Author: Nick Jones

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Co-ordinated fight back by community groups organising a united front against plans for high rise flats at High Barnet station

Community groups are presenting a united front in objecting to Transport for London’s planning application to build five high-rise blocks of flats on a car park and strip of land alongside the London Underground station for High Barnet.

To highlight the strength of opposition to the “wrong scheme in the wrong place” a rally is to be held on the morning of Sunday 7 September at the lower entrance to the tube station starting at 11.30 am.

Barnet Council has extended until Friday 19 September the deadline for residents to respond to the scheme.

After widespread complaints about the decision to organise public consultation during the summer holidays when so many people were likely to be away, the council acknowledged extra time should be given to ensure residents understood the full impact of the application being made by TfL’s property subsidiary, Places for London.

Leading the way in opposing the scheme are the Barnet Society and the Barnet Residents Association which have both been preparing a detailed list of objections to the application to provide 283 flats in five high storey blocks, one of which would be 11 storeys high.

They say the five blocks of flats are “unattractive and overbearing” and completely out of scale and character for the locality with the eleven-storey block rising above the skyline.

Gordon Massey, who prepared a point-by-point summary of the association’s objections, says the proposed development is a “poorly designed blot on the landscape” with the expectation that the flats would be overwhelmingly purchased by buy-to-let landlords.

Living conditions on the new estate would be poor as 75 of the flats would be single aspect facing west, raising issues of noise, heat and ventilation with the likelihood that with all windows having to remain closed, they would rely on mechanical ventilation.

“We are not opposed to the redevelopment of this site for housing, but the people of High Barnet and future residents of this development deserve something much better than this.”

Mr Massey’s conclusions are in line with those of Robin Bishop, who leads for the Barnet Society on planning and the environment, and who thinks the scheme would have a brutal impact on the existing townscape and greenery of High Barnet, Underhill and Barnet Vale.

“Our main objections to the scheme are to the alien scale and character of the designs; its unsustainability as a neighbourhood; its unsafe environment; and the lack of community benefits.”  

Other community groups warn of grave consequences if the development goes ahead with the danger that sandwiching high-rise blocks of tiny flats onto a strip of land between the tube line and Barnet Hill would, in their opinion, be destined to create the slum housing of tomorrow.

Hands Off High Barnet, a campaign group which co-ordinated objections to a 2019 scheme to build seven blocks on the site – a plan which was later reduced and withdrawn – fears the same mistakes are being made once again.

Of the 283 flats being proposed, 68 would be of only one bedroom when High Barnet desperately needed more family homes.

The loss of a well-lit station car park would pose a particular danger for women returning to High Barnet late at night.

“After all the objections we made to the last application, TfL are still not making it any easier for disabled passengers who need to be dropped off or collected at the station,” said Kim Ambridge, one of the founders of Hands-Off High Barnet.

John Dix of the Save New Barnet Campaign – which fought long and hard trying to prevent too many new flats being squeezed into the Victoria Quarter site – said he thought the station scheme was “really shocking”.

The children’s play space in the new development was the “absolute bare minimum” for under 11s.

“One of the children’s play spaces is a steep slope – it drops by 3.3 metres from top to bottom – with steps down the middle underneath one of the blocks.

“They call it the ‘undercroft’ play area, but the wind assessment says it is a problem area and is not for lingering.

“How any human being could classify this dark, draughty underpass as a play area is beyond me.

“The children’s play area for the 12-18-year-olds is, wait for it…500 metres away on Barnet playing fields.”

Mr Dix said he hoped Barnet Councillors read the details of the application, refuse to give approval, and tell the developers to go back to the drawing board.

To raise awareness of TfL’s application and publicise the rally on Sunday 7 September volunteers hope to distribute a leaflet – see below – to around 4,000 households in High Barnet.

Community groups across High Barnet organising co-ordinated fight back against plans for high rise blocks of flats at High Barnet tube station
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Work to start soon on a new studio for Barnet Guild of Artists – a continuing legacy of Whalebones benefactor Gwyneth Cowing

Members of Barnet Guild of Artists are preparing for their 74th annual show in October – in what might become their final year in their unique and much-loved art studio.

Tucked away in the woods at Whalebones, off Wood Street, the timber framed studio was built by the late Miss Gwyneth Cowing who left it for the artists’ use.

The guild have been rebuilding their membership after a difficult few years following the cancellation of activities during the covid pandemic and uncertainty surrounding plans for the redevelopment of much of the Whalebones estate.

Helen Leake, the guild’s membership secretary – see above – says they will be very sorry to leave Miss Cowing’s original studio which holds so many happy memories for generations of local artists.

If all goes to plan the guild is due to move into a replacement studio towards the end of 2026 on a site in Wellhouse Lane, next to Well Cottage and directly opposite the bus terminus outside Barnet Hospital.

New premises for the artists are to be built by Hill Residential, and the Gwyneth Cowing Will Trust, which were granted planning permission last year to build 114 new houses on fields adjoining Whalebones House.

A lease on the proposed new building is about to be signed by the guild which has acquired charitable status given its enhanced responsibilities.

By moving into a new premises, with a much bigger art studio, full disabled access and modern facilities, the guild will have the opportunity to widen their appeal and work with other arts groups.

“We do want to engage much more with the wider community and our new premises will give us the chance to work with other organisations and arrange community sessions for local artists,” said Helen Leake.

The guild now has a membership of 128 artists and is appealing for a treasurer and new trustees to help with the administration.

Members are currently preparing for their annual exhibition to be staged again at the Wesley Hall during the last week of October.

Seen at work in the well-lit Whalebones studio – under the watchful eye of Gwyneth Cowing’s portrait on the wall – are from left to right, Helen Leake. Carole Wilson and Victoria Vickers.

Recent works completed by guild members are about to go on display at the Open Door Cafe at Christ Church in St Albans Road.

An ambitious project completed by guild members under the leadership of Toni Smith was the painting of a large mural on an external wall of Brunswick Park Primary and Nursey School in Osidge Lane.

The mural is of a tree and owls and the school’s colours.

One member who helped with the project was Mark Wiltshire, above.

Such was the size of the mural – measuring four metres by five metre – that scaffolding has to be erected to provide access.  

For more information on the guild’s activities see www.barnetguildofartists.com

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Smaller apples than usual but plenty of surplus produce on its way to foodbanks as volunteers tackle fruit-laden trees

A bumper crop of apples and plums is being collected for foodbanks across the London Borough of Barnet by volunteer fruit pickers from Barnet Community Harvesters who save and redistribute surplus produce.

Despite record summer temperatures and a prolonged drought, many trees have been fruiting far better than expected.

On their fifth visit of the season, volunteers picked 103 kilogrammes of cooking and eating apples from three adjoining gardens in Sebright Road, High Barnet.

Three crates with 45 kilogrammes of fruit were delivered to Chipping Barnet Foodbank and the rest went to Colindale Foodbank.

This is in addition to over 200 kilogrammes already donated Colindale and the Finchley Foodbank.

Organiser Daniella Levene (above, centre) who established the group five years ago – seen with volunteers Chris Schwarz (left) and Sue Goodwin – said the exceptionally hot and dry weather had advanced the fruit harvest by at least two weeks.

“Usually, we do our fruit pick at Sebright Road in early September, so to be here in the last week of August just shows the impact of climate change.

“We have noticed how fruit is ready for picking earlier and earlier each autumn but there has been a real change this year.

“When there is a drought, the trees do get stressed and can produce more fruit.”

Daniella said apples they were picking tended to be smaller but often sweeter than usual.

There was plenty of fruit on the trees and especially good crops of plums and damsons.

Surplus apples and plums on their way to Barnet's foodbanks as volunteer fruit pickers from Community Harvesters get to work

The visit to Sebright Road was hosted by Helen Harte (left, above) who was delighted that surplus apples from trees in three adjoining gardens would be going to foodbanks.

“There are far too many apples for us and otherwise they would have to go into our green bins which is such a waste.

“Unfortunately, there is a limit on the amount of fruit we can leave out on our doorsteps, so we are delighted the fruit is being picked in top condition and then going straight to foodbanks.”

Daniella said the fruit collected by Community Harvesters’ volunteers was always gratefully received at the foodbanks.

“Colindale is one of the busiest in London and fresh produce is so expensive in the shops, so our initiative is really appreciated.”

Although delighted by this autumn’s crop of fruit, Daniella doubted the group would match their record year of 2022 when the harvesters donated 1,800 kilogrammes of fruit to local foodbanks.

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By walking a mile and a half a day, High Barnet store director raises over £1,000 for cataract operations by Sightsavers charity

A familiar face in Barnet High Street, Pragna Raghwani, who is store director at Specsavers, has raised well over £1,000 for the international medical health charity Sightsavers.

She spent a month walking a total of 100 miles – by completing a mile and a half early each morning before work – as her way of attracting donations towards Sightsavers’ mission to provide cataract operations across Africa and Asia.

Partly blind herself, Pragna says that what she has found so satisfying during almost 20 years at Specsavers’ branch in High Barnet, has been her ability to support and advise customers who are also visually impaired.

High Barnet store director Pragna Raghwani raises over £1,000 by sponsored walk for Sightsavers charity for cataract operations in Asia and Africa.

Pragna was diagnosed with normal tension glaucoma in 2010. Despite undergoing four eye operations, she has lost her sight in the left eye and has only 30 per cent vision in her right eye.

“As someone who lives with visual impairment, I know about the problems first hand and how life changing it can be.

“Over the years I have been able to help lots of customers in High Barnet who are also partially sighted, and the work is very rewarding.”

After previously being store director for Specsavers at Borehamwood, Pragna became store director at High Barnet in 2007 and has built up connections and friendships with other traders and businesses in the High Street.

Pragna has won recognition for her contribution to optical and audiological care. She has been an examiner, mentor, and coach for the Association of British Dispensing Chemists and was Specsavers ambassador during Glaucoma Week.

Her voluntary work includes taking part in local school career fairs where she engages with teenagers and young adults interested in pursuing careers as opticians and audiologists.

Her challenge to raise money for Sightsavers had the support of donations from friends, family, colleagues and local supporters and contributions are continuing to add to the £1,000-plus already collected.

“To complete the 100 miles within a month, I walked a mile and a half every morning between 6am and 7.30am in my local park at Kingsbury.

“My son bought me a pedometer, so I have been able to count the steps and make sure I walked the right distance every say.”

She wanted to support Sightsavers because of what she says is the “incredible work” the charity does in providing life-changing cataract operations in Africa and Asia.

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Race is on for community groups rallying opposition to “massive” high-rise redevelopment around High Barnet tube station

Overwhelming local opposition is emerging to Transport for London’s latest application to build five high-rise blocks of flats on a car park and land alongside High Barnet tube station.

Since plans were published four weeks ago, the response has been heavily against the scheme for being a “massive overdevelopment” with the tallest 11-storey block being described as “horrendous” and “overbearing”.

But the race is now on among community groups to raise public awareness and marshal their case against the plan before the September 2 deadline for registering comments with Barnet Council.

Ward councillors and High Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson are to be briefed by the Barnet Society and Barnet Residents Association as the two organisations finalise their detailed responses.

There have been some complaints of underhand tactics: Why is a consultation on such a significant application being conducted during the summer holidays when so many residents are likely to be away? 

Some of the comments posted so far online have been in favour arguing that 283 new flats would provide “much-needed housing” and “smarten up” the area.

But comments posted on the Barnet Society website since 23 July – and direct responses to the society’s draft of its own objections to the plan – indicate mounting opposition.

Issues of greatest concern are the potential harm a massive development might have on the historic character of High Barnet; the loss of the station car park; the smallness of the flats (68 of 283 would be one-bedroom); the lack of community benefit or support for a new neighbourhood of nearly 1,000 people; and the failure to make substantial improvements to public access to the station and connections for bus passengers.

