The Coalition will be demonstrating outside Hendon Town Hall on Tuesday 20th October from 5pm (photocall at 5.30pm) to highlight the need for a public inquiry, rather than an extended planning committee which will only serve to allow a few more people three minutes to speak. Please bring your banners and placards to show the range of support for a public inquiry. We need a proper inquiry so that all parties can be fully cross examined and held to account.
PRESS RELEASE: OCTOBER 19TH 2009
Brent Cross Coalition Demand Public Inquiry Not “Extended Planning Meeting”
THE Brent Cross Cricklewood Coalition has again criticized Barnet’s delays and latest plans to hold a two session planning committee in November, which would allow more residents to speak, but would not allow sufficient scrutiny of the £5 billion “new town”. The group plan to hold a demonstration outside the planning committee at Hendon Town Hall tomorrow 20th October to call for a public inquiry.
The Coalition believes it is little use extending the current Planning Committee to a mammoth two-evening meeting in November. Instead of just letting more people to speak to the Committee for three minutes each, the Coalition demands a proper Public Inquiry, where the developers, Transport for London, the 'London Communications PR Agency', and other parties can all be called to justify their Brent Cross plans, which have evolved over the past five years, and be properly cross-examined. In this way a fully informed decision can be made by the Minister.
Lia Colacicco, Coalition Co-ordinator and Mapesbury Resident says, “The new BXC will affect the shape of North London for generations. The scheme should therefore be judged by people knowledgeable and experienced in large-scale urban planning. Barnet cannot be allowed to be prosecutor, judge and jury even if they now propose two evenings rather than two hours to come to a decision.
"The system of lay councillors assessing extensions and conservatories works fine, but a new town requires expert knowledge. A longer hearing with more speakers would be better, but doesn’t change the fact that planning department is out of its depth. Much better to leave the job to experts appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities.
"To make an informed judgment on BXC requires knowledge of both UK and EU planning law, town planning, urban design, familiarity with good and bad practice worldwide, sociology of housing, the 2008 UK climate change laws and likely implication for urban design in the next 5 years, Zero Emission Developments, environmental impact, a detailed knowledge of incinerator science, pollution and human health, the London Plan, TfL, transport modeling… in other words a PUBLIC INQUIRY, where the adjudicator is an impartial civil servant rather than a politician or Officers.”
Alison Hopkins, Dollis Hill resident and Coalition member says, “Barnet’s actions show they are not equipped to handle such a large application. While Planning Officers have done their best, the 800 page committee report is inconsistent and disjointed. We question why Heads of Terms have been released before Transport for London has even agreed to them, when they are after all a major party in these discussions.
The Brent Cross scheme was devised five years ago, when developers paid the 'EDAW' consultancy to devise a plan for the whole site. All public consultation arranged by the 'London Communications PR Agency' since then has been a sham, because developers have insisted the plan is "settled", and only minor details and phasing can be changed.
Barnet Council has worked exclusively with just one developer, making it impossible to work out where the private-sector body stopped, and the public-sector started. There has been no independent thought by the Council, representing the proper interests of local residents, just an accommodation with whatever the developer has wanted.
A full public inquiry is far more democratic than any local council planning process and allows all voices to be heard. This means that all the environmental, commercial and technical risks can be properly and independently judged.”
SIGN THE PETITION FOR A SUSTAINABLE BRENT CROSS DEVELOPMENT HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment