The great infrastructure scandal that plagues Great Britain

I don't know why, but the UK is lousy at doing infrastructure. At the bottom of my garden, I have the Thameslink line. I've always loved having my own trainset. Back in the early 1980's Ken Livingstone originally championed the concept of Thameslink, when running the GLC. The Snow Hill Branch was reopened between Farringdon and Blackfriars on a shoestring. This allowed Holborn Viaduct station to be redeveloped, releasing huge funds for the next phase of the project "Thameslink 2000" as it became known. This was a no brainer of a project. The idea was to allow trains from the East Coast mainline to also use the line and to improve junctions around Blackfriars and London Bridge to allow the Thameslink frequency to be massively increased. It was called Thameslink 2000 as it was due to open for the millenium. It is now scheduled to open in 2017/8.  If a complete no brainer of a project overshoots by 18 years, it is clear we need a fresh way of thinking.

Crossrail

When we read that a project such as Crossrail, which was first talked about in 1947,  cost the taxpayer £15.9 billion it seems expensive, however this is the headline costs. Huge projects like this (unlike tax cuts for billionaires, which are largely spent abroad and on foreign products) find most of the money is reinvested in the UK economy. The £15.9 billion includes wages for workers who are in the UK. Each one of these pays tax. There are huge amounts of steel, concrete, stone and building materials used. The vast majority of these are sourced from UK producers, again creating jobs and increasing the tax revenue. If we are extremely conservative, we can estimate that Crossrail will be used for a minimum of 100 years, therefore there is a huge time for a payback. The project will also generate building activity and economic regeneration, largely in the private sector in many areas of deprivation. Hundreds of small and medium size firms are also supported, producing components and the people who work on the projects spend their wages on high streets generating even more economic activity.

But Crossrail is at least going ahead. There are a large number of vital projects that government simply cannot get its act together to get going. The most scandalous of these are the stalled electrification schemes for the Midland Mainline and the Trans Penine rail route. Both of these projects would massively improve access to areas which are in desperate need of economic regeneration. Both of these projects would make UK PLC a more competetive place. And as with Crossrail, both would generate far more economic activity in the country than the cost. In short, they are no brainers. There are plenty of other projects which are complete no brainers. In our neck of the woods, the most obvious is the reopening of the derelict tube line from Mill Hill East to Copthall. This would allow direct access from Central London to Rugby supporters visiting Saracens RFC. It would also give easy access to two local schools for staff and pupils in Mill Hill East and Finchley, as well as giving a handy alternative route to Central London for many people in Mill Hill.

Another example is the much talked about rail station at Luton Airport. Currently people have  to endure an annoying bus transfer if travelling via train. In this day and age, this is ridiculous. Another example is the fact that the RAF musuem at Hendon is next to a rail line, but has no station. What other nation on earth would have such an important site with no station? A station for the RAF museum would also serve the huge new redevelopments in Colindale. Why the developers were not compelled to build a station is beeyond me.

One reason often given for the lack of spending on infrastructure, is that the government wants to balance the books. Given how beneficial such projects are to the economy, it is clear that a new way of accounting for such projects is urgently required. My solution would be to add a 1% infrastructure contribution to everyones income tax. This money would be ring fenced for such projects and the income from the investment would help support the pensions of todays working generation. I would also make all developers pay into the fund. I would make any large development have to pay for an independent study to ascertain the cost required for the infrastructure to support the scheme. This would then be levied from the developers. Developers make huge profits and get a free ride from the public purse. This is clearly inequitable and unfair.

Finally there is the time we take to agree project and hold inquiries. One of the reasons people object is because generally they are shafted by big projects such as Heathrow. In France, people get handsomely rewarded for any inconvenience. Here we get dodgy compulsory purchase orders. We need to learn from the French, where communities campaign for TGV lines to pass through their community as they know they will get a nice bung. In the short term it costs, but in the long term, things get built quickly and the most inconvenienced benefit as well. 

If the UK PLC wants to remain competetive, this cannot go on as it has. We need to change the way we think about upgrading our country. Sadly, despite the fine words of George Osborne before the election, we now see his promises were hollow rhetoric. He is just another in a long line of blinkered bean counters who will run our country into the ground. It breaks my heart.

The Barnet Tories and Saracens RFC

Before the last election, there was no mention of the plans for Saracens RFC to set up a Premier League Rugby stadium at Barnet Copthall. Quite the opposite in fact, the local Tories circulated a completely foundationless made up story that the Lib Dems in Mill Hill were planning a football stadium on the site for Kentish Town FC.

The Barnet Eye exposed this as a complete lie. Kentish Town FC play in a minor league and get crowds of 30 people, all friends and partners etc. Furthermore, the Lib Dems had not even heard of the plans. It was perhaps the worst example of a scare story. What the Tories did not mention is that Nigel Wray, who runs Saracens RFC was planning a takeover of Copthall Stadium. Mr Wray lives in Totteridge and is a neighbour of Council Leader Richard Cornelius. It is fair to say the pair know each other quite well.

Barnet Council did a sweetheart deal with Saracens RFC. This resulted in a magnificent new stand being built and Saracens refurbishing the dilapidated old stadium and providing much needed facilities for the community, when not using the stadium. I've attended a few events at the stadium and I believe that it is a positive asset. I do however feel that the deal they got (peppercorn rent, long lease) was not the best that Barnet could have negotiated for the taxpayer.