A fuller understanding of the implications of the development by TfL’s subsidiary Places for London is generating additional criticism.

To offset the loss of the station car park – and prevent commuters parking in nearby roads – new controlled parking zones are being proposed for Underhill (Barnet Lane/Sherrards Way) and Barnet Vale (Meadway, Kingsmead, Potters Lane, Prospect Road, Leicester Road and King Edward Road).

There are also increasing doubts about the poor layout inside the blocks and fears that a high proportion of the flats facing south-west could probably overheat in the summer.

Robin Bishop, who leads for the Barnet Society on planning and environment, says the five blocks of flats would have a brutal impact on the existing townscape and greenery of High Barnet, Underhill and Barnet Vale.

The tallest block of 11 storeys – seen superimposed in orange on the photograph above of the view taken from Pricklers Hill –would “break the historic skyline from several viewpoints and compete with, and detract from, the traditional pre-eminence of St John the Baptist parish church”.

“Our main objections to the scheme are to the alien scale and character of the designs; its unsustainability as a neighbourhood; its unsafe environment; and the lack of community benefits.”

Under the approved Barnet local plan, land around the tube station is earmarked for the construction of up to 300 homes but with a height limit of seven storeys.

Breaking that undertaking by approving the plan would be regarded by the scheme’s opponents as a grave betrayal by Barnet Council.

Community groups marshalling opposition to massive high rise flats at High Barnet tube station before deadline for comments on 2 September.

If the application is approved, it would mean the closure of the container yard operated by Container Safe Ltd which rents out around 120 self-storage containers on what was originally the station coal yard.

Paul and Bev Meehan, who run Container Safe, say that under the terms of their lease for the site from TfL they are subject to six months’ notice.

The couple faced the same uncertainty in 2020 when an application was made to build 292 flats on the site – a plan that was subsequently withdrawn.

They point to the fact that they do provide a vital service for many small businesses and traders in and around High Barnet who store equipment and supplies inside the containers.

Storage space has become increasingly expensive for small businesses which find the rents being demanded on new industrial units are prohibitive.

Comments on the plan can be made via the Barnet Council website quoting reference no. 25/2671/FUL.

Alternatively, you can email comments direct to planning.consultation@barnet.gov.uk or post your comments to the Planning Officer: Sam Gerstein, Planning and Building Control, Barnet Council , 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW. In both cases you must also include the application number (25/2671/FUL) and address (High Barnet Underground Station Station Approach Barnet EN5 5RP) plus your name, address and postcode.

The Barnet Society recommends that views should also be forwarded to your local councillors.

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A thinning out of trees around the wooded entrance to High Barnet tube station was needed on “safety grounds”

Some of High Barnet’s much-loved mature trees have faced a sustained summer assault at the hands of the chain saws of tree surgeons.

A height reduction and the removal of what were said to be overhanging, or dead branches has resulted in a dramatic make-over of the trees at the pedestrian entrance to High Barnet tube station.

After reducing the height of the trees along the station’s wooded frontage in Meadway contractors started cutting back trees at the junction with High Street and Barnet Hill.

The work was said to be necessary because of the overhang of branches and the danger of them falling onto pedestrians or vehicles.

Pedestrian access had to be closed off during the work which also necessitated the installation of temporary traffic lights causing considerable congestion on Barnet Hill.

By the end of the day the path up from the tube station towards the crossroads at Meadway had been transformed… with a much reduced tree canopy.

At the upper end of the High Street a sycamore on the courtyard between the Huddle Cafe and the MinimuMaximuM shop had to be felled because it was dying back and posed a danger.

The tree was self-seeded but dead branches had been falling off for some time and the owners of the land said that the tree had to go as it was an accident waiting to happen.

However, shade from the sun in the seating area beside the Huddle Cafe is somewhat reduced following the tree’s removal.

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Future road closures such as Wood Street, High Barnet, could cost contractors as much as £2,500 a day

A three-week closure of Wood Street, High Barnet – resulting in widespread rush hour traffic disruption and a lengthy diversion for three bus routes – is an illustration of why there is likely to be strong support for Barnet Council’s plan to force utility companies to speed up their work.

Road pricing would impose lane rental charges on excavating main roads across the borough punishing contractors with escalating costs.

Currently the scheme is out for consultation and if approved by both the council and the Secretary of State for Transport, the charges would take effect from April 1 next year.

Lane closures on Barnet’s busiest main roads would cost utility companies and contractors a daily charge of £2,500.

Wood Street’s closure in both directions between the Black Horse roundabout and Hillside Gardens – from August 5 to August 26 – is causing traffic jams, delays and unnecessary costs for road users.

Three major bus routes along Wood Street – 107, 263 and 307 – are being diverted along Stapylton Road, St Albans Road and the High Street.

Ambulances serving Barnet Hospital are also unable to use the most direct route.

Adding to the congestion is the pinch point beside the Black Horse public house where buses and large commercial vehicles have to pass in single file along a narrow section of Stapylton Road.

Thames Water has put up notices apologising for the inconvenience. Contractors are working at a depth of 3.5 metres to repair a collapsed sewer.

But as with a similar three-week closure of Barnet Road, Arkley, for sewer repairs – again in both directions and resulting in lengthy bus diversions – there appears to be little if any late night or weekend working by the contractors.

Nearby residents in Arkley complained vociferously about the time taken to complete the work.

A diversion of the 107 (New Barnet to Edgware) required buses to follow a route along the High Street, St Albans Road and the A1 and meant the withdrawal of buses along Wood Street and Barnet Road.

Barnet Council’s consultation on the introduction of a lane rental scheme for the borough’s main roads opened on 30 July; closes on 9 September; with feedback due by 25 September so that a decision can be taken by a government deadline of 30 September for schemes to take effect next April.

A note on the consultation –  https://www.engage.barnet.gov.uk/lane-rental-scheme-consultation  – says the introduction of lane rental charges on the busiest roads at the busiest times should limit the amount of disruption across the borough’s road network.

Transport for London have been operating a lane rental scheme on some highways since 2012 and the introduction of the scheme in Barnet would affect just under 14 per cent of the borough’s roads.

Road closures such as Wood Street, High Barnet, could cost Thames Water and contractors £2,500 a day under new Barnet Council road lane rental plan.

Wood Street is one of the main roads that would attract the highest charges of up to £2,500 a day for lane rentals between 7am and 7pm on weekdays and between 7am and 10am and then 3pm to 7pm at weekends.      

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Work well underway on Victoria Quarter flats at New Barnet…but uncertainty over much-used footpath and tunnel

A long-established footpath under the main railway line at New Barnet faces an uncertain future after being deemed unsafe during redevelopment of the former gas works site off Victoria Road.

Victoria Quarter – a massive new complex of 420 flats in eleven blocks of up to eight storeys in height – is rapidly taking shape after finally securing planning approval last year.

Save New Barnet mounted a sustained campaign to try to ensure improvements and safeguards during lengthy appeals and legal challenges over a succession of applications to develop the vacant site which lies between the main line and Victoria Park recreation ground and leisure centre.

Developers Citystyle Fairview promised that as part of the scheme it would install a well-lit new footpath to a tunnel which provides a right way connecting Victoria Park and its surrounding roads with streets on the other side of the main line around Cromer Road and Tudor Park.

But there is uncertainty now because Network Rail has detected structural faults in the railway embankment and tunnel which forced the closure of the footpath last year soon after construction work started.

East Barnet councillor Simon Radford (above) has taken up complaints made by residents and the Save New Barnet campaign about the continued closure of the existing overhead walkway leading to the tunnel, and the resulting loss of a much-used public right of way.

“Unfortunately, there is no indication yet as to what work is needed to stabilise the embankment and tunnel or how much it will cost,” said Councillor Radford.

“The footpath should have re-opened in July. We hope it might be sorted out by the end of the year, but who knows now.”

At his request there will be regular joint meetings between Network Rail, Fairview and Barnet Council and he has promised to keep the community informed.

“The trouble will probably be sorting out who should pay for any remedial work that is needed to the tunnel.

“Clearly the developers have a responsibility as they promised a new footpath, but it is complicated now Network Rail and Barnet Council are involved.”

The uncertainty has been criticised by John Dix of the Save New Barnet campaign who agreed with Councillor Radford that the re-opening of the footpath might take “significantly longer” than the target date of November.

“Apparently the embankment is already subject to cracking and instability at track level, and this has necessitated a redesign of the works.

“Sadly, this is something we specifically warned the council about before they granted permission to close the public right of way, but when do they ever listen to residents.”

The frontage to the Victoria Quarter redevelopment off Albert Road has been transformed by the completion of the new Park Quarter flats which front on to Victoria Road. Many are now fully occupied.

A start has already been made to marketing homes in the larger Victoria Quarter complex – as seen in the image above from the housing association Sovereign Network Group which is promoting the sale of some of the flats on a shared ownership basis.

SNG, which started promotion in June of the sale of a group of 22 one-, two- and three-bedroom flats in an area to be known as Quartoria, says that priority for the shared-ownership homes will be given to people who live or work in Barnet.

Its website says that based on a 25 per cent shared ownership one-bedroom apartments will be available from £91,250; two-bedroom from £113,750; and three-bedroom from £142,500.

There will be one parking space per apartment, either off-street or under croft parking.

There has been a succession of applications to redevelop the cleared site of the former New Barnet gas works in a long-running saga dating back over 16 years.

Residents and amenity group mounted fierce opposition fearing developers would cram in too many high-rise blocks.

It started when ASDA dropped their 2008 plan to build a new supermarket on the 7.5-acre site.

In 2017 approval was given for 317 flats but this was increased to 652 in a subsequent application proposing ten-storey blocks.

After local criticism this was reduced to 554 and finally Citystyle Fairview gained permission last year for 420 flats in blocks ranging from four to eight storeys with an undertaking to ensure the “removal of the existing elevated footbridge (leading to the tunnel) and creation of new pedestrian routes”.

A separate development is proposed by Berkeley Homes for the northern section of the gasworks site.

Victoria Quarter complex of 420 flats in New Barnet is well underway but residents fear for future of pedestrian tunnel under main railway line.

Late last year, it unveiled a plan to build 200 homes – a scheme which would result in the demolition of the 90-year-old gasometer, a well-known local landmark.

National Grid Property Holdings said the 38-metre-high frame of what was originally known as a column guided gasholder had “no particular historic or architectural merit” and “little, if any heritage value”.

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Time is running out for “Morty” the graffiti vandal whose tags have disfigured shops and buildings around Barnet

Graffiti vandal “Morty” who has sprayed a tag on countless doors, walls and hoardings might be about to be unmasked after a two-month spree of damage to premises in and around Barnet.

Oak Hill Park cafe proprietor Eva Danielewicz (above) hopes the culprit will be required to clean off graffiti which she has been unable to remove from the walls and shutters of her cafe.

Following the launch of an appeal to try to find who is responsible for the tags, officers at Barnet Council believe they might have identified a social media account belonging to “Morty” or perhaps to “Morty’s” father.

Council staff are said to have been hard pressed to keep up with the task of cleaning off “Morty” tags from premises around High Barnet, New Barnet and East Barnet, and especially on bus shelters, telephone cabinets and on walls and passageways.

East Barnet Councillor Simon Radford – seen above with recently-applied graffiti on the bridge over Pymmes Brook in Victoria Park – has reported numerous examples of “Morty” tags over the last two months.

“This clean-up has already cost Barnet Council thousands of pounds in staff time, man hours and cleaning materials.

“In the last few months ‘Morty’ has become a real nuisance. We are determined to try to put a stop to it and the first step is to identify who is responsible.”

