Tuesday 19th December 2023

Zebra Crossing on Parkside Gardens

Work started on Monday 13th November, and I don't think anyone imagined it could take 5 weeks! But anyway, it is just about there now...

Photo when construction started, by Rob White

This safer place to cross Parkside Gardens will be a huge benefit to parents and children walking to Monkfrith school, to park users, and people walking and cycling along the Pymmes Brook trail. It may even cause drivers to check their speed as they approach the crossing.

Thanks to all the local councillors who have lent their support to this project over the past decade.

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Advertising Displays

At our meeting in September, and in newsletters I have mentioned the huge advertising display panels which are planned for our area. They are masquerading as electric vehicle charging points, but in reality that's only their secondary function. The Council received a Government grant to help with installing EV infrastructure, but have used the money in a commercial partnership with JOLT to install 120 of these double-sided panels all over Barnet.

Michael Levitsky of the Finchley Society is leading FORAB's opposition, trying to raise awareness of the scandal. Here's an article about it in the Barnet Times.

Photos of North Finchley by Peter McCluskie of the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association

The main issue for local residents and traders is that these advertising displays will sequester parking spaces, making it more difficult to visit local shops. Apart from the distraction to drivers, obstacles to pedestrians, and light through nearby residents' windows.

There are several applications near to us:

1. Hampden Square (outside 5-6 Onslow Parade, last parking bay before the roundabout) already approved by council officers 23/3946/FUL
2. Hampden Square (opposite Tesco, first parking bay from the roundabout) 23/3944/FUL
3. Church Hill Road 4-8: (near Chas Lowe) 23/4677/FUL
4. Church Hill Road 12-20 (outside Brooks Funerals) 23/3973/FUL
5. Russell Lane 77-81 (outside the pharmacy / Post Office) 23/5291/FUL
6. Mount Parade 4-6 (outside the hairdressers / party shop) 23/3975/FUL

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Bin Collections

For the next couple of weeks most collections will be a day later than usual, but the ones due on Christmas Day will be earlier, on this coming Saturday:

Green bin collections have paused for midwinter, and should resume in the new year. You may be able to check your next collection day here.

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Great North Leisure Park

Many of us have used the Finchley Lido or visited the Vue Cinema and Bowling, so are interested to know what will happen to the leisure facilities when the site is developed for housing...

The developer's latest idea is to build a replacement Lido on the disused outdoor bowling green nearby. But the cinema and bowling would somehow be squeezed into the Lodge Lane car park in North Finchley. Then the whole of the existing site would be developed for housing. You can read their presentation here.

You can sign up for email updates on their main website.

Please let me know if you have any feedback and I'll pass it on to my FORAB colleagues in Finchley. Thank you.

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Met Police Community Engagement

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NLBP Update

A few weeks ago, Bowmer + Kirkland, the company building the new St Andrew The Apostle school on Brunswick Park Road, held an exhibition to show neighbouring residents what it should look like:

You can view the exhibition here.

For the main development on the North London Business Park (or "Royal Brunswick Park" as Comer Homes like to call it) Barnet Council refused Comers' plan to almost double the number of units from the 1,350 they eventually got permission for (at a previous appeal in Jan 2020) to 2,419.

So Comers have again appealed to the Government's Planning Inspectorate and Secretary of State. Starting on 13th February, a planning inspector will examine the arguments for and against and make a final decision. A Planning Inquiry is run very much like a courtroom, with architects barristers and experts from each side cross-examining witnesses.

Residents are waiting for more details of the planning appeal venue and who the inspector will be.

But if anyone can step up and provide expert help to the resident group hoping to support the Council's decision to refuse planning permission, please let me know.

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Tudor Park Pavilion

The pavilion in Tudor Park has been mentioned many times over the years.

For an update, please see this article on the Barnet Society's website.

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Barnet Society Newsletter

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Building Higher in the Village

There have been two applications to create additional storeys on existing buildings in the Village.

The first above the Aroma / CRUK shops:

The plan 23/5051/FUL is to replace the existing flat above with five flats: one with two bedrooms, and four with one bedroom.

This would be by a "Three storey side extension and second floor extension with pitch roof":

The second application is above the Red Onion / Bake House / KAM / Polish Deli shops:

This plan 23/5073/FUL is for "Redevelopment of site to include: retention of four ground floor commercial units; front and rear ground floor extensions; 3-storey upward extension ... to provide 8no. self-contained residential units". This would create two 1-bedroom flats, four 2-bedroom flats, and two 3-bedroom flats.

You can comment on either of these planning applications by following the links above.

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EBRA Subscriptions

The East Barnet Residents' Association's membership year is aligned with the calendar year, so subscriptions for 2024 are now due. 

Membership is still only a nominal £2 per household per year, and many people choose to pay for several years at a time. I keep track of all this, and soon I will email you individually to confirm your status with details of how to pay.

Many thanks for your continued support!

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Message from EBRA Chair

Farewell 2023 and welcome 2024!

The festival will be back on 28, 29 & 30 June, so please put the dates in your diary!

The Christmas fayre in early December was a resounding success, raising funds for FIN and the Stables. Big thanks to Marie's Shoes for selling so many raffle tickets. There seemed to be an excellent attendance and there was a wide variety of stalls, as well as great entertainment by the Big Choir. It's lovely to see the village come together for events like these. 

No doubt there will be lots more events through the year - Rob will continue to advise you with his emails and our periodic newsletters, and on Facebook. Do sign up for the online version though if you can - it saves EBRA the cost of postage which would use most of the subscription now that stamp prices have gone up again.

Still, financially EBRA is in good shape. If you know anyone who would like to join us, please let us know their details. Meantime, have a very merry Christmas and all the best for a happy and healthy 2024.

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Merry Christmas!

This will most probably be the final newsletter this year, so I would like to thank all EBRA members for the kind feedback you often send me. Wishing you all the best for a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous and happy new year.

Rob White

Best regards,

Rob White

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