Wednesday, 11 October 2017

North Finchley Regeneration Update - Consensus at the council

Oktoberfest at the Bohemia, North Finchley This Saturday
Last week, we generated a huge amount of interest about the proposed North Finchley regeneration project, which was up for discussion at Council last night. As previously mentioned, I put a series of five questions in and also requested to address the session. I was one of five members of the public who asked to address the meeting and there were also numerous questions. Also being discussed was Barnets transport strategy, but we won't cover that here. Two members of the public from local residents associations, along with Helen Michael, from the North Finchley Traders. The residents had a whole set of concerns about the impact of the plans on residents. Traffic, disruption, overcrowding and overdevelopment were key themes. Helen Michael was worried about the impact on local businesses of construction and loss of parking. Various councillors asked questions. It emerged that there was a cross party consensus that the previous attempt at North Finchley regeneration and the Town Team was seen as a failure that had failed to deliver real improvements, despite a huge grant from the Mayor of London. My address was to request that papers for such meetings are put on the Council website earlier. There was only three days between the publication of the papers and the closure date for questions. With so much in the reports, it is simply not feasable to read everything properly. Councillor Cornelius, council leader, agreed that this was something that could be looked at. I stated that I did not oppose the plans, I wanted the job done properly.

This scheme, backed by the developers of Brent Cross is a step change. There will be huge changes, including new building, a multi story car park in Lodge Lane, a new traffic layout, parking changes and lots of new residents. All parties agreed that North Finchley needs improving. No one stated that this scheme was bad. The questions were around the detail. Blogger Mr Reasonable asked where the social housing tenants of Barbara Langstone house would go. Councillor Cornelius admitted he didn't know. He suggested that it wasn't a nice place to live. Mr Reasonable stated that for the tenants it was the only choice and if it was going, the issue had to be addressed. There was discussion around the bus garage. Where would the buses live if the aspiration of closing the garage was achieved. Conservative Councillor Tony Finn suggested that the selection of shops in North Finchley was pretty good. There was much good humoured mirth at his comment that there was a very good "specialist shoe shop". His colleague Tom Davey suggested that the only way to improve town centres was either more parking or lots of rich residents. He worried that the scheme wasn't viable. His Boss, Councillor Cornelius "shot him down from the right" by saying that the developers knew what they were doing and wouldn't spend cash if there was no business case.

Labour Councillors, some of whom were ward councillors were generally supportive. They wanted more detail. It emerged that a transport survey had not been done. Cllr Houston suggested that this was vital to properly understand the scheme. This seemed to have been adopted. Cllr Houston also suggested that the six weeks consultation seemed short. There was some discussion and the reason was to complete it before a meeting in February. No one asked if the meeting could be moved back a month. It was agreed that six weeks would be initially set as the period, with a 'pragmatic' approach and an extension if local interest warranted it. Councillor Schneiderman was worried that existing traders would be forced out. It was suggested that the developer may wish to come up with some ideas to prevent this.

The committee unanimously agreed to take the proposal forward to the next stage. My overall view is that there is recognition that the area needs improvement. There is consensus that the concept of the scheme is good. It is at a very early stage and the detail is far from clear. We will follow this and when the consultation starts, will ensure that readers of this blog are kept fully informed.

One final comment. I must congratulate Cllr Cornelius on how he chaired the meeting. Public comment and questions went overtime by ten minutes. Unlike some committee chairs, he recognised that this was useful. He treated all of the questioners with due respect and courtesy. The committee also debated the issues with a far greater degree of common sense than many debates I've seen. I was pleased to hear that Cllr Finn had bothered to go and have a look around. Even some rather strange comments by Cllr Davey were treated with good humour and respect by the Labour Councillors. When he got too excited, Councillor Cornelius gently brought him back to reality. I am not sure whether it is the election looming or a more general recognition that the "Coleman era rudeness" to residents and taxpayers has been counter productive, but it very much seems to me that the regime in Barnet has adopted a far more sensible approach to such meetings of late. Lets hope that this conversion survives the next election, whoever wins.
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Monday, 9 October 2017

