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Barnet Football Club abandons planning appeal over stadium at Underhill as Bring Barnet Back identifies possible new locations   

A short list of four or five possible locations for a new stadium for Barnet Football Club is now being considered in depth by supporters of the Bring Barnet Back campaign after lengthy discussions with Barnet councillors and planners.

In view of what the campaign says is now a “very positive” dialogue, the club has decided not to appeal against the strategic planning committee’s refusal last July to approve an application for a new stadium on Barnet playing fields at Underhill.

The last date for an appeal is January 24, but the Bring Back Barnet campaigners urged the club’s chairman Tony Kleanthous against challenging the council.

“Constructive conversations” with councillors and planners have succeeded in producing a shared sense of good will over the push to secure a move from the club’s existing stadium at The Hive, Harrow, and a return to the town.

A total of 51 alternative sites for a stadium were identified and evaluated by the campaign and the highest scoring four to five sites will now be assessed in greater detail.

They are all in what is described as a “ring of suitable sites” – in an area within High Barnet, New Barnet and East Barnet.

As an indication their good faith in trying to find a site acceptable to the council, the campaigner says they will not identify sites on their short list so as to prevent the long-standing controversy over Barnet FC’s return to the town becoming a political football at the council elections in May.

Bring Barnet Back had been thinking of whether to promote candidates – or a symbolic single candidate – in the May elections to demonstrate the strength of their support but decided against the move so as not to jeopardise the constructive relationship which they have established with councillors across the political parties.

However, the campaign will establish a clear public record of which candidates “clearly articulate” their backing for the principle of the club’s return so that supporters can make “informed decisions”. 

The application for a new stadium at Underhill was rejected by the strategic planning committee last July – see supporters above outside the town hall at Hendon – on the grounds that it failed to demonstrate “very special circumstances” for breaching the Green Belt.

Barnet FC’s planning consultants, WSP, and other consultants, advised that the club would have a “very good opportunity” to appeal on the grounds that the government was now encouraging certain developments within what was deemed “Grey Belt” land.

But the campaign feared an appeal might take 12 to 18 months, with no guarantee of success and even less likelihood of the council agreeing to lease a site on Barnet playing fields.

Conversations over the last few months have indicated that councillors believed the campaign had not been “sufficiently explicit” about why returning to the town was essential for the club.

At stake was the long-term sustainability of the club, given its reliance on continued financial support for the chairman.

The current stadium at the Hive is over an hour away from Barnet on public transport and over a quarter of the club’s local fans no longer attend, creating an annual deficit for Barnet FC of over £1 million.

“Without a permanent asset – a stadium – in its home town, the club’s long-term future remains structurally insecure.

“We now believe there is a shared understanding with all councillors we have spoken to that this is not a matter of sentiment, but of sustainability.”

However, the campaign recognised that the needs of the football club could not be considered in isolation and needed to be grounded in the “delivery of clear, substantial and demonstrable community benefit”.

Although the July application for a stadium had included proposals for a sports hub, medical facilities and wider economic benefits for the town, councillors were clear that a fresh application needed to be “more tightly and explicitly” linked to the need for additional community facilities and collaboratively designed to help deliver the council’s wider objectives.

Any revised plan would take into account issues like the number of school pupils with special education needs, how best to alleviate pressure on the adult social care budget, community-based medical provision and support for young people.

“Prior to these conversations Bring Back Barnet did not fully understand why the original application failed; these discussions have now provided clarity and are reshaping the approach going forward.

“Councillors stressed the importance of designing proposals with them rather than for them.

“The original application was perceived as presenting a largely complete scheme, with limited opportunity for councillors and officers to shape its form, priorities and trade-offs at an early stage.

“Finally, councillors highlighted the need for deeper consultation with key local groups prior to submission.

“In particular, the opposition from Northway School and Ark Pioneer Academy was seen as avoidable had those institutions been engaged meaningfully at an earlier stage.

“When a suitable location is identified and finalised by the planners, Bring Barnet Back will work with local groups to ensure the plans benefit as many as possible.”

Barnet Barnet Back campaign says it has short list of four to five locations for a new stadium for Barnet FC following club's decision to appeal over Underhill plan

Whereas the previously suggested Barnet playing fields site had scored strongly on technical planning grounds, it failed to meet the political test required for approval.

Therefore, any alternative site would have to command sufficient support from councillors to secure permission.

Until further enquiries, technical work and extensive private consultation, the campaign will not reveal the location of the four to five sites on its short list.

“Publishing a potential site prematurely, without full due diligence, would be irresponsible. It would risk exposing early-stage options to speculation, misinformation and unnecessary opposition.

“We fully understand – and share – the frustration this lack of public detail may cause. However, particularly in an election year, it is essential that any future proposals are robust, well-evidenced and carefully prepared.”

Bring Barnet Back statement in full: https://public.hey.com/p/76F1KjJccqW7Q9577B1aTzg3

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Wish list from Marks and Spencer targets High Barnet and New Barnet among sites across the borough as possible locations for a new food hall

High Barnet and New Barnet are two of ten districts within the London Borough of Barnet which are on a wish list of potential sites for a new Marks and Spencer food hall.

M&S plans to double its number of stores across the country and has named 197 possible locations within Greater London.

The ten within the Borough of Barnet are Brent Cross Town, Cricklewood, East Finchley, Edgware, Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon, High Barnet, Mill Hill East and New Barnet.

Currently an M&S food hall at Whetstone is closed while the premises are being upgraded to offer more products and to include a new bakery and coffee counter.

Until it re-opens in the spring, customers are being advised to use M&S food stores in Friern Barnet and Southgate.

In announcing its expansion programme, M&S has identified a wish list of 500 locations across the country and the company’s aim over the coming years is to almost double its existing 330 stores to 420 dedicated food shops and 180 mixed stores.

Within the M25 the company says it is targeting sites which benefit from strong public transport links and a steady footfall throughout the week and are capable of delivering an M&S food hall with a trading space of between 6,000 and 18,000 square feet.

Large sites are need so that the food halls can stock the full range of M&S food, offer wider aisles for bigger shopping trolleys, and large car parks for more family shoppers.

High Barnet and New Barnet are on a wish list for a site for a new Marks and Spencer food hall

Perhaps one of the few, if only sites, within the High Barnet town centre which might attract the interest of M&S would be premises within The Spires Shopping Centre or a site on surrounding land presently used for a staff car park and the Chipping Close car park (on the former Barnet Market site).

Plans to redevelop The Spires with shops along a through walkway, together with the construction of five and six storey blocks of flats, appear to have been in abeyance since administrators took control after the owners, BYM Capital, became insolvent in 2023.

An M&S local food store at 146 Barnet High Street – and a Sainsbury Local which replaced it – were both closed some years ago after becoming loss making.

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Loss of pub motto from new signs at The Gate, Arkley, prompts memories of some of the pub’s famous – and infamous – customers  

New signs outside The Gate public house at Arkley have resulted in the disappearance of a much-loved historical pub motto which used to adorn a miniature five-bar gate that has been the inn’s trademark for probably a couple of centuries.

Motorists stuck at the traffic lights at the junction of Barnet Road and Hendon Wood Lane — or passengers on the 107 bus – are said to have learned the words off by heart:

                           THIS GATE HANGS HIGH

                              AND HINDERS NONE

                               REFRESH AND PAY

                                AND TRAVEL ON

The Gate public house is included in Barnet Council’s local heritage list as being a landmark of significant architectural interest and the loss of the motto – which was painted on both sides of the miniature gate – has disappointed both residents and passers-by.

When asked by the Barnet Society, The Gate’s management said they had no intention of replacing the missing words – the suggestion seemed to be that after a new coat of white paint the mini gate now stands out more clearly and suits the modern, stylish lettering on the side of the wall.

The installation of a small five-bar gate as a pub sign dates back to when it was known as The Bell.

It was opened in the mid seventeenth century and was mentioned in a War Office survey of 1756 as being kept by John Williams.

A drawing of 1807 shows the inn as a thatched cottage with a porch and a gate alongside, close to the wall.

The gate’s purpose was to keep cattle and horses within the common which then stretched to the town of Barnet two miles distant.

Legend has it that when the gate was removed a replica was added to the inn sign.

At the time, the pub was often described as the Bell at the Gate or the Bell and Gate and the above picture (1898-1903) – from the Barnet Museum photographic collection – shows a replica gate above a sign depicting a bell.

The first words of the historical pub motto do differ – instead of “This gate hangs high” it sometimes says, “This gate hangs well.”

Replica gates with the motto are often displayed on inns on turnpike toll roads, meaning the gate is well maintained, does not block the traffic and requires a small payment for refreshments before travellers can continue on their journey.

In other cases – as at Arkley – the gate appears above inns on rural roads where a gate was used to keep animals in the owner’s land or within a common.

Over the years The Gate has served some notable characters – perhaps the most chilling was the American homeopath Dr Crippen who was hanged in 1910 at Pentonville Prison for the murder of his second wife.

In an article published in 1957 in the spring issue of Hertfordshire Countryside, Dorothy Prince, the daughter of a former licensee of the Bell Inn at Barnet Gate, recalled that when her father took on the pub in 1908 it still retained a good deal of its Victorian character.

Newly painted signs at The Gate public house Arkley fail to include the words of historic pub motto and prompt memories of famous -- and infamous -- customers

The postcard above – from Barnet Museum’s collection – promotes the then proprietor, J. Prince, Dorothy’s father

Motorists, who were rarely seen in those days, were regarded by Mr Prince as being “eccentric or flighty” as ordinary folk preferred their “bicycles or a nice little pony and trap for their country outings”.

One afternoon Dorothy’s sister served a meal in the parlour to a “small and furtive man, with a drooping moustache” and she remembered that his companion “seemed much younger and rather nervous”.

“A few months later the whole country was startled and horrified by the news of a dreadful crime. Pictures appeared in the newspapers, and my sister recognised her parlour customers.

“The man with drooping moustache was Dr Crippen and the young lady was his friend, Ethel le Neve.”

Dorothy recalled that one summer afternoon a party of very lively people alighted from several carriages and ordered tea to be served in the garden.

“Trooping on to the velvety lawn, they moved the tables and chairs and then started to dance – to dance in a way that seemed strange and fairy-like to my childish eyes. Soon the news leaked out.

“It was a party of dancers from the Russian Ballet, then appearing at Covent Garden, and I was told afterwards that I had probably seen the great Pavlova dancing.”

In later years The Gate became a regular haunt of the British film actor, Trevor Howard, who lived nearby in Rowley Lane.

Barnet Council’s local heritage list describes the association in rather more brutal words: “It is said that Trevor Howard drank himself to death in the pub”.

