Hammerson-toobusymakingmoneytobotherdevisingadecentscheme-nottomentionconsultingpeopleinameaningfulway.COM

Click above for The Guardian

A disgruntled passenger who set up a website called I Hate Ryanair to share travel "horror stories" has been ordered to hand over the domain name to the low-cost airline he loathes.

Despite the fiery reputation of Michael O'Leary, the Ryanair boss, who has called the Irish PM a "gobshite", the airline was stung by the criticism and lodged a complaint in April, branding the website "vitriolic and highly disparaging".

Planning Resource: "Legal action threat over Brent Cross CPO"

Boris: Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy (Consultation until 5 January 2011)

Click above for 'Executive Summary'



Hard Times Ahead for PR Industry?

Click above for Evening Standard, from August (just noticed!)

"A string of of London councils, the Metropolitan Police and other agencies came under fire from ministers today, after it emerged that they had spent millions on lobbying firms."

'North London Waste Plan' report

This report is not new, but documents the NLWP's views on Brent Cross. One significant section is reprinted here.

 Key issue:   Should the Edgware Rd/Geron Way site remain in the Plan?
Explanation: A significant number of respondents objected to the inclusion of this site in the Plan because of the impact on the existing commercial operations on the site, the potential impacts of waste operations on the housing and primary school across Edgware Road from the site, and the potential impacts on traffic in the area.
Initial NLWP response: We will consider whether this site remains in the Plan in the light of the issues raised relating to site ownership, site assessment scores, site boundary issues, local impacts and the recent outline planning permission for the Brent Cross Cricklewood Development. This decision will also be made in the context of a wider review of the overall need for sites in the light of the new waste projections which have been announced by the Mayor since the draft Plan was published.

 Key issue:   If the Edgware Rd/Geron Way site remains in the Plan, does it require a different status to the other sites?
Explanation: The Brent Cross Cricklewood Development partners argued that the Edgware Road/Geron Way site should be treated differently to other potential new sites since the use of the site as a waste facility now has outline planning permission as part of the Brent Cross Cricklewood redevelopment proposals.

  (Oh no, it doesn't!)  

Initial NLWP response: If the site remains in the Plan, and if the main function of identifying this site is as a replacement site for the Hendon transfer station, we will consider the merit of moving Edgware Road/Geron Way into a separate site schedule so that there does not need to be additional compensation by another site if it was developed.

Click on the picture to link to the complete document.
(Be warned: unless you are lucky, the download is very slow, since the NLWP web site appears to only have the computing power of a Sinclair ZX80.)

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The Brent Cross Coalition is working with campaigners who want to stop another domestic waste incinerator at Friern Barnet, located further east along the North Circular Road, on the border of Barnet and Haringey. See a related information web site.

PRWeek Awards contender London Communications Agency: last day for job application!

LCA are currently looking to recruit a new account executive.

Closing date: today!

(Glad to be of service.)

UKWIN has produced a substantial response to Defra’s call for evidence to inform the UK Government’s review of waste policies



(Click above for link)

"Incineration diverts resources from recycling, and diverts biogenic resources from composting and effective energy recovery via anaerobic digestion. The installation of incinerators, which are inherently energy inefficient, produce toxic emissions and massive quantities of CO2e, and do not save on greenhouse gas emissions, should cease forthwith, and pending the achievement of zero waste, inert non-recyclables should be put to landfill.

"...Working with local communities leads to both better decision making and a greater sense of ownership, helping to avoid lengthy and costly conflicts between communities, local authorities and waste companies regarding proposed waste facilities. Conversely, civil society in general and local communities in particular are alienated when incinerators are imposed against their will.

"Some have expressed experiencing their own local authorities acting as agents for the waste companies, intent on forcing through decisions to build waste incinerators, without due regard for the views of local residents in the vicinity of the proposed developments."

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Our comment: So it's natural gas for the Brent Cross CHP plant, is it?

And the lawful necessity to close the current Hendon waste transfer site is ... ?