There is no community without community spaces

I had a walk around the other side of Mill Hill at the weekend. I live just off Mill Hill Broadway, so I thought I'd have a mosey around Millbrook Park, the huge development on the site of the former Inglis Barracks. This was where the Royal Engineers were based. What struck me was the lack of infrastructure to support The community. In the Broadway, we have all manner of facilities. The scheme is building 2,200 new homes. On the Linden homes website, it lists local amenities (strangely showing an airport on Lawrence St). What is alarming is the total lack of amenities on the site. No shops, pubs, secondary schools, non faith schools, medical centres, restaurants, leisure facilities, or restaurants.

This has two big downsides. Firstly how will a local community ever develop? Without communal activity there can be no sense of belonging. Secondly everyone will need a car to do anything. Compare and contrast with The Watling Estate, built with 4032 homes in the 1930's. It came with shops, schools, youth centres, pubs, restaurants, churches with church halls, a new tube line, football fields. To compliment the main Watling shops, there were smaller parades such as Deanesbrook.

In short, the planners in 1920's understood the concept of community. How on earth can Barnet planners allow such a desert of cultural activity to have been built. The nearest pub, the railway engineer has been allowed to shut. The nearest tube station, Mill Hill East has had its direct service to London decimated. The one school on site is a CofE faith school.

There is a big problem for new residents. The roads are not adopted by the council. This means you pay Council tax, but they don't maintain your road. This is just not fair or equitable.
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Sunday, 8 October 2017

The Tweets of The Week in The London Borough of Barnet - 08/10/2017

It's that time of the week again, so here's our pick of the best from our little corner of paradise!

Don't forget to follow any tweeters who tickle your fancy.

1. We kick off with some acorns in Burnt Oak. I've always had a fascination with Acorns. Never quite figured out why!



2. A little bit of rather sad history from Edgware. Many of us remember the White Lion and Edgware Town's ground with very fond memories


3. Once again, thanks and appreciation to the brave lads and lasses of the fire brigade, keeping us safe and putting their necks on the line, rescuing people in Colindale fire.


4.Good luck to Layla, a budding football star from Hendon, with her England trial today!


5. Sad to see that the curse of fly tipping continues


6. The Mayor of London has a approved another mega-housing scheme in Mill Hill. Where are the schools?


7. Today is a notably anniversary in local history. This is a great picture. Not how most of us remember Lady T.


8. This is probably the picture of the week! An amazing view of the Bald Faced Stag in Finchley.


9.The Scaffolding is down at Stephens House!


10.Did you know that Mill Hill is the home to one of Londons most famous recording studios?



That's all folks!

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Saturday, 7 October 2017

The Saturday List #149 - My Seven most embarrassing moments (that I'm willing to share)

We've all been there, haven't we? You know that awful feeling when you just want the world to swallow you up, because you've managed to make yourself look like a prize fool. Well I thought I'd share my top ten with you. So here we go!

1. Cricklewood Hotel, Sat 30th November 1985.
This was the night of an infamous Falde Dots gig. This was a big gig for us. We had just returned from Belgium and were on a bit of a high. The venue was packed. What could possibly go wrong? Well unfortunately for me, the stage was made from beer crates. Half way through a guitar solo, it collapsed beneath me and I was left looking like a prize berk. Even worse, I broke my guitar. Fortunately, I had a spare, but no one let me forget it.

2. SPL International offices May 1984.
I was working for an IT company called SPL International. My job was as the computer system manager. They developed software and I often used to nip in to do maintenance jobs at the weekend, that I couldn't do during the week. My ex girlfriend accompanied me on one occasion. The office was always deserted at the weekend. I had the run of the place. My girlfriend had managed to spill something on her skirt. I suggested that she wash the stain out and dry the skirt on the radiator. I assured her no one would come in. She did this and was sitting there in her knickers, when my boss happened to walk in. He was suitably amused, but she was not!


