Barnet Council sneak through plans for a new Highway through the heart of Mill Hill

As ever, if Barnet Council want to sneak through a highly contentious and divisive issue, they do it on the sly. Typically they will do this as a Delegated Powers Report, which doesn't require discussion by the Council, which is done by officers with no democratic discussion. Secondly, they will do it in the middle of August, when no one is looking. Thirdly they will give the DPR a very neutral name, which disguises the real meaning of what is being done.

So it is again this year. I happened to notice this DPR -  http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4259 - entitled "Highway Improvements to Bittacy Hill". Who could possibly think that such a DPR, signed off by Pam Wharfe, Interim director of Environment, Regeneration and Planning could possibly be in any way contentious? Nothing in there to worry about?

Think again. Behind the bland title, there is a huge scheme being implimented, by stealth and with no democratic debate or accountability. This scheme will effectively divide Mill Hill in two halfs and threaten a nature reserve. It will blight many homes and will have a huge effect on traffic levels through the Borough.

The real intention of what is being done is only mentioned briefly in section 8.3. It says

The proposed highway works will entail the reconstruction of the existing Bray Road access to the proposed development as part of the proposed East-West link road at its junction with Bittacy Hill

If you look carefully at the map associated with the plan, their is a big arrow at the edge of the development, directing traffic down Sanders Lane. If you look at Google, this road is shown as one long road. The road actually becomes a footpath, through a nature reserve shortly after Brownsea Walk. Barnet Council Highways department have long dreamed of making a highway from the Mill Hill East development, down Sanders Lane, into Tavistock Avenue, across Pursley Road, Down Ashley Walk, across Copthall Open Space and down to the A1, making a major intersection. This road would effectively divide Mill Hill and Mill East in two. Traffic would proliferate and huge numbers of homes, which are currently quiet roads in cul-de-sacs would become blighted by constant traffic.

The fact this is being snuck through is typical of the way Barnet Council operate. I will be writing to our local Councillors to insist they call this in and get the Highways department to explain their true intentions. I will also be notifying the Mill Hill Preservation Society and other local pressure groups.

If the council persist with this plan, I would suggest that this would spell the end of the Conservatives in Mill Hill and the end of Mill Hill as a nice place to live. I will publish the response from Councillors Hart, Schama and Khatri in due course. I will also be emailing Councillor Brian Coleman and Dean Cohen. I wish to know the true intentions of the Council in this respect and I suspect only Brian Coleman really knows. Finally, I will be emailing Pam Wharfe for the full details of the plan. As ever, nothing surprises me with Barnet Council. The Email to Ms Wharfe will be under the auspices of a Freedom of Information request.

1742 - Highway Improvements at Bittacy Hill


Map Bray Road

The Barnet Eye Round up - Mike Freer is Spot on & Brass Helmets

A great week for news. A fine article from Mike Freer in the Barnet Press talking much common sense. More of that later.

Firstly to Private Eye. Seems like they've picked up on a story featured here a couple of weeks ago. Yup, Brian Coleman's crass comment about the fire brigade museum and "When you've seen one brass helmet, you've seen them all". It seems like Boris has slapped down Coleman announcing that the museum is "A valued assett to the community and an educational resource". Hear Hear Boris, why don't you just sack him and spare yourself further embarrassment.

Next on to a great victory for the community in Barnet. A story I've mentioned many times was Barnet's plan to turn Sanders Lane into a trunk road. Well it seems that the inspectors agree with us.

A little quote from the Edgware & Mill Hill Times (full article HERE)

They were dismayed at the potential loss of a public amenity that boasts an abundance of wildlife, is part of Barnet’s network of nature trails and is used by children to walk to school.

Mr Machin held an examination in public at Barnet House in October to which members of the Save Sanders Lane campaign submitted evidence.

In his report Mr Machin acknowledged the weight of public feeling and wrote that the council had not made the case for reopening Sanders Lane as part of the development and its inclusion made the AAP unsound.

This makes it all worthwhile for us bloggers and other assorted campaigners. A special well done to Valerie, who organised much of the Sanders Lane protests. We can't win them all but we will win some !

So on to Council Leader Mike Freer. This week in the Edgware Press (on page 14 between the ads for Brazilian haircuts and the sexual services at the back) he rants against the Governments ID card proposal. I completely agree with him, it's a well written and quite witty article. ID cards are a terrible idea. Much of what he says is sensible, so well done Mike. Lets hope the outbreak of sensibleness spreads to the parts other blogs can't reach and he drops the appalling future shape scheme in next weeks copy.

There you go, nice about Boris & Mike in one blog. Who says I'm biased !