Saracens RFC have become a part of the community in the year they've been here. What I find interesting is there future plans. There are many issues which have been left unresolved. Firstly the ground, with a 10,000 capacity is too small for Heiniken cup games. This requires a 16,000 capacity, so Saracens need to build more capacity. There have long been rumours that the local Tories asked them to shelve these plans until after the election, when they can be rushed through on a nod and a wink. The thing is, I was recently talking to a rugby journalist and it seems that Saracens have far more ambitious plans than that. The leading rugby club in the UK is Leicester and they get crowds of around 22,000. For Saracens RFC to achieve their dream and overtake them, they will need a home capacity of 25 - 30,000. If you look at Copthall, there is one decent stand taking up approx 1/6th of the available space. There are temporary stands at each end and a dilapidated stand on the other side. To say the stadium is ripe for development is an understatement.

So there are three options that any sensible person would consider

1) Saracens RFC are happy to stay a small club, becoming nomads for Heineken Cup games.

2) Saracens RFC are happy to stay a small club, but will extend their ground to be able to Play Heineken cup games at some point in the future.

3) Saracens RFC are a fiercely ambitious and competetive club, who want to become the biggest club in Europe, with a state of the art stadium, with great transport links on the edge of London.

Now I personally have never yet met anyone involved in sport who wasn't fiercly competetive. I've never met anyone at any club who wasn't ambitious. Saracens don't have a short lease, they are there for the duration. If they had a 30,000 seat, brand new stadium, they could extend the Northern Line on a disused railway line from Mill Hill East and have a direct train service from the heart of London to the Stadium. This would be a huge generator of cash for the club and would most certainly enable the club to achieve its ambitions.

Saracens RFC have hosted fundraising events for the local Tory MP Matthew Offord. As mentioned Mr Wray is a friend of Council Leader Richard Cornelius. It is simply unbelieveable to assume that they have not all discussed the future development of the green belt Copthall site.

Now unlike the Tory leaflet about Kentish Town FC, I make no claims that any of the above scenarios is correct. I will however say this I'll wager any Tory Councillor who cares to take the bet that if they get back in that we will see a massive expansion in the size of Copthall Stadium before the next election if the Tories win. Lets say £500.

And before anyone calls me a Nimby, I personally wouldn't object to the 30,000 stadium plan, if it was combined with improved transport links. If that was the price for an extension to the Northern Line and a new Thameslink Station  (or Brent Cross Light rail link) at the RAF museum, it would actually be a great result for Mill Hill and Barnet. It is crazy that we have these amazing assets in Barnet and we don't have any decent public transport for them. What I do object to is the way the Tories never let us plebs know about their plans until after the election.

Saracens match day CPZ review - Democracy? Don't make me laugh

From the Barnet Council Website

http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=5001

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Decisions:

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the Review of the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone in the vicinity of Allianz Park (Barnet Copthall Stadium). 

The Committee welcomed the Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Dean Cohen, Pam Wharfe, Director for Place and Neil Richardson, Highways Manager, Traffic and Development who were in attendance to present the item. 

Officers reported that whilst the scheme was largely unchanged, there had been some amendments to signage following feedback from Ward Members.  Members were advised that Saracens would be improving publicity around match days, creating a list of frequently asked questions and undertaking proactive community engagement. 

Officers advised the Committee that any PCNs issued incorrectly could be claimed back by residents in the zone (e.g. permit holders who were not displaying their permits during controlled hours).  It was suggested that the registration number of vehicles in the CPZ zone should be registered on a database and made available to Civil Enforcement Officers to ensure that Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were not incorrectly issued to permit holders.  

The Committee were addressed by Councillor Sury Khatri, a Mill Hill Ward Member.  He reported that he had submitted a number of questions and comments on the scheme which had not resulted in any amendments.  He noted that his suggestion regarding the introduction of electronic signage which could vary CPZ hours on an event by event basis had been ruled out on cost grounds. 

Councillor Khatri highlighted that only 6.8% of residents had responded to the consultation and suggested that this was not a representative sample of residents in the CPZ. 

RESOLVED that:

1.         The Committee note the update on the Review of the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone in the vicinity of Allianz Park (Barnet Copthall Stadium) as set out in the report and above.

2.         The Committee recommend that the Council and Saracens develop a Communications Plan to ensure that residents in the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone are aware of match days and restrictions.

3.         The Committee recommend that there be a review of Event Day Controlled Parking Zone signage, including an exploration of variable electronic signage options.

4.         Officers be recommended to create a database include details of all households and vehicles with a registered permit in the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone to prevent the incorrect issuing of Penalty Charge Notices to residents. 

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So there you go. A democratically elected Councillor has had his suggestions ignored. The idea of electronic signage has been ruled out on grounds, when the Mill Hill Residents were told that Saracens RFC would foot any bill. Is this Democracy? Is there any such thing as transparency? Don't be stupid. This is Barnet

Congratulations to Barnet Council on the destruction of our local football team

Yesterday Barnet FC were relegated to the Conference. I rather suspect that there will be a lot of rather pleased local Conservative Councillors. Under the Labour/Lib Dem administration in power until 2002, the club was well supported by the Council and worked together to try and build a footballing legacy. The local Conservatives were deeply suspicious of this and used this "cosy relationship" as stick to try and beat the outgoing regime with. An audit inspection of the sale of Underhill was launched by the new administration, hoping to find a set of "financial irregularities" with which to beat the outgoing regime. They spent nearly £1 million on this witch hunt and all they achieved was to line the pockets of a lot of accountants and lawyers. After years of investigations, the report was "inconclusive".

The relationship between the council and the club became toxic. Barnet for many years wanted to move to a 10,000 seat stadium at Copthall. The Tories opposed this by hook or by crook. At the last election, their leaflets were packed with lies about the Lib Dems proposing a new stadium for football at Copthall. This won the Tories the Mill Hill Ward. What they didn't tell voters was that Saracens RFC would move in and that virtually the whole of Mill Hill would be in parking lockdown every other Saturday of the Rugby season. They also neglected to tell anyone that Saracens need a 15,000 seat stadium for Heineken Cup games.