3. Cromwells Bazaar, Burnt Oak, 12 May 1983.
You may wonder how I remember the date so well? It was my Ex girlfriends birthday. I offered to buy her some new Levi's jeans. She wanted to go to Brent Cross to choose some, but I persuaded her that Cromwells Bazaar in Burnt Oak had a better selection (the fact it was cheaper played no part in the equation). She found a pair of Levi's she liked the look of. She went to the changing room, came back and asked the question every man fears "does my bum lookbig in these?". I said "no", but clearly there was a slight inflection in my voice and I received the look forged in the fires of Hades, that women give you when you know they have taken a slight. I realised that she was not going to be giving me a birthday treat later. But how much worse could it get? Well much worse. When she went back to the changing room to try another pair, she found that the zip was stuck. The Jeans could not be removed. It turned out that the Levi's were manufactured to the highest quality. No amount encouragement could budge the zip or prize them off. Eventually, the manager of the shop had to nip down the road to a hardware store, to purchase a Stanley knife, to chop her out. Not only was it highly embarrassing, but I knew that there would be a heavy price to pay!

4. The Washington Square Hotel, New York City, October 1991
I arrived at the Washington Square Hotel, straight from a flight. I checked in, then went out for some refreshments. I found a rather unfriendly Irish Bar, where the barman hated the British. I always refer to him as Mr Plastic Mc Paddy, when I retell the story. He was extremely rude to me. At first I couldn't work out why, so I asked him if I'd offended him. He replied that "all Brits offend me". I realised that this poor soul, who had never set foot in Ireland, personally blamed me for the centuries of British persecution of the Irish. At this I became indignant. My family has strong republican credentials. So I said "For your information, I'm probably more Irish than you and my grandfathers cousin was Kevin Barry". Events took a turn for the worse, when, to my complete surprise, Mr Plastic replied "who the f.... is Kevin Barry". At this, a gentleman who was sitting at the bar and it transpired was something to do with the local IRA went ballistic at him for insulting a republican martyr. After that I was treated like a celebrity and drank free Guinness all night long at the barman's expense. I staggered back to the hotel, stripped off and fell asleep. Later on, awaking and being drunk and disorientated, I  staggered to what I thought was the bathroom. As I steppred in and the door slammed behind me, I realised my mistake. I was standing naked on the landing of the Washington Square Hotel. I had no key and no choice but to go to reception and get them to let me back in.

5. Centrefile, Aldgate, January 1992.
This one was a slow burn. I was interviewed for a job as a freelance IT Consultant. At the interview, the chap interviewing said "I see you used to work for BACS Ltd, what sort of things did you do there". I proceeded to explain how I'd taken some software that was really badly designed and used to take 23 hours to run and managed to fine tune it to run in four minutes. I assumed the interview went very well as I was offered the post. About six weeks later, I was in the pub with my new colleagues and one started to say "tell him John, go on" to the chap who interviewed me. After much sniggering, I was informed that he was the guy who designed the software I'd spent ten minutes rubbishing. I felt awful.

6. SPL International. March 1984.
At the time, the company was based in Windmill St, W1, just off Tottenham Court Road. We used to play five a side football on a Tuesday. We'd being our kit in and change in the office, then walk up to the pitches, which were behind Warren St. My colleagues were amused by the fact I didn't have a sports bag. I just used to pop my kit into a Budgens carrier bag. On this particular occasions, I went to get changed and found that I'd made a slight mistake. When my ex girlfriend had got up, she'd put the kitchen waste, which was also in a Budgens bag, by the front door. I'd brought this in to work. My colleagues found this hilarious.

7. Mill Hill, August 1979 .
This was meant to be a key moment in The False Dot's career. We were being interviewed by Baj from XPert I Punk fanzine. We were due to support the UK Subs in Derby. The interview was all set up. He'd come and watch us rehearse and then have a chat. What could possibly go wrong. Everything. Two days before the interview, Dave  Edwards, our drummer was attacked in Mill Hill Broadway. He was thrown through the window of WH Smiths and severed a tendon. There was no way we could perform the gig and no way we could perform at the rehearsal. I said to Pete Conway that we should cancel Baj's visitm, but he said "no, we'll play him some tapes and have a chat. It's a better story". On the day of the interview, Pete turned up late and drunk. Baj was already in a foul mood because he'd come to see a rehearsal for a band playing in Derby and that wasn't happening. He asked Dave why he was thrown through the window. He replied that he'd been mistaken for Pete Conway. At that Pete walked in and started to misbehave. After five minutes Baj left. The interview was published. We'd played him a badly recorded cassette. He suggested that 'their music is as immature as their behaviour". A week later we split up. If anyone has a copy of the mag, I'd love to see it again!


