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'. "

Rubber Stamp out again at Barnet Planning Committee on Monday 19th

(See page 25 onwards of the 235-page report.)

Traffic at Brent Cross - do Hammerson and Standard Life agree??



Click on image to link to report



This report is from a few months ago...

"The transport elements of the Brent Cross scheme are described by TfL as ‘complex’. Three main changes are proposed to improve public transport access: a relocated bus station in the shopping centre on the north of the A406 with new bus routes and higher frequencies on existing routes; a new Brent Cross station north of Cricklewood on the Thameslink Midland mainline and a ‘Rapid Transit System’ consisting of a minibus plying a route from Cricklewood Station to the shopping centre and Brent Cross underground station via the new ‘town centre’.

"However, the walking routes to the new bus station would be longer, and it would be located immediately next to the noise and pollution of the North Circular Road, which at that point has ten lanes. The so-called Rapid Transit System would be poor value for money, according to TfL, and would only be funded by the developers for a short time. Critics claim the existing Thameslink Cricklewood and Hendon stations will be likely to close if Brent Cross Thameslink is built, as the stops would then be too close together.

"TfL does not consider that the public transport and other measures to mitigate the transport impact of the Brent Cross scheme will be effective in achieving the shift to walking, cycling and public transport that it says is vital to its success. The planned public transport provision for this enormous development project bear no comparison to new tram or other rail services provided for equivalent schemes elsewhere. The developer could be accused of proposing no more than the bare minimum of new public transport to secure planning approval."

Is Hammerson France peeking at us, peut-être?

Since we have been mentioning Hammerson more than usual, we seem to be getting regular hits from across the Channel (or at least from a corporate with its internet gateways there).
Could it be Hammerson - Oops, there we go again - that is doing this?
Hammerson decamped to some extent to France last February; see the 'Evening Standard':
"Hammerson calls halt to new projects in Britain and heads to France."
No, it's probably just a co-incidence. Sorry we mentioned it really.
Carry on.

Protecting Small Shops in London

From a recent London Assembly Planning and Housing Committee report:

"We heard evidence that small, independent shops can provide a hub for communities, providing local jobs, promoting local entrepreneurial activity and keeping money circulating in the local economy. We have also drawn on evidence suggesting that they can promote active travel, which makes for healthier and more sustainable communities."

Ham and High letter

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Links to independent supporting material:

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Press Reaction to Tuesday's Barnet Council Meeting

(See also page 1 of this week's electronic version)

(See pages 2, 3 and 8 of this electronic version)

(See pages 2 and 16 of this electronic version)

"Call For Infrastructure Overhaul" [planning changes due to climate change]

Link to FT front page.
(Choose 'UK', then 'Politics and Policy'. Otherwise search for title. Registration is free, if it proves necessary.)

Dept. for Local Government: "No More Political Planning Press Statements"

'Broken Barnet' Blog: Report on Barnet Council Meeting

"At last, we reached the main event of the evening, Item 3.6, Libdem Jack Cohen's naughty little suggestion that the council might have lost confidence in the magnificent leadership of Lynne 'Because I'm Worth It' Hillan.

"Of course, unless you knew what Item 3.6 was, you might not have realised what they were voting for, or against. It was tactfully hurried through by the kindly Mayor, with barely a word in explanation. Labour and Libdems, of course, voted in favour of the motion: what would the Tories do? For the against vote, all their arms shot up in the air, as if pulled by invisible strings by an unseen puppet master. Just imagine the scene.

"Within a micro-second we seemed to being moved on to Item 3.7, but the Labour councillors all yelled for a division, which means each councillor is asked in turn to declare their vote. One by one, all thirty-nine Tory councillors announced that they were against the motion, and therefore declared their full confidence in Lynne Hillan, the leader whom half of them are believed to have voted against in the leadership contest with Mark Shooter last week.

"Yes, that is very odd, isn't it?"

'London Daily News' Web Site: Report on Barnet Council Meeting

"Lynne Hillan, the first female to lead Barnet council, the Conservative flagship authority, has survived, with strong bacing [sic] by her own Conservative group a vote of no confidence tabled by the Liberal Democrats. 

"In a 'low key debate' with no raised voices, the Conservative group confidently dealt with the Barnet Liberal Democrats attempts to destablise [sic] the Hillan administration."

[sic. We don't mind adding in commas for readability, but the spelling and grammar ain't our responsibility.]

The Guardian: Response to Report on Public Transport

"The Buchanan report springs to mind on reading the Campaign for Better Transport's study, which roundly and rightly praises those cities that have laid on abundant and cheap public transport as a rather less drastic approach to taming the car. Ever since 1960, attempts have been made to try and keep this machine under control.

"Libertarian bores will insist this is due to some patrician hatred of mass mobility, but the CBT's report reminds us that what we could call "transport poverty" is something that afflicts the old, the unemployed, and the ill; and that the most effective means of dealing with traffic-choked cities is through public transport, rather than moralising."

