isn't the whole story. We have a secure relationship and we are a team. I couldn't have achieved any of the things I've achieved without her. I have a happy home life and we share many things. For all the ups and downs we are there for each other and have supported each other through the good times and bad. If I were to day, being married would protect her and my childrens finances from the taxman.

In short, my life is happier and more secure because 19 years ago today we signed a register in the Marylebone Registry office. So the question I ask myself is this, if it has made me happy and secure, in a fair society should anyone have any right to deny anyone else such security and happiness, purely on the number of willies in the relationship? In fairness I can't say so.

Maria Miller has got to go

Cabinet Minister Maria Miller, scheduled to be the guest of honour for a fundraising dinner for Conservative MP Matthew Offord last week is a disgrace and should be sacked by David Cameron. Ms Miller has been exposed as someone who has played fast and loose with the rules regarding expenses. I don't believe that anyone caught fiddling thousands of pounds in expenses in the world of private industry would survive.

I am particularly shocked at the silence of Matthew Offord on the subject. Despite my many differences on issues of policy with Matthew, I've always respected his attitude towards expenses. He has been very frugal in his claims, using this as a stick to beat his Hendon opponenent and rival Andrew Dismore. Mr Offords total silence in regard of Ms Miller shows a double standard that I don't believe the electorate will overlook.

You cannot claim an opponent is unelectable as a result of their attitude to expenses, whilst forgiving the sins of your mates. The replacement for Miller at the Hendon Tories dinner, Gillian Grant also has 'form' for playing fast and loose with expenses.

The Barnet Eye had a public flling out with Mr Dismore in 2009 over his expenses. We believe that he's learned his lesson. We felt that Mr Offord, for all his sins, had an exemplary record on the issue. Now we see he uses double standards for his mates. When the campaign gets dirty, this will come back to haunt him

The Saturday list #60 - The top ten most silly tweets in Barnet this week

Here's my selection of the top ten most stupid tweets in Barnet this week

1. - Cllr Robert Rams‏@CllrRobertRamsApr 3

New Blog - And Now For Something Completely Different - http://robertrams.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/and-now-for-something-completely-different/ … with @DannyStone1

 

(Robert Rams reveals a fascination with wrestling)

 

2. True Blue @TrueBlueBarnet · Apr 3

This is all very predictable. I'm going to walk my cat.

 

(Deputy Council Leader Daniel Thomas reveals he has too much time on his hands)

 

3. BarnetGrassCons@BarnetGrassCons · Mar 31

‘Gay Marriage’ champion Maria Miller hosts fundraiser for Matthew Offord this Thursday in Hendon http://www.hendonconservatives.org/events

 

(One of the faces of Dan Hope getting it wrong again. Ms Miller bottled out after being exposed for fiddling her expenses)

 

4. Barnet Bugle@barnetbugle · Mar 30

Are Labour’s bloggers softening up voters for a Council Tax rise should they manage to win in May? http://barneteye.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/barnet-council-and-debt-time-bomb.html …

 

(Another face of Dan Hope, this time pretending that I'm a 'Labour blogger' despite the fact I'm banned from being a member of the party and stood for another party at the last election)

 

5. Brian Coleman@BrianTotteridge · Apr 3

Aintree's Ladies Day: too risque as punters stay away | via @Telegraph http://fw.to/2LQe6aD The word that springs to mind is "common"

 

(Disgraced criminal councillor comes out as a snob, despite living in charity subsidised paupers accomadation)

 

 

6. Mike Freer MP@mikefreermp · Apr 4

Great to have @George_Osborne visit Brent X to see how Treasury help with regen scheme will deliver new station, 7500 homes & 27000 jobs

 

(Mike Freer gets a bit of 'Spinitus')

 

 

7. FirstCapitalConnect@FirstCC · 15h ago

If you are heading out by train this weekend make sure you check for any planned changes before planning your journey http://bit.ly/YTXUOi

 

(First Capital Connect should get an award for stating the bleeding obvious)

 

8. Barnet Council@BarnetCouncil · Apr 1

Sorry we are currently experiencing problems with our out of hours number. In emergency pls call 0203 142 8467. Thanks

 

(Barnet Council tweets that it isn't working!)

 

9.Chris Hewett‏@TimesChewit1987Mar 27

Named and shamed: Barnet's nine worst takeaways, restaurants and supermarkets (From Times Series) http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/11108698.Named_and_shamed__Barnet_s_nine_worst_takeaways__restaurants_and_supermarkets/?ref=twtrec …

 

(Actually this isn't  a silly tweet, but the story originally said the Ten worst takeaways, when there were seven, a butcher and a grocer)

 

 

10. Rog T@Barneteye · Mar 25

Man U fans nevermind. You are a massive club! Ha ha

 

(Yup, I can be a stupid idiot as well)

Cornelius the genius is on a roll

Cornelius the Genius contemplates the future

I'll let you in on a little secret. Richard Cornelius, Leader of Barnet Council, loves his job. How do I know? Because he told me. On a social level I get on fine with Richard. If I didn't write a blog saying what a rotten job he's doing, I'm sure he'd count me amongst his closest political allies. In fact he probably does anyway. You see, contrary to the popular view, the man is a political genius. Despite the fact that his administration has presided over some of the most hard right, divisive policies ever enacted by any Tory Council anywhere, Richard has emerged totally unscathed. There are no "blame Corny" protests. In fact neither the local Trades Unions or the local Labour Party have a clue how to deal with him. He writes a column in the local paper, but no one takes him to task. He enacts policies which have cost hundreds of jobs, but there are no burning effigies of him. In fact no one seems to hold him responsible for anything at all.