PRWeek Awards 2010: London Communications Agency updated post

The 24th edition of the glittering PRWeek Awards will take place on Tuesday 19 October 2010 at Grosvenor House on London's Park Lane – the home of all the UK’s great awards ceremonies – and is the PR industry’s biggest night of the year.

"And the Winner of the 'PRWeek 2010 Brent Cross Communications Award' is ... (well, could be) ..."

"London Communications Agency (LCA) are [is?] an award-winning specialist consultancy focusing on London and London issues. From the Olympics to swine ‘flu, major transport projects to long-term regeneration schemes, we are experts in communicating change and shaping opinion. [Our emphasis.]

The Observer: "The plans for Stratford promise better times. If only they could be rolled out across Britain"

Link to The Observer

 "Previous plans showed little but massive apartment blocks ... These would have backed on to the existing two- and three-storey houses of surrounding areas like oil tankers next to dinghies. Their true purpose was to pack in as many housing units as possible, to raise money as quickly as possible.

"Architects outside the usual glum ranks of 'masterplanning specialists' have been hired to consider the ways the new development will connect with the existing."



Hammerson and Standard Life: Earlier "Green Light" for Brent Cross development now flickering a little

Evening Standard: "This classical vision for the building of a new city"

How the Olympic Park will look in 2030

(Click above for Evening Standard article, 7 October)

Olympic legacy chief Baroness Ford wants to [help] solve the city's looming housing crisis, and ensure the Games delivers lasting improvements to London.

She wants to build fewer but grander homes, as part of a general scaling-down of the area's housing plan.

Thousands of homes with gardens will be built instead of "soulless" high-rise flats.

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(Click above for Evening Standard comment, 8 October)

The key change from the 2009 [Stratford] plan is replacing many multi-storey quadrangular blocks with lower-rise terraced housing.

"We want to take the best of London and interpret it for this amazing site."

Caroline Flint to shadow Eric Pickles (it's a big shadow)

"Caroline Flint, who quit the frontbench in protest at Gordon Brown's leadership, makes a comeback as Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, shadowing Eric Pickles."

Mark of an impartial, independent Local Planning Authority

From Director of Planning, Housing & Regeneration
18 November 2009
To Brent Cross Cricklewood team

Well done all tonight. Excellent presentations. Cool, calm, composed and well-presented by whole team.

Rubbish Brent Cross Queries



(Click above for document)

"Contrary to the way in which the matter was presented to the Planning Committee, the [recent statement] represents a fundamental change in approach by the North London Waste Authority, and this change is both unlawful and disturbing, since the development partners have been promoting the waste element of the scheme on the basis that new technologies and processes are required in the new facility.

"This should be a concern to the Council since this is the reason the development partners have been arguing that the existing Hendon Waste Transfer Station is not suitable for upgrading and needs to be relocated. What the NLWA are now saying is that, if they cannot keep the existing Hendon WTS, then they want an identical replacement facility, albeit with a materials recycling facility included.

"This is not the message that has been presented to Members or the public."

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Reference: Web site of the Friern Barnet waste site campaigners, further east on the North Circular Road, on the border of Barnet and Haringey:




The seven north London boroughs

 

The North London Waste Authority



Willesden and Brent Times

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Tele-screen event

From After Armageddon (published 1932):

"It was on the tele-screen that I viewed the mobs coursing through the streets; via the news-dispenser I listened to the latest tidings from all over the country."

Hurrah! - Barnet is in the Top Thirty Public Bodies in the United Kingdom

Click above for press release

(at failing to answer Freedom of Information Act requests).



'Barnet Eye' blog: Grumbles last June

Click on picture for 'Barnet Eye' blog item:

"Now ask yourself this question (I've helpfully added three potential answers). Why do you think that the developers are keen to build these monstrosities?

1. Because they have a deeply held belief that people enjoy living in concrete jungles?
2. Because they want to live there themselves?
3. Because they'll make tens of millions of quid?"

