A second attempt to get approval for an enlarged development of blocks of flats on the former gas works site at New Barnet has been refused — and for now Barnet’s largest brownfield site will continue to remain unused.
Of all the curiosities in High Barnet, perhaps the one which evokes the greatest pleasure is a collection of intricate tiny houses which decorate a tree stump in St Albans Road.
New premises are to be found for the neighbourhood police teams serving the wards in and around High Barnet before the Metropolitan Police goes ahead with the sale of the police station in the High Street.
A day’s work pruning some of the trees which produce fruit for Barnet’s foodbanks was the latest initiative for volunteers of Barnet Community Harvesters.
Continue reading Tree pruners hoping for another bumper crop for Barnet’s foodbanks
Hertfordshire County Council has stepped in to save much of the 84 bus service between St Albans and New Barnet station — but a rescue deal only applies to the St Albans to Potters Bar section of the route and it looks like leaving Barnet residents without a vital service.
Continue reading Barnet residents could lose out in Hertfordshire’s rescue deal for 84 bus service
Tree planting and litter picking were two initiatives in what became a weekend of community action organised by the Barnet Society and the Barnet Residents Association.
Brewer and pub retailer Greene King have given an assurance that a proposed refurbishment of the Mitre Inn in Barnet High Street will be carried out with the “utmost respect” for an historic 17th century coaching inn.
Continue reading Make over plans for Ye Olde Mitre Inne need careful monitoring says Barnet MP
“Dogs and cats welcome” is the invitation that awaits customers at Nika, an innovative pet cafe which has opened on Barnet High Street.
Continue reading New destination for Barnet dog owners — a High Street cafe that welcomes pets
Passengers who use the 84 bus service between New Barnet station and St Albans have launched a petition because of the threatened withdrawal of the route from the Metroline schedule.
Continue reading Fears of threatened withdrawal of 84 bus from New Barnet station to St Albans
Hertsmere Borough Council has withdrawn plans for housing and other development across vast tracts of Green Belt land to the north and west of Barnet following an outcry from residents about the loss of countryside.
Continue reading Outrage over Green Belt housing plans forces retreat by Hertsmere Borough Council
An iconic building in Barnet High Street — the much admired art deco frontage of what was once a Montague Burton menswear shop — is about to get a new lease of life when the upper floor is converted into a soft-play area for toddlers and small children.
After two multi-million-pound property deals in High Barnet last year, the one to watch in 2022 is the sale of Barnet Police Station which is one of the surplus properties due to be sold off by the Metropolitan Police.
Continue reading Barnet Police Station being lined up for another multi-million-pound property deal
Volunteer working parties are supporting the Barnet Society’s latest tree planting initiative — to create a 300 to 400-metre-long hawthorn hedge that should blossom each May and enhance still further the appeal of Barnet Hill.
Continue reading Hawthorn saplings on the march up Barnet Hill in another round of tree planting
Hadley FC, the oldest football club playing in Barnet, are about to launch a £200,000 appeal for the installation of an all-weather Astro turf pitch at their ground in Brickfield Lane, Arkley.
Continue reading “Up the Bricks” — winning run boosts Hadley Football Club’s hopes for promotion
Charges are to be introduced for parking at the Old Courthouse Recreation Ground — an expense for parents of small children who drive to the infants’ playground next to the Old Courthouse Café
Continue reading Long-planned car parking charges to take effect at Old Courthouse Recreation Ground
Winter tree planting is well underway — and volunteers will be busy in the next few weeks on Barnet Hill and at other sites across the Borough of Barnet.
Continue reading More tree planting planned at Barnet Hill and across the borough
A renewed attempt to get planning approval for an additional storey to be added to two blocks of flats in Alston Road, Barnet, has again been rejected on the grounds that the enlarged buildings would be out of keeping with the neighbourhood.
Continue reading Planners reject five extra homes on top of Alston Road blocks of flats
Instead of a traditional corner shop, Chesterfield Parade in Bells Hill, now hosts a specialist shop selling what the proprietor believes is the widest range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free produce and products available in High Barnet.
Continue reading Switch to healthy eating is encouraging a revival in neighbourhood shopping
Cyclists heading out of London have always enjoyed the challenge of riding up Barnet Hill — and a survey carried out exactly 100 years ago showed there was even greater enthusiasm for tackling the climb back in the 1920s.
Anyone walking along the footpath at the junction of Alston Road and Carnarvon Road should make the effort to search out a fascinating trail of 21 illustrations by a celebrated pavement artist who was brought up in Barnet and whose miniature paintings on blobs of chewing gum have gained international recognition.
Continue reading Surprise and delight at finding Barnet’s display of famous chewing gum paintings
Plans to build four chalet-style houses on the site of a former stables and paddock have been been rejected by a planning inspector because of the impact they would have on the woodland and fields south of Arkley, across the Dollis Valley towards Totteridge.
Continue reading New housing rejected at Arkley because of impact on Dollis Valley Green Belt
Staff at the Rainbow Centre on the Dollis Valley estate are busy preparing food parcels, seasonal hampers and presents for needy families in what might be the food bank’s last Christmas in their current premises in Dollis Valley Drive.
Continue reading Dollis Valley foodbank preparing for busy Christmas — and to be relocated
Festive lighting around the bandstand at The Spires shopping centre is not just a celebration of Christmas and the New Year but also a more personal reminder for friends and supporters of the Barnet charity Cherry Lodge Cancer Care.
Continue reading “Lights of Love” display boosts fund raising for Barnet cancer care charity
An appeal has been launched for the renovation of Monken Hadley’s historic church house which will involve reconstructing and modernising the interior so that it can be used for a wider range of community events.
Continue reading Daunting challenge to raise funds for historic restoration project in Monken Hadley
After it was closed and boarded up ten years ago, the dis-used Tudor Park Pavilion is at last edging closer to the day when it could provide Barnet Vale with a much-needed amenity space and leisure facility.
Continue reading Refurbishing an abandoned cricket pavilion could help transform Tudor Park
Unlike the experience of many local communities that were forced to cancel festive events, the annual Barnet Christmas Fayre went ahead as planned and was well supported given the showery Sunday weather.
“We are back on the map at last” was the cry that went up at the unveiling of three roadside signs declaring “Welcome to Arkley Village”.
Continue reading Regaining recognition: Arkley residents applaud newly installed welcome signs
Plans are afoot to upgrade Barnet Council’s free-to-use tennis courts — which include six courts just off Mays Lane and others at Tudor Park Sports Ground, Victoria Recreation Ground, and Oak Hill Park — and then introduce a booking system and charges for playing tennis.
Continue reading Improvements proposed for Barnet’s tennis courts — and then charging to use them
Rehearsals are well underway for the children’s show at the annual Barnet Christmas Fayre on Sunday 5 December — a welcome return after the loss last year of the town’s festivities due to the Covid.19 lockdown restrictions.
Campaigners against high-rise blocks of flats being built on tube station car parks — including High Barnet, Finchley Central, Cockfosters and Arnos Grove — staged a spirited protest during the last question time session for the Mayor of London at City Hall.
Continue reading Mayor of London challenged by campaigners for saving tube station car parks
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Carl Troon posted a comment on Imminent sale of abandoned and derelict former Quinta Youth Club has added urgency to fund raising for new community hub in Mays Lane
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