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Friday, 6 October 2017

The Friday Joke - 05/10/2017 - Suspended due to essential maintenance at local Libraries

If you've never met me and only read my blogs, I suspect that you will be a tad surprised, should you ever have the misfortune to spend some time with me. I try my hardest to be polite and nice to people, to put people at ease and to genuinely try and give them the benefit of the doubt. I am well known for enjoying the craic as they say where my Grandad was born. I try my hardest to present a cheerful demeanour to the world and to make people smile. I always enjoy putting together the Friday Joke. It is a bit of light relief and I hope that the readers of the blog enjoy it.

I am, therefore always highly fed up when I have to miss printing one, unless it is to promote a gig, or some other great local event. I believe that we should strive to make life joyous and a celebration. Once in a while, however, my sunny demeanour is disturbed and I feel a joke is not appropriate. Today is one such occasion. The source of my ire? A completely dishonest tweet from the Barnet Conservatives, in response to a Tweet from the Save Barnet Libraries campaign.
When you give evidence in court, you are asked to give three things. The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth. If you do not do this a Judge, Jury or Magistrate will deem you to be untrustworthy. Your evidence is likely to be discounted and you may well find yourself in trouble for perjury.

So how does the @BarnetTories tweet stand in this respect. Well if you apply this test to the statement, it would not be unreasonable to conclude that the Barnet Tories have done a marvellously good job as the custodians of the jewels that comprise Barnet's library service. But does the tweet tell the whole truth? Would M'Lud conclude that they are reliable, honest and decent witnesses? Or would he conclude that they are a tad shifty?

Lets present the evidence.

They state that unlike Brent, which is run by Labour,  no libraries have shut on their watch. But they are playing fast and loose with the truth. Lets take a look at Mill Hill Library. As a toddler, my mum would take me there and I'd select Thomas The Tank Engine books from the marvellous childrens library section on the left had side. Mum would bring these home and read them to me. This cycle was repeated with my own children. It is not in my nature to boast, but I believe that this is a critical factor in the incredible academic success of my children. The children's library had been refurbished and was a very child friendly place where youngsters could enjoy books while mums socialised. There are many reasons why you don't really want children and toddlers sharing a space with adult
library users. Hopefully I don't really need to spell these out.

Sadly, the childrens library in Mill Hill has shut. It has been taken over by the Mill Hill Hub. This provides all sorts of marvellous things, such as hot desking facilites for business people, a cafe and a space for performances. In many ways it is a good thing. But it is not a proper childrens library. There is still a library, in Mill Hill. It is 50% of the size of the previous library. Some libraries have had their size cut by far more. If you cut a library's size down by 50-75%, that means that there are a half or a quarter as many books. It means that more people are crammed in and the environment is less conducive to work. Now that is bad enough, but if you sack the librarian and let untrained volunteers run the show, it ceases to be a library. I have shelves of books in my house and I know what they all are. But is my house a library? Of course it isn't.

Now I have a degree of sympathy for our local Conservative administration. The government has put them in an impossible position with budget cuts. Whilst I believe that they are misguided to cut library provision, I can see why they have made such a decision. If they were honest and said "We would love to keep our local library service, but the government has cut our budgets to the point where it is unsustainable", I would applaud them for their honesty, if nothing else. But they can't do that because they know it would make the local Tory MP's, all with wafer thin majorities, even more vulnerable. So what do they do?

They do something which is despicable and dishonest. They put out leaflets which are misleading and dishonest. They have only "not closed libraries" if you think that children don't matter and that a room with a few books in it and a few people hanging around to tidy up is a library. To run a library, you need to be qualified, as in study and have exams. This means that when members of the public come in, you can answer their queries.

And then there is the opening hours. In 2012 these were the opening hours
Click for a more readable version
And what are they like today?
Click for a more readable version

So there are two different models of cuts, both of which I believe are short sighted, bad for our communities and unfair on residents who use libraries (typically, the elderly, young families and those with financial difficulties). The Brent model where you close half of the libraries, but keep a decent service at the rest or the Barnet model where you close half of the space, get rid of the staff and provide a service run by untrained amateurs (who are clearly decent and publicly minded people).

Not only that but many Barnet libraries are self service. These are closed to children and minors. In Barnet, children don't really seem to matter at all to our Conservative councillors, which may well be why OFSTED issued such a damning report of childrens services.  Despite the prosperity in Barnet, many live in poverty and many students and young people use the libraries as a quiet space for study and revision. I used to myself when revising for exams. There is no telly, no distractions. If the space is not open, it is shut. As you can see, your local library is shut far more regularly.

There is an ancillary matter as well to consider. They say they've spent £7 million on refurbishment and "new techs". None of this has been spent on libraries, it has been spent on making the space suitable for other purposes. So is this statement "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".

So when the Tories say "Thanks for drawing attention to our £7m investment in new tech & refurbs to keep all libraries open! @BrentLabour closed 1/2 theirs instead. ", is it the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth". I'll let you, the jury decide in May next year

God bless the child, but not in Barnet. Here we bless vested interests. I can't lift your mood with a joke today with a joke, I apologise. But here is some truly awesome music that sums up how I feel and how I worry for our community. May God bless you!

 
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Thursday, 5 October 2017

Top Ten songs for the Tory Conference

It seems that the Tories have upset a whole host of artists by using their music at conference without permission. I thought I'd be helpful and put together a playlist for them.

1. Ain't got a clue - The Lurkers
2. The Backstabbers - The O'Jays
3. Crying Eyes - JJ Cale
4. Waiting for The Man - Velvet Underground
5. Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash
6. No woman no cry - Bob Marley and The Wailers
7. I Can't Get No Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
8. Blondes have more fun - Rod Stewart
9. How much longer? - Alternative Television
10. Embarrassment - Madness

What would be your Conference song?
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Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Barnet Council Election 2018 - You can make a difference

Next May, all 63 Councillors in the 21 wards of Barnet Council will stand for re-election. The council has been run by the Local Conservatives since 2002. Prior to that it was run by a Labour/Lib Dem coalition. If you think things have been just fine and then the local Tories have done a marvellous job, then clearly you should vote for them. Regular readers of this blog, which started in 2008, will perhaps take a different view. The scandals and cockups have been numerous. Locl democracy has been all but destroyed by the One Barnet outsourcing, giving Capita control of planning. We are now even seeing local developers paying the wages of planners to work on pet projects. Yesterday we described a mega redevelopment of North Finchley by the developers of Brent Cross. After writing the blog, local blogger Mr Reasonable pointed out to us that the developer was paying the people who are meant to be impartial in the planning office.
We think that this is completely unacceptable. Planners are meant to be completely impartial. In recent months we've seen officers (who work for Capita) recommending all manner of completely unacceptable schemes. As there is an election next year, Tory councillors who normally adopt a very bovine stance on such matters, have realised their cushy £10,000 allowance and free parking permits are on the line and voted to reject them. 

Anyone who knows Barnet Council, will know that once they have secured another term, business as usual will resume. Barnet is a Mecca for developers, there are more flats going up here, than anywhere else in Western Europe. Virtually all our out of the price range of local first time buyers. That is why they are being marketed in Hong Kong.