A passageway between New Barnet Station and Station Road has been another regular target.

After the council launched an appeal on social media to try to identify the culprit there has been some success. Officials believe they have found “Morty’s” social media account or perhaps that of the father.

“Let’s hope that at last something can be done about it,” said Councillor Radford.   

Eva Danielewicz feels especially aggrieved over the way her cafe has been disfigured with “Morty” tags.

Graffiti vandal "Morty" whose tag has been plastered on premises around Barnet might be be about to unmasked and held to account

She has welcomed Councillor Radford’s support and thanked him for all he had done in reporting the problems being caused by the graffiti.

“One morning last month we found a ‘Morty’ tag had been sprayed in a couple of places at the front of the cafe and on the back door as well.

“I’ve got nowhere myself trying to clean it off. The only alternative is to repaint the surfaces so I do hope whoever has done it can be made to come along and get rid of it.”

Ms Danielewicz has been running cafe and Malibu soft play area at Oak Hill Park – at the junction of Church Hill Road and Parkside Gardens — for the last 30 years and has been distressed by the appearance of the graffiti.

Councillor Radford said “Morty” tags were especially annoying as they were popping up everywhere.

“The council has responded well in dealing with this graffiti but at a time when financial resources are so stretched we shouldn’t be spending money needlessly on such mindless vandalism,” said Councillor Radford who is the borough’s cabinet member for finance.

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Free book shop has returned to The Spires – and Barnet residents are again being asked to donate surplus books or bookshelves

High Barnet’s much appreciated free book shop has re-opened in The Spires shopping centre after being without a home since the spring – and has launched a fresh appeal for donations of books and bookshelves.

A shop unit vacated by EE phones – opposite Waitrose – is now up and running and is once again welcoming book lovers and browsers.

But for the moment — until the shop is fully fitted out — donated books are having to be displayed on the floor in card boxes.

Volunteers who staff the book shop — which is run under the auspices of the Global Education Trust — say they have been encouraged by an immediate and especially warm welcome from shoppers and passers-by.

One of the first callers with a donation of books was Patricia Sotchcott (above right) who handed over a bundle of crime books and fiction to volunteer Dawn.

“I am really delighted the free bookshop has re-opened. It is wonderful to see everyone browsing through the books once again, especially the children,” said Patricia.

Volunteer Dawn said that Jackie the shop manager and the other 20 or so assistants were all working as hard as they could to get the shop fully functional.

“We are appealing for more stock: fiction, especially crime and science fiction, biographies and auto-biographies, children’s books and recently published study guides for exam students.”

Angela, another volunteer, said they desperately needed more bookshelves so that they could display free books by genre and the authors alphabetically.

“At present our start-up stock is all in card boxes on the floor – which isn’t ideal.”

Anything from 50 to 100 books are given away every day – a maximum of three at any one time – and they are replenished with newly-donated stock.

Book lovers like nothing more than looking for an unexpected title or edition.

Leo Yacar (above) who came to Barnet 12 years ago from Argentina, says he loves reading English classics.

“You never know what you are going to find…so calling into the free book is always a thrill for me.”

The volunteers said they realised how important it was for families with children to have a resource like the free book shop.

“Now we are into the school holidays, I expect we will be busy,” said Dawn.

“But it’s great to see children looking through the books and getting excited when they find a book they want to take away.

“We know it is a difficult time financially for lots of families and you can tell the parents are over the moon when they see the children taking such an interest in reading.”

The Global Education Trust opened its first free book shop in The Spires in May last year, but it depends on the availability of vacant shop units.

Running costs are met from donations and the trust relies on the generosity of landlords who have vacant premises.

At any one time the trust is operating around 20 free book shops around the country, and they all distribute unwanted books which would otherwise have to be pulped or go for landfill.

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Plans for the introduction of yet another CPZ for High Barnet has provoked furious response among Mays Lane residents

A mass protest is being organised by residents of Mays Lane and surrounding roads in opposition to the introduction of a new and additional controlled parking zone which is being proposed by Barnet Council.

A campaign to force the council to abandon the idea was launched at a public meeting attended by around 170 residents.

Organisers and over 50 supporters of the protest met again at the junction of Mays Lane and Mayhill Road – see above – to discuss how best to rally further support and keep up the pressure.

The proposed Underhill South CPZ would take in 29 roads – including several cul-de-sacs – which are on either side of Mays Lane, extending from the junction with Manor Road all the way westwards to the junction with Shelford Road.

Residents say a CPZ over such a wide area – extending south from Barnet town centre to the Dollis Valley riverside walk – is completely unnecessary and would become extremely expensive for residents.

Barnet Council’s highways department says it began consultations over a new CPZ for Underhill South because of complaints from residents and businesses about excessive parking in the roads south of Barnet Hospital.

A survey had shown that there were “extremely high levels of parking stress” in most of the roads surrounding Mays Lane caused by the extra demand for spaces caused by hospital staff, patients and visitors.

The new CPZ would operate at the same time – Monday to Saturday, between 8am and 6.30pm – as the existing and much larger Barnet Hospital CPZ which takes in roads in the hospital’s immediate vicinity.

Feedback from the initial consultation is due to be considered in September.

The two leading organisers of the protest – Gina Theodorou, chair of the Quinta Village Green Residents Association and Jon Woolfson, founder of the Underhill Residents Group – said opposition to a new CPZ was overwhelming.

“There might be some residents who might have an issue with hospital parking but the vast majority of people who live either side of Mays Lane do not experience any difficulty in parking and have not complained to the council.

“We are very concerned about the accuracy of the council’s claim that there are ‘extremely high levels of parking stress in most roads within the proposed area’ and we care calling on the council’s highway department to publish details of their survey.”

After conducting his own street-by-street by inquiries, Mr Woolfson was convinced the council’s survey findings were flawed and that there was no evidence to support their assertions about extreme parking stress. Of equal concern, he said, was the evidence he had found suggesting many residents had not received any official notification from the council.

Dan Tomlinson, MP for Chipping Barnet, has told the campaign that he will be submitting an objection given the clear strength of feeling among the residents.

He intends to support Underhill ward councillor Zahra Beg who is hoping to arrange a meeting to see if the Royal Free Hospital Trust will examine possibilities for a multi-storey car park at Barnet Hospital.

“If Barnet Hospital could be persuaded to take some responsibility and invest in a pop up multi storey it would do so much to relieve parking pressures around the hospital,” said Ms Theodorou.    

Opponents of the scheme include Whitings Hill Primary School and Underhill Primary School which both say teaching and support staff often commute from outside the area and many rely on nearby on-street parking.

Underhill had a particularly wide catchment area and public transport was inadequate. Families would be inconvenienced and both schools feared that a CPZ would have an adverse impact on support for after-school and community events.

Barnet Smiles Dental Care feared that staff and patients at their dental practice in Cedar Lawn Avenue would face unnecessary expense if the CPZ went ahead.

“We have never experienced any parking difficulties that would justify a CPZ. There is sufficient turnover and availability of parking spaces through the day for residents, visitors and local businesses.”

The prospect of the expense of parking permits and vouchers for visitors was a source of considerable anguish.

Richard Hockings ( above,far right) proprietor of a small business, said that to park his van outside his house would cost him £243 a year – a considerable financial burden. Charges for commercial vehicles depended on emissions – hence the height of the charge for van with a two-litre diesel engine.

Another angry resident, Gloria Jones (above), said the introduction of a CPZ on her road would just add to the additional expense she was already having to face.

“This will be the fourth CPZ around here and it’s already a nightmare.

“I have to pay when I park outside my parents in the hospital CPZ; then outside my sister’s house in the town CPZ; and at the doctor’s surgery in another zone – and now this will be the fourth.

“Barnet Council are just out for the money. Why can’t you park in all the CPZ areas once you have signed up for a permit.”

Jenny Pymont, who lives in a warden assisted property in Mayhill Road, said that she and the other residents in the flats and bungalows believed the CPZ would be very unfair on their visitors and carers.

“We rely on people coming to see us – and now they are going to be clobbered with a parking charge.”

Residents living around Mays Lane organise mass protest at plans for a new controlled parking zone in local roads

Gina Cornock thought the wide sweep of the CPZ was quite unnecessary. “We live in a cul-de-sac and there is no problem with parking. This is just a money- making exercise for the council.”

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End of an era in Barnet town centre: Dory’s closes after 71 years in business leaving customers dismayed by the loss of a welcoming cafe  

Dory’s, High Barnet’s celebrated family run cafe which provided refreshments and a warm welcome for generations of satisfied customers, has closed for business after the retirement of its proprietors Guiliano Cardosi and Angela Casali.

Surprise at the sudden loss of a town centre institution prompted tributes across social media and a flood of fond memories of the three generations who have produced a constant supply of full English breakfasts, hot meals, snacks and endless rounds of teas and coffees.

People unaware of the closure lined up to read notice of the sad news to customers and friends:

“After 71 wonderful years of serving our community, we would like to share the news that Dory’s, our family run business, will be closing its doors.”  

Angela Casali (above, far right in the family photo) told the Barnet Society that she and her brother had decided to retire.

“Sadly, running a cafe does not appeal to the next generation of the family”.

Her grandfather Ottorino Pellicci opened the cafe in 1954 on taking over from the Mancini family.

Dory’s was the name chosen for the cafe – the name by which Ottorino was known – at the corner of Bruce Road and St Albans, a prime location next door to the former site of Barnet Market.

So far, no decision has been taken about the future of the cafe, a business which was rightly proud of its claim to be the oldest family business trading in Barnet town centre.

Guiliano (above, front row, far let) and Angela said they were “incredibly grateful for the support, loyalty, relationships and memories built over the years”.

They were constantly surprised by who came through the front door of the cafe – sometimes someone who remembered their grandfather or perhaps a television star or celebrity.

When the cafe’s doors closed on Thursday 31 July word spread quickly – but not fast enough for a steady flow of customers turning up next day hoping for some refreshments.

They were all shocked by the news and dismayed by what they thought was the end of an era.

David Clark (above) said that although he had only been a customer for the last three years, he thought it was a tragedy Barnet was losing such a vital community hub.

“Whenever you went into Dory’s you ended up talking to other people – that was its secret, it was such a friendly place.

“You really couldn’t expect not to start up a conversation, so I will miss it. For me, Barnet will never be the same again.”

The week after Ottorino and his wife Crimene opened for business in 1954, Barnet’s cattle market closed, but the subsequent success of Barnet’s stalls market ensured a regular clientele.

The couple’s daughter Dorina (who died in 2021) and her husband Tony Cardosi (centre, front row in family photo above) took over the business and were then succeeded by their son and daughter Guiliano and Angela.

After 71 years trading in High Barnet, Dory's family run cafe closes for business to dismay of generations of customers.

Angela (above, fourth from the left) has fond memories of helping her mother and father when stalls filled the former cattle market (now the site of a car park).

“Back in those days trade was so good we used to get queues outside our door.   

The closure of Dory’s marks another sad loss among the dwindling number of family and independent businesses in High Barnet town centre.

Dory’s demise follows the closure of the Victoria bakery and Julian’s hardware shop.

Peter Wanders, proprietor Wanders shoe shop, is now thought to be the oldest trading name.

He opened his shop in September 1986 followed a year later by the arrival of Vajsur (Vince) Gadhavi at Smokers’ Paradise, now the Paper Shop.

Peter and Vince both had fond memories of the extended family which ran Dory’s and the welcome they offered. 

“It was renowned for being a proper working man’s cafe,” said Vince. “Sometimes there would be customers waiting outside ready for Dory’s to open at 5am.

“My paper shop is open from 6am, but Dory’s was always busy by then, so we are all really going to miss the early morning comings and goings just across the High Street.”  

