05/08/2014

Barnet Times (2009): Matthew Offord's £11-million overspend - yet the Barnet video says it was on-budget!


Link to web site

"THE project to replace a railway bridge in Colindale has run almost two times over budget, costing the tax payer an extra £11 million, it has emerged."

"The work to replace two 19th century bridges on Aerodrome Road was estimated to cost £12 million, but Barnet Council papers reveal that the cost has now climbed to more than £23 million.

"The rising cost has forced the council to apply for additional Government funding to complete the work, which is five months behind schedule, putting additional pressure on the public purse."



LB of Barnet video

02/08/2014

Barnet Times: "Mayor of London tells GLA member for Barnet Andrew Dismore to 'stop attacking councillors' reputations'"


Link to web site

"An agitated Boris Johnson ordered Barnet GLA member Andrew Dismore to 'stop endlessly attacking councillors' reputations' during a meeting of the London Assembly.

"The outburst came after Mr Dismore told Mr Johnson about how Barnet Mayor Hugh Rayner is under investigation for acting 'illegally' towards tenants living in the properties he owns.

"In addition to charging above market rates, Cllr Rayner failed to declare his interest in housing during council meetings and did not join the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme."

21/07/2014

Redrow and the Peel Centre: Is Boris in the clear?




Barnet Press: "'Avengers assemble' in Colindale"


Link to web site

"MARVEL superhero Thor couldn't help getting carried away as filming for the 2015 Avenger's sequel continued at the former Metropolitan Police Peel Centre in Colindale.

"Exclusive footage passed to The Press shows Chris Hemsworth's Norse demi god Thor, complete with iconic red cape hanging onto the front of an ambulance as it hurtles forward outside the now-derelict police training centre in Aerodrome Road.

"Over the past month The Peel Centre site, which is set to be redeveloped into a housing development and primary school, has been transformed into the fictional Eastern European city of Sokovia. The Met Police signs have been replaced with Serbian Cyrillic writing. The Grade II listed statue of Sir Robert Peel remains in place at the front of the building."

20/07/2014

BORA: Burnt Oak Residents Association


Link to Facebook page

"Burnt Oak Residents Association aims to make Burnt Oak a cleaner and safer area to live in and that we are proud of.

"We are looking for people to join our conversation to make Burnt Oak a place we all want to spend time in, happy in the knowledge that it is a safe and wonderful place to live. If you wish to join us on this mission, please contact us:
bora.barnet@gmail.com"

15/07/2014

Redrow and the Peel Centre playing fields: Answers awaited



Police Use Of Peel Centre Running Track


Meeting:
Mayor's Question Time
Date:
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Reference:
Question 2014/2960

 

Main question

Andrew Dismore
Will you join with me in praising the current substantial routine use of your Peel Centre running track by the Met's recruits and staff, as can be evidenced and photographed from passing Northern Line trains?

Are you happy to acknowledge that this running track is a serviceable facility, and not unusable, as may have been your impression?
An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/questions/question_276940#sthash.tS4DewP7.dpuf



Fiona Twycross (23-Jul-2014) 

Do you acknowledge that there will be many new London schools that do not have running track facilities on-site, and that demand for the current sites in London, whether currently public or private, will inevitably grow? Do you have any projections for this increased demand?

An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/#sthash.QCM2lYf4.dpuf

 

Running Tracks in London (2)


Fiona Twycross (23-Jul-2014):

Do you acknowledge that borough boundaries are often entirely irrelevant in planning running tracks and sports ground provision? What strategic role does the GLA play in this?

An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/#sthash.QCM2lYf4.dpuf

 

Running Tracks in London (3)

 
Fiona Twycross (23-Jul-2014):


Do you only use one criterion, that of 'agreed local provision', in deciding whether to support concreting over running tracks or not? If not, what other criteria do you consider? Do they include population number projections of children and of young inner-city Londoners?

An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/#sthash.QCM2lYf4.dpuf
Fiona Twycross (23-Jul-2014):

Regarding the running tracks listed by you in answer 2014/2273, do you support closure of any of them, and if so, from what exact date for each one has that been your policy, and why?

An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/#sthash.QCM2lYf4.dpuf

21/06/2014

Barnet Times: " 'It will look like a concrete jungle': Concerns raised over plans to build 400 new homes in The Hyde"


Link to web site

"Plans to build 400 new homes and a shopping area could turn Hendon into a 'concrete jungle'.

"This week developer NEAT Developments held a public exhibition to showcase its proposals to build on a site between Rookery Way and Edgware Road in The Hyde.

"There is currently a Homebase and a second-hand car sales lot on the site, which NEAT wants to redevelop in spring 2016.

"As well as approximately 390 flats, there will be no more than ten houses, and between 280 and 300 parking spaces."






07/06/2014

Questions to the Mayor: Boris Johnson needs time to justify the loss of the Peel Centre playing fields and running track




Running Tracks in London (1)

Fiona Twycross (11-Jun-2014):


"How many properly-constructed running tracks were there in London when you took office, excluding those registered by UK Athletics but including those classed as private according Sport England's Active Places records or otherwise known to you? Where are they in London?"

An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/#sthash.G2mQp6oQ.dpuf

Running Tracks in London (2)


Fiona Twycross (11-Jun-2014):


"Has it been your policy to protect from development all the running tracks not registered by UK Athletics that you have just identified (whatever the current access or track ownership)?"

