12/03/2011
Evening Standard: "We need architects who understand this city"
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| Link to web site |
"While modern architecture is often seen as the problem, you don't see people throwing street parties to celebrate the completion of the latest Prince Charles-inspired brick boxes, or the latest estate of executive suburban homes, either. A long time ago, the development industry lost the public's confidence. Think of St George Wharf in Vauxhall, one of London's ugliest buildings, or the overbearing blocks appearing now at Hale Village in Tottenham.
"It is not conservative taste that drives the public's scepticism, but the often negative transformation of the city into a place of monocultural housing blocks, with cheap supermarkets on the ground floors. These are not what London is made of."
09/03/2011
Criticism of "LegoLand" Housing by Ministers
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| Link to The Guardian |
"Previous housing ministers have railed against uniform design, largely driven by developers' lower costs. Ministers hope that the concept of neighbourhood plans, designed and voted on by communities themselves, might drive architects out of their complacency.
"Planning and Decentralisation minister, Greg Clark, joins Housing Minister Grant Shapps in condemning British household architecture, saying 'banal, identikit housing schemes have given development a bad name'."
08/03/2011
The Guardian: "Air pollution in areas of heavy traffic shortens life expectancy"
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| Link above to The Guardian |
"The high concentration of many fine particles, largely due to emissions from diesel engines and heating systems, knocks almost two years off the average life expectancy of residents of Bucharest, and six months off the life of Parisians."
01/03/2011
'Barnet Eye' pulls off "PROHIBITED" videoing of council meeting
Further details about this video are in this first 'Barnet Eye' post.
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| Click above for second 'Barnet Eye' post |
On the right is a second Barnet Eye post, regarding the end of that council meeting:
25/02/2011
Following recording ban of 'Colindale Area Action Plan' decisions, is this openness at last?
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| Link to the web site |
"Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles said today:
"Local Government Minister Bob Neill has written to all councils, urging greater openness and calling on them to adopt a modern day approach, so that credible community or 'hyper-local' bloggers and online broadcasters get the same routine access to council meetings as the traditional accredited media have.
"The letter sent today reminds councils that local authority meetings are already open to the general public, which raises concerns about why in some cases bloggers and press have been barred."
24/02/2011
23/02/2011
Barnet Times: "Resident Nick Poullora takes parking fine campaign to Barnet Council"
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| Link to Barnet Times |
"Angry Colindale residents are taking their fight against parking tickets to Barnet Council tonight, in a bid to get their money refunded:
"We've been parking like this for years, and it hasn't caused a problem – but now the council have targeted us to make money."
22/02/2011
Director of Planning quits control of Colindale - and everywhere else!
Job Details
Director for Planning, Environment and Regeneration
Location: Barnet, North London
Colindale and the Campaign for Clean Air in London
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| Link to The Guardian |
"His frustrations with the Labour government over its failure to act has been compounded by the Tory-led coalition. He believes it attempted to 'mislead' the European Commission in September, on the scale of breaches on dangerous particles, known as PM10s."
20/02/2011
The Economist: Secretary Of State Eric Pickles's 'Localism Agenda'?
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| Link to The Economist |
"The lowest tier of government in London is its 32 borough councils, serving an average population of around 250,000. But activists are hoping to set up new representative bodies, at a much more local level."
14/02/2011
Barnet Times: "Residents in Mill Hill call meeting for showdown with Saracens over Copthall stadium plans"
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| Link to Barnet Times |
"Dozens of people living around the stadium in Mill Hill are expected to attend the two-hour forum on 15 February, aimed at talking through a range of issues."
13/02/2011
Evening Standard: "Boris Johnson recruits troubleshooter for the suburbs"
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| Link to Evening Standard |
"The Mayor has asked Tory Bexley council leader Teresa O'Neill to help him tackle problems with housing, transport and employment in the outer boroughs."
29/01/2011
Barnet Times: "New homes win planning award" (plus Comments)
Councillor Richard Cornelius, Barnet cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration, said:
“The London Borough of Barnet is thrilled."
21/01/2011
Barnet Times: "Redevelopment of Zenith House site in Colindale gets green light from Barnet Council for second time"
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| Link to web site |
"The Zenith House site in Edgware Road, opposite McDonalds, will now have 309 new flats and houses built on it with a 16-storey tower as the centrepiece."
Colindale: an overwhelmingly car-based transport plan...
Evening Standard: "Londoners could pay £25 each in EU fines for pollution failure"
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| Link to Evening Standard |
"The Localism Bill proposes that the fines - likely to be about £300million - should be devolved to local authorities, including City Hall and borough councils. This could cost every London taxpayer up to £25 a year."
Link to Campaign for Clear Air in London
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