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Dear Guest, here are some updates, news and information: | |
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Prince of Wales Pub ACV Nominated | |
Thanks everyone for responding to my survey, which overwhelmingly confirmed that it is worth trying to save the PoW as a pub and Asset of Community Value: | |
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East Barnet councillor Phil Cohen set up an online petition on Sat 13th, and we asked everyone to attend a photocall at very short notice on Tue 16th to help garner publicity: | |
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Although it was at very short notice and during the working day, lots of people came to show their support. Our MP Theresa Villiers rearranged her diary to be there. In the front centre of this photo are Phil Cohen, Theresa Villiers, and me Rob White | |
We asked everyone to send evidence of how they have used The Prince as a community asset, so that I could assemble it to support EBRA's nomination form to Barnet Council. EBRA member David Towler helped arrange a meeting for Fri 19th to review progress, and it all came together over the weekend. I submitted the form and evidence pack to the council on Mon 22nd. The council's 'community rights' team asked a few questions about EBRA's constitution and membership, and have committed to a nomination hearing within 8 weeks. Meanwhile, Phil's petition has gained over 2,600 signatures and is still going... | |
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Barnet Council refused permission for Comer Homes' plan to double the size of the development on the North London Business Park. Comers appealed to the Government's planning inspectorate to try to overturn Barnet's decision. The date of the inquiry has now been confirmed, and Whetstone resident Jez Sims is coordinating residents' participation. He writes: | |
As you may know, the Planning Inspector is holding a Public Inquiry between 13th and 15th February, at Hendon Town Hall at 10.00, to hear the appeal by the developer, Comer Homes, against Barnet Council's refusal to grant permission for the development of additional housing at the NLBP site.
The public will be allowed to attend on the first day of the hearing, and it is important that as many residents as possible turn up to show our opposition to Comer Homes proposed development. Please tell your neighbours, and drum up as much support as you can.
For those who cannot make the journey by their own means, we have arranged 8 seater minibuses to pick residents up at Oakleigh Community Centre (near Russell lane roundabout) at a cost of £6.00 each way. If you wish to avail yourself of this service, please contact Jez on Jez07@btinternet.com before 1st February to confirm your seat.
Just to recap: The public meeting to hear the Comer Homes appeal is at Hendon town hall on 13th February at 9.30/10.00. Please either book a minibus with Jez or meet us at the town hall. Bring and tell as many people as possible. This is our only chance to persuade the inspector to decline this proposal. | |
You must inform the Planning Inspectorate's case officer Alison Dyson if you wish to attend the inquiry. Please phone 0303 444 5304 or email alison.dyson@planninginspectorate.gov.uk stating if you just want to observe, or take an active part in the procedings. They say "Before deciding whether to take an active part in the Public lnquiry, you need to think carefully about the points you wish to make. All written submissions from application and appeal stage will be taken into account by the lnspector and re-stating the same points won't add any additional weight to them."
Please liaise with Jez on Jez07@btinternet.com if you do wish to ask questions, so he can coordinate speakers to avoid wasting the Inspector's time with duplicate statements. Thank you. | |
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For years we've been trying to find a solution to the antisocial behaviour in the car park off Parkside Gardens, often after dark. One of the major issues has been 'boy racers' and their followers meeting there to do donuts, play loud music, let off fireworks, and trade drugs. Although there has been a gate there for many years, with a sign saying it would be locked at dusk, in practice it was never locked because council staff were not allowed to trap vehicles still inside the car park. However, after much consultation between councillors in both Brunswick Park and East Barnet wards, the police, and Barnet's community safety team, a solution was proposed: | |
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An entry gate could be locked at dusk, and any vehicles still inside would be able to exit via these 'barracuda' one-way flow spikes. East Barnet councillor Simon Radford wrote: "Some good news - I am very pleased to report that the bid that I submitted to Area Committee to pay to secure the Oak Hill car park was passed. While work will now have to be undertaken and solution assembled, hopefully this good news will be a source of cheer for EBRA members! I am sure we’ll all be keeping our eyes peeled for the ‘teeth’ to be installed to stop unauthorised vehicle access but please do keep reporting any incidents in the meantime, so we can continue to inform those doing patrols."
and Phil Cohen wrote:
"Just to confirm a decision of the North Area Committee on 22 January which would be of interest to EBRA members:
Cllr Radford’s successful bid for funds to provide access entry gates to Oak Hill Park to counter anti-social behaviour near the entrance to the car park and inside. The gates will be locked at night alongside one way access spikes/plates to the exit side. The approach will mean that the entry gate can be locked as part of the parks locking regime but will allow for any vehicles still in the car park to exit without damage or allowing any additional access. This solution followed complaints from residents and meetings between council officers and local police."
We shall of course let you know when the installation will start. Thanks to the above EB councillors and Brunswick Park councillor Tony Vourou who helped coordinate the community effort on both sides of the ward boundary. | |
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Memorial Bench - Laurie Williams | |
Councillor Phil Cohen writes:
"Just to confirm a decision of the North Area Committee on 22 January which would be of interest to EBRA members:
My successful bid for a small grant to install a memorial bench to the late Cllr Laurie Williams. Following discussions with officers and his widow Sally Williams a site has been chosen in the village opposite the war memorial and next to Brand Russell Pharmacy. The council will be responsible for installing and maintaining the bench." | |
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Victoria Rec Inclusive Playground | |
East Barnet councillor Simon Radford writes:
"Some lovely news about the all-ability playground’s first day of action! I thought that your readers might enjoy hearing about it:"
Dear East Barnet ward councillors,
I am pleased to say that Fair Play Barnet playground opened to the public on Monday [15th Jan] at about 3pm. I was on site and we had some families waiting for the playground to open, I was able to tell them they could come in and within 20 minutes there were about 15 people in the playground. An official invitation to the opening on 13 February will be sent out to you.
Regards, Nicola Cross Development Manager – Greenspaces Communities, Adults and Health Directorate
London Borough of Barnet
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EB councillor Simon Radford writes:
"I appreciate that there might not be many, but would you mind circulating the below questionnaire to any residents who might home school their children? A bipartisan council scrutiny committee, of which I am a part, is looking to see whether there are ways that we might provide more support."
The Elective Home Education review questionnaire is now live on Engage Barnet for you to circulate to the Barnet Elective Home Education community. Review of elective home education in Barnet | |
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