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Glitzy evening in City of London is next big fundraiser for Noah’s Ark Hospice organised by award-winning events manager

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, which provides palliative care for over 350 children from its base in Byng Road, Barnet, depends on a continuous programme of fund raising together with community financial support from across north London and parts of south Hertfordshire.

The next event is a Glitz and Giving evening to be held in the heart of the City of London on Saturday 20 September.

Running costs at the hospice of £20,000 a day could not be met without the contributions made through sponsorship, major fund-raising events and donations.

Local financial support, which is another vital income stream, topped £320,000 in the last financial year with contributions from events and donations from across the London boroughs of Barnet, Enfield, Camden, Haringey, and Islington and Hertsmere.

Award winning special events manager for Noah's Ark Children's Hospice, Barnet, organising glitz and giving fund raiser in City of London

Rachael Messer, who became special events manager for Noah’s Ark in October 2023 has just won national recognition for all her efforts in organizing events which have raised £1.1 million since her appointment.

She was given an honourable mention and singled out for special recognition at the annual Emmas Award which celebrate creativity, innovation and impact in helping to finance charities and their work.

The Glitz and Giving event, sponsored by V Jewellers of Cockfosters, is to be held at The Otherist, a cocktail bar and restaurant in Broad Street, on Saturday 20 September from 7 to 11pm.

Tickets cost £80 for what Noah’s Ark says will be an unforgettable evening of “elegance and excitement plus food and bubbles” and a raffle for a dazzling one-carat diamond.

Special guest will be the radio DJ and tv presenter Melvin Odoom.

Book tickets by contacting:

https://noahsarkhospice.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/special-events/glitz-giving-2025-2

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Family needs for travellers’ caravan site outweighs Green Belt protection for Mays Lane countryside says planning inspector

Spirited opposition by a residents’ association has failed to prevent the go ahead for the development of a site for pitches for two travellers’ caravans and other buildings on a field in Green Belt land off Mays Lane, Barnet.

An application for permission was rejected by Barnet Council but this has now been overruled by a planning inspector who said the needs of two gypsy families with seven young children “tipped the balance” in their favour.

Quinta Village Green Residents Association, which had argued that a travellers’ site would harm the openness of the Green Belt and the character of Mays Lane, expressed their “deep disappointment”.

After a lengthy inquiry, the inspector Graham Chamberlain acknowledged there would be “some modest harm to the character and appearance of the area” but there were “very special circumstances” which outweighed the harm to the Green Belt.

The application to station caravans for residential use with hardstanding and dayrooms was made by Patrick Casey who appealed against the council’s refusal to grant planning permission on the grounds that it breached the Green Belt.

Mr Chamberlain said that he understood Mr Casey, who was currently living at the Barley Mow site near Hatfield, and his brother J Casey, were both “unlawfully doubling up as a temporary measure” and needed a secure and settled site.

“The Casey brothers are gypsies, and they want to follow a traditional lifestyle that involves living in culturally appropriate accommodation, this being a caravan on a pitch.”

There were seven young children in the case and their best interests would be served by “establishing a secure permanent home at the appeal site given the lack of suitable alternatives, including where they currently live unlawfully”.

Mr Chamberlain did conclude that a travellers’ site was inappropriate development; would harm the Green Belt; and that the unmet need for caravan pitches in the London Borough of Barnet was not extensive.

However, the balance in favour of the scheme changed significantly when personal circumstances were factored in, especially the best interests of the children.

“Indeed, personal circumstances tip the balance in favour of the scheme when all other considerations are contemplated cumulatively…It follows that the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development have been demonstrated.”

In expressing their frustration at Mr Chamberlain’s go-ahead for the site, the residents’ association said that during the inquiry “no robust evidence of these personal or accommodation circumstances was provided by the appellant, despite repeated requests, and yet these claims were given decisive weight by the inspector.

“The decision overrides local and national planning safeguards, potentially setting a concerning precedent for Green Belt protection.”

Much of the inquiry revolved around whether establishing a site for travellers’ caravans on a two-acre paddock which had been used for grazing horses would extend urban sprawl along Mays Lane and encroach the countryside.

Planning inspector agrees to site for pitches for two travellers' caravans in Green Belt land off Mays Lane, Barnet, despites residents' opposition.

The field is next door to the Mays Lane car park of the Centre for Islamic Enlightening (formerly a Brethren Gospel Hall).

In his report allowing Mr Casey’s appeal, Mr Chamberlain agreed that the paddock had an open rural character free from development, and it was open land that one would expect to “strongly contribute to restricting the urban sprawl of Barnet”.

Accordingly, he recognised that a caravan site next to the Islamic Centre and opposite the Partridge Close estate, would “compound an incongruous finger of development in the countryside” – a factor which was outweighed by the “very special circumstances” he subsequently outlined.

Concerns about the impact on great crested newts and bats were among the issues raised by the residents’ association, but these were not upheld by Mr Chamberlain.

He said a survey showed there were no great crested newts present on the site, and he did not believe either that travellers’ caravans would have an adverse impact on the bat population.

When Mr Casey made his application in 2023, after purchasing the field at auction, the residents’ association raised objections with Barnet Council and welcomed the refusal to grant permission.

The association, which is named after Quinta Village Green and represents 150 families living nearby, succeeded in raising only half of the £15,000 needed for legal representation at the inquiry after already securing a barrister.

“Without access to the council’s expert evidence, the association was left to try to continue contesting the issues alone and under-resourced.

“Adding further controversy, the inspector rejected Barnet Council’s request to limit the planning permission to a five-year temporary term, instead granting permanent consent.

“Residents fear this undermines policy safeguards and opens the door to piecemeal development across London’s Green Belt.

“This is a disappointing outcome for our community, and a worrying moment for Green Belt protections in Barnet.

“Residents engaged in good faith, supported their council, and upheld planning policy – but this decision shows how fragile these protections can be when decision-makers prioritise unevidenced claims over adopted policy.”   

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Setback for Barnet Football Club as planning officials recommend refusal of plan for a new football stadium at Underhill

Barnet Council’s planning department has come down firmly against Barnet Football Club’s application to build a new 7,000-seat stadium on Barnet Playing Fields at Underhill.

A decision on whether or not the council should give its support is in the hands of its strategic planning committee whose members meet at Hendon Town Hall at 7pm on Monday 14 July.

So far there has been little advance indication of how the committee might respond but the planning department could not be clearer in recommending refusal.

It says the plan to build a new stadium on a “valued local park” would result in “substantial and irreversible harm to the openness and function of the green belt”.

BringBackBarnet, the group which has been campaigning in support of the club returning to Underhill from its existing stadium at The Hive, Harrow, says it is disappointed by the recommendation against the application.

Whatever the outcome of Monday’s meeting, the campaign says it will not give up.

If the plan is rejected, the supporters’ group is convinced that Barnet FC will appeal against the decision and ask for a planning inquiry.

They believe government policy is moving in favour of releasing some green belt land for development and that Barnet Council should take advantage of the offer by the Barnet FC chairman Tony Kleanthous to invest £14 million in constructing a new stadium.

Disappointment for Barnet Football Club as council planners recommend refusal of bid for new stadium at Underhill on Barnet Playing Fields

Since Barnet’s success in gaining promotion next season to League Two of the English Football League, BringBackBarnet have made much of the boost which they believe the club’s return could deliver for Barnet town centre and the local economy.

However, that argument is dismissed by the planners who say any possible “socio-economic” benefits from Barnet’s return to its historic home at Underhill – which it left in 2013 – would not outweigh the significant harm that would result from the “permanent loss of a significant portion of this protected open space”.

The club had failed to demonstrate “very special circumstances” and had failed to address the impact of displaced spectator car parking on the surrounding highway network.

Barnet FC’s full application is for a stadium, with ancillary uses including food and beverage outlets, office and community space, a club shop, a diagnostic centre, an on-site car park for 165 vehicles and parking space for five coaches.

The proposed site is within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the loss of playing field land would be in conflict with national, regional and local planning policy.

An application of such strategic importance to London — and its location within the green belt – would necessitate it being referred to the Mayor of London.  

Currently under the Barnet Local Plan, Barnet Playing Fields and the adjoining King George V Playing Fields immediately to the south of Dollis Brook, are designated as a sports hub site.

There was an earlier proposal by Barnet Council for the construction of new central facilities for the playing fields – including changing rooms and a cafe – but no detailed plan has been submitted and one of the arguments of BringBackBarnet is that a new football stadium could provide amenities for the community which Barnet Council simply cannot afford.

One issue not addressed in the club’s application is the question of whether ownership of a new stadium site would be transferred to club chairman Tony Kleanthous.

The playing fields are currently the subject of a restrictive covenant between the National Playing Fields Association and the Mayor and Councillors of Barnet which requires them to be preserved as a charitable trust in perpetuity as a memorial to King George V and the King George’s Field Foundation.

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More stolen vehicles being recovered but Barnet residents urge MP to press for tougher police action against organised car theft gangs

Police failures which have led to the Borough of Barnet becoming a London hot spot for gangs stealing cars provoked a heated debate at a summit on car theft held by the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson.

A line-up of speakers which included a government minister, police inspector, Barnet councillor and specialists in tackling crime was accused of offering little more than platitudes and excuses.

A show of hands had indicated that a high proportion of the audience had been the victims of car theft.

They queued up to complain about what they judged was a lack of interest and an inadequate response by the authorities.

Mr Tomlinson (above, far right) acknowledged the anger of aggrieved constituents despite assurances from the government, police, local councils and car manufacturers they were increasing cooperation to co-ordinating their response.

As a result, more stolen cars were now being recovered.

“But I understand the strength of feelings about the police not tackling these organised crime gangs,” said Mr Tomlinson, who faced a line of audience members demanding answers.

When several of those who spoke out said that all they had been offered at the summit were the same lame excuses, their rebuke was greeted with jeers and applause in support.

Mr Tomlinson faced his critics head on.

“I know how aggrieved you are, and I hear your complaint that not enough is being done to go after these gangs. I take that flack. We must push the government, and the agencies involved to do much more.

“There is currently no nationally scaled task force to match the organised crime groups and that is what we need to go after the car thieves.”

He said his aim for the constituency was to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in car theft by 2028 – and he would be checking the statistics every six months.

Mr Tomlinson’s car theft summit, held at the Jewish Community Secondary School in New Barnet (7.7.2025), opened with his presentation of a stark statistic: 574 cars were stolen in the eight wards of the Chipping Barnet constituency during 2023, that meant ten or so were being stolen every week.

This was one of the highest rates for car theft in London.

He had been made aware of the extent of this organised crime when canvassing to become MP as in street after street people told him about their cars being stolen.

Barnet, as an outer London suburb, was particularly susceptible to car thefts because of its proximity to the M25 and other main roads which made it easier move stolen vehicles.

Many were taken to what were known as chop shops where they were broken down into sections and parts and then exported in containers for re-assembly in Africa, the Middle East or countries like Russia.

Inspector Kem Ofo, (above with Councillor Sara Conway) — who is responsible for car theft prevention and investigation in the eastern half of the borough — said the police believed there were currently no chop shops within Barnet although one in Edgware was discovered and closed last year.

He reminded the audience that in 50 per cent of thefts the vehicle had been left unlocked, and he urged the installation of steering wheel immobilisers and disc locks

Recently there had been funding for a week of targeted action on car thefts which had resulted in 40 arrests and the recovery of 20 stolen vehicles – an operation which Mr Tomlinson hoped could be repeated if funding could be found.

After an explanation from Inspector Ofo as to how the police were making better use of tracker devices, Mr Tomlinson said it was clear more needed to be done to speed up the sharing of information about stolen vehicles within the force.

