Downsizing of the Chipping Barnet Library – with much of the floor area being converted into commercial office space – is proceeding apace after planning permission was granted by Barnet Council.
Library protests ignored
Author: Nick Jones
Wanted: Battle project co-ordinator
The job of promoting and explaining the Battle of Barnet of 1471 is to be undertaken by a project co-ordinator whose appointment has been made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Barnet’s footpath pioneer remembered
After years of uncertainty answers have finally been found to questions about the identity and motives of an early pioneer in the continuing task of defending the footpaths and green spaces that mean so much to members of the Barnet Society.
Free to speak her mind?
After what for her personally – and for the rest of the country – has been a momentous political year, the Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, will be the guest of the Barnet Society at our annual question and answer session at 3pm on Friday 20 January.
John Brown
Two sculptures by the noted Barnet sculptor John Brown are due to appear in Steven Spielberg’s most recent science fiction adventure, Ready Player One, which is being filmed in Birmingham and at the Warner Studios in Leavesden.
Red Lion closing for re-launch
High Barnet’s landmark public house, the Red Lion at the top of Barnet Hill, will be closed for most of January so that it can be refurbished ready for re-opening as an upmarket eatery.
BBC4 joins hunt for Barnet battle site
Two promising pointers towards locating the precise site of the 1471 Battle of Barnet were examined in the final television programme of the current archaeological series, Digging for Britain on BBC4.
Barnet Museum’s future assured
After years of uncertainty about its future, Barnet Museum is finally being promised security of tenure – a 125-year lease at a peppercorn rent.
Extra seating in Roman Catholic church
As work continues constructing an extension to the Roman Catholic church in Union Street, Barnet, mass and other services are being held in neighbouring churches and halls.
Green Belt prices soar
There has been another indication of the growing commercial interest in, and rising value of Barnet’s Green Belt land – just as Arkley residents step up their campaign against local farmland being developed as a natural burial site.
Outrage at library closure
Outraged Barnet book lovers staged a mass read-in outside the closed front doors of Chipping Barnet Library to demonstrate their dismay and anger at the downgrading of a much-loved community asset.
High Street packed for Christmas Fayre
Brilliant sunshine and crystal blue skies put some added sparkle into the annual Barnet Christmas Fayre which filled the High Street with a wide variety of stalls and plenty of seasonal cheer.
Tell Sadiq Khan our priorities
The Barnet Society is taking full advantage of an opportunity to influence the re-drafting of the London Plan by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan – and local residents are being urged to add their voice to the case we are making.
Can planning objections save Chipping Barnet Library?
If residents are prepared to back a mass campaign of objection, the Barnet Society believes there might still be a chance to limit, if not prevent, the downgrading of Chipping Barnet Library.
Continue reading Can planning objections save Chipping Barnet Library?
Lottery win for Battle of Barnet
A grant of almost £100,000 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the cost of promoting and celebrating the 1471 Battle of Barnet.
Chipping Barnet Library closure
Barnet Council is being urged by the Barnet Society to postpone the two-month temporary closure of Chipping Barnet Library planned to take effect as from Monday 5 December in order to allow time for further consultation on the building alterations and redundancies that have been proposed.
More trees strengthen High Barnet’s welcome
Completing the majestic row of Norway Maple and London Plane trees that line Barnet Hill – and provide such a magnificent entrance to the town – might become possible following a generous donation to the Barnet Society.
Continue reading More trees strengthen High Barnet’s welcome
Junction change confusion
A traffic management experiment at the junction of Wood Street and Barnet High Street is causing a headache for some drivers.
Dog frendly shops needed
“Well-behaved dogs welcome” is the message that dog lovers are hoping they will hear from more and more of the cafes, restaurants and public houses along the High Street in High Barnet.
Bats’ at risk in New Barnet
Bats, owls, wrens and hedgehogs are among the species that nearby residents fear might be disturbed or even lost because of the construction of a new, two-storey leisure centre in the Victoria Recreation Ground off Lawton Road, New Barnet.
Opposition to Ark Academy
The Barnet Society has joined other local organisations and groups – together with many nearby residents – in lodging an objection to the plans to build a school for 1,680 pupils on the site of the former Barnet Football Club stadium at Underhill.
Leading the way in housing for older women
When a group of 26 women move into their new homes in Union Street, Barnet, at the end of November they will be making a small, but truly historic contribution towards alleviating the country’s chronic housing shortage.
The bustle of Barnet 120 years ago
A unique, almost-forgotten tape recording gives a fascinating eye-witness account of every-day life in Barnet at the turn of the century before last, when horse-drawn coaches, traps and wagons filled the High Street, long before the arrival of the motor car.
Bird watchers and nature lovers fight burial ground plan
Local residents, bird watchers and nature lovers are joining forces to step up their campaign against plans to develop a natural burial ground on farmland at Arkley bounded by Barnet Road, Barnet Gate Lane and Mays Lane.
Continue reading Bird watchers and nature lovers fight burial ground plan
Green fingers for schoolchildren
In a first for schools in the London Borough of Barnet, the Pavilion study centre in Meadway, High Barnet, is offering vulnerable and excluded school children the opportunity to get an entry level qualification in horticulture.
Dom puts Barnet’s parking wars on the spot!
The Barnet Society’s long-running campaign to try to secure a short period of free parking at the 63 parking meter spaces along the High Street featured prominently in Dom on the Spot, BBC television’s latest series about the people whose job it is to hand out on-the-spot fines.
Continue reading Dom puts Barnet’s parking wars on the spot!
Barnet’s two oldest shops
Years of friendly rivalry over which shop in Barnet High Street has the longest record of continuous service seems to have been finally resolved.
Medieval finds excite Battle of Barnet military archaeologists
After an extensive search with metal detectors a highly-experienced team of military archaeologists has unearthed a host of medieval items that might be linked to the 1471 Battle of Barnet.
Continue reading Medieval finds excite Battle of Barnet military archaeologists
Residents revolt over super-size school
After facing a barrage of complaints and criticism over proposal to build a new school for almost 2,000 pupils on what was formerly the Barnet Football Club stadium, the Ark Academy network admitted its plans were “not yet a done deal”.
Milly the cat puts road safety first
In the feline appreciation stakes there is currently no contest in determining High Barnet’s most sociable – and safety conscious – cat.
Paul posted a comment on High Barnet to have two community-inspired public houses within 300 yards of each other and each run by local residents
Maureen Ryan posted a comment on High Barnet to have two community-inspired public houses within 300 yards of each other and each run by local residents
Mr N M Sanders posted a comment on High Barnet to have two community-inspired public houses within 300 yards of each other and each run by local residents
Disgruntled of Barnet posted a comment on Fiery exchanges as Labour and Conservative councillors clash over accuracy of list of green belt sites for housing around High Barnet