More recently social media posts recall visitors and regulars seeing other celebrities in the pub including the Irish American actor Patrick McGoohan, the actress Claire Bloom and another nearby resident, Tony Blackburn, the disc jockey and television presenter.

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Barnet’s free book shop re-opens by sharing space with another charity in an unlet unit at The Spires Shopping Centre

After yet another move Barnet’s popular free book shop is up and running once again in The Spires Shopping Centre.

Lead volunteer Jackie O’Brien – above right with volunteer Mark Shepherd – says it is brilliant being able offer free books once again after having had to close the shop over Christmas and the New Year.

“This is our fourth move within the centre, but our regulars soon get to know where we are, and we know they love coming in and browsing through our stock.”

The free book shop is sharing a vacant unit with another charity, ADDISS, which provides information and counselling on the attention deficit disorder ADHD.

Because of space restrictions, the shop can only accept limited donations at the moment of just a few books.

“Until we get sorted and secure some storage space, we can only accept a carrier bag of books at a time – and not the trolley load that we sometimes get given by generous supporters.”

Barnet's free book shop re-opens in The Spires Shopping Centre after sharing a vacant unit with another charity.

The shop’s new location is next to the Barnet Museum display, close to the Coffee Bean café.

It had to close in mid-December when a new tenant – a cake shop – took over the former vacant EE telephone shop which had proved a particularly popular location as it was directly opposite Waitrose.

Global Education Trust, which operates free book shops across the country, takes advantage of the generosity of landlords and is full of praise for the flexibility shown by The Spires in allowing the use of empty retail premises on a temporary basis.

Up to three unwanted books can be taken on any one visit and the stock is replenished with donated books which might otherwise have been pulped or gone to landfill.  

The free book shop is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.

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A visit to Barnet Environment Centre gives Mayor of Barnet an opportunity to observe nature reserve’s wide range of birdlife  

With binoculars at the ready the Mayor of Barnet Councillor Danny Rich paid his first ever visit to the Barnet Environment Centre in Byng Road, congratulating volunteers for establishing a “fantastic educational resource” for local children.

Between February and the end of the coming summer term, 2,000 pupils from across the borough are due to attend classes at the centre – and there is a waiting list of schools keen to take part.

In the first ten minutes of his walk around the nature reserve Councillor Rich – above left with Bernard Johnson, vice chair of the Friends of Barnet Environment Centre – picked out in the surrounding trees, four goldfinches, a blue tit, a great tit and a crow flying overhead.  

He was amazed by the richness of the birdlife at the centre and given his membership of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said could not resist the opportunity to get his eye in.

His visit was to help celebrate the conclusion of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the environment centre – and a chance to tour its facilities including the classroom where the centre’s education manager Robyn Stern introduces children to what they can see and find out in the reserve.

Councillor Rich acknowledged that after living in the borough for the last 20 years, he was thrilled at last to have a chance to visit a centre which did so much to alert children to the importance of nature.

“Although here in Barnet we live in a relatively green area, children do need to come here to learn about the environment.

“I’m a birdwatcher myself, so it was a real privilege to see so many birds in such a short time, and I want to book my next visit straightaway.”

He promised to try to keep free the first Sunday in May when the centre is holding its annual early morning gathering to hear the dawn chorus – an event which was led last year by Bob Husband of the RSPB when 33 different species were identified or observed.

On his tour of the centre, Councillor Rich was shown tree stumps left purposely in the undergrowth to encourage the growth of fungi. Last spring the stumps were covered in yellow fungus which fascinated the children.

Mayor of Barnet Councillor Danny Rich pays his firist visit to Barnet Environment Centre and praises their inspirational work with children and wide range of birdlife in nature reserve.

Another stop on the tour was one of the newly refurbished dipping ponds – where children can take samples and observe aquatic life – above from left to right, the Mayoress of Barnet, Laura Lassman, the Mayor of Barnet, Bernard Johnson and trustee Liz Pearson.

 Councillor Rich thanked the volunteers – up to 20 of whom meet each Monday – for all their work maintaining the reserve and for helping with the school visits which take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Voluntary work was one of the features of life in Barnet. “It is the volunteering which adds so much to the richness of life in the borough and Barnet is a special place because the council does all it can to work in conjunction with our voluntary groups and organisations.”

Looking ahead to projects planned at the centre in the coming months, Bernard Johnson said the centre hoped to redevelop the former Marc Bolan garden into a community orchard.

The centre was even planning to build a boathouse to house a boat that could be used on the Hadley and Willow ponds to help control the growth of bullrushes and other vegetation.

Another innovation was a planned visit by year nine pupils from Queen Elizabeth’s Boys’ School who were studying nature poems and who were looking for ideas for their work.  

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Top spot for drivers and vehicles from Barnet Classic Car Club in London’s New Year’s Day Parade  

Four entries from Barnet Classic Car Club had a prime spot in London’s New Year’s Day parade – gaining praise in the live television coverage on Sky News for adding some royal glamour to the event.

A look-alike King and Queen in the front of Derrick Haggerty’s 1955 Ford Popular were a surprise attraction.

Sky’s commentary team joined in the fun, complimenting the club for parading a wonderful collection of classic and vintage cars:

“We didn’t know the King was going to be here…and the Queen as well…no one told us. But we much appreciate your presence your majesties.”

Derek’s Ford Popular has been in his family since it was purchased in 1973 as a non-runner for £50 – and after £5 and a couple of new king pins it was back on the road.

This was the 40th anniversary of London’s New Year’s Day Parade and despite the freezing weather it was watched by crowds of well over 700,000.

More than 8,000 performers took part in the spectacular procession from Piccadilly to Whitehall treating revellers to marching bands, acrobats and eye-catching floats.

Dancers twirled away in their daffodil costumes and a cavalcade of open-top Mokes made their way through the West End.

Barnet Classic Car Club, representing the Borough of Barnet, was invited to participate by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich – see above with club member Howard Pryor and Howard’s pet dog Bertie.

Councillor Tony Vourou – above with a Pearly Queen – co-ordinated the club’s entry to the parade.

The club’s four entries – which had 34th place in the parade – were a 1974 Rover P6 owned and driven by club member Peter Snow; a 1955 Ford Popular owned and driven by Derrick Haggerty; a 1952 Morris Minor Convertible owned and driven by club member Paul Reed; and a 1939 Morris Commercial driven by club member Howard Pryor.

Originally built as a utility fire engine, the Morris Commercial was converted in 1947 to an ambulance and was kindly loaned by the Whitewebbs Museum of Transport in Whitewebbs Lane, Enfield.

Entries from Barnet Classic Car Club have a prime spot in London's spectacular New Year's Day Parade and get a special mention of Sky TV

Before setting off on the parade club members lined up for a photograph – from left to right, Derrick Haggerty, Peter Snow, James Beeton, Howard Pryor and Paul Reed.

The club was delighted to have been invited to take part in the parade which drew record crowds approaching 700,000 or more, much more than the 500,000 that had been anticipated.

Sky News had agreed a last-minute deal with the parade and broadcast it in its entirety linking up with 1,100 tv stations around the world and a potential global audience including up to 27 million in the USA.

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Plan for additional flat rejected as Barnet Council still hopes tenant might be found for vacant community space close to Barnet High Street

Barnet Council has intervened to see if a tenant can be found for vacant community space on the ground floor of a block of flats which were built in Salisbury Road after the demolition of the former Fern Room, once the home of Barnet Old People’s Welfare Committee.

After failing since 2021 to either sell or rent the community space, the developers applied for permission to convert the ground floor into a three-bedroom flat – an application that was rejected last year.

This refusal has now prompted the council’s intervention as the planners were not prepared to allow the loss of a possible community facility so close to the town centre.

The council says it wants to work with the developers to see if a tenant can be found for a broader range of openings including possible flexible work, retail or community use as part of the town centre improvement.

Community groups and local charities – together with Chipping Barnet Town Team – are being alerted to see if there is any organisation which might be able to make use of the space.

Given the financial pressures on the voluntary sector, it is perhaps no surprise that the developers have failed to find a new tenant – the ground floor space of 1,280 square feet is on the market for a guide sale price of £400,000 or an annual rent of £25,000.

A report presented to the council on behalf of the owners by real estate advisers Newsteer says that despite having been “extensively marketed” for four years there has been minimal interest in the space for community use.

Therefore a “logical beneficial re-use” would be to convert the space into a three-bedroom flat, but the council’s planning department disagreed.

After refusing plan for additional flat Barnet Council intervenes to see if a tenant can be found for vavant community space close to Barnet High Street

Barnet Old People’s Welfare Committee – which provided activities for Barnet’s elderly residents for 75 years – had to vacate the Fern Room in 2017 when it was purchased by SAS Investments to make way for the new of flats.

Eviction from its day centre meant the loss of a wide range of activities including coffee mornings, a social advice centre, and the running of evergreen clubs and minibus outings.

After paying £875 a quarter to rent the Fern Room, the committee realised it would be unable to afford the new community space which SAS Investments said would be increased in size to 1,600 square feet and offered for hire to a much wider range of uses including sports activities such as 5-a-side football.

In the event the new community space was reduced to 1,280 square feet – the same as the Fern Room – and the planning committee noted that it remains an empty shell although the 2019 planning approval stated it would be “fully fitted out and ready for use.”

Failure to fit out the space had made the rent “potentially prohibitive” for some prospective community use and the planners considered the developers had presented insufficient evidence that the facility was no longer required.

The proposed new ground-floor flat would have no private amenity space and high-level windows to the bedrooms would provide inadequate daylight and a poor outlook, resulting in a poor standard of accommodation.

“Consequently, the proposal would provide only a single additional residential unit and whilst in a sustainable location, would not outweigh the harm resulting from the total loss of a community facility without adequate justification.”

When first applying to demolish the Fern Room, SAS Investments said it was a “very dilapidated, inefficient building” but respected the longstanding community use of the Salisbury Road site and were anxious to work with local community groups by providing a new and much larger community space.

The loss of the Fern Room is an illustration of the on-off, piecemeal development of Barnet town centre.

The site was sold by Barnet Council to the developers of The Spires shopping centre in 2009 and passed on through the ownership of UBS, the William Pears group and Hunter Asset Management before being sold to SAS Investments for redevelopment in 2017.   

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Barnet Council to reintroduce food waste collection service – households will receive new food caddies and bins over next few weeks

Householders might be forgiven for thinking they are living in a time warp in the coming weeks when Barnet Council starts to deliver homes with two containers ready for the re-introduction of a weekly food waste collection and recycling service which begins again in March.

Between January and March each home will be supplied with a brown kitchen caddy for collecting food waste indoors and a small brown outside food waste bin.

A much larger food waste recycling bin will be provided for bin stores and outside use in blocks of flats and in community housing.