Often stolen vehicles were parked nearby for a day or so while the thieves waited to see if they were being tracked and were then driven away with cloned number plates.

When challenged as to why the police often failed to follow up householders’ door cam footage of cars being stolen, the head of the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, Sharon Naughton, said the tough reality was that there was not the manpower to go through all the CCTV and door cam footage being offered by members of the public.

“This is all about the level of policing which the country can afford. Threats to life, risk, harm and vulnerability especially to women and children – these threats all come above vehicle crime.”

Councillor Sara Conway, who is Barnet council member for community safety and chair of the safer communities partnership, said that in the last two years since Labour took control the council had spent £3million improving the borough’s CCTV infrastructure to strengthen support for the police in tackling vehicle-related criminal activity.

In 2023, Barnet’s CCTV cameras were not working for 70 per cent of the time. Only 27 out of 127 cameras were operational.  Now there were over 700 operational CCTV cameras across the borough and extensive coverage around transport hubs.

MP Dan Tomlinson calls for more police action against gangs stealing vehicles because Chipping Barnet constituency has become a London hot spot for car theft.

The opening speaker at the summit was Dame Diana Johnson, minister for crime and policing, who said the government hoped new legislation would be in place by the end of the year.

Electronic devices used to unlock cars – which were used in 40 per cent of thefts – would be banned and become illegal. The police would be able to take action against people supplying or using such equipment.

There would also be a quicker recovery power to allow police to enter and search premises without a warrant if they believed vehicles or parts were being hidden.

The government had established a national vehicle crime reduction partnership to tackle what she described as these “ruthless, sophisticated, and professional organised crime groups” and funding had been provided to increase the interception of stolen vehicles at the ports.

PC Adam Gibson, who is assigned to the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service – which is funded by finance and leasing companies – described his work at ports such as Felixstowe and Harwich intercepting containers packed with stolen vehicles heading overseas.

Four or five suspect containers were stopped every week. There could be as many as five cars packed in one container. Sometimes there might be as many as 18, all broken up into parts. One container had contained three cars stolen from the same street.

Last year they had recovered 427 whole cars and 105 chopped up cars, together worth £22 million.

To help protect constituents with valuable cars, Mr Tomlinson had arranged for a 25 per cent discount on the cost of high radio frequency trackers supplied by the Tracker technology network whose managing director Mark Rose described the success of the latest technology.

Unlike most existing trackers which could be jammed – and which had an average car recovery rate of 30 per cent – the high radio frequency technology was producing a 95 per cent rate of recovery.

In the first six months of the year, Tracker had recovered 835 vehicles worth £25 million.  Police cars were connected to the new tracking system and 50 per cent of cars were being recovered in four hours and 80 per cent within 24 hours.

Greg Culshaw, general manager of customer support at Toyota, said that since 2021 their cars had been fitted with new software which could be updated remotely, and which was reducing car theft.

Toyota had installed Tracker devices free of charge in 50,000 cars and was working in partnership with Tracker and the police.

The 25 per cent discount for Chipping Barnet constituents for the installation of Tracker technology is available at www.tracker.co.uk using code TRACKER25.

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Blue Door theatre group aims to recreate dark, supernatural world of Macbeth for autumn performance at Bull Theatre, High Barnet

High Barnet’s acclaimed drama group is busy rehearsing for their autumn production — an imaginative presentation of The Tragedie of Macbeth, William Shakespeare’s play about the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition and political power.

Macbeth is a classic tale about a murderous medieval king which director Siobhan Dunne says seems so relevant to the events of today in a world troubled by despots, bullies and tyrants prepared to murder to get power.

Her innovative production aims to break new ground with original live music and projections designed to recreate the dark, supernatural world of the weird sisters – the three witches who appear to Macbeth and Banquo.

After several recent sell-out productions retelling the history of Barnet, the Blue Door Theatre Company are determined that their interpretation of Macbeth will be another milestone for one of the Bull Theatre’s most exciting and original community theatre groups.

There will be four performances from Thursday 16 October to Saturday 18 October – just the right timing for any local students for whom Macbeth is a set text for GCSE English.  (Tickets £15 via www.thebulltheatre.com)

For Siobhan Dunne this will be a first – the first time she has produced Macbeth with a full theatrical company.

Together with other members of her production team – above, from left to right, movement director Naomi Richards, Siobhan Dunne and composer Nick Godwin — they are planning a performance which will conjure up a supernatural atmosphere full of music, sound and eye-catching projections.

“Shakespeare’s intention in Macbeth was for us all to hold a mirror up to ourselves and what better time to delve into the corrupting effects of war and power-hungry despots,” said Siobhan.

“For anyone studying Macbeth, our production should be particularly exciting and rewarding as the key features of the story are perfectly underlined.”

The two lead characters — Macbeth (Francesco Giacon) and Lady Macbeth (Claire Fisher) — recognise the challenge they face in getting to grips with two of the most demanding theatrical roles.

Francesco agrees that it is no easy task trying to understand Macbeth’s character and then think how best to play the part.

“I am having to make a personal assessment of how to portray a complicated and perplexing role, someone who is ambitious, a murderer, paranoid and resigned to his fate, but then defiant when he realises the game is up.”

Claire Fisher, whose first play Mary Livingstone, I Presume? was performed at the Bull Theatre earlier this year, is relishing the chance to perform a celebrated Shakespearean role.

“I am trying to find the right balance between Lady Macbeth’s ambition for Macbeth and for herself, and she is not a very nice person.

“Together we have some intense scenes, and we have to pitch it right. We are a married couple in a very tempestuous relationship egging one another on to destruction.”

Claire said that after the challenge of writing the drama about the ghost like presence of Mary Livingstone, inside Livingstone Cottage on Hadley Green, she was so enjoying the opportunity to take part in Macbeth.

“Shakespeare’s words and poetry have such a wonderful rhythm. They are certainly easier to learn than anything I might have written.”  

In Shakespeare’s day there were not many props in his productions as most of the interpretation was through the acting but over the years scenery has had an increasingly significant role, which has presented a challenge for another Blue Door stalwart.  

High Barnet drama group to stage Macbeth at Bull Theatre and aim to recreate the dark, supernatural world of a Shakespearean tragedy.

Sculptor and artist Cos Gerolemou (above) who has worked behind the scenes on so many of the company’s productions, has been preparing some blood-thirsty props – including Banquo’s mask.

“Perhaps the grisliest of all is Banquo’s head in a sack. I think it is pretty realistic.

“What has been so fascinating for me is thinking whether Shakespeare would approve of what I’ve created.

“There weren’t many props in Shakespeare’s day but with the passage of time there is greater interpretation of his works and that’s where props and scenery play their part.”

Siobhan is sure the audience will be wowed by the amazing masks which Cos has made.

“One of the key aspects of Macbeth is that the characters don’t show their true selves.

“So, to have hooded or masked characters is a classic Shakespearean ploy for people who are not presenting themselves as they truly are.”

Another innovation for the production is the original musical score composed by Nick Godwin who plays guitar for the North London group The Silencerz.

“I hope what I am creating with the music and chorus is the right mood for a Shakespearean tragedy like Macbeth,” said Nick.

“All the texts are there for the songs in Macbeth but the music that was played at the time of those first performances has disappeared over the years.

“So, it is a real privilege for me coming at this afresh and trying to put music to the words.

“The musical score has a real part to play. For example, the three witches are played in so many different ways. They can be fairly childlike or frightening and intimidating. So, the composer has a choice.”

Nick has put together a team of musicians including violinist Helen Brown and bass player Ned Wilkins.

Siobhan says the Blue Door group is also so pleased to have support and advice from Naomi Richards who has become movement director for the production.

“For ten years, Naomi performed and toured with the percussion group Stomp, so she knows all about the importance of physical theatre.

“This will be of real help in advising the cast. We are all trying to recreate the dark surroundings and supernatural world of Macbeth. We are determined our audiences will get to see a unique production.”

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Pub of the year award regained by The Mitre as Barnet’s real ale enthusiasts voice concern over closures in neighbouring Enfield

After missing out on the award for several years, Barnet’s oldest hostelry Ye Olde Mitre Inne has been voted pub of the year for 2025 by the Enfield and Barnet branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

At a presentation evening, CAMRA members said they were pleased to be back at The Mitre which has recently been refurbished by the brewers Greene King.

Peter Graham (above, right), chair of the Enfield and Barnet branch, handed over the award to Harrison Smith, team leader of the bar staff.

Since the Enfield and Barnet branch was established in 1975, The Mitre has won the pub of the year award more than any other local pub, its reputation for real ale having been well established by a previous landlord Gary Murphy.

Mr Murphy relinquished the lease in 2021 after spending 13 years building up The Mitre’s offer of real and craft ales.

He became a cheerleader for publicans across the country and campaigned against the plight of 15,000 tied landlords struggling against exorbitant rents and additional beer charges.

In presenting the award, Mr Graham said it was great to be back at The Mitre. They still missed Mr Murphy but were keen to congratulate the staff on winning the award.

In a poll of members, The Bohemia in North Finchley was placed second and third was The Elephant Inn, also in North Finchley.

Mr Graham – seen here with fellow CAMRA members – said that real ale pubs in the Barnet area seemed to be trading more successfully than those in the Enfield area.

“We have had some closures recently of pubs around Ponders End and Enfield Wash and this is of concern, so we are pleased that across in Barnet the pubs do not seem to be struggling as much.”

The only current closure is of The Lord Nelson in West End Lane, Barnet, but the tenancy is being advertised by Punch Pubs and CAMRA members hope it will be trading again before the end of the summer.

Harrison Smith said customers at The Mitre thought its recent refurbishment had been a success.

“Some people were worried when they heard that improvements and alterations were being made to such an historic old pub, but once they were back inside, they seem reassured.”

New beer pumps were installed and improvements made in the cellar. The original windows facing onto to the High Street were retained and the opportunity take to repair a stained-glass window at the front of the pub.

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Armed forces open day gave Barnet’s army reservists and cadets a chance to welcome residents to look around St Albans Road reserve centre

Displays and training demonstrations by reservists and cadets filled the parade ground at the Army Reserve Centre in St Albans Road, Barnet, in celebration of Armed Forces Day.

Members of 240 Transport Squadron of the 151 Royal Logistics Corps were on hand to welcome visitors to their first open day since a restoration of public events following the covid emergency shutdown.

Sergeant Major Mark Smith said the 50-strong Barnet reserve squadron – who all have full-time jobs – had been looking forward to the chance to show residents the range of their military equipment, training and activities.

Members of the Barnet squadron march on Remembrance Sunday from the St Albans Road reserve centre along the High Street to the war memorial at Barnet Parish Church and they said the open day was a valuable opportunity to reach out to the town.                                                                                                                  

In addition to being a base for the reservists, the centre is also home of Barnet Army Cadet Force.

Sergeant Anya Wallis (above, right), an instructor in resuscitation techniques took her fellow cadets through the procedures for CPR and the use of a defibrillator.

Anya, a former pupil at Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School, joined the Barnet force of 30 or so cadets seven years ago and trained as an instructor.

“We teach first aid at different levels and there are a range of qualifications which are available to the cadets.”

A group of new recruits described how valuable they were finding the sessions – above, from left to right, Marie Iacovou, Ben Newton, Sharaddha Kori and Nuen Wang.

The Barnet force, which is attached to the Middlesex and North-West London Cadet Force, offers places for youngsters up to the age of 18. They get a taste of life in the armed forces, and some go on to join the regular army.

Marie and Sharaddha said they liked the experience of being army cadets.

Their lead instructor Captain David Cawrey (above) – a teaching assistant in civilian life – said their aim was to open up opportunities for Barnet’s youngsters.

