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Sunday 22nd October 2023

   

Dear Guest, here are some updates and information:

     

Gasworks - More Details

One member criticised the item in this newsletter on 30th September which encouraged rejecting the latest Gasworks plans. He said that the housing crisis means we should encourage all building.


To be clear, we encourage the developers to either finish building the homes for which they received planning permission, or to work with the community to come up with accomodation of a satisfactory standard. The developers' latest proposals would result in a cramped, noisy, hot, substandard development which would also add an unacceptable burden on the local area's infrastructure.

Drawing of a tiny 1b1p studio flat

They have even sub-divided some of the flats from previous plans, to insert tiny 1-bedroom 1-person studio flats with only one window (see marked in red above), and in some other flats squeezed in an internal kitchen/diner with no windows at all!


Our colleagues at Save New Barnet / New Barnet Community Association have written a compelling letter to the Council's planning department explaining in exquisite detail why this latest proposal should be refused. Please read it here.


You can view and comment on the plans on Barnet Council's website here: 23/3964/FUL. At the time of writing there are already scores of objections - please add yours to them to ensure that the Council is left in no doubt they should reject these plans. Thank you.


The Save New Barnet Campaign's recent newsletter with more information is here.

     

Local Democracy Explained

East Barnet councillor Simon Radford writes:

"The council are keen for more resident involvement in local matters and, considering also that the council has recently changed to a Cabinet system, we’ve put together a video to explain in basic terms how the council works and how residents can get more involved. It would be great if people could watch it, share it, and remember that they can always contact their ward councillors with any local issues!"
Local_Democracy
     

BarNET ZERO Challenge

From Barnet Council:


"We are excited to announce the ‘BarNET ZERO Challenge’, a competition encouraging individuals and communities to come forward with innovative ideas and provide practical solutions for reducing carbon emissions.

The campaign is jointly led by Barnet Council and Middlesex University, with sponsorship from Brent Cross, NatWest, and Microsoft.

We are asking the people of Barnet to be part of the solution to shape a sustainable future for Barnet. The competition is centred around addressing five critical sustainability challenge areas, developed from insights gathered through Barnet's Citizens’ Assembly discussions on Climate Change and Biodiversity:

1. Waste and Sustainable Consumption 
2. Learning, Communication & Partnerships
3. Nature and Biodiversity
4. Travel
5. Housing, Buildings & Renewable Energy 

The BarNET ZERO Challenge is open to those who live, work or study in Barnet, are passionate about sustainability and have an idea that can make a real difference towards our reaching our goal of becoming a net zero carbon borough by 2042. Participants will be required to submit a 200-word outline of their sustainability solution, explaining why it's a good idea and how it could be implemented.

Successful participants will be able to attend workshops to develop their idea, showcase their projects to a panel of experts, receive funding from a cash pot of £10,000 and prizes from our sponsors, including: X Box Live Subscription, 1 Year Microsoft Subscription, An opportunity to be part of the Natwest Accelerator Programme 

Deadlines for entries is 29 November. Further information on the BarNET ZERO challenge is available here: https://engage.barnet.gov.uk/barnetzero-challenge "

     

Volunteering Handbook

EBRA committee member Lockie Bramzell represents us at the The Green Spaces Network which encourages groups to volunteer to help look after the borough's green spaces.

They write "the Volunteer Handbook has been signed off by Barnet. The Handbook General Risk Assessment is an important document to read, understand and comment upon. Once your group signs up to the handbook then you should be covered by Barnet Council insurance for works you undertake as a group." You can read the handbook here
     

Best regards,

Rob White

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