Now don't get me wrong, I hope Saracens is a success. I may be being controversial and say I hope they get the Stadium upgrade as well. The 10,000 current visitors have not caused gridlock. The council could turn around to Saracens and say "yes, you can have the extra capacity, if you install electronic parking signs that will restrict the parking CPZ to 1 hour". Saracens would be more than happy to comply.

Sadly the football club that had been in Barnet for many years, has been starved of investment due to the constraints of Underhill. The result is that they were relegated yesterday and that they are moving to the Hive in Harrow next season. Make no mistake, a different regime would have a totally different policy and would make it work for everyone. Look at Manchester City Council. They worked with Manchester City FC to build a new stadium, a new tram line, a massive sporting complex and have regenerated a really run down part of the city. Even better the club has attracted wealthy buyers and has started winning silverware. That is what an enlightened council can achieve.

Barnet Council could have worked with the Mayor and TFL to extend the Northern Line to the ground. This area also has three large schools in the proximity, which would benefit from better transport connections. It would remove traffic an be good for commuters.

The new Allianz Park stadium is magnificent. It is something everyone locally should be proud of. It offers world class Athletics training facilities as well as Rugby. I could see a situation where eventually Barnet FC share the ground with Saracens. It makes perfect sense for such resources to be used and having the club back in the Borough would be welcomed by all football supporters.

That will only happen when this Conservative administration is replaced by one which cares about the locality. Lets hope that will happen in May 2014

What really matters in Barnet?

Yesterday I published a blog giving my thoughts on the behaviour of a small number of people in Barnet. I had a deluge of calls & emails from various people asking all manner of questions about why I had chosen to share my thoughts. With just over a year left until the next election, I felt that now is the time to remind people of their responsibilities to the wider community. Today, the second in these series of posts, I ask the question "What really matters in Barnet?". These are the things which should consider. I have chosen to list my priorities and how the current administration are performing. The way I have chosen to judge this is to see whether the situation has improved or deteriorated under this regime.  Feel free to add your own comments.

1. Protection of vulnerable people who rely on the council for care.
Barnet Eye verdict - Deteriorated. Many vulnerable people have seen a marked worsening of their quality of life as a direct result of budget cuts imposed by the council. All manner of small changes have resulted in many people suffering. This has ranged from disabled people having access to day centres reduced to horrific changes to at home care packages. This is the sharp end of the zero council tax increase policy of the Conservative administration.

2. Protection of the green belt and the environment.
Barnet Eye verdict - Anyone who lives in Barnet will have noticed massive changes. None of these have enhanced the environment. All around the borough, the edges of the green belt are being nibbled away.

3. Business.
Barnet Eye verdict - Barnet Council seems hell bent on a kamikaze set of policies designed to completely destroy the local environment. Abolishing the Pay and Display system of High Street parking decimated trade on High Streets. The One Barnet project has destroyed over 300 local jobs, exporting the work and the trade generated. The council has even set up its own "Local Authority trading company" to compete with local suppliers of services, creating a quasi monopoly, outside of public control and scrutiny, but stifling small private suppliers.

4. Culture.
Barnet Eye verdict - Barnet seems intent on trying to become a culture free zone. Church Farmhouse museum has closed and the collections flogged off, in a botched fire sale. The Arts Depot has had its subsidy cut, forcing it to team up with a dance school from Kings Cross, in the process evicting Community Focus. The library policy is a complete shambles, with empty shelves in all of the boroughs libraries, apart from Friern Barnet, which was reopened by Occupy. Under this administration, local festivals have disappeared, with The Finchley Carnival and the Watling Festival biting the dust, due to lack of support from Barnet Council.

5. Education.
Barnet Eye verdict - The adminstration is keen on Free Schools. This caused a monumental spat in Mill Hill with the opening of Etz Chaim on the site of a garden centre. Sadly what should be viewed as a community asset has become something of a sore point for many locals. As the school is outside of democratic process, there really is no redress for local people at the ballot box. It demonstrates the problems with Free Schools all too well. I am not anti the school and I applaud the parents for trying to make a change, but I do not think that the Free School Concept is the way to improve education in Barnet. A fragemented system is not, in my opinion, the way to best manage such an important issue.

6. Transport.
Barnet Eye verdict - When the Tories won in 2010, they appointed Brian Coleman as transport supremo. He famously announced that his priority was "Roads, Roads, Roads". What followed - Potholes, hikes in parking charges, CPZ's galore. The one growth business in Barnet must be the sellers of Yellow line paint.  They seem to have popped up everywhere, policed by ever more aggressive wardens from NSL.

7. Trust.
Barnet Eye Verdict - The Tories first act in power was to vote huge rises in allowances for themselves.Then they mislead campaigners about their intentions for Friern Library. We've seen court cases and judicial reviews galore as local residents wage war on the Council. Barnet has pioneered the art of local people making documentaries about how disconnected they are from their council. In my local ward, the Tories won the ward from the Lib Dems by claiming the Lib Dems planned a huge football stadium for Kentish Town FC at Copthall. This was a complete lie. Kentish Town play in a minor league and have a home crowd of 30. What happened immediately after the election? The Tories announced that they were in talks with Saracens  RFC and we now have a 10,000 seat stadium on the site. I am pleased to see the stadium being used, but I can't help but feel that Barnets Tories totally mislead the local people on the issue.

Of course all of this is my personal view. You may feel completely different. Please feel free to leave your comments.

Whats Best in Barnet - Focus on Mill Hill - Saracens RFC

Continuing our theme this week of highlighting all that is best in Barnet, Mill Hill Councillor, the venerable John Hart contacted us and said

You might allude to the sterling efforts of Saracens RC to make their traffic movements on match days as undisruptive as possible. And their successful  matches so far.