“Most of the new recruits join by word of mouth, perhaps after hearing about us from friends or fellow pupils at school.

“We are a community cadet force, and we offer the cadets a range of experiences, with lots of activities.

“If they are interested in signing up to the forces, we can point them in the right direction and hopefully the training they receive will enhance their job prospects in civilian life.”

A demonstration which attracted intense interest was a display of the armaments used by the squadron by Corporal Chris Hatt (above), who has been a reservist for over 20 years. 

All the weapons were safely secured – a machine gun, personal weapon, pistol and night sight for use during exercises.

Another eye-catching display was of the latest CBRN combat kit for the hazards of modern warfare providing protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks.

The display intrigued Barnet resident Roger Hedgecoe, a former parachute officer and major in the Royal Signals, who left the Army in 1992. “I am very impressed by the kit they are issued with today – far better than in my day.”

Above, from left to right, Sergeant Major Mark Smith, CBRN instructor, Sergeant Jason Smith and Roger Hedgecoe.

Armed Forces open day first chance for some years to look around St Albans Road Army Reserve Centre and see training for Barnet's reservists and cadets.

The reservist on duty at the St Albans Road entrance to the reserve centre is training to become a vehicle mechanic – a far cry from her civilian job as a data analyst.

“I joined the reserves eight months ago and completed the basic training. Now I am training to become a vehicle mechanic and building up my experience on military vehicles.

“The attraction of being a reservist is that it gives me a chance to add to my skills set plus the time outside, the adventure training and chance to make new friends. The camaraderie and friendships are important.”     

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New initiative from Barnet’s Incredible Edible campaign – a festival to celebrate the brilliance of the humble bean

A celebration of the joy of growing and eating beans organised by members of Barnet’s innovative Incredible Edible campaign group was a journey from start to finish – from seed to plate.

Despite the sustained drought of recent weeks, a patch of runner beans in a community garden beside St Mary’s Church in East Barnet was in great shape with the first beans almost ready to eat.

Wendy Alcock (above left), founder of a much admired local initiative to encourage home cultivation in gardens and on unused land, had organised what she described as a celebration of the brilliance of beans.

St Mary’s community halls in Church Hill Road presented a beanfest — starting with advice on sowing and growing beans followed by cooking demonstrations and a tasting competition for a range of dips.

“We wanted to hold the event when there is still time to plant beans and get a crop by the late summer.

“We also wanted to demonstrate the great versatility of what is a favourite vegetable for so many people.”

Betty Greenwood (above left) and Elaine Jackson were on hand to describe the many varieties to choose from. Their plant display included borlotti beans, dwarf French beans and white runner beans.

They agreed it had been a difficult year because of the lack of rain. Bean plants needed to be watered regularly, and their water butts were nearly exhausted.

“If we go on getting such dry summers perhaps, we shall have to switch to some of the French and Italian varieties which adapt better to sustained hot weather,” said Betty.

In another room, community nutritionist Filomena Komodromu (above right) had prepared three different dips from beans and pulses – from green peas, red lentils and white beans and visitors were asked to rate them.

“My role is to advise people how to eat healthily and, on a budget, and beans and pulses are a great source of protein, they have lots of fibre, iron and Vitamin B.

“The one tip I always give people is that when they use tinned beans, they should be thoroughly rinsed first before eating.”

Beside the church halls is the council owned Church Farm Open Space where Wendy Alcock has established a community garden, one of four developed across the borough with the help of Barnet Council.

“We got funding for this project last year and the aim is to develop more community gardens across Barnet after people have been on a free eight-week course to gain experience of growing plants and vegetables.”

Jennie Bradford (above, left) signed up last year for the East Barnet course, and has taken on the leadership this year.

Wendy said the aim of this initiative – “Ready, Steady, Grow!” – was to show people how to grow vegetables in their gardens or public spaces.

“We do now have four new community gardens across the borough, but I would like to see many more.”

The July course is fully signed up but there are vacancies for the course in September. Further information and a sign up available at www.yourhealthbarnet.org or email food@barnet.gov.uk

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Relaunch of Barnet’s folk dancing club to focus on widening interest and appeal of Balkan folk dance culture  

Barnet’s long-established international folk dance club is being relaunched to take advantage of the growing popularity of the traditional folk music and dancing of the Balkans with the hope of attracting a wider membership.

Their experience in recent years – despite having built up a repertoire of hundreds of folk dances from around the world – is that Balkan dancing continues to attract by far the greatest interest.

In future the club will be known as Dunav: Barnet Dances Balkan and a revamped programme kicks off with their annual summer party at 7.30pm on Friday 25 July at Church House, High Barnet.

Two long-standing members, Margaret Luck (above left) and Irene Nichols have been helping to organise and promote the event – an evening of live Balkan music and buffet to which all are welcome. (Entrance fee £10).

Barnet International Folk Dance Club was established in 1962, initially meeting in Hendon, before moving to High Barnet, and from the start the founder members were fascinated by the intriguing rhythms of Balkan dances.

With the gradual opening up of travel to Eastern Europe, and with the freedom of movement following g the enlargement of the EU, group members began visiting countries in the Balkans and became even greater admirers of their folk-dance culture.

Such was the club’s interest that their sessions at Church House regularly featured an appearance by leaders of a Bulgarian ensemble — artistic director and dance teacher Iliana Bozhanova and music director and accordion player Tudor Yankov (see above).

Brian Dowsett, who led the Barnet group for many years, helped to establish a flourishing Balkan dance scene in London which now features a monthly Balkanplus event at Cecil Sharp House in Camden, home of the International Folk Dancing Society.

Charlotte Clare, a member of the Barnet club, teaches simplified versions of Balkan dances with live music from the band Ygra.

Barnet's long established international folk dancing club is rebooting to celebrate popularity of Balkan culture of folk dancing and music

Another band that often visited Barnet was Dunav – see above – that specialised in the music of south-eastern Europe.

Irene Nichols said that for their regular dance evenings – on the second and fourth Fridays of the month – they take advantage of a mini-iPad which is loaded with a full range of music.

“Balkan dancing is by far the most popular and Charlotte teaches accessible versions on their dances.

“Our great admiration of Balkan dancing was reinforced by a trip we made to Bulgaria.

“We went around the villages which have still have an active folk dance culture – so we experienced at first hand dancing together in village squares with local residents and their brass bands.”

Margaret Luck, a founder member of the Barnet club, said they hoped that by focusing on Balkan dancing they could build up the membership of the group.

“We are hoping to attract new members, and for example, we would love to welcome residents of the Bulgarian and Romanian communities living here in Barnet and around North London.

“They know the music and understand the rhythms of the dances.”

Another event in the club’s rebooted programme is a visit in September by Ziko, a famous Serbian accordionist.

For more information about joining the club or attending the summer party email: irene.nichols@gmail.com

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Plain clothes police proving more effective in tackling Barnet’s shoplifting and drug users than uniform patrols in High Street

Since the start of the year police officers in the neighbourhood team for High Barnet and Barnet Vale have spent most of their time in plain clothes targeting persistent offenders including shoplifters and drug dealers and have made a total of 55 arrests.

Their team leader, Sergeant Glenn Parker, acknowledges that many residents would like to see more uniformed officers on duty in the town centre, but he insists their tactics are currently proving to be far more effective.

Through tackling shoplifting and arresting repeat offenders, there had been a decrease in house burglaries over the same period – down by 25 per cent in High Barnet and 52 per cent reduction in Barnet Vale.

Sergeant Parker – seen above, from left to right with police constables Sam Emmott, Richard Maggott, Sergeant Parker, and Mike Tearle – addressed the annual meeting of the Barnet Society (19.6.2025).

He said that the neighbourhood police team had a choice: go back to visible policing in the High Street, which could be ineffective, or adopt plain clothes tactics to tackle shoplifters and drug dealers to help restore trust in the Police.

“I would like to send officers out into the town centre in uniform, but my priority is to tackle the shoplifters, so either you have officers parading up and down the High Street or you take action that will really help to make people feel safe.

“I know residents want to see officers out on the beat, but we have to assess whether having officers walking up and down the street is effective. We want the public to have faith in what we are doing.”

Before the team started their targeted operation, there had been a tangible loss of trust among High Barnet shopkeepers and businesses.

On taking up his position in January, Sergeant Parker said he had been distressed to find that the manager at Waitrose in The Spires had felt it was no longer worth reporting shoplifting because of a lack of a police response.

“The shops had videos of shoplifters filling their bags and walking out. That was the challenge. We need the shops to engage with us.

“If the public see a policeman in uniform in the High Street, they might think that is fantastic, but the criminals can see us as well and I don’t want them to have that advantage.”

Since the start of the year the team had been building up intelligence passed on by retailers and arrests had followed.

One persistent offender, known to have been involved in 40 shop lifting offences in and around High Barnet and Barnet Vale, had been arrested and sentenced to 96 weeks in prison.

Sergeant Parker said the turn-around in arrests had been seen in wards across the northern parts of the borough – High Barnet, Barnet Vale, Underhill, East Barnet, Totteridge, Whetstone, Mill Hill and Edgwarebury.

During 2024 there were a total 34 arrests across the eight wards – a result which he considered was unacceptable; there were only 12 stop and searches of suspects.

In the five and a half months up to June 18 this year there had been 154 arrests across the same eight wards – five times the number of offenders arrested – with 55 arrests in High Barnet and Barnet Vale.

“If we had not deployed officers in plain clothes, it would have been half that.”

Sergeant Parker stressed the importance of stop and search, a tactic which had decreased massively in it use because of a lack of trust in the Police. He was determined to change that.

In the last three months 27 people had been stopped and searched in High Barnet and Barnet Vale resulting in 13 arrests for offences including knives and stolen items. There had been 20 drug searches and five arrests.

Further targeted operations, based on intelligence, were about to be launched including in one in an unnamed street where there was “a nuisance address” from which offenders had been causing problems. He promised they would be “smashed and removed”.

In opening the meeting, Mahender Khari, chair of the High Barnet community action panel which liaises with the police, praised Sergeant Parker and his officers, describing him as an “action man” who was building the strongest police team in the borough.

In replying to questions, Sergeant Parker told Dr Jenny Remfry, the society’s vice president, that currently the best way to report non-urgent suspected offences or get crime advice,  was to email the neighbourhood police team or to ring 101 which went through to the call centre in Hendon which would assess the information and could forward it to the neighbourhood teams.

A new messaging service for public use — known as Met Engage – was about to be introduced by the Metropolitan Police.

Training for neighbourhood officers began a month ago and it would create a centralised system for alerts to be emailed directly to the police and allow officers to respond.

Once residents signed up, email groups could be established, perhaps in a road or a group of streets, and this could facilitate police appeals for CCTV and other information.

In response to another question about the use of new technology, Sergeant Parker explained the value of the rapid increase in the installation of CCTV, door cameras and dash cams.

Although a potential intruder might be wearing a balaclava when caught on a door camera, offenders might well be captured on a neighbour’s camera further along the street, perhaps removing a balaclava – footage that could be of potential significance.

“Once it is up and running in the next couple of months, a system like Met Engage will make it easier for people to give us local intelligence.

“We will be able to reply, and it should make it easier for neighbourhood policing to integrate with the community.”

He told the society’s vice chairman Eamonn Rafferty, who was concerned about drug users congregating in the car park at Chipping Barnet Library, that this was precisely what they wanted to hear about.

“We need to the community to step up. The more information we get, the more action we can take.”  

Barnet Society member John Gardiner asked whether neighbourhood policing was still being disrupted by the extraction of officers from the suburbs for deployments elsewhere by the Metropolitan Police.

Sergeant Parker said that increasingly neighbourhood policing was being “ring fenced” and other officers were being deployed. In May, no officer in his team had been extracted for other duties and there had been only two occasions so far in June.