Collections will take place on the same day as the regular recycling and waste collections and the service will start as from the week commencing 30 March 2026.

Food waste will be turned into clean energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser for local farmland.

“Barnet is proud to support residents to recycle efficiently – doing our bit for the environment and future generations,” says Councillor Alan Schneiderman, cabinet member for environment and climate change.

For many residents there will be a sense déjà vu about being urged to do their bit for the environment by recycling food waste. 

Until seven years every house across the borough had a kitchen food waste caddy and brown bin – see the full set above, circa 2018 – but the food waste recycling service was abandoned in a cost cutting drive.

Against the advice of the Mayor of London, Barnet Council cancelled food waste collections in November 2018 to save an annual bill of £300,000.

New government regulations now require local councils to collect food waste separately from other household waste, hence the reintroduction of the service.

Grants are being made to local authorities to meet the cost of new containers and collection vehicles.

New kitchen caddies and the kerbside bins for the borough will cost £1.3million and a food waste collection vehicle will be hired for five years from Riverside Truck Rental Ltd at a cost of £2.8million.

The first tranche of capital grant funding of £2.7 million has already been received by the council.

Currently Barnet’s recycling rate for household waste refuse is 27.3 per cent and that should increase by around 4 per cent with the recycling of food waste.

During the five years when there were waste food collections in Barnet, some residents complained about their properties lacking the space for so many bins.

When this service was withdrawn householders tended to find alternative uses for their waste food bins and caddies and there are large numbers of these repurposed containers still in circulation.

Food waste collection service being reintroduced by Barnet Council after it was abandoned in 2018. New food waste caddies and bins to be delivered to householders over coming weeks.

Barnet’s introduction of food waste collections in 2013 led to something almost akin to a game of musical chairs among the wheelie bins and containers which were already proliferating in the frontages of houses and flats across the borough.

2013 was also the year the previous black and blue recycling boxes – see above – were withdrawn and were replaced by a blue wheelie bin for all recyclable material, followed by the arrival of the kitchen caddies and bins that lasted for five years before being declared redundant in 2018 – and are now having to be replaced.

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Angry residents, community groups and primary school headteacher demand a rethink on Barnet Council’s new CPZ in Underhill   

High Barnet’s latest controlled parking zone took effect in Underhill in the week before Christmas sparking a furious response from residents as well as staff and parents at Whitings Hill Primary School.

Despite the opposition of 85 per cent of householders, Barnet Council imposed the CPZ on an experimental basis for 18 months on 16 roads north of Mays Lane on either side of Chesterfield Road.

Increasing demand for on-street free parking by staff, patients and visitors at Barnet Hospital has resulted in an ever-widening CPZ with the latest extension to Underhill provoking widespread community protests.

In response to criticism during Barnet Question Time that the imposition of the new Underhill South zone – to be designated the US zone – had been left in the hands of highways staff rather than councillors, the leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Barry Rawlings, gave a public assurance that the operation of the scheme would be reviewed after six months.

He said residents’ responses to the parking controls would be considered and after an assessment of the effectiveness of the CPZ, councillors would decide whether any changes should be made to the zone or whether it should be kept or abandoned.

Councillor Rawlings’ undertakings were welcomed by two community leaders who are continuing to mount a co-ordinated campaign against the CPZ, Gina Theodorou, chair of the Quinta Green Residents Association and Jon Woolfson, founder of the Underhill Residents’ Group.

They briefed residents on how they should co-ordinate their response in the coming weeks – see above, from left to right, Gina Theodorou, Jon Woolfson, Richard Hockings, Victor Benson, Deepa Samani, headteacher at Whitings Hill Primary School, and Alison Kley, school business manager.

Mrs Samani – see above right with Mrs Kley – said the introduction of the CPZ was already having a devastating impact on the school and leading to great deal of anxiety among the staff at a time of severe teacher shortages.

“The school has only 23 parking spaces for our staff of 82 and half our teachers, especially those on low salaries, have been relying on free on-street car parking in nearby roads which has now all been withdrawn,” said Mrs Samani.

“They simply cannot afford the £6 to £7 a day cost of CPZ parking. Whitings Hill will lose teachers unless the council thinks again.”

Mrs Samani said that the school might have no option but to sacrifice all the green space in front of the building to make way for an enlarged car park.

“There has been no proper consultation about this. Highways staff told us the teachers could either pay up for parking or leave their cars much further away where there is free parking. That’s just not practical.”

Business manager Mrs Kley feared that the withdrawal of all the free parking around the school and the introduction of CPZ charging would endanger use of their swimming pool by local mothers and children.

“We depend on income from lettings for mothers and babies and other community users to help finance maintenance of the swimming pool, and we fear a big drop in revenue.”

Whitings Hill School was already included in the existing Barnet Hospital CPZ (BH) but now roads to the south and west of the school have been included in the new US zone removing all on street parking within the immediate vicinity.

Mrs Samani deplored the lack of proper consultation with the school and failure to consider exemptions for essential staff.

“Pushing staff further away into neighbouring uncontrolled roads, or asking them to pay, effectively pushes the problem caused by the much larger Barnet Hospital CPZ onto local residents and vulnerable families.”

Yet another extension of CPZ around Barnet Hospital provokes furious response from Underhill residents, community group and local primary school.

 What so upset the two leading community organisers, Gina Theodorou and Jon Woolfson – see above with residents Richard Hockings and Warlito Naval – was the failure to respect local wishes and then for councillors to absolve themselves of responsibility by leaving it to highways staff to take the final decision.

“The introduction of the Underhill South CPZ has been largely officer-led under delegated authority which has resulted in a lack of transparency about who decided what, and why,” said Ms Theodorou.

“When schemes fail or cause harm, accountability becomes blurred and residents are left with nowhere to turn.

“The result is a growing feeling that the council operates on a ‘we know best’ basis, rather than genuinely listening to local evidence or lived experience.”

Mr Woolfson said a survey had shown that 85 per cent of residents in the area opposed the proposed CPZ extension and more than 70 per cent reported having no parking problems.

Originally the council proposed the zone should extend to a total of 29 roads to the north and south of Mays Lane but after a groundswell of opposition this was cut back to the 16 roads where a council survey had indicated “extremely high levels of parking stress” caused by the demand for free off-street parking by Barnet Hospital staff, patients and visitors.

The roads included in the US zone are Chesterfield Road, Dexter Road, Dormer Close, Edwyn Close, Greenland Road, Howard Way, Jarvis Close, Juniper Close, Matlock Close, Niton Close, Nupton Drive, Sampson Avenue, Sellwood Drive, Shelford Road, St Anna Road and Stanhope Road.

Richard Hockings said his street Alan Drive was just outside the designated area of the US zone, but it was included in the original scheme and he and his neighbours feared they would inevitably be the next in line for any further extension.

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Education charity looking for another vacant retail unit after sudden closure of High Barnet’s free book shop

High Barnet’s popular and well supported free bookshop has had to close unexpectedly because a new tenant is ready to move into their premises at The Spires shopping centre.

Volunteers who immediately had to remove for storage their stock of donated books are hoping that another vacant unit might be offered for their use.

“Since we first opened a shop in The Spires last year there has always been lots of interest.

“Local people have been so generous in donating unwanted books,” said volunteer Pippa Priestley seen above with helper, Mark Tagholm.  

Global Educational Trust, which operates free books shops across the country, takes advantage of the generosity of landlords who let them move into empty retail outlets on a temporary basis.

Up to three unwanted books can be taken on any one visit and the stock is replenished with donated books which might otherwise have been pulped or gone to landfill.

Trust administrator Rohail Suleman, above right, said they were so grateful when shopping centres were prepared to make available vacant outlets which could re-purposed on a temporary basis for a free book shop.

“We quite understand the pressure on landlords so we know we might have to move out at very short notice.

“We are hoping that we might be offered another vacant unit in The Spires or perhaps nearby and we will re-open the shop as soon as possible.”

The trust opened its first shop in The Spires in May last year and has built up a team of around 20 volunteers who take it in turns to help.

After a short closure it moved for a brief time to what is now Café Du Nord and then in August it was relocated again and re-opened in a unit vacated by EE Phones, a prime outlet opposite Waitrose supermarket which is now about to become a cake shop.

Global Education Trust looking for vacant retail unit for High Barnet's free book shop after unexpected closure of its space at The Spires shopping centre.

Volunteers responded to an emergency call to assist in packing up once again – see above, from left to right, Rick Osman and Eduardo Caprario.

Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson – who has been campaigning to boost Barnet High Street – has assured the free book shop’s volunteers that he would be ready to assist in finding another vacant unit either in The Spires or close by in the town centre.

“Hopefully Dan can help the trust get into another empty shop so we can re-open as soon as possible,” said Pippa Priestley.

“We have been really pleased with the response we have had in recent months, especially in donations of unwanted books, and we know how much the chance to browse and perhaps find a book is appreciated, especially by children.”

Currently the trust has 15 free book shops up and running across the country.

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Hadley Green residents line up in opposition to housing development in their conservation area

Fine period houses in their own sizeable grounds and gardens are a feature of the tree lined roads and footpaths around Hadley Green – all adding to the character of the Monken Hadley Conservation Area.

That settled harmony of the locality with its clusters of mature trees is about to challenged by a contentious proposal to seek planning permission to build a large new architect designed house with its own swimming pool.

A wooded plot on the western edge of Hadley Green – alongside Christ Church Lane at the junction with Sunset View – is the proposed site for what would be a new five-bedroom double fronted property to be built in the Arts and Crafts style.

Nearby residents say the vast majority of those living in adjoining roads are firmly opposed to new housing on the one-acre plot because it would threaten protected trees and disrupt a local wildlife corridor.

They fear they are faced with a speculative proposal aimed at getting planning consent to build inside the conservation area.

Mounting opposition within the neighbourhood was all too apparent after the developers Christchurchgrove Ltd held a public consultation to unveil their plans – opposition to which was led by residents in Gladsmuir Road, Hadley Gove and Christ Church Lane.

Stuart Lees of Alan Cox Architects told Jenny Remfry, a nearby resident and Barnet Society vice president, that steps would be taken to safeguard mature trees on the site, most of which are already covered by tree protection orders, and there would be other measures to enhance the biodiversity of the woodland.

In fact, the new house would be surrounded by trees and as a result would be hardly visible, which had been one of the aims in the design.

But Dr Remfry asked why have such restricted views of the new property when much was being made of the fact that it was in the Arts and Crafts style in a design which reflected the Arts and Crafts houses in Sunset View – see above.

“What makes this area so appealing is that people admire the magnificent period houses and villas in and around Hadley Green. They like looking at them.

“If the developers are going to all the trouble of designing an Arts and Crafts style new house surely it should be more visible?”

Controversial application to build a large house in Hadley Green woodland in Monken Hadley conservation area.