John is of course spot on. The Rugby Premiership table attests to this. Congratulations to the team. It would be great to have the Rugby Champions in Mill Hill in their first season. Check out their website here - http://www.saracens.com/

Aviva Premiership

	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Bonus Pts	Points
1	Saracens	19	15	1	3	440	280	5	67
2	Leicester	19	13	1	5	445	282	9	63
3	Harlequins	19	12	0	7	473	399	8	56

Having a highly successful Premier league Rugby team in Mill Hill is a massive bonus for the local community in a state of the art stadium. The athletics facilities at the stadium have been hugely upgraded with a fantastic indoor all purpose track.

Allianz Park, home of the Saracens has also got fantastic facilities for community events. The Mill Hill Music Festival is hosting three major concerts indoors at Allianz Park in June. Whether you like Jazz, Klezmer or Rockabilly and Rock and Roll, there are great gigs for you

Here are the details of the concerts

THURSDAY 20TH JUNE - 7.30pm Stewart Curtis' K-Groove Allianz Park, Greenlands Lane, NW4 1RL [MAP] We are doubly honoured this evening. Not only are we pleased to welcome the talented Stewart Curtis to this year’s Festival but we also have the pleasure of presenting K-Groove at the new Allianz Park. Multi–reedman Stewart Curtis and his award winning band are celebrating 20 years together as an ensemble. They will be playing many of Stewart’s quirky compositions and arrangements of Klezmer, Latin jazz and Middle Eastern folk music. The band features Stewart Curtis - saxes, clarinet, flute, piccolo; Paul Jayasinha - trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion; Rob Terry - keyboard; Eran Kendler - guitar; Brad Lang - bass; Hans Ferrao - drums and Ronen Kozokaro - darbuka! Stewart and the band have worked with a variety of stars including Nina Simone, Whitney Houston and Michael Ball. K-Groove is firmly established as one of the UK’s finest and most infectious Klezmer crossover bands.  Stewart Curtis is unpretentious, musicianly and serious fun, jostling klezmer and many other musical genres promiscuously together - Chris Parker of London Jazz Tickets: £10 (+ £1 processing fee for online or credit/debiit card purchases). Cash Bar.

FRIDAY 21ST JUNE - 7.30pm ’Now You Has Jazz’- The Bateman Brothers Jazz Band Tribute to the Great Louis Armstrong All Stars Allianz Park, Greenlands Lane, NW4 1RL [MAP] The Festival is delighted to present this fantastic event at Allianz Park. After over 30 years in the jazz business, brothers Ian & Alan Bateman, trombonist and trumpeter respectively, have put together this heartfelt celebration of the world’s greatest jazz musician, focusing on Louis’ All Stars years from 1947 onwards. Featuring UK stalwarts Trevor Whiting (clarinet), Nick Millward (drums) Craig Milverton (piano) John Day (bass) and Maggie Reeday (vocals), the Bateman Brothers take you back to a time when jazz was swinging, melodic and above all, entertaining. The evening will include Louis favourites such as St. Louis Blues, La Vie en Rose, and When You’re Smiling. Winners of the "2011 British Jazz Awards for Best Jazz CD", the Bateman Brothers’ tribute is sure to be another fantastic evening of entertainment.  Tickets: £15  (+ £1 processing fee for online or credit/debit card purchases). Cash bar.  Prebookable food available (see below). Fish & chips or vegetarian option: £8.50*. *Please be aware that food tickets for Friday 21st can NOT be purchased after Friday 31st May

SATURDAY 22ND JUNE The Polecats plus Loaded Dice Allianz Park, Greenlands Lane, NW4 1RL [MAP] Doors open 7.00pm, music from 8.00pm. The Festival always ends with some great rock and roll and this year is no exception. Rockabilly band, The Polecats started life in Mill Hill in the late 70s. In the early 80s the band began carving out a name for themselves to become an integral part of the British rockabilly revival scene. Fronted by Tim Polecat and Boz Boorer (who now tours with Morrissey and has played with Adam Ant and Edwin Collins) the Polecats will be playing many of their hits such as Rockabilly Guy, Big Green Car, Marie Celeste, John I’m Only Dancing (Bowie cover), Jeepster (T-Rex Cover), as well as a smattering of rock ’n’ roll covers. Boz, Tim and Phil Polecat, all born and raised in Mill Hill are joined by drummer John Polecat. The band have toured the world having hits on nearly every continent but after 35 years together they wanted to mark the occasion with a homecoming gig. Put on your dancing shoes and head on down to what will surely be a great evening of music and fun.  Tickets: £12  (+ £1 processing fee for online or credit/debit card purchases) (£15 on the door).  Cash bar. Prebookable food available (see below).  Burger & chips or vegetarian option: £6.50*. *Please be aware that food tickets for Saturday 22nd June can NOT be purchased after Friday 31st May

Full details of the Mill Hill Music Festival are available here
www.millhillmusicfest.co.uk

 There have been all manner of arguments about what might have been, but Saracens are here and they are here to stay. As a community we should give them 100% backing.

Saracens Match Day CPZ - Update from the Council

The following update regarding the Saracens RFC Matchday CPZ was published today on the Barnet Council website. We have published it in full without comment as we believe this is of interest to many people in Mill Hill. The original is available by following the link detailed below.

http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4557

Neil Richardson, the Highways Manager, provided the Committee with a verbal update on the Saracens Event Day Controlled Parking Zone. 

Mr Richardson informed the Committee that the primary features of the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) were:

• To ensure effectiveness for the area;
• To ensure that the use of the developed Barnet Copthall Stadium did not adversely impact on residents and traders and other community based activities; and
• That Saracens would meet all reasonable costs to introduce and maintain the measures, including enforcement of any restrictions introduced.