Frances Wilson, the society’s minute secretary, asked if there was any chance of the Metropolitan Police re-opening High Barnet police station to the public.

Sergeant Parker said there no plans to re-open station for operational police officers with a custody suite and desk open to the public, but it would continue as a base for the neighbourhood teams and other police services.

Robin Bishop (above left), who leads for the society on planning and the environment, warned that significant planning decisions were on their way.

Transport for London through its development subsidiary Places for London was due to submit an application by the end of June to build flats on land around High Barnet tube station and an application to build a new stadium for Barnet Football Club at Barnet Playing Fields was due to be considered by the strategic planning committee in July.

 

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Looking for inspiration through the windows of High Barnet’s historic buildings was challenge for Festival of Architecture art workshop  

An art workshop arranged as part of the London Festival of Architecture combined the idea of dreams and visions seen through notable window frames of historic buildings in and around High Barnet.

Just visible looking out from an appealing window in the High Street were some of the swifts which swirl around high above the town each summer – an expression of the freedom of nature which was the inspiration for a painting by Eric Moules (above).

Eric was one of the participants in the workshop held by the Loop the Loop Art Club at The Stable in Salisbury Road.

For the club’s founder, Heather Ellis (far right), this was the second mixed media art workshop she has organised as part of the Festival of Architecture.

This year the challenge was Windows of Dreams: linking ideas for dreams to the architecture and history of High Barnet.

To help those taking part, she had photographed the windows of historic buildings such as the Tudor Hall, the parish church, houses at Monken Hadley and for more modern designs the windows of The Spires shopping centre and geometric windows above Iceland supermarket.

Another source of inspiration were the voices of significant women with strong connections to High Barnet – Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the hospice movement; novelist Fanny Trollope, who lived on Hadley Green; local school founder Elizabeth Allen; Julia Hyde, who established the Hyde Foundation Library in Church Passage; and Gwyneth Cowing, whose family owned the Barnet Press.

The life of Miss Cowing, who lived at Whalebones in Wood Street – where arched whalebones stand at the entrance — fascinated architectural student Aravin and inspired his contribution to the workshop.

Framed by a gothic window from a house opposite Monken Hadley parish, his illustration included a whale and the face of the High Street clock above the front door of what was the Barnet Press office and is now Costa Coffee.

Heather Ellis said the idea for the Windows of Dreams challenge had come from the early life of Dame Cicely Saunders who nursed a Polish Jewish refugee who bequeathed her £500 in 1945 to be “a window for her dreams”.

She used the money to help build the hospice movement and founded St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham where her work is commemorated with a “window of dreams”.

Art workshop celebrating London Festival of Architecture reflected inspirations seen from historic windows in High Barnet

Harvey Roe — above right with Carolyn — chose a window in The Spires to frame his dreamy picture of a scene in the countryside.

Illustrations produced during the workshop will be on display at The Stable in

Salisbury Road during June.

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Safe space with entertainment attractions for young people being supported by the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice

A purpose-built space where young people can be themselves has been built in the grounds of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Byng Road, Barnet.

“The Lounge” includes a wide variety of attractions – as well as a fridge stocked with drinks and snacks – and is a dedicated area away from the main building for youngsters aged 13 and above.

The aim is to encourage young people transitioning to adult palliative care to spend time at Noah’s Ark.

The hospice believes this is more likely if there is somewhere youngsters can spend time in a safe space set up for their age group and interests.

Anand and Savita Patel – see above – helped to fund the cost of building and equipping The Lounge in memory of their daughter Kinnari who was supported by Noah’s Ark before her death at the age of 12.

The Lounge is a fully-airconditioned 30-square metre space with a ceiling hoist, television and gaming equipment, an arcade machine, sound system, games, books and craft supplies.

An inaugural prom for young people was held in the new building to road test its facilities.

Special events are organised by the hospice’s family activities team to help young people prepare for the transition to adult palliative care.

This is considered an important rite of passage which can be facilitated in a safe and accessible way by offering coaching in life skills.

New building at Noah's Ark Children's Hospice provides safe space for youngsters to be themselves while transitioning to adult palliative care

The Patel family also commissioned a neon sign in The Lounge which illustrates one of the favourite sayings on their daughter Kinnari – “I don’t like it, I love it.”

Also contributing to the construction of The Lounge and its furnishings were the MariaMarina Foundation which was established in 2009 in memory of Maria Holder and her daughter Marina Brewster, mother and sister of the foundation’s president and chief executive Christopher Holder and the hospice’s 2023 Winter Ball Committee.   

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With a decision likely within weeks, BringBarnetBack step up their campaign for Barnet Football Club to return to Underhill

In advance of a key meeting which campaigners understand will be held in mid-July, BringBarnetBack have launched a last-minute appeal to Barnet Council to give the go-ahead for a new football stadium at Underhill.

From their own extensive soundings, they believe that there is a 50/50 chance of the council’s strategic planning committee granting planning approval for a 7,000-seat stadium at Barnet Playing Fields.

If the application is rejected, they are confident that the club will launch an appeal and they think it could become a test case in the push by the government to free up some Green Belt land for redevelopment.

However, BringBarnetBack warn that if the playing fields are redesignated as Grey Belt and freed for development, there is a danger the open space might be lost to make way for new housing.

At issue is the argument between many local residents who want to preserve the playing fields as a vital open space and Barnet FC supporters who are fully behind the offer of the club chairman Tony Kleanthous to move the club from The Hive at Harrow to a new £14 million stadium at Underhill.

BringBarnetBack have issued a 14-page dossier examining the arguments for and against the application which ends with a plea to the council to vote for a project that would be a sustainable development; enhance the surrounding Green Belt land; and bring back a football club that has “never stopped believing in coming home”.

(Bring Barnet Back – The Case http://eepurl.com/jhcTaU )

The proposed stadium would take up 22 per cent of the southern section of the playing fields – see above – which BringBarnetBack argue is in effect a “de-facto abandoned field with a monoculture of weeds and grass”.

Campaigners have visited the site at “hundreds of different times and in all weather conditions and claim there were “no people” on the proposed site, beyond the odd dog and its owner.

They believe the case for it becoming the new home of Barnet FC is strengthened by the fact that under a previous plan Barnet Council had proposed redeveloping the playing fields with a new 10,000 square foot destination sports hub that would have included two multi-purpose activity spaces, a cafe, six changing rooms and 55 new car parking spaces.

Because of severe funding restraints the council has not proceeded with its own plan and the reality is that all these facilities – and more – could be included in the new Barnet FC stadium “at no cost to the council”.

 Included in the new stadium would be medical facilities, which could be used by NHS patients; new public toilets which could encourage more use of the existing children’s playground and basketball courts; and community space for local food hubs and other charitable organisations.

One issue not addressed in the BringBarnetBack dossier is the wider use of the playing fields for large public events.

Last minute appeal by BringBarnetBack campaign to persuade Barnet Council to give go ahead for a new football stadium at Barnet Playing Fields

In May the playing fields hosted a five-day visit by Zippos Circus and other events are planned for later in the summer.

Organisers who have previously presented music and community festivals at other nearby sites such as Trent Park and Oak Hill Park, are switching to the playing fields at Underhill because of what they say is excellent access to public transport.

Other events being advertised at the playing fields are the Eagle Festival of Music over the weekend of June 21-22; the Ghana Party in the Park festival and the Mauritius open air festival which will be staged separately on the Saturday and Sunday of July 12 and July 13.

BringBarnetBack underline the urgency of the application: currently Barnet FC is loss-making and kept afloat at Harrow by Mr Kleanthous who is “willing to subsidise the club at a personal loss”.

Since moving to The Hive from Underhill in 2013 the club has lost between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of its core support and despite its promotion to the League Two of the English Football League, Barnet’s future is “unsustainable away from its home”.

Securing a return to Underhill – its home of 107 years — represents in planning terms “very special circumstances” to justify building a stadium on Green Belt land.

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High Barnet police crackdown on shoplifting leading to more arrests in the last five months than the previous three years

A concerted police operation targeting shoplifting in Barnet High Street and around the Everyman cinema has resulted in 47 arrests in the last five months – far more than the total number of arrests made during the previous three years.

High Barnet and Barnet Vale neighbourhood police teams believe their crackdown is helping to restore confidence among shopkeepers and retail businesses while also easing concern among shoppers.

In several operations, plain clothes police officers were deployed to monitor shops which have suffered most from shoplifting.

There have also been a series of arrests for the theft of motor vehicles and of motorcyclists who have been loitering in the High Street with other motorcycle riders waiting to make fast-food deliveries.

Police Sergeant Glenn Parker (above, far right), who has been leading the High Barnet team since the start of the year, said he made tackling the increase in shoplifting his top priority.

Members of the Barnet Society will have the chance to put questions direct to Sgt Parker at the society’s annual meeting at Pennefather Hall, Christ Church, St Albans Road, on Thursday 19 June. (Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start).

When Sgt Parker took up his post in Barnet in early February – after two years serving with a police response team based at Colindale – he realised that shoplifting in the High Street and in the shops close to the Everyman cinema had become a real problem.

“Unfortunately, a lot of shopkeepers and business owners had lost confidence in the police to such an extent that they had stopped reporting cases of shoplifting.

“Since we stepped up the level of engagement, we have made progress, and shopkeepers are now reporting offences, and they are doing much more to co-operate with the police.

“One regular shoplifter who had been targeting the same shops has now received a 92-week sentence.”

Another prolific offender was seen by two plain clothes officers stealing from the High Street – and whose theft was also recorded on CCTV – was sentenced to seven days in prison plus a £400 fine.

Sgt Parker – seen above with PC Richard Maggott, PC Tabitha Hutchins and Mahender Khari, chair of High Barnet community action panel – was praised for his determined approach when he reported on the neighbourhood team’s success to community representatives.

The knock on from targeting shoplifting was that it seemed to have influenced a 25 per cent reduction in the number of residential burglaries. Often those responsible were linked to shoplifting.

He said that since the start of the year there had been seven arrests for car theft – including the arrest of three suspects who were caught driving in Barnet Gate Lane with a Range Rover stolen in Hertfordshire.

Sgt Parker acknowledged the complaints about obstruction and intimidation caused by motorcycle deliver riders congregating with their bikes in parking spaces in the High Street outside or close to McDonalds and other fast-food businesses.

“We have arrested four motorcyclists this week when loitering in the High Street. We can only start checking their licences and documents if they are seen moving with their machines.

“We need to make a vehicle stop so we can be sure the motorcyclist is with his machine otherwise it is not so easy to intervene if all the machines are parked in the street.

Mahender Khari – seen above (right) with Sachin Rajput, chair of the Barnet Vale community action panel – said there was no doubt that shopkeepers and shoppers had appreciated the impact of the police crackdown on shoplifting.

“We know Barnet shopkeepers are more reassured than before. Shoppers have also noticed the change. Elderly people were worried by the possibility that shoplifters were carrying weapons.”

Mr Khari said the rapid response of the safer neighbourhood police team was badly needed: of the 118 offences reported in High Barnet in February this year, 22 related to shoplifting.

Yet during the whole of 2024 there had been only two arrests for shoplifting in High Barnet.

Dramatic results from police crackdown in shoplifting in High Barnet town centre -- 47 arrests in five months.

Shops that have been monitored and targeted by the police this year included Waitrose, Poundland and JD Sports in The Spires shopping centre; Boots and Iceland in the High Street; and Tesco and the BP petrol station shop near the Everyman cinema.

Mr Rajput said the response in Barnet Vale – and especially around the junction of Station Road and the Great North Road – had been impressive.

“We certainly do have at present a very pro-active team which is addressing the concerns in our area. What is so important as well is there is now a definite police presence.”