Mr Lees accepted that the new house would be larger than other nearby houses, but it matched the scale of the plot and was in character with the historic pattern of residential development in sizable plots with cultivated gardens.

Most of the objections revolve around the loss of natural habitat if the woodland becomes the site of a new house.

Stuart Robinson, planning adviser for the project, acknowledged that there might have been a case for building more than one house but trees on 70 per cent of the site were safeguarded by protection orders.

However, the site had “relatively low ecological value” at present largely due to the prevalence of invasive non-native plants and general neglect.

If the site was properly managed, it would contribute more to the biodiversity of the area, and the developers would be legally bound for 30 years to ensure there was a net biodiversity gain.

Similarly, in order to reassure local residents that they were not planning to build more houses on the land, there would be a covenant on the planning application to restrict the site to one house.

Project manager Andrew Robinson said that the purpose of the public presentation was to answer rumours about their intentions and to reassure residents that the application was restricted to one house and that with enhancement they were proposing there would be a biodiversity gain for the next 30 years.

Nonetheless nearby residents told the Barnet Society they remained sceptical about the likelihood of the proposed house ever being built.

They were also concerned about the ownership of the land which is currently in the joint ownership of Barnet Recreational Trust and Barnet Council.

Christchurchgrove Ltd has a purchase agreement with the council, conditional upon obtaining planning permission.

An application for planning approval is due to be presented to the council early next year.      

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Arkley’s two leading football teams met up for a local derby which put the village on the map and revived memories of past encounters  

Arkley has a new claim to fame – its top two football clubs are now in the same division and when they play each other their home matches are thought to be the closest local derby among leading English football leagues.

Until this season Liverpool and Everton held that honour because of what previously was the close proximity of their stadiums.

Local football fans believe that Arkley village may now have become the setting for perhaps the hottest local derby in the top eight tiers of English football.

The two clubs are based less than a mile apart.

Hadley FC’s stadium and clubhouse is in Brickfield Lane, next to Arkley village hall, and London Lions FC are a ten-minute walk away in Rowley Lane.

London Lions won promotion this season to the Southern League Division One Central and their first away fixture to Hadley ended in a 2-1 victory after they snatched the winning goal a minute from the end.

Hadley, hit recently by a bad run of injuries, had been hoping for a win and were in high spirits during the warmup – see above, from left to right, Hermes Gbio, Hedley Ogbebor, Jordan Edwards and Hadley goalkeeper coach Tim Teixeira.

London Lions under their skipper for the day Adam Lipman – see above with long-time Lions supporter Paul Woolfson – were disappointed when Hadley were deservedly 1-0 up at the end of the first half after striker Lenny Asamoah had made no mistake from close range.

Zan Appleson-Fidler equalised for the Lions in the 60th minute and a minute from time Daniel Creese clinched the match for the visitors from six yards.

Veteran London Lions fan Neville Zeller (87) – above right with Darren Zeller – is no stranger to the local football scene. He has been a supporter of the club since he was 15.

The last time the two teams met was in 2014 when Hadley ran out 4-0 winners in a Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division match.

A decade ago, the two clubs were both ground sharing – Hadley at Potters Bar Town and London Lions at Hemel Hempstead Town but after ground improvements both returned to Barnet.

Hadley FC president Tristan Smith – above – is hoping for a better result when the two teams meet again at the London Lions’ stadium in Rowley Lane on 28 March.

Arkley became the permanent home of Hadley FC – which was established in 1882 and is the oldest football club playing in Barnet – after the club secured a long-term lease on the sports ground at Brickfield Lane in 2016 – where the regular chant is now “Come on You Bricks.”

Since 2016 the club has spent £1.3 million in improvements to its ground and facilities, including the installation of an all-weather training pitch.

The latest addition are new changing rooms which have been in use since the start of the season, and which were funded with the help of grants from the Football Foundation and Barnet Council.

Despite having been hampered since early November by having up to 13 players unavailable through injuries, club director Oliver Deed – far right above with club chairman Steve Gray and first team coach Mick Hore – is hopeful Hadley might make it to the playoffs for promotion.

“We reached the first round of the FA Trophy, as we did last season, and although we are mid table, we have still got a chance of reaching the playoffs in 2026. It’ll but tough, but we are hopeful.”

Arkley's two top football teams Hadley FC and London Lions FC clash in local derby which gives village a new claim to fame.

For club members perhaps the next phase in the club’s development programme might be improvements to the bar and seating area in their clubhouse at Hadley Pavilion.   

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Borehamwood Brass players join choirs and orchestra for Christmas carol service held by Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School

An orchestra, two choirs and a brass ensemble filled the chancel of Barnet parish church for the Christmas carol service held by Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School.

Father Sam Rossiter, team vicar of St John the Baptist, thanked the school’s musicians and choristers for a “magnificent evening” of music.

He said Barnet was blessed by the musicality of QE Girls’, and their service of Nine Lessons and Carols was a reminder of the “power of music to bring joy to everyone.”

Rehearsals for the service by the school and chamber choirs began in September and for the first time four members of Borehamwood Brass joined the orchestra.

This year’s service was also the first to be conducted by QE Girls’ recently-appointed director of music, Cosima Rodriguez-Broadbent – see above, from left to right, with Simon Mansell (tuba) and Nathan Mansell (trombone).

They were supported by two trumpeters, Isaac Holt and Stone Tung. A high spot for the brass section was when they accompanied the choirs on their rendition of Ding Dong Merrily on High.  

 Ms Rodriguez-Broadbent said the challenge of a service like Nine Lessons and Carols was that it was a packed programme of readings and carols that needed to be properly rehearsed.

Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School Chirstmas carol concert praised by team vicar Father Sam Rossiter at Barnet Parish Church

Father Sam (far right) congratulated Cosima on the arrangement she had chosen for The Holly and the Ivy.

“Your version really enthused me,” he said.

See above, from left to right, music teacher Madeleine Tabacchiera, Cosima Rodriguez-Broadbent, Jonathan Gregory (organist) and Father Sam Rossiter.

Guests attending the service included the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich.    

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High Barnet Place planning application refused by 8 votes to 1!

After a nearly three-hour Strategic Planning Committee meeting this evening, Barratt London’s planning application for 283 flats on High Barnet Station car park was refused on grounds of excessive height and harm to local context (see jtp Architects & Masterplanners visualisation above). It’s a magnificent vindication for the 802 Barnet residents who objected to it.

The decision follows last Thursdays’ rejection of a much larger proposal for 1,485 homes plus replacement leisure, sports and other facilities on the site of the former Great North Leisure Park off the A1000 by the North Circular in Finchley. It’s encouraging that the Council is willing to treat cases on their merits instead of simply shooing through every housing project.

The Barnet Society role

The Society had submitted a 64-page critique of the application plus a further 8 pages of comments on recent Barratt amendments. In his report, the Planning Officer summarized our comments in just 10 lines, a feat of compression worthy of a planning award. But that didn’t matter as we had circulated our full comments to all Councillors on the Committee, as well as to the Councillors of Barnet Vale, High Barnet & Underhill wards.

We’d collaborated closely with Barnet Residents Association (BRA) whose submission was broadly aligned with ours; and members of both organisations were kept informed at all stages. Of the 802 individual comments posted on the planning portal, it was notable how many were well argued, detailed and by no means standardized letters – unlike many of those supporting the application.

The meeting

At the meeting the Planning Officer summarized his 100-page report and recommended approval of the application.

Three ward Councillors then addressed the meeting in person (in addition to the nine Councillors on the Committee itself): Cllrs Sue Baker, David Longstaff & Mark Shooter. Though from three different parties, all passionately opposed the application, which may have made an impression on the members of the Committee.

A dozen objectors had asked to speak but Committee rules only allowed one. By prior agreement between them Simon Kaufman, a local architect and Society member, spoke against the scheme, supported when it came to questions from Councillors by Gordon Massey of BRA and Nick Saul of BRA & the Society.

Simon began by circulating some of Barratt’s misleading visualisations, pointing out that the height of several blocks exceeded the limits in Barnet’s Local Plan. He disputed that the design was ‘exceptional’ as Barratt claimed. No Conservation Officer’s view had been obtained on the impact of the design; it would be visually dominant, out of character and harm the settings of St John the Baptist’s Church and High Barnet Station. He deplored the quality of the housing and public realm; the result would not be an inclusive, sustainable community. He noted numerous concerns about personal safety and vehicle congestion. Public consultation had been performative, not collaborative. The scheme offered no tangible community benefits, repeated mistakes of the 1970s and Barnet would inherit the long-term costs.

One young woman, a student of Barnet & Southgate College, spoke in support of the application – but when asked by a Councillor if she would like to live in the development, admitted that she didn’t live in Barnet and probably wouldn’t.

Barratt were represented by project director Martin Scholar and a colleague. They emphasized their experience of delivering similar housing developments and denied that financial viability was their only criterion.

Committee Chair Cllr Nigel Young probed Barratt’s justification for breaching the 7-storey height limit for the site in Barnet’s Local Plan. When they replied that the station would benefit from a tall landmark, he quoted from the Plan’s Examining Inspectors who had identified High Barnet’s skyline as a defining feature of the locality and asked whether they had given that due consideration. Barratt’s representatives didn’t have a satisfactory answer.

Committee members then debated the proposal between themselves, but when put to the vote the outcome was surprisingly decisive.

What will happen next?

The application, being one of strategic importance to London, must be referred to the Mayor of London, who may call it in or refuse it.

Barratt has the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against the Council’s refusal, but that would entail months of delay with no guarantee of success.

A simpler solution would be for Barratt to slice the tops off blocks over 7 storeys and modify the design to look more in keeping with the existing neighbourhood. That would probably mean offering less than the 40% of affordable housing in the rejected scheme. However, if they could significantly improve interchange and accessibility between all forms of transport around the station – and even provide some car parking – they might surprise themselves by the amount of public support a new scheme could attract.

Below (L to R): Gordon Massey (BRA), Simon Kaufman & Nick Saul display three shades of happiness at the scene of their victory.

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Totteridge Academy pupils hope ideas for a maze and sensory garden at community farm will help promote festive fundraising appeal

Sensory garden and maze designed by pupils at Totteridge Academy for the school's onsite community farm.

Students at Totteridge Academy have designed a sensory maze garden to be developed at GROW, the school’s on-site community farm and the aim is to have it planted and ready for opening by the spring.

Four groups of year seven pupils each prepared a design for a garden, and their ideas have been incorporated into an overall plan.

Meeting the estimated cost of the project of £5,000 will be the target of GROW’s annual festive prize campaign.

The garden will be situated between a newly planted pocket forest and the farm’s pollinator garden and apiary.

