Barnet Times
The Coalition is, and will continue to be, an all-party and no-party grouping. However, we will draw your attention to any web site on the issue, like this Green Party blog...
2010-06-18
Coalition Press Release
Press Statement - Brent Cross Coalition Response to Secretary of State Failure to Call-In Application
We believe that allowing the current plans to go ahead will destroy communities and cause great harm to local town centres across North West London and beyond. The scheme should have been called in by the Secretary of State on those grounds alone.
The plans are discredited, out-dated and green-washed, with high-rise rabbit-hutch housing of poor environmental standards and a gasifying incinerator as the only supposedly “renewable” energy source. This predominantly car-based scheme will exacerbate air pollution at a time when the Government has already been given final notice by the EU for breaching air quality standards, and will also destroy any chance of a sustainable light-rail scheme across this part of outer London.
This ill-conceived decision by the Secretary of State does not bode well for future planning decisions, and is completely at odds with new Conservative Party policies on planning, and the recent Coalition Government planning statement. It rides roughshod over widespread local opposition from tens of thousands of people, which must now be heard at a public inquiry.
We will continue to fight this regressive, unpopular scheme, to replace it with a sustainable development that meets both 21st century standards and the needs and aspirations of the whole community.
We believe that allowing the current plans to go ahead will destroy communities and cause great harm to local town centres across North West London and beyond. The scheme should have been called in by the Secretary of State on those grounds alone.
The plans are discredited, out-dated and green-washed, with high-rise rabbit-hutch housing of poor environmental standards and a gasifying incinerator as the only supposedly “renewable” energy source. This predominantly car-based scheme will exacerbate air pollution at a time when the Government has already been given final notice by the EU for breaching air quality standards, and will also destroy any chance of a sustainable light-rail scheme across this part of outer London.
This ill-conceived decision by the Secretary of State does not bode well for future planning decisions, and is completely at odds with new Conservative Party policies on planning, and the recent Coalition Government planning statement. It rides roughshod over widespread local opposition from tens of thousands of people, which must now be heard at a public inquiry.
We will continue to fight this regressive, unpopular scheme, to replace it with a sustainable development that meets both 21st century standards and the needs and aspirations of the whole community.
2010-06-14
2010-06-03
Barnet predicts over 29,000 extra cars daily at Brent Cross / West Hendon (Road traffic causes 80% of air pollution)...
UK given final warning over London air quality
The UK has been issued a written warning by Europe to clean London's air or face fines of up to £300m
(click on picture for Guardian web site)
UK receives 'final warning' over air pollution
The European Commission has threatened to take the UK to the European Court of Justice over air quality breaches.
(click on picture for BBC News web site)
Barnet Council's report on transport:
A better alternative...
Proposed light railway's relationship with North Circular Road and other major roads
Hammerson: You Couldn't Make it Up!
"Hammerson acknowledged for sustainability"!
(Winner of our Journalism Brown Nose Award?)
2010-05-28
Ham and High, and Barnet Times
Ham and High: "So what is the future of transport in Barnet?"
was accidentally changed by a sub-editor to "So what is the future of transport in Brent?"
2010-05-24
Barnet Council states transport priorities
The Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Lynne Hillan, has announced her new cabinet.
Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Brian Coleman said:
"My priorities are roads, roads, roads and roads."
2010-05-20
Possible change in light-rail scheme assessments?
Here is the transport section:
30. TRANSPORT
The Government believes that a modern transport infrastructure is essential for a dynamic and entrepreneurial economy, as well as to improve well-being and quality of life. We need to make the transport sector greener and more sustainable, with tougher emission standards and support for new transport technologies.
We will mandate a national recharging network for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
We will grant longer rail franchises in order to give operators the incentive to invest in the improvements passengers want – like better services, better stations, longer trains and better rolling stock.
We will reform the way decisions are made on which transport projects to prioritise, so that the benefits of low carbon proposals (including light rail schemes) are fully recognised.
We will make Network Rail more accountable to its customers.
We will establish a high speed rail network as part of our programme of measures to fulfil our joint ambitions for creating a low carbon economy. Our vision is of a truly national high speed rail network for the whole of Britain. Given financial constraints, we will have to achieve this in phases.
We support Crossrail and further electrification of the rail network.
We will turn the rail regulator into a powerful passenger champion.
We will support sustainable travel initiatives, including the promotion of cycling and walking, and will encourage joint working between bus operators and local authorities.
We are committed to fair pricing for rail travel.
We will work towards the introduction of a new system of HGV road user charging to ensure a fairer arrangement for UK hauliers.
We will stop central government funding for new fixed speed cameras and switch to more effective ways of making our roads safer, including authorising ‘drugalyser’ technology.
We will tackle rogue private sector wheel clampers.
Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond
2010-05-14
New Conservative Party Chair admires "transport-oriented developments"
In a 2006 BBC Newsnight's series on finding the best public services in the world, Conservative Party Vice Chair Sayeeda Warsi - just appointed to the Cabinet, and as Conservative Party Chair by David Cameron - reported on efforts to overhaul public transport in one US city...
"PORTLAND, OREGON isn't just about successfully getting people out of their cars. What's really clear, is the extent to which transport is the absolute bedrock of community development.
"The city is an international pioneer in transit-orientated developments, high-density, residential and business units around light-rail stops and transit centres.
"Portland's Transportation Commissioner, Sam Adams, puts the city's success down to three main factors:
the marriage of transportation and land use issues,
public and private partnership,
clear results."
Read in full:
2010-05-08
2010-04-27
Boris insults opponents of Brent Cross Plan
London Mayor Boris Johnson revealed his contempt for local people and organisations opposing the environmentally-damaging Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan, when he spoke at the 'London Planning Awards'...
2010-04-19
2010-04-14
'Fly a Kite Against Pollution' says Green Party
Donald Lyven, the Prospective Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, has just received Special Permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to fly a Kite to a height of 140 metres (460 feet) on the afternoon of Sunday 18 April.
Donald Lyven said:
This is to give residents of Garden Suburb, Golders Green, Cricklewood, Hendon, West Hendon, Brent and surrounding areas, an idea of how high the Barnet Tory Council-voted-for incinerator chimney will be. Its fumes will predominately drift east due to the UK's prevailing westerly winds, taking the smoke towards some of the richest suburbs in London.This 'Toxic Tower of Death' is 40 metres higher than the massive chimney at Edmonton Incinerator, next to the A406. It is projected to be belching out cleaner air than it takes in, based on yet to be developed technology! Even if that were true, it will produce thousands of tonnes of toxic ash each year, and will have to import millions of tonnes of rubbish from surrounding communities, using hundreds of lorry journeys from surrounding districts, to make the plant viable
It seems ironic that Barnet Council can - with a show of hands - vote in a hideously dense housing scheme, in an already polluted part of London, with its 140 metre high chimney; yet I’ve had to provide all sorts of detailed information to the CAA to enable special permission to fly a kite to the same height! Officially, kites can only be legally flown to a height of 60 metres (200 feet) in the UK.
Barnet Green Party will be flying a traditional Cody Box Kite with a 2.5 metre wingspan, because of its stability in the air. The actual location of the launch site on Clitterhouse Playing Fields will be dependent on the wind direction on the day, so as to keep the kite above the Fields at all times, and hopefully an orange wind sock will indicate the wind direction, strength and launch point.
Many other groups against the Brent Cross Cricklewood Development are due to congregate at the Clitterhouse Fields during the ascent, giving out information on the disastrous development. Please come along to learn more about BXC.
If conditions are right, Barnet Green Party urge all residents in surrounding districts to look out for the kite between 1 and 3 pm, and to ask themselves, do they want this proposed chimney looking down on them? You can bet property prices in surrounding areas will plummet long before the first brick is laid for the incinerator plant. Do you want your children to breath in toxins, PCBs, carcinogens and particulates?
2010-04-07
Ham and High letter, jointly from 'Friends of the Earth' groups
Great expectations of 'humble residents' groups' - BBC web site
"The 'Residents' Association of Barnet' (RAB) will rally against planning permission granted to the Brent Cross regeneration project..."
(Click on image above)
THE MAYOR MOCKS OBJECTORS, BUT HE IS NOT FUNNY!
Navin Shah, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow has given his reaction to Mayor Johnson's speech at the London Planning Awards:
The Mayor’s contempt shown at the London Planning Awards evening is offensive to people and objectors, who have raised very serious issues about this mega BXC development. He thinks this is all funny, but Boris's comments have made me very, very 'cross'.
It all just shows how little he cares for community and residents' interests, on a major plan that will have a serious impact on the generations to come. He thinks this is all hilarious and jokes about nodding through the plans against the fiercest opposition, but then he says 'never mind'.
This just proves Boris's thoughts and actions lie firmly with developers, not Londoners' best interests. For this reason I've called for a public enquiry, and the sooner it happens, the better!
.jpg)
2010-04-04
Boris Johnson's 'Cavalier disregard for the views of Londoners'
Darren Johnson AM reacted to Boris Johnson's remarks at the 2010 London Planning Awards (see below) with the following comment:
This sound clip reveals that beneath the Mayor's chuckling veneer lurks a cavalier disregard for the views of Londoners. There is a reckless abandonment of any pretence of reaching an informed and balanced view of major development applications, and their environmental impact.
A public inquiry is essential.
2010-04-03
Is this the Context in which Brent Cross should be decided? (Discuss)
Biodiversity loss. Land use. Freshwater use. Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. Stratospheric ozone. Ocean acidification. Climate change. Chemical pollution. Aerosol loading in the atmosphere.
(Click above for video from 'Scientific American')
(Click above for video from 'Scientific American')
2010-04-02
2010-04-01
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