His council has presided over some monumental cock ups and done some inexplicably stupid things. The Your Choice Barnet botched privatisation, giving Capita £16 million after saying the purpose of the One Barnet Contract was to make Capita invest, renewing the Catalyst Care contract after all manner of court battles and even a death. But no one says "It is all the fault of Richard Cornelius". At the election, I doubt more than 10% of people know who he is. I suspect that more people in Barnet think Brian Coleman is the leader of the Council than Richard.

You may ask why he considers me one of his closest allies. This is down to the nature of the Tory group. Unlike most of them Richard has a very thick skin. I suspect that this blog is the only place where anyone has had a proper go at him. If you search his name you'll find hundreds of references. Few say anything positive and despite my best efforts some are quite nasty really. The thing is that to Richard this is a real bonus. He simply doesn't care what the Barnet Eye writes, but he knows that plenty of those who'd stab him in the back would care. He simply says to them "Have you seen what the bloggers are saying about me, isn't it terrible, my wife gets so cross about it" and they all think to themselves "Hang on a second, do I really want Mrs Angry & the Barnet Eye trawling my cupboards for skeletons". Richard finds Mrs Angry hilarious, he confided this, but said most of his colleagues are scared to death of her. You see Richard does not take himself at all seriously. Every time I get a photoshopped picture of him stroking a white cat, looking like Dr Evil, he knows that his more pompous, self important rivals for the job whither a bit on the vine.

That is the true genius of Richard Cornelius. Like a Judo fighter, he has used his opponents power against them. Every personal attack on him has strengthened him. He also got lucky. When Brian Coleman got booted out, he was able to say "look what happens if you upset the bloggers, it's not very nice".

For some strange reason, the local Labour Party are somehow in a state of paralysis faced with Richard Cornelius. They don't know how to cope with him. He knows this and has played them like a Grandmaster. He set a budgetary trap for them, which they walked into. He somehow managed to persuade Labour to buy into the Your Choice baleout, ensuring that he got off scot free.

If in May he gets re-elected, who knows what will happen. Rumours abound about a putsch by the "young turks" of the local Tory party. I suspect that they would be making a terrible folly if they did. I suspect that Richard has been diligently opening up their cupboards when they are in the loo and knows of all the skeletons. I suspect that, like a smiling assassin, anyone who crosses him will find out they've made a terrible mistake, but only when their career has already been murdered.

But then again, what do I know ;^)

The Friday Joke4/4/2014

A man walks into his local garden centre and says to the assistant "Please can you direct me to the shed department". The assistant points and says "down that aisle and through the door". When he finds them, another assistant approaches him. Noticing that the customer seems puzzled, he asks "How can I help sir?" The man replies "Where are the coloured sheds , these are all wood?". The assistant replies "That's the only colour that sheds come in". The man looks extremely disappointed. The assistant helpfully asks "What is the matter sir, can I help?". The man replies "Not really, it's just my wife told me our lovelife had become rather dull and she was thinking of leaving me. I love my wife and so I told her I'd do anything to keep her. She replied I could start by having a look at 50 sheds of grey".

I showed this to my wife, she said "The old ones are the best", I asked if that was why she's still with me, she said "We'll it isn't for your grey shed is it?".

Have a great weekend

John Sullivan and the local Tory Leadership

Barnet Eye Guest Blogger John Sullivan described the local leadership of Barnet Council as "The Scum of the Earth" for their decision to cut the funding to Mapledown School, a special school for disabled children, by £45,000. He said that in his opinion Rueben Thompstone, who suggested that parents of disabled children should hold coffee mornings and jumble sales in their spare time, is clearly totally unfit for public officem, as he clearly has no clue about the stress of dealing with a heavily disabled child 24 X 7.

John believes that any political ideology that targets the disabled for cuts, is by definition degenerate and the public should hold such people in high disdain. Those of us with a knowledge of history know here political ideologies that start by targeting soft groups such as the disabled end up. It is a chilling thought that our party of Government did not expel a member who called for the disabled to be gulliotined. It is perhaps more disturbing that they did later expel him for membership of UKIP.

I spoke to John yesterday and he is making a good recovery from his recent major operation for cancer. He was about to have his first piece of toast since half his bowel and a meter of his small intestine were removed. I hope he enjoyed it.

Nearly every time I speak to John he chides me for being too nice about the Conservative Leader of Barnet Council, Richard Cornelius and his merry men. In Johns opinion he is the epitomy of evil. John would like every blog in the Barnet Eye to put the boot into Richard every day.

I however think that Richard Cornelius and Rueben Thompstone are not evil men. I think they are rather lucky and privelidged chaps who simply have no clue about the lives of many unfortunate people  who rely on their judgement for care packages. Rueben Thompstone confessed that he'd never been to Mapledown School. I've volunteered for a disabled charity for many years, so I've been at the coalface. What I find shocking is how many people simply do not see the disabled as human beings. One time, a fellow helper broke her leg and ended up in a wheelchair. She found that all of a sudden, she didn't exist. All questions were addressed to her helper. In fact I think many people have a deep loathing and resentment of the disabled, as they hold a mirror up to all of us and we don't always like what we see.

There is an old saying that 'Beauty is only skin deep'. Sadly many 'beautiful people' are so self absorbed that they cannot see beyond the false eyelashes. Similarly, relatively wealthy men like Mr Cornelius cannot see beyond the curtains, which they keep drawn to the sadness and misery out there.

So what should we do? Well I was thinking about John Sullivan after our conversation. John is an angry man. The treatment of his daughter by the uncaring local bureaucracies has fed a furnace in his heart. He is angry with good reason. He feels his daughter is under attack and he blames the local political leadership for this. Every time they make a heartless cut at a school such as Mapledown or close a day centre, it gets harder and harder to disagree with him.

Whatever happens at the Council election in May, there is one thing we know for certain. We have had twelve years of the Conservative Party and we can be certain what their priorities are.

We can be certain that looking after the disabled is not on their list. Whether John is right that this is driven by evil and malice or I am right and it is simply the act of people who don't care and don't want to care is irrelevant. The net result is the same, the disabled of Barnet suffer.  At the end of the day it is not the cause of the policies that matter, it is the effect and the effects are terrible for those involved. What Mr Rueben Thompstone didn't seem to understand is that his cut to Mapledown School budget has a massive effect on the lives of those who are on the receiving end. Consider that when you vote in May.

Note : Many apologies for calling the school "Merrydown" in an earlier draft. John Sullivan suggested that I'd been hitting the cider

Matthew Offord MP - Does he actually know where his constituency is?

I was shocked to read this report on the Barnet Press website yesterday about the relocation of the National Institute for Medical Research to St Pancras.

http://www.edgware-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=10752&headline=Cabinet%20minister%20Francis%20Maude%20visits%20relocating%20medical%20research%20centre

The article says

Accompanying the minister Hendon MP Matthew Offord admitted the residents of Mill Hill would be sorry to see the Institute leave its home after nearly 65 years.

He said: “We are greatly saddened to lose the Institute. But I would have to say I would agree with the minister, this is a national institute, not the Mill Hill Institute for Medical Research. And the opportunities that would become available at St Pancreas will not only mean that more scientists from around the world will be able to access it, but also the capacity of the building will be greatly increased.”

I could not believe the stupidity of Mr Offord in making this statement. It implies that Mill Hill is in the outback and difficult to access. Does Mr Offord not realise that there is a direct fast train on the Thameslink line which connects with St Pancras in 15 minutes? Does Mr Offord. Does Mr Offord also not realise that the NIMR is currently only a ten minute walk from the Northern Line at Mill Hill East? Does he not realise that there is ample onsite parking? Does he not realise that it would be quicker for the scientists he mentioned, arriving from all around the world, to drive to NIMR from Luton, Stanstead and Heathrow Airports given the proximity of Mill Hill to the A1/A41/M1/A406/M25? I run a business that has a large international client base and they choose us for this very reason.

The loss of the NIMR is yet another major loss to the Barnet economy. All Mr Offord seems able to see is the opportunity for a few flats. What prosperity and jobs will these bring to Barnet? I actually worked in the NIMR in the 1970's as a lab porter. The local Tories are obsessed with building flats, but don't give a stuff about real jobs for the young people coming through. Barnet Council should have fought tooth and nail to retain this global centre of excellence. The fact that our MP thinks St Pancras is easier to get to than the NIMR shows just how little he knows about his community. I saw his comments as an attack on his own constituency and a deliberate attempt to talk down what a great place the London Borough of Barnet is to do business.

Just to illustrate the point, here is a link to the page on my business website that shows just how easy Mill Hill is to get to from just about anywhere - http://www.millhillmusiccomplex.co.uk/contact/findus/

I will formally be writing to Mr Offord, inviting him for a guided tour of Mill Hill, just so he doesn't put his foot in it again, when speaking to the local press. Mill Hill is accessable and has great transport links and any local MP who doesn't realise this after four years in the job, really shouldn't be our MP at all.

Barnet Council announce ambitious plans for Mill Hill Park

Barnet Council today unveil ambitious plans for Mill Hill park. This will involve a complete rebuild of the dilapidated pavillion and new ornamentalgardens. State of the art football and cricket pitches will be included. The project will be funded by the sale of the civil defence byilding in Daws Lane which will be demolished and replaced with a Mosque and Islamic centre for Mill Hills ever growing Moslem community. We understand that Daws Lane car park will become part of the complex with parking spaces moved underground.Whilst the Barnet Eye supports plans to improve the park, we find the timing, just two weeks before councill election purdah a little suspicious.