Residents concerned about plans for further development threatening the Dollis Valley Green Belt have formed an action group ahead of a public inquiry to be held in the New Year over a controversial proposal for a residential caravan site.

Quinta Village Green Residents Association has secured its position as a main interested party at the planning inquiry to be held on January 21 next year into an application to station caravans on a two-acre paddock for grazing horses in Mays Lane.

An early opportunity for residents to make their views known was a meeting with Barnet Councillor Tim Roberts (above, far right), who represents Underhill ward.

He saw the group at his monthly surgery at St Stephen’s church hall in Bells Hill.

The association takes its name from the nearby Quinta Village Green – a 7.5 acre playing field next to the abandoned Quinta Club which after a long campaign by the residents was awarded village green status in 2010.

A residents’ association, which was first established in 2007 to prevent a football club taking over the playing field, has now been resurrected and named Quinta Village Green Residents Association in recognition of their original success in preserving an important environmental site and in enhancing the surrounding Green Belt countryside.

Gina Theodorou, the first chair of the new association, led the residents’ deputation to put their case to Councillor Roberts as the group raises awareness over their campaign – see above, from left to right, Nancy Trabanco (secretary), Jack Varsani (treasurer), Sarah Edmonds, Gina Theodorou and Councillor Tim Roberts.

Ms Theodorou said there is “huge concern” among residents about development proposals that threaten the “integrity and openness of the beloved Green Belt surrounding our village green”.

Top of their concerns is a proposal to site travellers’ residential caravans on a two-acre paddock in Mays Lane – an application for change of use which was rejected by Barnet Council in December 2023, but which is now to be tested on appeal at a public inquiry in January.

There were over 1,300 objections to the original application and the residents’ association has welcomed Barnet Council’s decision to continue its objection on planning merits.

But because of their renewed fears for the Green Belt, the association has secured a position as a main interested party at the planning inquiry.

It is now preparing a statement to be put to the inspector and has started fund raising.

“We intend to take an active role in the public inquiry to represent community opinion and to convey our concerns about the harm that could be caused to our local Green Belt and wildlife,” said Ms Theodorou.

Another development which the association fears could threaten the integrity of the Green Belt is an application to enlarge the 1,000-seat meeting hall of the Centre for Islamic Enlightening which adjoins the paddock where the caravans would be sited.

Residents fear that by significantly extending this community centre – “potentially doubling the capacity from its current maximum of 1,000” – these two adjoining developments could threaten a wildlife corridor which extends from Arkley through the Dollis Valley and on to Totteridge.

The two sites were previously owned by the Brethren Gospel Hall.

The Brethren sold the meeting hall to the Centre for Islamic Enlightening and the paddock was purchased by landowner Patrick Casey who is now appealing against the council’s refusal to grant planning permission for residential caravans.

In its planning application to extend the meeting hall, the centre is proposing to add a first floor by raising the height of the eaves, whilst maintaining the existing height of the building and the provision of side extensions.

A planning statement prepared by real estate agency Savills says the aim of redeveloping it is to “enhance the existing community facility, in order to provide separate spaces for men and women”; to improve the centre’s facilities; and to improve the existing areas of hardstanding which currently provides 160 car parking spaces.

It was almost 20 years ago that residents in and around Mays Lane met to secure village green status for the 7.5-acre Quinta open space between Partridge Close and Bishops Close.

“After a five-year battle we won” declares the association’s website www.quintavillagegreenresidents.org.uk

The association now has over 170 members and welcomes new members from within the neighbourhood and those campaigning to protect and enhance the locality.

Fundraising is underway to meet the cost of legal representation at the planning inquiry.

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