The Highways Manager advised the committee that kick-off times would be varied throughout the season and that there would be no kick-offs before 12.00 noon. 

The Committee were informed that there were 7,500 people in the CPZ that were eligible to apply for a permit or visitor’s vouchers.  Households could apply for up to 88 parking vouchers per annum, with additional vouchers being made available to support congregations and other community activities.

The Highways Manager noted the importance of making sure that the highways were safe for all road users.  The Committee were advised that only one test match had taken place so far at the Copthall Stadium on 27 January 2013.  Officers reported that “light” enforcement had been undertaken on that day where vehicles in contravention of parking restrictions were given a leaflet advising of the Event Day parking controls and advising drivers of the dates of the remaining matches for the current season.  The Highways Manager also advised the Committee that a similar approach would be taken at the next match on 16 February 2013, but that yellow line restrictions would be enforced.

Lisa Wright, the Traffic and Development Manager, informed the committee that Officers will be monitoring each match of the current season to assess the parking impact.

The Highways Manager informed the Committee that they would be carrying out another consultation with every property in the area at the end of the current season, asking for views on the scheme.  Comments made would be taken on board to help determine whether any changes to the scheme might be required moving forward. 

Referring to the light enforcement, where leaflets were given to cars that would otherwise have received tickets, a Member questioned how many of these leaflets had been issued.  He was advised by Officers that the figure was approximately 140 leaflets.  Responding to a question, Officers informed the Committee that the vehicles that were leafleted as part of the light enforcement were situated throughout the CPZ.  Officers advised the Committee that the attendance for the match was approximately 3,700.  The Committee noted that as this was a test game, the maximum attendance would be in the region of 4,000.  Attendance was expected to be higher at future matches.

A Member questioned if it was unusual for residents to not have to pay for permits.  Officers responded that it was, but that they were being provided at zero cost to residents by Saracens in recognition that there would be some impact on residents on match days.   Responding to a question from the Committee, the Highways Manager advised that the resident’s permits and parking vouchers arrangement was legally binding.

The Chairman invited Mill Hill Ward Councillors, John Hart and Sury Khatri, to address the Committee.

Councillor John Hart noted that the scheme was still in its early days.  He informed the Committee that many people were unhappy with the five hour period of the parking restrictions, and questioned whether this period was necessary.  Councillor Hart informed the Committee that he had attended the Mill Hill Resident’s Association with Councillor Sury Khatri where approximately 300 people had been in attendance in relation to this matter. Councillor Hart also highlighted that people could misuse the parking vouchers. 

Councillor Hart highlighted to the Committee that the attendees of the last match were largely from the home team and suggested that these attendees could be managed more easily that the supporters of the visiting team.  He informed the Committee that the Copthall Open Space should be considered as an open space for everyone.  Councillor Hart also noted that improvements had been made in the area as a result of the development.

A Member referred to Councillor Hart’s contribution to a previous Planning and Environment Committee and asked Councillor Hart to confirm that Saracens had agreed to that the maximum capacity of the stadium would 10,000 people and no more.  Councillor Hart confirmed that this was correct.

Councillor Sury Khatri addressed the Committee and highlighted his concern that Ward Members had not had enough involvement in the early discussions with Officers and Saracens.  Councillor Khatri questioned whether resident’s interests were being adequately considered.  Councillor Khatri suggested that all matches should start at 3:00 pm and raised concern over residents being able to have quiet enjoyment of their everyday lives.  Referring to the Human Rights Act, Councillor Khatri questioned the impact of the CPZ and stadium on resident’s rights to family life. 

A Member questioned Councillor Khatri on the 88 parking vouchers that are available to each household within the area.  Councillor Khatri informed the Committee that he did not consider this number to be sufficient.   

The Chairman then invited the Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, and the Director for Place, Pam Wharfe, to address the Committee.  The Director for Place invited Councillor Khatri to meet with her to discuss his concerns further. It was agreed that the meeting would involve all affected Ward Councillors.

Ms Wharfe also noted that the planning application that had been made was for 10,000 attendees only.  The Leader of the Council reaffirmed the fact that should Saracens wish to increase capacity to 15,000 in the future, then another planning application would be necessary.

The Highways Manager stated that he believed that Saracens were working to ensure that the scheme had minimal impact on residents.  Responding to a question, he informed the committee that 3,192 resident’s permits and approximately 118,000 parking vouchers had been issued, and that Saracens would pay the Council the amount for the given number of permits or vouchers issued. 

A Member raised concerns that people who were travelling to watch a match might consider that a parking ticket on account of a parking contravention could be factored in as part of the cost of a day out.  The Highways Manager informed the Committee that this was a possible risk, but where safety was being compromised, the police could be involved. 

Officers advised the committee that they were keen to conduct an audit of resident’s views of the success of the scheme, and would allow people plenty of free text to provide their opinions.  There will also be the option of both online and hard copies. Ward Councillors requested that they were involved with the drafting of the consultation.

A Member questioned what consultation had taken place at the beginning of the scheme.  The Director for Place informed the Committee that the consultation had formed part of a planning application determined by a the Planning and Environment Committee who considered that a CPZ was necessary in order to manage the impact on residents and that Officers have subsequently conducted statutory consultation. 

Councillor Khatri suggested that electronic signs should be considered as a way of reducing the five hour time period for parking restrictions.  Officers agreed to investigate the cost of variable signage.

RESOLVED that:-

1.      The Committee note the update on the Saracens Event Day Controlled Parking Zone as set out in the report and as detailed above. 

