The increasingly vocal Coalition opposing current plans for Brent Cross is renewing calls for a Public Inquiry in advance of Barnet’s Planning committee meeting (1) this week. Barnet will decide on the plans this Thursday 19th November, after an extended session for speakers on Wednesday 18th , where many Coalition members, including Brent MP Sarah Teather and Assembly member Navin Shah, are planning to speak out.
The Coalition is highly critical of the scheme itself, and Barnet’s handling of the application during the consultation process. On behalf of Barnet Council, the developers paid for planning consultants EDAW to draw up a Brent Cross plan in 2003. The developers have since behaved as though this was an "approved planning application" that only needed the detail adding. As a result, public comments ever since have been ignored, even though the developers’ PR agency has gone through a “sham” consultation exercise. In reality, only very minor changes have been allowed.
Lia Colacicco, Coalition Co-ordinator and Mapesbury resident says:
Barnet’s “easyCouncil” has offered only a basic Planning service, which developers have used to call the shots. By paying for a faster, better service, they have taken charge of the application themselves. Brent Cross has showed that money controls the Planning department rather than the public interest. Barnet has been under the thumb of the developers for the last five years. They have let the developers ride roughshod over the public consultation process. The developer has either misled the public, or even worse colluded with Barnet.
This scheme goes way beyond Barnet’s own self interest. It will have far reaching implications for the whole of North London and should be called in immediately.
Sarah Teather, local MP for Brent East, says:
If the Brent Cross development is approved it would be a disaster for Brent, a disaster for the environment, and a disaster for my constituents.
Regeneration should be about making an area better, not making it worse. As it currently stands, Barnet gets all the benefits of the scheme while Brent is lumbered with the pollution and the traffic problems.
I hope that Barnet give serious consideration to the thousands of people who have protested against this development, by sending developers back to the drawing board. If not, the Secretary of State should use his powers to call this scheme in.
Navin Shah, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, says:
The Brent Cross waste facility - the ‘dump’ - will mean more lorries hurtling along the North Circular and local roads. There are serious flaws, like the very location of the depot, confusion and misinformation over the type of technology the plant will use, environmental impacts, dangerous road access from Edgware Road, and its proximity to residential properties and several schools.
The impact on North London’s traffic and transport has not been adequately or accurately addressed, and there’s no mitigation strategy. The transport proposals are heavily reliant on private car use, and there’s undue attention given to increasing capacity of road junctions. The developers’ forecasts are based on figures that are blatantly wrong. There is great potential to improve public transport, walking and cycling, but the applicant has failed to deliver.
Supporters are being mobilized from across Barnet, Brent and Camden to attend the meeting and rally outside Hendon Town Hall . This show of strength will demonstrate the widespread opposition and real anger against the destructive and damaging plans. If, as we fear Barnet approve this scheme, the Coalition will escalate their campaign for the Secretary of State John Denham to call in the plans.
Reference
Barnet’s Planning Committee papers at http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/meetings/meetingdetail.asp?meetingID=5791
Notes
1. The “Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan” comprises twelve residents’ associations plus the Federation of Residents’ Associations in Barnet (representing the 12 largest residents’ associations in Barnet), Brent Cyclists, the North West London Light Railway (NWLLR) group, Brent Friends of the Earth (FoE), Barnet & Enfield FoE, Camden FoE, Sarah Teather (MP for Brent East), Dawn Butler (MP for Brent South), Labour and LibDem Councillors from Brent and Camden, Navin Shah (London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow), Darren Johnson (London Assembly Member), Jean Lambert (London MEP), Brent Green Party, Barnet Green Party, Cllr Alexis Rowell (Chair of Camden Sustainability Taskforce), Barnet Trades Council ( TUC ) and Bestway Group.
2. The petition to call the development in for a public inquiry is available at: http://www.petition.co.uk/campaign_for_a_sustainable_brent_cross_cricklewood_development
3. The Coalition has a blog, which is rapidly putting news online at www.brentcrosscoalition.blogspot.com
4. Facts about Brent Cross and the Coalition are at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Cross and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_for_a_Sustainable_Brent_Cross_Cricklewood
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