The green belt is under threat like never before. Barnets solution to the backlog of people requiring social housing is to ship people up to Peterborough. This is ripping apart communities. We need a change. We need councillors who don't only care six months before an election. We need local people to be involved. In Mill Hill, I have made a commitment to support the local Lib Dems. I know many are still upset about the coalition, but in the local ward they offer the only realistic chance for a change. Anyone who reads this blog knows I care and I will work hard, 365 days a year. I will take the sticks and stones I will inevitably get. I don't hate the local Conservative councillors, I actually quite like all of them, but they have let us down and are ineffective. We will not be personally rude, we will concentrate on policies. Whether you agree or disagree with me, please get involved. It is too important not to.
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Monday, 2 October 2017

North Finchley - The Councils grand redevelopment master plan

Stalinist new brutalism is alive and well in the London Borough of Barnet. It seems that the council has a grand plan for North Finchley! The Council owns a whole series of plots of land around the area and has clearly woken up to the potential to make a killing with a bit of property development.

Next Tuesday, they will debate this grand master plan. Amongst the things that they are planning, we will see a "reconfiguration" of Lodge Lane car Park, with "no fewer spaces'. They are also planning to 'Relocate the weekly market to a more suitable site'.

Here are a few choice statements (my comments in italics)

"Traditional functional shopping roles are changing. The more successful towns are adopting a much greater focus on a genuine mix of uses, where retailing remains important, but leisure, cultural, business, and residential uses all add to a town centre’s diversification and overall “offer”."
(clearly they see a residential element as a way of generating cash for the council)

Main Introduction
"With investment in main town centres such as North Finchley the outcomes can be diverse, distinctive and attractive places which are well connected and where the public realm is well maintained and there is a sustainable mix of retail, leisure, business and residential uses."

Arts Depot and Bus Garage

6.5 The north of the site has potential to become an area of increased leisure led activities with uses such as cafes, restaurants and retail at ground level, potentially including a small in town cinema and residential uses on the upper floors. A new courtyard space should be provided to the west of the site associated with the entrance to the Arts Depot. With buses relocated from the Arts Depot building, additional retail, community and leisure uses could be provided at ground floor and activate the Kingsway and Ballards Lane frontage of the building.
(One can only speculate what will happen to the buses. I am intrigued by idea of a food area. I wonder if the presence of a troublesome cafe owner down the road has had any impact on this strategy, to drag the food offering towards the Arts Depot?).



The Stanhope Road Car Park looks to be under threat
Movement and Parking 
6.40 Car parking provision at Stanhope Road which is outside the SPD area will be retained or reprovided elsewhere in the town centre subject to a car parking strategy for North Finchley. 

Lodge Lane Area

6.48 It is proposed that the existing weekly market which on market days occupies land in the south eastern corner of the car park, is to be relocated to a more prominent location on the High Road, potentially in the new public space near the Tally Ho pub and along the improved Ballards Lane.
(I personally can't see how this would work, given the loading/unloading requirements)
 
6.50 The new development should reprovide as a minimum the number of existing car parking spaces on the site. A decked car park up to two levels or another car parking solution which responds to the sensitivities of the site, including neighbouring residential properties and school, should be explored.
(as there will be a large amount of residential units, how many of these will get some of the 'existing number' of parking places. Another issue is where the 323 existing spaces will be located during the rebuilding phase)

Sensitively developed residential units along Lodge Lane and in the western part of the site are anticipated to be deliverable through a more efficient use of decked parking. Other potential uses fronting Lodge Lane include community space, suitable for example for health or similar uses, activating the frontage. (Interesting mention of Health uses, given the underutilised Finchley Memorial hospital down the road)

Parking charges
7.30 The principal means of rebalancing parking provision is through amending the parking tariff structure with higher prices for long stay in car parks and simplification of High Road parking to make better use in terms of turnover and stay duration.
(It seems that higher parking charges are part of the deal)

8.19 However, where there is a compelling case in the public interest, the Council will consider the use of its compulsory purchase powers to assemble sites within the SPD area, especially but not exclusively in the Key Opportunity Sites. 8
(it seems that the council will be seeking to compulsorily purchase sites that don't want to join in)

The Barnet Eye has spoken to Helen Michael who is the leader of the North Finchley Traders. I was astounded (or not) to learn that she was unaware of many aspects of this plan. It will have a huge impact on her business. It seems likely that North Finchley will be transformed into a building site for an extended period. I wonder how this will affect the local businesses. I have many questions. Here are  a few

1. How much does Capita in all it's guises expect to make as a result of this? Will they get gainshare?

2. Will Traders be compensated for loss of business?

3. Has any impact assessment study of the plans on existing local businesses and residents been undertaken?

4. In total how many more/less parking spaces will there be in North Finchley? How does this relate to the number of new residents and how many of these will get existing car parking spaces?