Lucy Hollis, the farm’s managing director – above far right – joined pupils Rory and Ben in checking out their design with the help of Grow staff member Tara Rudd who handles marketing for the farm.

The challenge for the students had been to come up with ideas for increasing the farm’s biodiversity and sensory planting to enhance the wellbeing and enjoyment of visitors to the farm.

Rory and Ben, who are both 12, said they had recommended the planting to encourage pollination by bees and insects and to attract birds.

Their garden will be planted around a dome of willow trees and all the pupils who took part hope a water feature will prove a great attraction.

They realised the importance of choosing plants and flowers with strong scents and leaves of different textures which will be interesting to the touch.

One of the priorities was to ensure that the garden would be accessible to wheelchairs as they wanted to make sure that everyone could enjoy going round the maze.

GROW cultivates seasonal food for use in the school and for sale to the local community and creates school and community projects and opportunities for volunteering and the chance to learn more about farming and cultivation.

For more information on the fund raising campaign:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VIt5GVwmzxDVanJL1sAaCJaZvuuDUrIe/view?usp=sharing

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Great enthusiasm and community spirit for Barnet’s annual Christmas Fayre despite a wet and windy Sunday in the High Street

Heavy rain did not dampen enthusiasm at Barnet’s annual Christmas fayre which was opened by the Mayor of Barnet Councillor Danny Rich with a rallying cry to residents to support their local shops and businesses.

Barnet Council was “very proud” of the commercial strength of Barnet town centre and its thriving High Street.

“We are delighted to support the fayre every year as it demonstrates the great community spirit of Barnet,” said Councillor Rich who spent three hours touring a wide array of stalls and events.

He cut a red ribbon to open the fayre alongside the Mayoress Laura Lassman, assisted by two of their grandchildren, Vinny and Emilia.

Before the official opening the marching band of the Barnet Boys Brigade and Girls’ Association paraded in the High Street and then accompanied the Mayor to the Christmas courtyard in the piazza outside Barnet College.

For the first time the fayre was sponsored by Hunters estate agents.

Joint proprietor Martin Richards said the agency was proud to be sponsoring an event which reflected the varied life of the local community.

Entertaining visitors at The Spires shopping centre were two characters – Alice (Montana Jackson) and Cheshire cat (Leo Marshall) – from The Bull Theatre’s Christmas pantomime Alice in Wonderland and the Stolen Christmas List.

Inside The Bull, there were two children’s magic shows by Leon – magician Leon Thomson of Barnet – who was the youngest member of the Magic Circle when he joined at the age of 18. Both shows were a sell-out.

Leon was assisted by two elves who are both pupils at the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School, Laurel Sumberg (13) and Nathaniel Morgan-Bennett (12).

Laurel was voted the second-best Matilda in the recent West End production of the show and Nathaniel is currently playing Simba in The Lion King.

Barnet parish church hosted a packed programme of events which started with a performance by the Big Choir under their conductor Sophie Hutchinson.

In a prime position in the High Street were two classic commercial vehicles adding a touch of variety to this year’s display organised by the Barnet Classic Car Club.

Pride of place went to a 1937 Morris delivery van from Crosse and Blackwell which was on loan from the Whitewebbs Transport Museum at Enfield.

Another Whitewebbs vehicle was a mini van which used to deliver car parts supplied by the former Enfield Brake and Clutch Services Ltd.

Seeing the van on display brought back memories for Classic Car Club stalwart Derek Haggerty who said he remembered the van delivering parts to a garage where he worked at Bush Hill Park.

“I couldn’t believe it at first. But it is the very same van that delivered the parts we needed, and I can even remember that it was Linda who used to be the delivery driver.”

Another community group determined to make its presence felt was the football supporters’ group BringBarnetBack who despite setbacks are determined to keep up the pressure on Barnet Council to help Barnet FC return to the town.

Currently the supporters are exploring with Barnet Council possible alternative sites for a new stadium following the refusal earlier this year to grant planning permission for an application by the club to develop a site off Barnet Lane, near the Ark Academy in Underhill.

Keith Doe, a founder member of the group – see above, right, with David Cursons – said they were working behind the scenes to come up with a suitable site so that the club could return to Barnet from its current stadium at The Hive in Harrow.

Residents who backed BringBarnetBack were encouraged to ring the club’s bell in support.

“If we cannot agree a new location with Barnet Council the club would almost certainly launch an appeal against the earlier refusal of planning permission but that would be very costly for everyone involved,” said Mr Doe.

Back in use for the Christmas fayre was the historic Tudor Hall which hosted a craft stalls.

Ever popular was the children’s fun fair close to the junction with St Albans Road. The rides were all busy until was it was dark – rounding off a fun day for so many of the children.

Barnet's annual Christmas fayre gets enthusiastic support despite heavy rain but lots of stalls and events built up community spirit

After spending the afternoon touring the fayre, the Mayor Councillor Rich said it had been a fantastic event despite the weather with great support from the town and a real community spirit.

“Yet again High Barnet has demonstrated why the town is such a popular place to live.”

Councillor Rich took the opportunity to give his best wishes to the Reverend Cindy Kent who is about to complete a two-year contract as vicar at St Peter’s Church Arkley.

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Public consultation on proposed new house in Christchurch Lane spinney

Local developer Christchurch Grove Ltd expects to submit a planning application soon to build a house within existing woodland on the east side of Christchurch Lane (see plan above by Helene Landscape and Garden Design). It raises an increasingly urgent question in Barnet: how much, if any, green space should be sacrificed for new homes?

I wrote about this peaceful haven of wildlife less than 200 metres from Barnet High Street in a recent web post. Situated within the Monken Hadley Conservation Area, with numerous trees protected by Tree Protection Orders, it forms a ‘green corridor’ between two major pieces of Green Belt land, Old Fold Manor golf course and Hadley Green. Its value for biodiversity is greater than its small size (0.438 hectare / 1 acre) would suggest. https://www.savechippingbarnetwoodland.org/ is petitioning to save it from development.

The Barnet Society got involved 18 months ago when the Council decided to sell its portion of the land for £430,000, subject to the buyer obtaining planning consent. Since the part of the site where development is proposed has the least ecological value, a case could be made for building a single house.

Our concerns were twofold. The quality of the wood had to be conserved and enhanced wherever possible. And any house and garden must be in keeping with their natural setting and built to high environmental standards.

The initial plans fell short on all counts. To the developer’s credit, the scheme has now been revised. Whether it meets our original concerns we’ll find out at a public consultation on Friday 12 December from 4.30pm till 7:00pm at Pennefather Hall (next door to Christ Church), St Albans Rd, Barnet, EN5 4AL.

The developer’s team of planning, architectural, ecology and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) consultants will be on hand to advise on their proposals. They are also offering to place a covenant on the site to the Barnet Planners to restrict planning permission to one residential property only, to allay concerns about any future or further development of the land.  

They trust that this transparency will dispel many negative comments, especially on the ecology and BNG improvements to the site. 

There is limited parking available on site, which is only a 5-minute walk from The Spires and alternative parking. 

Below is a visualisation of the proposed house by Alan Cox Architects.

Response from Andrew Robinson, Project Manager, Christchurch Grove Ltd.

As the person responsible for bringing forward the plans for a new home on this neglected pocket of land in Hadley Green, I am obliged to the Barnet Society, for giving me the opportunity to correct a number of errors in the recent article and the basis for the petition which has recently been organised.

Robin’s article queries that the site in Christ Church Lane, which he describes as a “haven of wildlife” has not been included in the London’s wildlife plan [Nature Recovery Plan]. The answer is simple. Whilst the site is home to a number of fine tress (all of which are protected) it has a low level of biodiversity. We know this because we have had it surveyed by an expert ecologist.

This survey has shown that there are absolutely [no] mammals living here. No badgers, foxes, bats, deer or hedgehogs as the promoter of the recent petition would have you believe or, in fact, any protected species.

Nature needs nurturing. Unfortunately, this site been left unkempt for over 60 years! Whilst many of us see an abundance of greenery as a good thing, here the result of our survey has shown that due to neglect the area has become overrun by invasive species which are undermining the quality of the soil and preventing daylight to the understorey, thereby killing of what remains of the indigenous habitat.

We all know that wildlife needs help to flourish in urban environments. That is why the scheme that we will bring forward will guarantee a habitat management scheme supervised by experts. This will cover 70% of the site with the remainder forming the garden for the new home.

Gardens themselves are good for nature of course. The RHS research has shown that levels of biodiversity are just as high in cultivated gardens and that is why Hadley Green generally benefits from having so many. Even with a new home here built within the site, we will provide a 10% increase in biodiversity!

Indeed, according to the Council’s Conservation Area Appraisal a quarter of Monken Hadley is in residential use, typically large houses, in substantial plots with cultivated gardens. So I question why would any supporter of the Barnet Society want to oppose a plan for scheme which so typifies the area.

Why would anyone support the continuation of neglect of an area where the habitat and protected trees are being slowly eroded by invasive species?

I would also like to point out that the beneficiaries of this proposal will be Barnet residents. That is because the two landowners promoting it are, the Council and the Barnet Recreational Trust. The latter is a local charity which in the last five years has financially supported almost twenty different local organisations including the Parish of Monken Hadley where it has recently donated £110,000 toward the re-building of the Church Hall. The proceeds flowing from this project would similarly be invested.

Finally, I would like to thank all those who attended our public consultation last week. I was grateful to be able to have the opportunity of providing the evidence behind the claims we have made in relation to the project. If anyone who was not able to attend would like to see the material, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Footnote I would also like to put the record straight as regards that my option deal is with Barnet Estates and not with Barnet Homes.

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High Barnet’s Christmas tree adds some festive spirit to the High Street ahead of the town’s annual Christmas Fayre on Sunday    

Switching on the lights of the Christmas tree beside the parish church set the scene for festive events to be held during the annual Barnet Christmas Fayre on Sunday December 7.

Father Christmas and characters from The Bull Theatre’s Christmas pantomime Alice in Wonderland and the Stolen Christmas List joined in the ceremony.

Firefighters from Barnet Fire Station stepped in to erect and install this year’s Christmas tree when help was needed at the last minute.

Nick Staton of Statons estate agents – who has sponsored the tree for the last decade – was joined for the event by the team Vicar Father Sam Rossiter.

The fayre will be opened at 12noon on Sunday by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Danny Rich, who will cut a ribbon on the High Street close to Barnet Church.

Together with elves and other characters from the Bull Theatre, he will proceed to the marque on the Christmas Courtyard in the piazza outside Barnet College where he will welcome everyone and start the event.

Stalls will line the High Street; there will be the traditional fun fair close to the junction with St Albans Road; craft stalls in the Tudor Hall and more stalls on the Christmas Courtyard, through the Spires Shopping Centre and in Wesley Hall.