British Library: "Future City: London and the future: Will we still be a major player in the world in 2050?" - Friday 8 October

Barnet Consults (!) on Local Development Framework - deadline is 25 November 2010

Planning, Housing and Regeneration

London Borough of Barnet

Building 2

North London Business Park

Oakleigh Road South

London N11 1NP

Barnet Acquiesces in More Road Traffic: Learning from History

Click above for 'New Scientist', 1986. (Scroll up one page to start.)

Secretary of State Philip Hammond approves High Speed Two station at Old Oak Common - a new route from Barnet to all-points west and north?

Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond announced today approval of the 'High Speed Two' rail line, with a public inquiry next year. This is believed to include a joint 'High Speed Two' and 'Great Western Main Line / Crossrail' station in west London, at Old Oak Common. 

(Our own Theresa Villiers, Minister of State for Transport, calls this station 'Wormwood Scrubs International'.)

The light-rail proposal, from Finchley Central, across Barnet, to Brent Cross and across neighbouring Brent, might be diverted there (possibly via Willesden Junction station):

More references for this item will be provided.

No, Philip Hammond is no relation of Richard Hammond.

As a stop-gap (without any reference to Old Oak Common), here is a summary of the Secretary of State's statement:

 

The Secretary of State also hob-nobs and name-drops:

"I reject the proposition that we somehow face some kind of stark choice in transport between supporting economic growth and supporting environmental objectives. There is no either/or choice between generating growth and protecting the environment.

"Because neither growth which undermines our environmental agenda, nor environmental measures that stifle economic growth, will be sustainable in the medium term."

British Library: "Future City: Is London growing too big too fast?": Tuesday 5 October

Click above for British Library 'Future City' events

"Story of London is a Londonwide festival organised by the Mayor, that celebrates the capital both as a place of heritage and culture and as a cutting-edge city of change and new ideas.

"As part of the festival, 'Future City' is a week of after-work topical debates at the British Library. These debates bring together leading forecasters, historians and practitioners to look at the challenges that London faces and possible solutions."

Barnet Times: "Finchley civil engineer Michael Bear, who is a top executive at Hammerson plc, a partnership company behind the Brent Cross Cricklewood development, has been elected Lord Mayor of the City of London"

Click above for Barnet Times, the paper with long headlines

"More financial freedom for local authorities" [for Infrastructure]

This Treasury announcement was originally displayed here on 21 September (click on image).

The follow-up Evening Standard article below it dates from 28 September.

"Local Authorities in England will be granted new borrowing powers  ... to fund key infrastructure and other capital projects, which will support locally-driven economic development and growth.

"This system has long been employed in other countries."

(Click for Evening Standard)

"Yet more borrowing? Nick Clegg should be careful"

"The idea is that councils previously unable to afford regeneration projects will soon able to borrow money upfront against the predicted rise in business rates brought in by the development. The funds are used to pay for the infrastructure needed to make the scheme happen, and paid back to investors over 10 to 20 years."

'Barnet Leaks' Web Site is Relaunched

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government visits Lynne Hillan's Brent Cross sand pit

"Local Government minister Bob Neill MP praises work Barnet Council has done on easyCouncil strategy"


Bob Neill MP with council leader Lynne Hillan, deputy chief executive Zina Etheridge and Councillor Richard Cornelius.

(Click on picture for 'Barnet Times'.)

Brent Cross Bikes in the future?

The Independent: "Low rate of theft"

Is it an Incinerator?

Comment from an opponent, about a year ago:

[The plan seems to be that:] The domestic waste is dried and pelleted at high temperature in the waste plant on the Edgware Road. The pellets go on a conveyor underneath the Thameslink railway line, to the incinerator near the M1 roundabout. Ash comes out of the gasifying incinerator plant there. Emissions go up the tall chimney, next to the high-level North Circular Road flyover.

Mace Group - Property and Construction Expertise

The Mace Group is one of the world's most accomplished consultancy and construction firms.