 

2.      Members note the request that adjacent Ward Councillors be involved in the CPZ review at the end of the season.

 

3.      The Committee note the invitation from the Director for Place to meet with Mill Hill Ward Members

 

4.      Officers are requested to give consideration to the costing installing variable signs for the CPZ zone.

 

5.      That the Committee requested to receive update on the review of the Saracens Event Day CPZ scheme which would be conducted at the end of the current season.

Publication date: 11/03/2013
Date of decision: 07/02/2013

Mill Hill Saracens CPZ - No weddings and no funerals

As regular readers of this blog will know, as a result of Saracens moving to Barnet Copthall,  a huge CPZ is to be imposed on matchdays for a period of five hours between 1pm and 6pm on a Saturday. It is also anticipated that there will be evening games. The Saracens spin machine has already kicked in, stating this is for only 16 match days. They have also outlined the bus shuttle services from local train stations.

Sadly, they miss the point. The point is that the CPZ will have a massive impact within the area. This will have huge implications for local churches. Take the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Mill Hill Broadway. This regularly holds wedding services on a Saturday. Many guests currently park in Flower Lane. This is now in the Saracens CPZ. This effectively rules out the use of the venue on these dates for large families (for which the Catholic Church is well known). It also affects parishioners attending the 6pm mass on a Saturday. Again many of these currently park in Flower Lane. Many of these residents are elderly and whilst a short walk from Flower Lane is manageable, parking elsewhere may be a completely different matter.

We also have St Michaels Church in Flower Lane, a Church of England Church, again popular for weddings as well as community events. The Free Church in Salcombe Gardens will be even more badly hit by the ban. At least Churches by Mill Hill Broadway have some degree of alternative. The Free Church has none at all. Also within the area is Mill Hill Cemetary, on Milespit Hill. I am rather intrigued by the way the line stops half way up Milespit Hill. It strikes me that the top half of the road will provide excellent free parking opportunities for Saracens visitors. This will cause parking mayhem for saturday activities at The Mount School and Mill Hill School. 

It seems that the Sarries machine is getting into gear against opponents of this bonkers scheme. I recognise the need for parking management. The problem with this scheme is the timing and the scale. People attending Rugby will only definately be in the stadium for the duration of the game. That means that the zone only needs to be active for the majority of the game. A zone between 4pm and 5pm would adequately deter Rugby traffic with minimal effect on everyone else. It would not interfere with services at local churches. Weddings could be scheduled to avoid the times of the zone.

Perhaps my biggest worry is the effect on parking at Mill Hill Cemetary. How on earth will this be managed? If no steps are taken, the cemetary will become a free car park and mourners will be driven out. If it is managed, then relatives visiting from outside the Borough may be excluded.

This whole scheme needs far more thought.

Massive CPZ zone for Mill Hill announced for Saracens match day traffic - Update

Earlier this week, the Barnet Eye announced plans for a massive controlled parking zone, which will cover almost all of Mill Hill on match days and run for five  hours (1pm to 6pm) whilst rugby matches last under two hours - http://barneteye.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/saracens-cpz-zone-set-to-turn-mill-hill.html - a fairly big issue you may think. Sadly, the local press don't seem interested. Not a peep about the scheme from either paper. The Barnet Eye is a tadsurprised about the total lack of interest from our local papers. I believe the scheme will cause massive disruption for both businesses and resident.

I also emailed several local politicians including my MP, Matthew Offord, My GLA rep Andrew Dismore, my local councillors John Hart, Brian Schama and Sury Khatri, the leader of the council Richard Cornelius and the cabinet member for parking, Dean Cohen. I stated my objections to the scheme, made some positive suggestions, and asked to be consulted on the scheme. The only response I had was from Andrew Dismore, who agreed with my sentiments. From the rest of them? Not a peep. Not even a "thanks for the email".

What is even more interesting is when we actually look at where our councillors live. I f you look at the map of the area, lots of roads are marked in green as "past this point"  parking. I assume that these will have special restrictions for the match days. What is interesting is that two of the councillors live in the exclusion zone. It seems that neither of their roads have been shaded in in green. This is especially odd as the councillors road (Sherwood Drive) is less than 5 minutes walk from the entrance to Copthall from the Great North way.

When you consider that the councillors house is three times closer to the stadium than Parkside and perhaps four times closeer than Holders Hill Close, which is in the green area, one can only wonder ?

The whole bais for this scheme seems flawed to me. I fully accept that measures have to be taken to control parking, and I fully accept that the area will have to be a fairly large space, given that the stadium only has parking for 700 vehicles. Assuming that Saracens fill the 10,000 seat stadium, that will mean a lot of cars trying to park somewhere. I have no idea if this is true, but I've been told that 10,000 seats is more than all of the council car parking spaces in the London Borough of Barnet.

One avid reader made an excellent point. There is a derelict tube line running from Mill Hill East, directly to the Stadium. This line has long been highlighted as one that could easily and cheapely be reopened. Sponsors of the Brent Cross Light Rail scheme included the link in their plans. It would certainly ease travel problems if the spur was reopened for match days. As the track is already there, I can't believe that the costs would be too prohibitive. It would also be highly useful for people visiting Copthall Swimming pool and for pupils and staff of the local schools. It would also make it much easier for Mill Hill residents to access Finchley Memorial and Barnet General hospitals if the shuttle service was made a regular pattern. Sadly Saracens have expressed no interest in this scheme.

I am dismayed that there seems to be no interest in the matter at all from our MP. Mr Offord replied to me saying that he only looked at correspondence with my address on it. A lame excuse indeed, given that he knows me quite well.

I wish Saracens well for their plans at Copthall. The stadium did need developing and their plans will hopefully add much needed sports facilities for the Borough. The downside is that no thought at all has been givento traffic management. Given that Saracens have no association with Mill Hill, having been based in Watford, it is clear that most fans will drive to the stadium. One suspects that this will cause havoc and that Mill Hill residents will not forgive their Tory councillo9rs in 2014, when the fulle xtent of the mayhem has dawned on the residents. maybe that is why our councillors can't be bothered. they know they are doomed, so why bother?