There is a full programme of events and entertainment: children’s activities and dancing by local groups in the Christmas Courtyard; live music, singing and choirs plus teas, mulled wine and refreshments at the parish church; live music, tea and cakes at the Wesley Hall; live music, choirs and performances at The Spires Shopping Centre, plus street entertainers outside Waitrose.

The Bull Theatre will be joining in the festivities, hoping to create a magical festive experience for families.

Santa’s Grotto will be open from 12.30pm to 4pm, with free entry and optional

donations towards the Christmas Fayre.

Visitors can enter through the front gate, follow the path along the side of the building, and come in through the open Studio/Café door (step-free access available).

There will be two performances of Leon’s Magic Show at 1.30pm and 3pm

(tickets £5). Two of Santa’s elves will join him on stage as they work towards

 earning their magician’s assistant badge, adding an extra touch of festive fun.

Bob Burstow, who helped to organise the installation of the tree, said it had been a close shave getting the tree up in time – and that is why the local firefighters were asked to help.

“We are so grateful because each December we get a Christmas tree supplied from Crews Hill by Tyler Bone, who runs a stall at Barnet Market.

“Unfortunately, this year’s delivery was a bit tight so when the tree arrived all our volunteer installers were at work – and that is when white watch from the fire station stepped in.”

Nick Staton said he was delighted to sponsor the cost of the tree. “We have been helping provide a tree for a decade or more and it is a great way of celebrating the community spirit of High Barnet and promoting the Christmas Fayre.” 

 ​​

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Sad loss of an imposing Victorian villa built when New Barnet was developed after the opening of its main line railway station

One of New Barnet’s last remaining large Victorian villas – 33 Lyonsdown Road – is being demolished much to the disappointment of community and heritage groups who fear it will be replaced by blocks of flats.

There is no certainty about future development of this prime site as two planning applications by the owners Abbeytown Ltd have been rejected by Barnet Council.

A spirited campaign was launched in 2017 to try to secure the restoration of what was considered one of the last and best examples of the imposing private villas and terraced houses which were constructed after the opening of New Barnet station in 1850.

After failing to secure approval for a five-storey block of flats – and losing two planning appeals – Abbeytown was granted permission in 2022 to demolish 33 Lyonsdown under permitted development rights.

Demolition contractors have finally moved heavy equipment onto the site, and the roof of the building was off within a matter of days.

In his monthly newsletter the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson said that residents had raised concerns about the state of the property at a consultation event in Barnet Vale. He said he was “pleased to report that demolition work started this week”.

Robin Bishop, who leads for the Barnet Society on planning and the environment, was appalled by the sad loss of one of the few surviving buildings from the first Victorian settlement at New Barnet.

“Despite being on Barnet’s heritage list, a quirk in the planning law has allowed the owner, Abbeytown, to demolish it without reference to the planning committee.

“For five years the local community, together with the society, fought off earlier plans to replace 33 Lyonsdown with characterless blocks of flats.

“We raised substantial funds for top level legal advice and even designed a more acceptable scheme to retain and extend the villa, all without success.

“A new planning application is doubtless already in the pipeline.”

33 Lyonsdown had a chequered history variously having been a private home, an outpost of London’s Foundling Hospital, a women’s refuge and a base for missionary priests.

In her time as the Chipping Barnet MP, Dame Theresa Villiers, intervened to prevent the demolition, writing to the development company Abbeytown at the offices of estate agents Martyn Gerrard.

She supported the society’s campaign arguing that it was “sad to see such a beautifully designed villa, which was such a feature of New Barnet”, being threatened with demolition.

Simon Kaufman Architects prepared a full feasibility study and visibility assessment to demonstrate a more conservation-led approach to retain a building that had become a heritage landmark.

Under the proposal, the existing building would have been converted into apartments, retaining its original richly detailed stone porch, panelled entrance hall and other original feature.

This would have delivered a comparable floor area and improved sales values when set against total redevelopment.

Alongside the restoration, there was a proposal for a modest new-build block within the grounds which would have mirrored key proportions and materials while maintaining distance from neighbouring properties.

Simon Kaufman insisted this alternative vision was supported with site plans, financial appraisals, and heritage justification, and those opposing demolition had been anxious to engage with the owner to promote a design-led conservation strategy that would have protected the unnecessary loss of an important local building.      

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Christmas appeal to train volunteers for Citizens Advice Barnet which advises people visiting Chipping Barnet Foodbank

Thanks to the assistance of Citizens Advice Barnet, the Chipping Barnet Foodbank is reporting real progress in its long-term aim of reducing people’s dependency on supplies of groceries and essential household items.

Over the last 12 months with guidance from Citizens Advice, the foodbank says that 247 of the households they support are now better off financially and 82 of them no longer need foodbank assistance.

Citizens Advice Barnet hopes such a vivid illustration of the impact of their role will boost a Christmas appeal when – during the first part of December – any donations are doubled in value by match funding from the charity Big Give.

Donations received during the Big Give Christmas challenge – from December 2 to 9 – will fund training for the advice volunteers who support residents across the borough facing challenges such as financial hardship, debt and homelessness.

www.barnetcab.org.uk/christmas-2025

A volunteer adviser from Citizens Advice Barnet holds a drop-in session at Chipping Barnet Library every Tuesday (although the library is closed for essential electrical work from December 8 to January 4).

Juliana Fonseca (above right) who became a volunteer with Citizens Advice Barnet five years ago, now works as a part time adviser at the twice weekly Chipping Barnet Foodbank.

Under the leadership of foodbank manager Victoria Miller (above left), Chipping Barnet leads the way for foodbanks across the Borough of Barnet in being able to provide support and advice about benefits, jobs and housing as well as offering emergency food supplies.

Each month there is a programme of free support and advice at the foodbank.

Juliana represents Citizens Advice Barnet every Tuesday and Saturday. Staff and volunteers from other services and agencies such as Barnet Homes attend on a regular basis.

Victoria and her team say the latest results for the foodbank demonstrate the success of their work in helping foodbank clients manage their affairs and to cut down or eliminate dependency on the need food parcels.

Statistics presented at the foodbank’s annual meeting revealed that 247 clients were helped by Citizens Advice Barnet in the 12 months up to September and that a total of 672 separate issues were sorted out.

With Juliana’s help and advice on problems such as debt management and benefit claims, there was a financial gain of £274,332 for the 247 households, with 82 deemed to no longer need support from the foodbank.

“What is so important is seeing people face to face, listening to their problems and then working out how to help them,” said Juliana. 

“It really is so satisfying finding ways I can be of use. When people come to the foodbank, Citizens Advice can be a first port of call.

“I sense their relief at finding someone who will listen and who can help them sort out their priorities, perhaps over debts or legal rights, or how to get benefit increases or possibly claim for new benefits.

“Housing is a massive issue. A lot of vulnerable households get                                behind with their rents and then become homeless and they can be desperate for help and advice.”

Juliana is a Brazilian by birth and completed her legal training in Brazil. After moving to the UK, she became engaged in human rights work and joined Citizens Advice as a volunteer.

Three years ago, when the Chipping Barnet Foodbank obtained a financial inclusion grant from Trussell, the trust which supports foodbanks across the country, Juliana took on a part-time post as CAB adviser.

Appeal to fund training of more volunteers for Citizens Advice Barnet as it celebrates success of helping people who visit Chipping Barnet Foodbank

Chipping Barnet Foodbank, which was established in 2012, is open twice a week, on Tuesdays (12pm to 2pm) and Saturdays (10am to 12pm).

It is held in the parish centre at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church at 63 Somerset Road, New Barnet.

Over the last 12 months it distributed a total of 7,835 food parcels which supported 5,273 adults and 2,562 children, most of whom live in the six local wards of High Barnet, Barnet Vale, East Barnet, Brunswick Park, Whetstone and Underhill.

For manager Victoria it is the foodbank’s pioneering work in offering a wraparound service of advice which explains why it is the leading the way among foodbanks across the borough.

The latest help on hand is from an NHS talking therapist who visits each Tuesday and who can advise on mental health issues.

After two years’ experience, it is yet another indication of the scope of the foodbank’s initiative in offering people a multi-agency approach.

“When people arrive seeking help, we try to get to the root causes of why they need support,” said Victoria.

“Our monthly schedule of visiting advisers and volunteers from other agencies and charities provides that solid basis of support and is proving very successful.

“We have just had our annual meeting and even though there has been a 6 per cent increase in the food parcels we have issued, we have seen a drop in the number of people applying for help.”

Victoria helped to set up the Chipping Barnet Foodbank 13 yeas ago and became part-time manager three years ago.

In June she was honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours for her “services to the community in Chipping Barnet” and awarded a British Empire Medal which she was presented with by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa, at a ceremony at the Tower of London.   

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New zebra crossings and a mini roundabout for Mays Lane area…and a new controlled parking zone is also on its way  

Barnet Council has completed a major programme of road safety measures around Mays Lane and surrounding roads.

A controversial width restriction has been removed, new zebra crossings installed, a 20-mph speed limit zone extended, more yellow lines painted on the roads and dropped kerbs provided.

In announcing what it says is the completion of the largest ever such scheme in the borough’s history, the council fails to mention that further changes are about to be made.

Despite vociferous opposition from the Underhill Residents Group, the council is going ahead with an experimental controlled parking zone in 16 roads north of Mays Lane which are on either side of Chesterfield Road.

The new Underhill South zone – to be designated the US zone – is to be operated on an experimental basis for 18 months from Monday 15 December.

Originally the council proposed the zone should extend to a total of 29 roads on either side of Mays Lane but after a groundswell of opposition this was cut back to the 16 roads where a council survey indicated “extremely high levels of parking stress” caused by the demand for off-street parking by Barnet Hospital staff, patients and visitors.

The new road safety improvements in Mays Lane extend all the way from its junction with Barnet Lane in the east to Shelford Road in the west, with additional measures in Chesterfield Road, Quinta Drive and Whitings Road.

A new mini roundabout has been installed on Whitings Road at the junction Whitings Road and Bells Hill.

Perhaps the most contentious change is the removal of the width restriction on Mays Lane close to the junction with Manor Road and Leeside.

London Fire Brigade had raised concerns because the restriction impeded fire engines and reduced their response time.

There were also complaints about unacceptable levels of emissions resulting from queueing vehicles, but residents in two nearby roads – Hillside Gardens and Manor Road – claim that the removal of the width restriction has already led to increased traffic – and larger vehicles – using short cuts to avoid jams in Barnet town centre.

Quinta Village Green Residents Association says the increase in heavier vehicles along Mays Lane has fundamentally changed the nature of what was always, outside the commute period, a quiet, residential lane. –

However, on potential change following the removal of the width restriction is that it might be possible to re-route the Uno 243 bus between Barnet Hospital and Hatfield via Underhill, Mays Lane and Manor Road.

