Brent Cross Delayed (Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats)

Barnet Borough Liberal Democrats <info@barnetlibdems.org.uk>

Brent Cross Delayed

September 26, 2009 10:32 PM
By Cllr Jack Cohen in Hendon Times

Wednesday's planning committee turned out to be an anti climax. The main item and probably most controversial planning application in recent years was suddenly off the agenda. The Brent Cross regeneration plans had certainly attracted lots of opposition. I had ploughed through three hundred pages of text only to learn very late in the day that the planners wanted more time to consider late representations.

Many of the objectors who had turned up to watch proceedings voiced their frustrations at having a wasted journey. The Committee acting Chair (for some reason which was not explained the Chair of the committee was absent) read out a prepared statement. Apparently it was felt that members of the public had not had time to digest the massive report and new representations had been received, which the Officers needed to respond to.

There was a small demonstration outside the Town Hall. Maybe many objectors had known in advance that the Brent Cross application would not be dealt with but to my mind there were not that many residents in the public gallery. And it turned out that some of those were there for the other item on the agenda. This was for the regeneration scheme up in Stonegrove. Residents were concerned about proposals to route traffic through a side street. After much too-ing and fro-ing the Committee voted through the plans. As usual there was a problem with the public address system. All of a sudden a female voice came over loud and clear "good evening ladies and gentlemen and children". Some Councillors looked a bit sheepish at the mention of "children". Turned out that "Barnet In Bloom" prize giving ceremony was taking place in the Council Chamber and somehow the feed was coming through into our committee room.

As the meeting ended I asked if we should keep hold of our "Brent Cross" papers. I do not think any one had thought of this, so I pointed out the serious amount of paperwork never mind the cost. It was agreed we should hang on to them. The next episode of the Brent Cross saga will be on October 20th. I can't wait.