Barnet Eye blog: "I trust you are prepared for the public backlash which awaits you."

"Lynne Hillan's favourite blog - 'The London Daily News' - reports that ALL 39 TORY COUNCILLORS backed Lynne Hillan in the confidence vote. 

"Mrs Angry ['Broken Barnet' blog] reports that the Labour group called a division, which meant all of their names were read out, to sheer public derision. No wonder they only wanted 25 members of the public to attend.

"Well, you've read their emails here. You've followed the story. Ask yourself this. All 39 Barnet Tory Councillors have PUBLICLY BACKED Lynne Hillan in a vote of confidence. In their judgement, they are happy to be named as believing she is the best person to lead the group through these troubled times.

"18 of them voted against her last week in a secret ballot."

- Barnet Eye blog

Council Leader Survives No-Confidence Vote

"Mrs Angry's advice to parents is that if any of your children show any signs of wanting to go into local politics, and stand as a Tory candidate in a borough like ours, then please: Act now. Seek professional help. Immediate intervention is necessary. Pray that they become lap dancers, money launderers or bank robbers, rather than see your child sink to the depths of shame displayed in the council chamber in Hendon Town Hall this evening.

"In case you are wondering, all 39 voted to show their unquestionable support in their leader, Lynne Hillan. You know, the one that half of them are alleged to have wanted to dump a few days ago, after the outrage of her allowance rise hike, and subsequent, if partial, U-turn."

- Broken Barnet blog

Council Meeting: Barnet Times "Allowancegate" petition refused by Council Leader Lynne Hillan (says blogger)

"Many residents could not get inside the town hall to hear the meeting. There will be complaints about this.  

"Times series reporters tried to deliver their petition against the allowances rise to the leader, but she refused to meet them - she will only speak to the group editor."

- Vickim57 blog

Evening Standard: "Planning Chaos Will Bring The Roof In"

"How will an untried process of community-led development and referendums help pick up the pace and make home ownership a more realistic prospect? 

"The Coalition Government thinks councils will take up the carrot of more funding on offer through the New Homes Bonus to push for developments, but some authorities could take the opposite tack".

 
Our view: Show Barnet some money and it cannot grab it fast enough!  [As always, click on picture to link to the story.]

Giving People Transport Choices: Nottingham - v - Milton Keynes

"Award-winning bus services, a European-style embrace of the tram and a bias against out-of-town shopping centres were cited as powerful incentives for residents of Nottingham to leave their cars at home."

Evening Standard: 'Anonymous' and Redrow Founder Criticise New Planning Policies

 

"Critics fear that residents in wealthier areas in and around the capital may simply end up agreeing to pay more council tax to make up for the shortfall in those bonuses, in return for keeping the developers out."

Our view: 

Not in Barnet they won't - the borough is broke!

Click below to link to 'Barnet Eye':

"Another interesting comment was regarding the Brent Cross scheme. I had long suspected this, but no one had the balls to say it out loud.

This is purely being passed because the finances of Barnet Council have been destroyed by the Freer/Hillan years of mismanagement. Barnet is desperate for the section 106 money to plug the hole.

There you go. The sad truth is that they are going to destroy the character of the London Borough of Barnet to save their allowances and plug the hole they've made."

Brent Cross Mind Map. (This could be a 'killer app.' But not yet.)

Brent Cross on ancient-rome.info.

(If you click on the "+" next to "Development" you can see the sort of thing it is trying to do.)

London Plan regarding Barnet: Er, No Change

A Royal Commission on London?

Hammerson exaggerates Brent Cross status (and implicates Standard Life Investments)

"Hammerson and Standard Life have secured planning consent for a major extension to the centre."

Not yet, you ain't!

"The centre benefits from strong transport links: it is served by three train stations."

Who writes this rubbish?

We welcome Radian6 users to this site

Barnet responds to Bestway Correspondence

Extract, very slightly edited, of Barnet Council's response to Bestway's queries

09 September 2010

It has been decided to report to the next meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee on 20 September, and that report will include a response to the issues that have been raised by Bestway and their advisers.

Independent on Sunday: "Improved recycling rates mean that we may not have enough garbage to feed planned new plants"

"Environmentalists warn that PFI agreements lock councils into expensive, inflexible, long-term contracts that make predicting future recycling rates difficult."

Rattling Barnet's Cage

Shortened and slightly edited letter from local employer Bestway Holdings Ltd., to Barnet Council

Wed 8th Sept 2010



Re - BXC Outline Planning Application C/17559/09 Brent Cross Cricklewood

It is likely that LB Barnet is trying to determine the above application under officer delegated powers.