An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/#sthash.G2mQp6oQ.dpuf


Running Tracks in London (3)

Fiona Twycross (11-Jun-2014):

"Are there any of those just identified running tracks which are not registered by UK Athletics, which you are willing to see concreted over in the future, and why?"

An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/#sthash.G2mQp6oQ.dpuf




Orbital Rail Links

Fiona Twycross (11-Jun-2014):

"Given your long-stated aspiration for new orbital rail or light-rail links in outer London, what specific corridors around outer London have you studied since taking office which include a new rail link as one of the possible transport solutions?"

An answer to this question will be uploaded within one week of the meeting.
- See more at: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/#sthash.G2mQp6oQ.dpuf

23/03/2014

Peel Centre running track, and getting the run-around!



Running Tracks (1)
Question No: 2013/4823
"How many properly-constructed running tracks were there in London when you took office?"
Written response from the Mayor
"According to information provided by UK Athletics, in May 2008 there were 31 400-metre outdoor synthetic athletics tracks, certified by UK Athletics in London.

There were also three indoor running tracks."
So:
Does this include the one at the Peel Centre?



Running Tracks (2)
Question No: 2013/4824
Navin Shah
"Are you aware of how many running tracks are not in use any longer? Also are there any that you consider to be currently under threat?"
Written response from the Mayor
"All of the 31 outdoor and three indoor UK Athletics certified tracks that were open in London in May 2008 continue to be used.

In addition, since 2008, one new outdoor 400-metre athletics track has opened at Woodcote High School in Croydon. The new track received a grant of £200,000 from my Sports Legacy Programme to contribute to the build cost. Furthermore, the world’s first compact athletics facility, including a synthetic sprint running track, opened at Stoke Newington School in Hackney in September 2013.

When the Olympic Stadium reopens in 2015, there will be a total of 34 UK Athletics certified outdoor running tracks in London for use by the community.

I am not aware of any running tracks that are under threat."
So:
Does this include the one at the Peel Centre?



Running Tracks (3)
Question No: 2013/4825
Navin Shah
"Will you undertake to protect any running track under your control ownership, for the benefit of Londoners?"
Written response from the Mayor
"I oppose the closure of any local sporting facility unless there is a compelling case otherwise."
So:
Does this include the one at the Peel Centre?

Barnet Today: "Met under attack over empty homes" (Not owned by Redrow yet then? Who's talking porkies?)


Link to web site

"A LABOUR politician has accused the Metropolitan Police of wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds by allowing some 50 homes marked for sale to sit empty for two years.

"The houses, in Rowan Drive, Colindale, are due to be sold off as the Met looks to get dispose of a third of its property estate.

"The sale would form part of the Mayor of London’s Police and Crime Plan, published last year. Boris Johnson has asked the Met to cut £500million from its budget before 2016.

"No agreement has yet been reached to buy the land, but the Met insists it would not be cost-effective to make the buildings habitable for short-term lets."

11/01/2014

LB of Brent: "Burnt Oak, Colindale and The Hyde Placemaking"




"The document has been developed with input from the officers from Brent, Barnet, Harrow, Transport for London and the local community. With the A5 corridor marking the boundary between Brent and Barnet, the endorsement of this document by both Boroughs is a powerful statement of the shared vision for the A5 as a focus for activity and regeneration over the coming years. [What? Even by Barnet??]

01/01/2014

AWA: "New Hendon Village, Colindale, London NW9: Choices for Grahame Park & Genesis Housing Group"



"The regeneration of the old Grahame Park Estate in Colindale to create New Hendon Village is one of the largest projects in London. Grahame Park was Barnet Council’s largest housing estate with 1777 homes built by the GLC in the 1970’s.

"The regeneration of the whole estate is now under phased construction, and will provide approximately 3400 new mixed tenure homes, community and commercial facilities, and a re landscaped park.

"As part of the professional team, AWA are providing:
  • Full detailed design of the site infrastructure services, including modifications to the existing district heating system to maintain the site wide services during the phased construction
  • New CHP energy centres and all landlords services
  • Performance duties for the principle design of individual dwellings
  • Life cycle cost analysis and planned maintenance for the long term management of the whole estate."

08/10/2013

LB of Brent: "Burnt Oak, Colindale and The Hyde regeneration"


Link to web site

"Burnt Oak/ Colindale, once home for a very important community focal point, Oriental City/ Yaohan Plaza, is one of the five growth areas in Brent.

"It is identified as a growth area for around 2,500 homes, on sites arranged along the axis of Edgware Road (A5).

"All those new developments in the Growth Area when complete will improve the area immensely and bring in new jobs. However, they should not be looked at in isolation with the rest of the Burnt Oak and The Hyde Town Centres.

"We endeavour to maximise the results of inward investment and ensure the new developments help revitalise and do not threaten the existing town centres.

"With the A5 corridor marking the boundary between Brent and Barnet, there are opportunities for both boroughs to work closely to transform the area together."

30/07/2013

Barnet Press: "College looks to move around Grahame Park estate" (constantly?)


Link to web site

"A NEW college site is being proposed for the Grahame Park estate.

"Barnet and Southgate College has plans to move from their current campus in Grahame Park Way to a plot closer to Colindale Tube station."