The picture shown above is one that forms part of the artists illustration of the Brent Cross /Cricklewood redevelopment scheme. It was the one which they've been punting to the papers such as the Hendon Times.Now take a look at this picture taken from google earth of how it looks today. I've added a nice pink arrow to show which angle the artists impression is looking from.
As you may notice, the way it is represented by the artist, it looks like there's a lovely green area that is part of the development, however this is a bit of the land adjacent to the plan and unaffected by it.
Now look at this picture.
On this picture I've helpfully put a border around the part of the artists picture which actually shows the development. Now if I was an architect and I was proud of my designs, would I give greater promennance to the sky, the allotements and the playing fields than my lovely buildings. Well, yes I would, if I was trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. If I was trying to pretend the plan was a fantastic, green, innovative design, when really it was a high rise hell, comprising rabbit hutch flats. 
The evidence is there. How can they possibly think this is a great plan, if they hide it like this. You'll note that the high rise element is in the far distance. I saw the picture and thought "that looks quite nice" until I analysed it. Then I though "cheeky B*******s".
What disturbs me is that when Councillor Maureen Braun chairs the planning committee, people might fall for this ruse. Her political master, Councillor Mike Freer is speaking in favour of the proposal. Of course, I'm sure this won't put her under any pressure at all. Interestingly enough, even Councillor Brian Coleman thinks it's a rotten plan and has come out against it. What is the difference between Coleman and Freer? Well Mike Freer doesn't come from Barnet and he's hoping to move to Westminster some time soon. Brian Coleman has lived in Barnet all his life and plans to hang around.
What does this tell you?
4 comments:
Rog
What I don’t understand is why Mike Freer is pushing this so hard. He wants to be the MP for Finchley and given that Labour is so hugely unpopular nationally, all he has to do is nothing! He could sit there, keep quiet and get elected just on the national swing to the Conservatives (and boundary changes which favour the Tories).
So why is he associating his name with something so controversial? After all, it was Mike Freer who said that Brian Salinger had to be thrown out because of his housing plans. But Brian Salinger never came up with anything like this.
Brian Coleman told the Standards Board that he never opposed his leader (Freer) in private or in public, but here he is opposing him publicly.
Even if this was a good scheme (which it isn’t) why doesn’t Freer just keep his head down and avoid controversial decisions for the next 6 months?
There has to be a reason why he wants to see this through before he leaves the council, but I can’t fathom it out.
David,
I suppose Mike Freer could look at the two options.
A) Look after the people of Barnet who elect him and many of whom will suffer because of this appalling scheme.
B) Look after the interests of a group of rich, powerful property developers who stand to make millions of pounds and who's bank balances will benefit greatly from the scheme.
As I've yet to hear anything at all about the scheme which will improve the lives of the vast majority of Barnet residents, to me it seems to be a fairly clear cut and stark choice.
Don't forget having to pay £5 to park your car at Brent Cross once this development starts.
Has anyone seen the Cabinet putting out a press release about that gem that the Council is forcing on Brent Cross?
Dan,
Sadly there are many underhand things going on in relation to this whole scheme.
Interestingly, I went to a Business Leader Listens meeting, hosted by Mike Freer, where the MD of Brent Cross stated that the free parking was a big reason for the success of the shopping centre. It seems Freer wasn't listening to his expert speaker.
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