Opposition Statement to Planning Committee (one of three representations made)

Dear Mr Cowie/Murray,

LB Barnet Planning and Environment Committee, 29th July 2010
BXC planning application C/17559/09 Brent Cross Cricklewood

Please place this letter before the committee meeting this evening. I intend to attend and speak to the contents if allowed by committee to do so.

My client [Bestway] is extremely concerned that the Committee Report advises you there are no changes in circumstance which materially affect your decision last November. Officers are not in a position to make the report recommendation as they have incorrectly interpreted policies and have omitted a key change in national policy.

Local Business Bestway's Letter to Barnet Planning

Are these leading questions?

This is the script used by the developers for 500 telephone calls in Brent and Barnet...

(see previous post, and last two week's 'Ham and High' cuttings)

Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening, my name is ... and I'm calling from ICM on behalf of Communicate Research, the independent opinion research company. We are conducting a research project which requires us to talk to a representative sample of people aged 18+ throughout Brent & Barnet on issues that affect all people.

Since this is a representative survey we need a balance of men and women. May I speak to the youngest man over age 18 who is at home right now? IF NO MALE - May I speak to the youngest woman over age 18 who is at home right now?

If you cannot spare the time at the moment I would really appreciate it if we could call you back at your own convenience over the next few days. As I say, your own views are very important to us.'

'Continue'/

'Call Back/Refused'

The Future of Transportation in Urban Life

"The successful city of the 21st Century will be replete with choices, including nonmotorized, post-fossil fuel travel options. Citizens of the world do not want to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic. They do not want to walk in mud, nor feel threatened on a simple bike ride to work. They want to be in cities that provide for creative interaction, affordable living and healthy movement."

 (Download may be slow to start.)

Quick Rundown on Domestic Waste Strategy

Want to ask Barnet Cabinet about BRENT CROSS?

Well, Ya can't!

Barnet Bugle on Urbanisation

 (When viewing this site, click on the 'Bugle' heading to see ALL of the posts.)

Incinerators are Going Up in Flames

Ham and High article and letter, Barnet Times "MIND THE FLAWS!", and Barnet Press

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As with all our newspaper cuttings, please click on them.

If the text is still too small, you MAY be able to click on the image a second time, to see an enlargement.

Chaos Expected at New Thameslink Station

The North Circular in a few years? (Daily Telegraph)

Chinese drivers stuck in the longest traffic jam

The last paragraph is believed to refer to this:

Misleading Market Research Calls?

The "Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan" believes there is possible confusion about phone calls being made to local households this week

“about Brent and Barnet”.

Some householders have gained the impression that it is

"on behalf of Brent and Barnet ".

These calls are surveys about the £4.5-billion Brent Cross redevelopment, but Brent and Barnet Councils are not involved (we are suggesting – awaiting replies from both councils).

Anyone might have commissioned the survey through Communicate Research/ ICM Direct.

Whoever it is, the calls involve subtly slanted questions*. We are worried that this "survey" will be used - by persons unknown - to mislead the public, if and when the "results" are publicised.

Householders should be warned.

We are asking anyone who can record such a call to contact the Brent Cross Coalition, so we have a transcript. Please ask the caller who they represent, and complain about any questions you think are "slanted" and not neutral.


* Some questions fall blatantly into the category of “motherhood and apple pie”, asking e.g. whether new schools are a good thing, whether it would be desirable to replace an old waste handling facility with a new modern state-of-the-art-facility, etc. etc. Others are more subtle, or simply fail to offer negative options. With such a biased questionnaire design, there is huge scope for misinterpretation of the findings.

We are complaining to the Market Research Society that this survey contradicts Requirement B14:

"not to lead the respondent to a particular answer".

UPDATE:
LB of Brent is "unaware" of the survey.
LB of Barnet IS aware of it, and that 500 residents are being contacted. It is not known if Barnet is aware of the questions, or how the results will be publicised.

Brian Coleman AM on Brent Cross

Five months late, we mention Brian Coleman's opposition to Brent Cross, from the GLA web site:

Brian Coleman AM: “Secretary of State must ‘call in’ Brent Cross Cricklewood decision”

16 MARCH 2010

Brian Coleman AM, London Assembly Member for Barnet has called on the Secretary of State for Communities, to “call in” plans for a vast new development at Brent Cross Cricklewood.

This follows the Mayor of London’s decision on March 12 not to direct refusal of the controversial housing and retail scheme.

Commenting, Mr Coleman said:

“The Brent Cross Cricklewood development, if it is allowed to go ahead, will be a disaster for my constituents in Barnet, and in other neighbouring areas.

“It will overwhelm local infrastructure and impose thousands of ugly and unwanted high rise flats. Indeed, the scheme has attracted so many local objectors that the recent planning meeting had to be held over two days, with additional space set aside in the Town Hall.

“Last December I wrote to the Government Office for London, asking the Secretary of State to call in the plans. He must act on this, so that we can tear up these misguided proposals and start again.”