Saracens CPZ zone set to turn Mill Hill into a wasteland !

Barnet Council have just released a map showing the extents of parking chaos and disruption which will be caused to Mill Hill by the arrival of Saracens at Barnet Copthall Stadium. The extent of the "match day CPZ" is humungous, extending on the western side from Mill Hill Broadway Station in Station Road, to the large viaduct on Dollis Road in the East. The most northerly point is Hartley Avenue (just off Mill Hill Broadway) and the the most southerly point is Church Road Finchley.

The zone operates from the 1pm to 6pm on match days and other times if match times vary. What this means is that most of Mill Hill's residents will not be able to have visitors on the days that Saracens are playing. For many working people, Saturdays are the prime time for visiting relatives. What about the effect on the shops in Mill Hill Broadway? The new CPZ will remove much of the parking for the Broadway on the Woodlands Way/Sylvan Avenue roads. After the abolition of Pay as You Go, this is yet another blow for traders.

I have to state a vested interest here. My business is in Bunns Lane Works, which is also included. Whilst on the face of it, this shouldn't affect us, as we have off street parking, given the size and extent of the zone, we may well suffer as inconsiderate car owners try and park on our properties.

The plan exposes the lies that were peddled that there is ample parking provision at the stadium. If this were true, then we wouldn't need this massive exclusion area. All along, Mill Hill residents have had suspicions that they have been taken for a ride. This is now proven by this map.

It is quite clear what will happen. As ever Barnet Council have not thought this through at all. Roads on the edge of the zone, with access to the 221 bus, which serves the stadium will be stuffed full of cars. The roads slightly nearer will be dead, with residents unable to have visitors. Businesses in Mill Hill Broadway, Mill Hill East, Salcolme Gardens etc will see a massive downturn in business.

The timings for the CPZ are truly idiotic and show just how out of touch Barnet Council are. The solution is so simple and obvious. If the time of the match is 3pm-5pm, make the exclusion zone from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. That way, Rugby traffic will not be able to park, as they will miss the match, but the rest of us will not be largely inconvenienced. How hard is that to figure out?

If you are a Mill Hill resident or a Mill Hill based business, please contact your local councillors ASAP and let them know what you think.

As I am sure you guessed, I will be.

Their email accounts are :
cllr.j.hart@barnet.gov.uk
cllr.s.Khatri@Barnet.gov.uk
Cllr.B.Schama@Barnet.gov.uk

The DPR giving details is here

http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4285

Here is the map

Saracens CPZ Map

The Saracens at Barnet Copthall - Who's naming rights?

Lets get this right. Barnet Council granted Saracens a long lease on a peppercorn rent to "regenerate Barnet Copthall". It now appears that Saracens have sold the naming rights to the Stadium for £8 million to Allianz - a German finacial services group. The deal is for six years. The money will pay towards the £20 million redevelopment of Copthall.

On the face of it, this is a good deal for Barnet isn't it? A new stadium and new facilities a no cost to the taxpayer? Erm hang on a second, lets think this through. Saracens have a budget of £20 million for redevelopment, but presumable they are financing this with a loan? Assuming Saracens stay for 99 years, the term of their lease, they will (at todays prices) receive £99 million pounds over the term of the lease for the naming rights, in return for spending £20 million doing the stadium up. Barnet council received a sum of £1.8 million in respect of the site. All of this takes no account of ticket sales, merchandising and other hires etc.

This blog has no objections to the Saracens Rugby Club, but they are a private company and have in effect been given a huge amount of taxpayer sponsored help with this deal. As a football fan, I m dismayed at the double standard applied to a Rugby club as opposed to a football club. Barnet FC are the local club, but have been driven out of the Borough. The Council attached no value to the benefit of having a leage club with the name of the Borough. Every time the football scores are read out, the profile of Barnet is raised. What does Saracens playing at the Allianz Arena do for Barnet? Nothing. Local people objected to Barnet FC because they perceived traffic and congestion. They see no difference at all between football traffic and rugby traffic. They feel betrayed by Barnet Council.

As far as I'm concerned the Barnet taxpayer has been taken to the cleaners in this deal. They have in effect given the ground away, the Rugby club are getting someone else to pay for the work, the local people will bear the brunt of the traffic (unlike Barnet FC, most Saracens fans live outside the Borough) and we've lost our local football cflub to Harrow Council. In a splendid irony, it doesn't seem to have occurred to the Borough planners that fans attending Barnet FC games in Harrow (most of whom will be driving from the East of the Borough) will collide with Saracens fans traffic (most of whom are currently based in Watford and Hertfordshire) in Mill Hill at Apex Corner on match days.

Like most things involved with Barnet Council, there is no forethought and we look as if we've got the usual mix of financial ineptitude and incovenience for the general public.

The Guardian reported on the deal today - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/24/saracens-allianz-park-stadium - sadly they seem to have missed the nuances of the deal.

Saracens at Copthall - Brian Coleman scores an own goal and loses the dressing room

I got an excited phonecall from one of my friends in the Conservative group on Barnet Council last night. "Did you hear what happened at the meeting last night?" No actually, I'd been playing five a side football and drinking beer. "Coleman nearly got chased out of the Town Hall". My ears perked up. I'm pretty neutral on Saracens. I would much rather see Barnet FC move there and believe it would be an affront to natural justice if they don't and Saracens do. But on the other hand, I don't believe that Saracens proposal should not receive a fair hearing and it has many merits for the wider Barnet community. I am uncomfortable about the implications of any overdevelopment on the Green Belt as well. The trouble is that if we want 1st class sports facilities in a Borough like Barnet, someone somewhere will have to have a bit of disruption. I've not really got much sympathy for NIMBY's generally. I have the M1 motorway and the Midland Mainline railway at the bottom of my garden. So at the end of the day, I guess I'm agnostic on Saracens.

