"Incoming!" Brent lobs over a warning to Barnet. "They don't like it up 'em!"

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THE A5 road is the 2000-year-old Roman 'Watling Street', and forms the border between the London Boroughs of Brent (hurrah!) and Barnet (boo!).

Senior officers of Brent have recently clarified various points to Coalition members:

• Whilst various matters were resolved, Brent did not remove or withdraw its principal objections prior to the Barnet Planning Committee of 18/19 November 2009.

• Since 19 November 2009, Brent Council has not removed or withdrawn its objections to the BXC outline planning application, although it must be recognised that these objections were considered by the relevant authorities in arriving at a resolution to grant planning permission.

•  Brent will maintain its objections to the approved BXC outline planning application, until such time as the objections can be overcome, through the relevant processes and statutory procedures established for scheme progression and implementation. In this respect, Brent will work in partnership with Barnet, Transport for London and the developers, plus other stakeholders to ensure a satisfactory outcome for this Council.

• There are a variety of transportation-related issues that remain to be resolved to Brent’s satisfaction, and which will be subject to study through the relevant processes established for scheme progression and implementation, including the 'A5 Corridor Study'.

• We have had confirmation that the issues raised in connection with the 'Final Bus Strategy' will be addressed by TfL, and that conditions are proposed to provide effective control on movements from the Waste Handling Facility. However, our concerns over the design and operation of the junctions along the A5 remain, a point reiterated in Brent’s response of 20 October 2009, prior to the meeting of Barnet Planning Committee.’

• Brent has always been concerned about the new 'all-movements' junction proposed at the site of the WHF on the A5, opposite Humber Road. The current predictions of traffic movements produced by the developer’s consultants indicate a substantial increase in traffic flow along Humber Road, which this Council does not support.  As no acceptable modifications to this junction have been forthcoming, or substantive mitigation proposed (other than a planning condition which seeks as yet unidentified traffic management measures to protect Humber Road) this Council remains to be convinced that an acceptable junction arrangement can be provided, that protects the amenity of the local community.

• As such, and given there are detailed design considerations, including the right-turn from the A5 south that from this Council’s perspective have to be reviewed, this Council has reiterated its objection to the junction arrangements proposed, and hence, without an acceptable junction arrangement forthcoming, maintained its objection to the WHF itself. This Council is also keen to ensure no penetration of heavy vehicles into the residential hinterland, hence its insistence on a condition that provides for an enforceable route management strategy for the WHF.

• The A5 Corridor Study is the means by which the various parties involved will seek to establish an effective operating regime for the A5, including any potential junction modifications, and to identify substantive supplementary mitigation of development impact in the local area.