At present the 243 stops at Barnet High Street and High Barnet tube station on its route from Hatfield to Barnet Hospital and on its return to Hatfield stops at the Wood Street and Union Street junction and again in Salisbury Road.

Councillor Nik Oakley, Hertsmere Council’s cabinet member for transport – who led the campaign for the restoration of a bus service between Potters Bar and Barnet – told the Barnet Society that possibilities for amending the route of the 243 had been suggested to Uno bus.

Barnet Council completes its largest ever traffic improvement scheme in Mays Lane area -- where a new controlled parking zone is coming.

Barnet Council’s go ahead for the Underhill South CPZ – in the face of sustained opposition from the Underhill Residents Group – will require the installation of resident parking bays, yellow lines and signs and posts in 16 roads on either side of Chesterfield Road.

This work will need to be completed by the start of the scheme on Monday 15 December.

Residents in the affected roads will have a six-month period during which they give their reaction to the CPZ. A final decision on its operation will be taken by the council after the 18-month trial.

The Underhill Group has already collected over 750 signatures for a petition opposing the introduction of a CPZ which it says was opposed by a majority of the residents and had been rejected by 60 per cent of those living in the 16 roads included in the scheme.

https://www.change.org/p/oppose-a-controlled-parking-zone-in-underhill-south?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=24715750-8834-11f0-9cee-83b7a10cb9e8

In explaining why the CPZ was approved, the council says parking stress surveys indicated there was support for parking controls and only “the most problematic roads” had been included in the experimental scheme.

Given the introduction of extensive new double yellow lines, the Quinta Village Green Residents Association says it fears this will result in a loss of car parking spaces and only amplify the problems caused by the long-standing displacement of parking from the hospital.

The roads included in the new US CPZ are Chesterfield Road, Dexter Road, Dormer Close, Edwyn Close, Greenland Road, Howard Way, Jarvis Close, Juniper Close, Matlock Close, Niton Close, Nupton Drive, Sampson Avenue, Sellwood Drive, Shelford Road, St Anna Road and Stanhope Road.

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Refurbished Scout hut at Underhill is to be new base for Barnet’s Rainbow Centre and its wide range of activities

What was formerly the Underhill headquarters of 1st Barnet Scouts is being transformed into a new home for the Rainbow Centre, ending years of uncertainty over the future of this long-established Dollis Valley community hub.

For well over a decade the centre has been running a weekly food bank, hosting martial arts classes and providing a children’s lunch club during school holidays.

Finding new premises for the centre had become a priority because its existing building in Dollis Valley Drive is about to be demolished to make way for the next phase of the Dollis Valley regeneration scheme.

Relocating the centre to a new base nearby at Underhill – at the former Priory Grove Scout hut – was finally agreed by Barnet Council after a sustained campaign by the Rainbow Centre’s volunteers and supporters.

Initially it seemed likely that the hub would move into a former cricket pavilion in Barnet Lane – vacant since the departure of Barnet Football Club from its Underhill stadium – but this was ruled out on grounds of the cost of refurbishment.

The centre is due to start operating from its new base as from Tuesday 16 December and the weekly food bank – which assists up to 70 families a week – will be provided for the first time at the new location on Thursday 18 December.

An official opening is planned for early in the New Year once the centre is fully operational and organisers hope to welcome the Mayor of Barnet to take part in the ceremony.

Finding a new base in Priory Grove has been an “incredibly long journey” for Steve Verrall, director of the charity Barnet Community Projects and Patricia Gay, a director of the Rainbow Centre’s users’ group – seen above in 2023 when they were told they might be moving into the dis-used sports pavilion in Barnet Lane.

“We are very grateful that Barnet Council has finally found us a new home,” said Mr Verrall.

“The former Scout hut is slightly smaller than the existing centre, but it is a much better building, and we are very optimistic about the future.”

New home for Dollis Valley Rainbow Centre is former headquarters of 1st. Barnet Scout group in Priory Grove Underhill

The Rainbow Centre must be out of its Dollis Valley Drive site by Monday 15 December.

“While our address is changing, please be assured that all of our events, activities and services will remain the same.

“We will continue to be the same vibrant hub for our community, just from a new location.

“The next chapter for the Rainbow Centre is about to begin, and we are so excited to share it with you.”

In recognition of her long association as a volunteer at the Rainbow Centre, Patricia Gay was rewarded earlier this year with a Barnet Council “Inspiration All” award.

Trish – as she is known to one and all – started volunteering at the Rainbow Centre after she retired from her work as a secretary in the City of London. She grew up on the Dollis Valley estate and became head girl at Ravenscroft School (now Totteridge Academy).

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Star Pubs say Black Horse in High Barnet is unlikely to re-open until 2026 as hunt is still on for a new publican

Black Horse pub in High Barnet unlikely to re-open until 2026 as hunt is still on to find a new tenant after pub closed in September

Any hopes on the part of former customers that The Black Horse public house might re-open in time for Christmas and the New Year have been all but ruled out by Star Pubs.

A statement from the company made it clear it is “unlikely” the pub will re-open this year, but the company said efforts are being stepped up to find a new tenant.

The Black Horse closed in September on the departure of the previous tenant.

Continuing uncertainty about its future has attracted well over 3,000 signatures to a petition promoting a campaign to get the pub listed as an asset of community value.

Posts on social media have expressed strong support for a co-ordinated attempt to persuade Barnet Council to safeguard the future of one of High Barnet’s “most cherished pubs”.

In its latest statement, Star Pubs acknowledges the depth of local concern about what locals fear might become an indefinite closure.

“We are keen to re-open the Black Horse as soon as possible and we plan to advertise details on our website as soon as we are able.

“It is unlikely the pub will reopen this year but as soon as we have more details to share with you, we will of course let you know.”

Said to have been founded in 1720 as a coaching inn, The Black Horse – at the junction of Wood Street and Union Street – had its own stables which were converted into a small micro-brewery before becoming the pub’s kitchen.

The name Black Horse is steeped in the history of former coaching towns like Barnet and inns with that name were a trusted stop for travellers and their horses.   

The pub’s significance locally – and its echoes of coaching inns and associations with Barnet Fair – has attracted widespread publicity and support for the petition – https://www.change.org/p/save-the-black-horse-chipping-barnet-list-it-as-an-asset-of-community-value

Barnet Council have indicated that a formal application will have to be made to apply for The Black Horse to be declared an asset of community value and that will involve more than simply adding names to a petition.

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Three hot soups – butternut squash, lentil and Haleem – were on offer at High Barnet open evening for anyone in need of a tasty meal

Butternut squash soup was just one of the tasty choices on offer at an open evening when the High Barnet Islamic Centre welcomed low incomes families, homeless and lonely people to enjoy a hot meal and some company.

Local foodbanks had given their support in helping to provide supplies for what the centre hopes will become a regular soup kitchen available to the community.

As an alternative to Zeenatch Auleear’s offer of a dish of butternut squash soup – see above – there was a lentil soup and Haleem, a traditional South Asian winter soup.

Since the centre, which is in Bath Place, just off Barnet High Street, opened last year it has been extending its outreach programme of community events.

Events co-ordinator Anjim Iqbal (far right) welcomed a delegation from Barnet Council including Underhill Councillors Tim Roberts and Zahra Beg who both praised the centre’s latest initiative.

Councillor Roberts said the hospitality offered by the centre was very impressive.

“Opening a soup kitchen at the start of winter is just the right moment as it is a time when people might well be cold and hungry and looking for somewhere warm and safe to go and for something to eat.

“The centre has lots of space for events like this and it is absolutely central, just off the High Street.”

In addition to a hot meal and other refreshments, there was other help on hand.

High Barnet Islamic Centre welcomes those in need to a soup kitchen as it extends its outreach programme.

Everyday items such as combs and a range of health and sanitary products were laid out on a stall where Muskaan Iqbal and Aisha Fazil were ready to offer help and support.

“People on low incomes often cannot afford to buy what they need so it is important to be able to offer them everyday health and sanitary items,” said Muskaan.

Other items that were available to anyone in need were clothes and sleeping bags.

Anjim Iqbal said their initiative in launching the soup kitchen had been supported by the Food Bank Aid hub in Chaplin Square, Finchley; the Southgate Mosque and Food Bank; and the North Finchley Community Grocery.

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Fun-packed day promised for Barnet Christmas Fayre with a magic show a highlight at The Bull Theatre

Stall holders, traders and community groups are all booked in for this year’s Barnet Christmas Fayre on Sunday 7 December, the traditional and popular curtain raiser to the town’s Christmas festivities.

Organisers are promising a fun-packed day…and are hoping for better weather than for the opening last December by the then Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Tony Vourou.

Special events include a full programme of singing and dancing in the courtyard at Barnet College and a children’s magic show at The Bull Theatre by Leon the Magician. (1.30pm and 3pm, tickets £5)

Leon – Leon Thomson of Barnet – was the youngest member of the Magic Circle when he joined at the age of 18. His recent shows at The Bull Theatre were a sell-out.

He will be assisted for his Christmas Fayre show by two elves who are both pupils at the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School, Nathaniel Morgan-Bennett (12) and Laurel Sumberg (13).

Nathaniel currently is currently playing Simba in The Lion King and Laurel was voted the second-best Matilda in the recent West End production.

Plans well advanced for Barnet Christmas Fayre on Sunday 7 December. Magic show a highlight.

Adding colour and fun to the day will be cast members from The Bull Theatre’s Christmas show, Alice in Wonderland and the Stolen Christmas List.

There will be performances for local schools as from December 1 with public shows on December 6, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 and 28 at 11am and 1.30pm. (Tickets £10).

A Christmas Fayre organising committee at The Bull Theatre – led by Susi Earnshaw, Ros Staines, Carly Pryke and Laura Davitt – have taken on responsibility for the fayre from the Barnet Borough Arts Council.

“We have been encouraged by all the support we are getting from Barnet traders and community groups, and we know how important the fayre is to the town,” said Ms Earnshaw, theatre manager at The Bull Theatre.

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Two re-laid pitches and installation of new floodlights are the start of extensive improvements at Barnet’s Byng Road playing fields

Barnet Council has contributed to the upgrading of the rugby pitches at the Byng Road playing fields by paying for the installation of six new floodlights.

Two of the pitches were re-laid during the summer and will remain fenced off until the start of the new playing season next autumn to give the grass ample growing time to bed in.

Barnet Elizabethans Rugby Club, which has planning approval for an extensive programme of improvements at Byng Road, is delighted with the council’s investment in new floodlighting which it says will do so much to extend the opportunities for playing and training.

Funding for the floodlighting was provided through the council’s income from the community infrastructure levy which is paid by developers.