'Broken Barnet' blog: "Thoughtcrime" Picture of Councillor Brian Coleman

Click above to link to 'Broken Barnet'

(This Brent Cross Coalition web site seems to have more and more references to Barnet bloggers - this is a reflection of their new-found readership levels. We assume 'purist' readers of our narrower 'Brent Cross' subject matter are content to see our wider range of posts.)

'Barnet Bugle' blog: "Barnet Council has a new whizzy-bang idea. They have launched yet another web site"

The Guardian: Three Barnet Replies to "Auditor challenges Tory 'easyCouncil' model"

"Ship of Fools" Commentary by 'Broken Barnet' web site

"How much more of our money has to be spent on saving the faces of an administration that so evidently lacks intellect, competence, and genuine commitment to the well-being of the people it was elected to serve?

The Guardian: "Barnet 'easyCouncil' project lacks proper business plan, audit finds"

easyChair:  Link to The Guardian

"Plan to sell off libraries and axe wardens for elderly needs 'cost and benefits analysis' "

Picture archive of Barnet Council: 'Gold Diggers' and 'Far from the Barnet Crowd'

The Prof's back in Town!

"Zero Waste - the Cost Effective and Sustainable Alternative to Incineration"

Presentation by Professor Paul Connett

House of Commons, Tuesday 2nd November, 6pm

  

 Professor Connett returns by popular demand, following his recent tour of Europe and talks to the United Nations on 'Zero Waste'.

He is a world expert on waste management issues, specialising in the dangers of waste incineration, and in safer and more sustainable non-burn alternatives.

The main objective is to raise awareness among parliamentarians/policy makers about the issues and arguments for 'zero waste' strategies, and highlight the problems associated with waste incineration. The event will follow a meeting the previous week between Prof. Connett and DEFRA civil servants.

Try asking nicely for a ticket for the above meeting, from: Gloucestershire Against Incinerators.

 

Barnet Press letter and Barnet Times letter

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'Brent Cross Development Corporation'?

A copy of a relevant post on local planning policy, from last June, is repeated below:

  

Click above for link

The Localism Bill will contain an "obligation on authorities to cooperate on those parts of their policies which cross borders and boundaries, and in a way that cross-boundaries were perhaps not recognised in the regional system."

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The Brent Cross location impacts three London boroughs: 

NewStart: "£30m London sustainability centre gets go-ahead"

'Barnet Eye' blog alleges Barnet Council is 'a little less than perfect' at Project Management and Financial Control

(Rat-link above)

"It has been reported in the local paper that, when [a councillor] was asked why, after three years and several million pounds, there was:

      - no business case,

      - no cost justification, and

      - a high risk profile

for the 'Future Shape' project to privatise the council, [the councillor] replied:

'Don't worry, I'll knock one out by Christmas.' "

[Paraphrased; 'Barnet Times' is here.]

Brief Comment on the 'Community Infrastructure Levy'

Click above for the 'British Property Federation' web site.

Quod Planning Services added to the Firmament of Consultants of the Brent Cross Cricklewood Developers

The developers of Brent Cross have presumably been taking an honest look at their own talents.

As a result, they have engaged Quod Planning Services (although individuals there were already involved). They describe themselves as:

"a refreshingly new planning consultancy ... offering ...  incisive thinking, attention to detail, and honest commercial advice by a team of professionals who are passionate about good planning."

Did the developers not have those virtues already?

It is possible that Quod get teased about being similar in name to the Doctor Who aliens, the Ood.

They are a peaceful, humanoid species of enormous intellect; they are able to communicate between themselves, and with their supreme being, by telepathy.

The other lot are on TV. 

"Broken Barnet" blog publishes another cracking picture of Barnet Councillors (well, it brightens up this page!)

(Click on picture to link to Broken Barnet.)

   "Like an unwanted baby left on the doorstep of the Town Hall, 'Futureshape', child of shame born out of the lurid affair between Mike Freer and his own ego, has now been formally adopted and renamed to 'One Barnet'. "