“ "There’s an alternative, more positive, view about a new hotel that is taken by people who’ve been striving for years to revive our failing local economy – including long-standing Barnet Society members – and is attracting widespread public support.
It’s that a hotel would help to generate new business and employment within our town centre, and a buzz that would extend way beyond Chipping Barnet."
I've never heard of a Premier Inn bringing a 'buzz' to a town before. And is it really attracting widespread public support? There were an exceptional number of objections to this hotel. As a Chipping Close resident, I only found negative comments regarding a hotel of this size based around a number of issues.
A hotel 'may' do some good for the local economy, but it's also likely to be used as a cheap stop off for people on their way to central London or attending weddings in and around Barnet/Hertfordshire. As for employment, a majority of jobs created at such hotels pay minimum wage (or little more than that). Given house/rent prices in High Barnet and surrounding areas, I'm not sure how many locals would be taking jobs there.
That's not to say there would be no benefits. And I'd be open to 'a' hotel in that space, just not the monstrosity that was proposed by the developers/Premier Inn. 102 rooms was/is excessive for such a small area. I'd also appreciate it if any new plans were made and carried out in a transparent, honest way.
As you note above, in the consultations we were promised no chance of any night-time noise. Then we get alcohol/music licence applications until 12.30am, seven days a week. We were promised that every effort would be made to avoid any disturbances to the residents of Chipping Close. Then we get a new set of plans - amended after any objections could officially be made - which put a main entrance/exit on Chipping Close; a doorway that would in all likelihood be used by taxis/late-night revellers. The conduct of the developers/Premier Inn was very poor during this whole saga, and I for one felt disappointed in the manner in which the Barnet Society/the BRA waved it through (initially, at least).
If the developers come back with something set further back from the houses in Chipping Close, and with - as initially promised - no major entrances/exits on Chipping Close, my guess is they'd get much closer to this being pushed through (as long as they looked to do more to redress privacy concerns/parking issues, too).
Whether they'd want something smaller - as it would hopefully be - remains to be seen. I just hope they are honest with local residents with whatever it is they are planning. ”