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Future use of High Barnet’s historic Tudor Hall uncertain once again after Barnet Museum trustees withdraw their offer 

Barnet Museum’s trustees have had to withdraw their bid to save High Barnet’s historic Tudor Hall for community use because of a lack of financial resources to repair and then maintain the building.

An offer to purchase the hall – which is on the market with a guide price of £1 million – was accepted by Barnet and Southgate College earlier this year.

Prospective funding for the purchase had been secured from the Hadley Trust and the sale appeared to be going through subject to contract.

There was considerable relief among voluntary groups within the town when the museum obtained an exclusive right to buy what was originally the schoolhouse for a free grammar school granted a charter by Queen Elizabeth in 1573 and which later became part of Barnet College.

Bitter disappointment as Barnet Museum trustees have to abandon their bid to buy High Barnet's historic Tudor Hall for community use.

The hall, which is a grade II listed building by Historic England, is surplus to the college’s requirement and is on offer on a leasehold basis with vacant possession.

But the Trustees of the Barnet Museum and Local History Society say they are now “bitterly disappointed” to have announce that they cannot proceed with the transaction.

The Barnet Society understands that another offer to buy the hall for £1 million has been made to the college from a similar charity/community group.

When the hall was first put on the market in December 2023, the sales agents Colliers said it had received an offer of £1 million to purchase the building for educational use.

This led Barnet Museum to appeal to Barnet Council to declare the building an asset of community value so as to give the museum a chance to buy the hall for the use of the wider community.

After examining the cost of repairing, staffing and maintaining the building, the museum trustees say they have had to face the reality of being unable to find “additional funding within the available timescale”.

There were extensive discussions among the trustees and other interested groups as to how to maintain the Tudor Hall for community use but the stumbling block was the lack of additional finance.

Ambitious ideas included the possibility of the hall becoming a dedicated museum for the Wars of the Roses — centred on the town being the site of the 1471 Battle of Barnet — but the estimates were that a full refurbishment might cost up to £500,000.

The hall’s main room – see above – has on occasion been used for public events, but ongoing cost of simply maintaining the hall and keeping it available for public use was likely to be in the regional of £50,000 a year.

In their statement the museum trustees – John Hall, Scott Harrison and Guy Wheatcroft – say they have informed the college they cannot proceed with the transaction.

A feasibility study – which included a visit to what was the dormitory of the former schoolhouse – provided a “careful estimate” of further costs for repair, repurposing, staff and maintenance.

“Our attempt to source additional funding within the available timescale has shown the difficulties facing the heritage sector at this time, and the museum as a charity is not in a position to take on this burden of risk.

“The outcome if of course bitterly disappointing since the availability of such funding would have supported the opening of Tudor Hall to the community as a ‘Tudor Jewel’.

“We are very grateful to all those who have worked extremely hard to investigate Tudor Hall and prepare the feasibility study with such care and professionalism, and especially to the Hadley Trust for its generous offer to fund the purchase, subject to the condition of viability which sadly it has not been possible to satisfy.

“May we also extend our sincere thanks to those who participated in the public consultation meetings or volunteered help in many ways to support this important community initiative.”

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1st Barnet Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association awarded seven King’s Badges in exceptional year of achievement  

Seven Barnet winners of the King’s Badge – the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association – were honoured at a special service at Barnet United Reformed Church after an official presentation at Guildhall in the City of London.

The award of as many as seven King’s Badges is an unprecedented achievement for the 1st. Barnet Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association whose members have previously won a total of only four over the preceding 50 years.

They were congratulated on their success at a prize giving evening where awards and certificates were handed out by Dan Tomlinson, Labour MP for Chipping Barnet, and Martin Russell, representative Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Barnet.

Alan King, the brigade captain, said that in the 50 years that he had been with the brigade only four members had won what was the Queen’s Badge and is now the King’s Badge.

“We have usually secured one of the badges every ten years or so. Therefore, to get seven awarded in one year is very rare and very special for our brigade.”

Mr King said the success of the seven was down to the fact that they had worked together as a group and had taken part in every activity the brigade had to offer.

“Almost half of them joined as five-year-olds and they have been dedicated members for the last 12 to 15 years.”

Mr Tomlinson (above, left) added his congratulations to the King’s Badge holders and paid tribute to the work of Alan King and all the other volunteers.

“It is people like you Alan, and the people who run the brigade, who make our community stronger. As an MP there is nothing that I can do which can compare with the work you do day in and day out to make our community even stronger.”

Exceptional year of achievement for 1st Barnet Boys' Brigade and Girls' Association in being awarded seven King's Badges.

Among the other awards was the presentation by Martin Russell of the Deputy Lord Lieutenant’s certificate of appreciation to colour sergeant David Hay who had been a Boys’ Brigade member for over 12 years.

He congratulated David for an outstanding contribution to the brigade which included over 400 hours of voluntary service with the junior section.

Earlier in an address the minister, the Reverend Dominic Grant, said the presentation of awards was a testament to everything which united the world-wide fellowship of Boys’ Brigades and Girls’ Associations.

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Barnet Medieval Festival becoming a premier event in Wars of the Roses celebrations – and a fun day out for the whole family

Mock battles with weapons made from foam were one of the highlights for children attending the annual Barnet Medieval Festival at its new and enlarged site on farmland in Galley Lane.

A range of inter-active attractions for youngsters of all ages – including training for jousts on the battlefield, fencing, archery and axe throwing – reinforced the festival’s appeal as a popular family fun day out and an engaging community event.

After a record participation among military re-enactors and medieval traders — and the best-ever attendance — the festival organisers are already thinking ahead to 2026.

Barnet is well on the way towards establishing its festival as a premier event in the calendar of Wars of the Roses celebrations.

Crowds lined the event field for a packed programme including the much-anticipated re-enactments of the Battle of St Albans (1461) and – see above – the Battle of Barnet (1471).

Almost 500 re-enactors representing 40 different households and military companies – some from as far afield as Devon and Scotland – were brought together by the Wars of the Roses Federation.

Displays of medieval firepower were another of the highlights.

Master gunner Ben Godden, who was the compere for the display, and his wife Linda Godden, the festival event co-ordinator from the House of Bayard, were delighted to be back in Barnet after the cancellation of last year’s festival due to waterlogged ground.

“This has easily been the best ever festival,” said Linda.

“We can all see how popular it’s become. We had a very good crowd even when we had a little rain on Saturday but the turn out all day on Sunday was a record.

“We are all looking forward to next year already.”

For travelling players Myal Pyper – who kept the crowds entertained with medieval music – their second visit to Barnet had exceeded their expectations.

“We thought the atmosphere was wonderful the first time we came, but this year it’s been even more enjoyable.

“What is so special is that people come up and ask such interesting questions which makes it all worthwhile.

“It’s obviously a great community event as so many people seem to know each other and are busy chatting away and enjoying the day out.”

Another popular re-enactor away from the battlefield in the medieval campsite was Flossie, a 14th century warrener, who was looking after two ferrets to send down rabbit warrens.

Her two ferrets – Filthy and Grunt – had no shortage of admirers.

Flossie (in real life Felicity Pattenden from Norwich) said rabbit ferreters would have accompanied a medieval army and hunted as they went along to provide them with a supply of meat and fur.

Probably the youngest medieval re-enactor was 15-month-old Zina – from the 3rd company of Tudors — with her parents Eleri and Alex from Wolverhampton, who were enjoying a rest in their tent.

Zina was dressed in a linen shift over a double-sided linen kirtle; Eleri was wearing a linen shift with kirtle and a linen bonnet; and Alex was wearing split-leg hose, linen shift and skull cap.

“In Tudor times Alex would have been in the fighting force, and I would have been considered a camp follower, one of the women who looked after the men,” said Eleri.

Two re-enactors taking a well-deserved rest in a nobleman’s tent were Steve, a medieval archer, and Marion, who were from the Plymouth Medieval Society.

“It’s our first time in Barnet. It has been a really well organised festival with plenty of space for all the medieval tents. We do hope to be back next year.”

Inter-active events for youngsters including mock battles reinforced Barnet Medieval Festival's reputation for a family fun day out.

For farmers Daniel and Fiona Lewis – proprietors of Lewis of London Ice Cream at Fold Farm – hosting their first medieval festival had been a great experience and they too were looking ahead to think how it might be expanded and improved.

“This is a great event for the military re-enactors with lots of space for their displays, tents and activities,” said Daniel.

“We have loved seeing how much fun it is for the youngsters, training to be knights and then having a go in the battlefield. Wherever you looked there was something happening, even everyone having a go at medieval dancing.

“Perhaps in future we could get even more themed events and activities for the children. Another innovation might be more themed food. I really do think the festival has great potential for the future.”

For festival director Dr Susan Skedd there was a sense of mission accomplished.

“It really has been overwhelming to see so many people coming along to the festival and clearly having a wonderful time. It has made it so worthwhile for all the volunteers who put so much into making the festival such a success.”

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New attraction at Barnet Playing Fields: a fusion of abstract art and a sport for a refurbished basketball court

Greater London’s first 3×3 basketball court – with a vibrant blue playing surface — has been opened at Barnet Playing Fields off Barnet Lane, Underhill.

3×3 basketball – for six players instead of the usual ten – is growing in popularity.

The refurbished, fully accessible court has been installed by Barnet Council with the help of England Basketball.

Designer Martin Dyan (above right), founder of Rise 3×3 Basketball, and North London artist Darren John, who specialises in large-scale public murals, attended the official opening of the court.

Sited next to the children’s playground, the vivid blue surface of the court immediately attracted the attention of passersby, and especially local youngsters anxious to start playing.

Keen to try it out were Yugi Koiz (left above) and Isaiah Saiona who both said it was a real fun.

Isaiah, who is now 15, has been playing basketball since he was 11. “The court that used to be here was rubbish, so it’s great to have this new court so close to where I live.”

Darren John, whose London mural team is based at Absolutely Studio, said blue had been chosen because it was the most vibrant colour, kept its appearance, and lasted longer for a playing surface.

A previous sport-related commission for Darren was to paint the skateboard area for the Paris Olympic Games. He believes the fusing of art with sport increases can help increase participation.

“Abstract art works well in a sporting or public setting because it has a wider appeal than a particular theme and tends to attract more visitors.”  

Martin Dyan said that 3×3 basketball had been growing in popularity because six could play on a court half the usual size.

After running a 3×3 charity event in 2017 he realised the potential for the sport because it was so accessible and so easy to play.

His consultancy, launched last year, advised Barnet Council on the best way to refurbish the existing court at the playing fields and bring it up to Olympic standards.

It has been resurfaced with fresh asphalt and a new hoop system installed with a backboard made from reinforced acrylic and a new flexible net.

The importance of the vividly painted surface was that it showed the court was being taken care off – and added a splash of colour to Barnet Playing Fields.

New addition at Barnet Playing fields is London's first 3x3 basketball court for a sport growing in popularity.

Underhill war councillor Zahra Beg praised what she said was a wonderful addition to the playing fields.  

After the launch of the new 3×3 court, Councillor Anne Clarke, Barnet Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure, arts and sports, said the borough had a great tradition of supporting Olympic athletes and she was proud the council was helping to provide opportunities for the growth of a new Olympic sport.

3×3 basket ball is a variation of basket ball played three-a-side, but with one backboard and in a half-court but with specific lines and measurements — as seen in this photograph of the new court from Barnet Council.

“3×3 basket ball is a game that has been played on full courts for decades,” said Councillor Clarke.

“It began to take shape as its own sport from the early 2000s and has been an Olympic sport since 2020 and a Commonwealth Games sport since 2022, where England’s men’s team won a gold medal and the women’s team won silver.”