Relaying the first two pitches was a costly exercise for the club because of the sloping ground at Byng Road and a poorly drained surface liable to get waterlogged.

During the worst of the winter months the pitches have often been unplayable for up to eight weeks.

If the two newly laid pitches are ready for use next autumn, the club will engage contractors to relay and resurface the playing area nearest the clubhouse.

Alex Bell, chair of the group responsible for ground improvements, said a target date had not yet been set for the demolition of the Elizabethans’ clubhouse, which dates back to the late 1950s, and which is in urgent need of replacement.  

Planning approval for a new clubhouse was obtained two years ago.

“Our aim is to start work on the clubhouse in the next couple of years once we have dealt with and met all the conditions which go with the planning agreement.”

After these conditions were finally agreed between the council and the club, there was a unanimous vote in favour of the scheme by the strategic planning committee despite fears that a new two-storey clubhouse and floodlighting would result in “substantial harms to the sense of openness” to the Green Belt countryside surrounding the playing fields.

There was concern that the scale of the new clubhouse together with 108 car parking spaces and a total of 12 floodlights would be highly visible and have a harmful impact.

Given the strategic significance of the Byng Road playing fields for Barnet Elizabethans – and the importance of maintaining outdoor sports facilities within the borough – the committee considered these “very special” circumstances outweighed any harm to the Green Belt.

The elevation of the new clubhouse – with eight changing rooms on the ground floor and a function area above – far exceeds the dimensions of the current building, increasing the height by 3.4 metres to 7.6 metres and increasing the volume by 150 per cent to just under 1,000 square metres.

However, these dimensions are just below the threshold to be referred to the Greater London Authority.  

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Ceremony of Remembrance and a two-minute silence at Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School on Armistice Day

Pupils at Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School, Barnet, held their own Remembrance Day ceremony on Armistice Day as part of an initiative to remind a younger generation of wartime sacrifices.

At a short service on the lawn outside the school, two pupils who are Air Cadets laid flowers beside two British Legion “Time to Reflect” silhouettes.

The last post was sounded on a French horn by Kayla before a two-minute silence to mark the end of World War One.

Inside pupils watched the transmission of the British Legion remembrance virtual assembly for schools across the country during which Prince William described to young people the importance of wearing a red poppy.

Headteacher Mrs Violet Walker welcomed pupils to the ceremony which she said reflected the courage of men and women who gave their lives and those who returned and carried the weight of war.

Before pupils read out two remembrance poems – For the Fallen (Laurence Binyon) and In Flanders Fields (John McCrae) – Mrs Walker explained that they symbolised gratitude and respect for those who stood firm in the face of unimaginable suffering.

She said it was the responsibility of future generations to ensure the stories, sacrifices and hopes for a better future for the world were never forgotten.

Kayla (15) who performed the Last Post on her French horn, is a member of the school orchestra.

She spent the evening before studying the piece. It was “very special” being asked to play at the ceremony – her first performance of The Last Post.

Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School, Barnet, hold Remembrance ceremony on Armistice Day as Prince William reminds young people about importance on the red poppy

A remembrance service at the school – a first for QE Girls-– was the idea of associate assistant head teacher Mrs Amanda Campbell who wanted pupils to have their own experience of Remembrance Day and Armistice Day.

Mrs Campbell hopes the school ceremony will become an annual event.

See Above, from left to right: Air Cadet Lacey, who laid flowers; Alexandra, who read the first poem; Kayla (French horn); Amber, who read the second poem; Mrs Amanda Campbell; and Air Cadet Ria, who also laid flowers.

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Green around High Barnet war memorial packed for annual Remembrance Sunday Service  

High Barnet’s Remembrance Sunday service at the war memorial at the parish church was exceptionally well attended.

The first wreath was laid on behalf of the King by the Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Barnet, Martin Russell.

The green alongside Church Passage was packed for the ceremony and Mr Russell expressed his pleasure at the strength of support shown for the service.

Reservists from 240 Transport Squadron of the Royal Logistics Corps led the ceremonial march through the High Street from the Army Reserve Centre in St Albans Road.

Captain Chandra Pun – a former major in the Gurkhas – laid the wreath on behalf of the armed services.

Other local dignitaries who stepped forward with wreaths included Councillor David Longstaff, representing the Mayor of Barnet; Councillor Emma Whysall, representing the Labour group; and Olly Gough, a prospective Labour candidate for Barnet Council, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson, who was attending the Remembrance Sunday service in East Barnet.

The last post was sounded by bugler Jonny Tillett, a 14-year-old pupil at Mill Hill School – the first time he had performed at a Remembrance Sunday Service.

Sergeant Charlie Forster, who assisted in conducting the ceremony, complimented Jonny on his performance.

Father Sam Rossiter, team vicar at the parish church, led the service.

For the first time the full parish and evensong choir – plus the choristers – were in attendance under the church’s director of music Patrick Korczak.

Parish administrator Tony Long said a total of 31 organisations had asked to lay wreaths during the service, including Barnet police, Queen Elizabeth’s Girls School, Totteridge Academy, cadet corps, guides and others from a wide range of organisations.

Exceptionally well attended Remembrance Sunday service at Barnet Parish church

Another first on the day was a wreath on behalf of the Barnet Society which was laid by the chair John Hay – and which in itself was another first.

The wreath was made up of poppies left over from a production of Snow White, which Pinewood studios donated to Ursula Stone, founder of the much-acclaimed Flower Bank project in New Barnet, which re-purposes surplus flowers.

Among the others who stepped forward to lay wreaths were Kevin Callaghan, proprietor of the new Corner Cafe in St Albans Road, and representatives of the licensees and staff of the Sebright Arms, Monken Holt and Old Fold Manor Golf Club.

Among the stalls selling British Legion poppies in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday was one at the Spires installed by East Barnet British Legion whose branch secretary Lisa Partridge welcomed the support of Barnet Pearly Queen Evie Waldren.

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Safeguards agreed by Barnet Council add greater protection for Quinta Village Green and could help to restore derelict youth club

Quinta village green and derelict Quinta youth club one step closer to being brought under residents' control after Barnet Council agrees asset of community value protection.

Quinta Village Green and the abandoned former Quinta Youth Club are one step closer to being brought under the control of a group of residents living in and around Mays Lane, Barnet, who have been campaigning for years to safeguard their open space and reopen a derelict clubhouse.

Barnet Council has agreed to list the whole site as an asset of community value, a safeguard which the Quinta Village Green Association hopes will be the first step towards establishing new facilities for the community.

ACV status for the green and clubhouse gives the community the right to apply for a potential community asset transfer which would allow a residents’ organisation to manage and operate the land and building for the benefit of the community.

An application is now being made to register the association as a community interest company which could develop and maintain community facilities on a non-for-profit basis.

Councillor Barry Rawlings, leader of Barnet Council, agreed to list the green and clubhouse as an ACV after meeting representatives of the village green association.

They outlined their vision for reviving the youth club building and enhancing the village green as a community-led hub.

Gina Theodorou, chair of the association, said the membership was thrilled that the importance of the green and club had been recognised and that the council had shared their vision that this was a place where people could come together.

“We can now start planning for a sustainable future with the hope that ACV status will ultimately lead to a full community asset transfer, ensuring the site remains protected and accessible for generations to come.”

She thanked Councillors Rawlings and Councillor Zahra Beg (Underhill) and Paul Frost from Barnet Council for their support.

The site was registered as a village green in 2010 following a public inquiry. Residents had argued that it should be preserved as an open space for community use and maintained by the council.

Local volunteers built the clubhouse in the 1960s and it served first as a youth club and community hub, later becoming a nursery and meeting place.

It has been vacant since 2006 when it was boarded up but in recent years residents have become increasingly concerned about continuing vandalism and anti-social behaviour around the building.

Planning approval was given in 2021 for use of the clubhouse to be changed from community use to become a store for the library service for schools in the Borough of Barnet but the proposed refurbishment did not take place, and the building has fallen further into disrepair.

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Former public house The Jester – the haunted house of New Barnet – is finally levelled by demolition contractors

After a seven-year campaign New Barnet community activist Ros Howarth finally says farewell to the last remnants of the abandoned public house The Jester which was left wrecked after a fire in 2018.

Demolition contractors have spent several days levelling the derelict pub which had remained an eyesore after protracted disputes over its future and then a series of contested planning applications.

Approval was given in May last year for the site – at the junction of Northfield Road and Grove Road – to be redeveloped with a three-storey children’s nursery and three houses.

Built in 1958 as a result of a petition from residents, The Jester became a well frequented pub and restaurant.

The fire seven years ago – photograph above by Oliver Jennings – was said at the time to have been a heart-breaking blow for the community.

Ros Howarth and other campaigners fought tirelessly for the construction of a replacement public house or some other community building to benefit the locality.

“It’s a bitter-sweet moment,” she said.

“Everyone around here has been delighted to see it being demolished but we are disappointed. We wanted a new community pub or cafe.

“Instead, approval has been given for a private children’s nursery with up to 100 places.

“We already have three council-run nurseries within walking distance, and we don’t think there will be the demand for a private nursery.”

The final go ahead for the demolition of what had been dubbed New Barnet’s haunted house was a relief for Barnet Councillors.

East Barnet Councillor Simon Radford – above far right, with Councillor Phil Cohen and Councillor Edith David – said he and his colleagues shared the disappointment of nearby residents that the owners of the site had not opted to construct a new community pub.

“While we won’t be getting pub, we will have a children’s nursery which is certainly better than the haunted house which has stood there for the last seven years.”

Councillor Radford paid tribute to the resolve shown by the community.

“Ros Howarth has been a tremendous advocate for their campaign to get a replacement for the pub, and they demonstrated there was a viable alternative.”

Ros Howarth – founder of the Justice for Jester Facebook page – said she doubted whether a private nursery with up to 100 places would be viable.

Construction work is due to last for 18 months with the development completed by the spring of 2027.

The fear of nearby residents was that the new building – see developer’s image above – might at some stage be converted into flats.

Even if there was sufficient demand for a nursery, they were concerned that the site lacked sufficient car park spaces for 27 members of staff and visiting parents.

Parking was already a problem in surrounding roads, and an added problem was that Northfield Road was the main approach road for the nearby Jewish Community Secondary School which was served by a dozen or more coaches every day.

“All the new nursery school will have is a few dropping off places, so we think that with the amount of local traffic this isn’t going to be the safest place for small children.”  

The Jester public house, wrecked and abandoned after a fire in 2018 is finally demolished to make way for a new children's nursery in New Barnet

A start was made on demolishing the pub after the fire in 2018, but Barnet Council stepped in to halt the work – and that was the start of what seemed to be a never-ending saga of changes in ownership, court cases, appeals and futile planning applications.