5. Have any discussions taken place to discuss the practicality of proposed new locations for the market and the operability of the site?

The Deadline for public questions is 10am on Thursday 5th October.


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This is Silver Week in Barnet, celebrating older citizens

https://barnet.gov.uk/citizen-home/adult-social-care/silver-sunday.html
This week is Silver Week in Barnet. The following PRESS RELEASE has been placed on the Barnet Council website

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Barnet will celebrate Silver Week with an exciting programme of festivities taking place from Sunday 1 to Saturday 7 October.
Silver Sunday kicks off Silver Week with a free afternoon tea at Woodhouse College, hosted by the council and Barnet Seniors Assembly.
Silver Week will see those over 55 invited to a variety of activities and events, such as: art exhibitions, coffee mornings, well-being workshops, kayaking taster sessions, afternoon teas, relaxing therapy treatments, health walks and much more.
This is the third year Barnet will host a week-long celebration of Silver Sunday, to ensure as many people can take part as possible. The week also includes a showcase event at Brent Cross Shopping Centre, with performances, demonstrations, information and advice on Tuesday 3 October. With more than 45 events taking place in the borough, there’s something for everyone.
Silver Sunday is an annual day of fun and free activities for older people across the UK, led by The Sir Simon Milton Foundation, to combat loneliness and isolation.
Councillor Sachin Rajput, Chairman of the Adults and Safeguarding Committee, said: “We value the contribution older people make to our society, which is why we have come together with partners across Barnet to celebrate with several fun events and activities in the borough. I invite older people to join in with Silver Week. This is a great way to try something new, make new friends and overcome loneliness and isolation, that some may be experiencing.”
Council, with sponsorship from Capita, have worked in partnership with a number of voluntary organisations and local partners to come together to highlight the value and knowledge of older people.
For more information and to view the full timetable of activities throughout Barnet Silver Week, visit local Barnet Libraries or click here. 
To view events on Silver Sunday, click here.

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A few things. Firstly the link is wrong for Silver Sunday, it should be Silver Week Activities
does no one at the council check these things. It disappoints me that the council doesn't work with local bloggers to promote these things. I try and keep an eye on their website, but miss things, and I didn't notice this. Silver Sunday was actually yesterday. I know bloggers in Camden, who are equally critical of the council, but they have a better attitude to social media and bloggers are encouraged to work with the council. This means that in Camden, events such as this are supported across the community. Bloggers also get access to interview senior councillors on a regular basis, allowing for a proper dialog. Given that tens of thousands read this blog every month, the council are missing an excellent chance to properly engage.

The logical thing for the council to do would be to develop an app and a noticeboard to allow any blog, newspaper, organisation etc to list local events on their website and be informed of events. Presumably the council want these events to be successful. We certainly do, which is why, even though they haven't asked us to, we are giving it a plug. 
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Sunday, 1 October 2017

The Tweets of the week in the London Of Barnet - 1/10/2017

It's that time again. The most popular weekly feature! Don't forget to follow any local Tweeters who tickle your fancy.

1. We start with some more info about a rail scheme that could transform West London, linking Brent Cross to HS2



2.Interested in volunteering? Check this out

3.The Barnet Eye broke the news about this. Now the Brent Green party have picked it up. Residents are objecting to huge aggregates depot in Cricklewood

4.Save the date! East Finchley Arts festival

5.Nice tweet from Barnet Police

6.Great pictures of local flora and fauna from one of our regulars!

7.And a handsome fox in Finchley

8. Great historical picture from Barnet picture library


9.Looks like the Women in Business group had fun at Cafe Buzz this week


10. Many Happy returns to our near neighbours, the iconic Elstree Studios!


That's all, have  a great week!
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