At the meeting to discuss the proposal, it seems Brian Coleman wasn't agnostic. He came out as soundly opposed to the Saracens. This did not play well. It got even worse when he gave his reason "it will cause parking issues". Uproar ensued. If Coleman was in any doubt as to what the general opinion of his various bonkers parking scheme. The place erupted. Not only that, but his colleagues present sat stoney faced. It is clear that the penny has finally dropped that Coleman could destroy them.

Apparently Mill Hill Tory John Hart made a fine intervention, in a bold attempt to show that not every Barnet Conservative is completely bonkers and out to shaft anyone who has ever supported the party. John Hart is one of a few Tories who realise the stupidity of much of what goes on. He has a simple plan. As he's 137 years old and counting, he just waits for all of his colleagues to die. He's already outlived six generations of preceding Tories (only joking he's not quite that old). John is one of the few Barnet Tories who is quite entertaining in private. He likes a good joke, but sadly has found himself in an administration which is rapidly becoming the laughing stock of London. He is astute enough to realise that now is a good time to divorce himself from Brian Colemans policies.

My informant in the Tory ranks tells me that rebellion is in the air. There are now a majority of Tory Councillors who privately realise Coleman is a liability. I asked if they had the bottle for a public "et tu Brutus" style knifing in the council chamber. The response was rather interesting "I think things will become rather interesting".

My advice to all Tory voters in Barnet, who are disgusted at the Parking charges is as follows :-

Go to this page on the Council website :-

http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/council/wardmap.asp?intSubSectionID=-1&intSectionID=9

This is a map of Barnet. Click on your ward. This will tell you when your councillors have their surgery. Go along and tell them what you think of Barnet Council and their parking policies. Once you've done that, if you don't like what they said, email me via the link in the sidebar and tell me, and I'll share it with the whole of Barnet.

I have been inundated with guest blogs, comments and emails recently. The message I am getting loud and clear is that people across the whole spectrum are completely fed up. Oh and the Saracens bid was approved. In my Mystic Rog role, I make 2 predictions.

1) Saracens will move to Copthall and it will be a major asset for Rugby fans

2) Barnet FC will move out of The London Borough of Barnet and football fans across the Borough will never forgive the local Tories.

This seems to be the Tory mantra. Divide and rule.

Matthew Offord MP criticises Saracens plans for Barnet Copthall Stadium

Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon has issued the following statement on his website
http://www.matthewofford.co.uk/text.aspx?id=15

This statement puts our Conservative MP at odds with his Conservative colleagues on Barnet Council. Matthews statement is reproduced in full below without edit or comment from the Barnet Eye.
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Barnet Copthall Stadium


This is a significant planning application for the Mill Hill area. As such I am grateful to all residents for letting me have their views. Through my public meeting and via correspondence I have received hundreds of comments and this has been very useful in helping me to form an opinion on the planning application.
I have taken into account all the representations that I have received. I am aware that there may be advantages to local schools and the community as a result of access to improved sporting and social facilities and this is an important consideration. However, over 90 per cent of the representations received are opposed to this application and, having carefully considered those representations, I believe they make an overwhelmingly strong case to oppose Saracens’ application. I therefore have submitted a letter of opposition to Barnet Council based on the following reasons:

1. Parking. There is insufficient parking available in the area and there are inadequate proposals in the application to address this. I believe this proposal will exacerbate the parking situation in this part of Mill Hill and have a significantly negative impact on the lives of residents.

2. Public Transport Links. The Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) score of the site is 0. This is due to the fact that the final walk distances from the transport nodes are in excess of the ideal walk distances which are recognised in PTAL scores. It therefore is not unreasonable to suppose that spectators will choose to use private rather than public transport.

2. Private Transport and Access. I believe Page Street as one of two access routes is unsuitable. It will have an unacceptable impact in terms of congestion, pollution and inconvenience on the residents of Page Street and adjacent roads. There will be significant impact on the traffic at the Fiveways corner junction and the application contains no definite proposals to manage this.

4. Noise pollution. Residents are already disturbed by noise from sporting events at the stadium. All the evidence suggests this will increase.

5. Litter and other anti-social behaviour. There are no substantial proposals to deal with anti-social behaviour outside the stadium perimeter save stewards who will have no legal powers to deal with incidents.

6. Green Belt and Open Space. Green Belt Planning Policy Guidance (PPG2) requires that ‘very special circumstances’ should be demonstrated where permission is to be given to develop within the Green Belt. The Mayor’s London Plan asserts that the construction of new buildings, and changes of use of existing land and buildings, within the Green Belt or Metropolitan Open Land, unless there are very special circumstances, will be inappropriate, except for the following purposes: i) Agriculture, horticulture and woodland; ii) Nature conservation and wildlife use; or iii) Essential facilities for outdoor sport and recreation.

I do not believe there are either special circumstances or a need for additional essential facilities at Copthall which justify the development which is being proposed.

In summary, I believe Saracens’ proposed development at Barnet Copthall is unsuitable, being on the Green Belt in a highly residential area. The effects of such a development would have a severely detrimental impact on the quality of life of thousands of local residents. The Travel Plan does not adequately address either the poor access to public transport or provision for private vehicles and the current parking and traffic problems would be significantly exacerbated.

This application is now being looked at by the Planning Authority (Barnet Council) and I understand is not expected to be considered by the Planning Committee before September.

MATTHEW OFFORD