EBRA News
Goodbye Save New Barnet...
EBRA has worked with and supported the Save New Barnet campaign for the past sixteen years, but it has now retired. It's unfortunate that their alternative proposals for developing the old Gasworks site in a more sympathetic way were not adopted. You can read their final newsletter by clicking / tapping the image.
Prince of Wales pub - update
tap / click to read the press release
Update from East Barnet councillor Phil Cohen on 8/7/2024
Hi POW supporters!
In case you thought developments around the Prince of Wales had gone quiet, work is going ahead for a big refurbishment which will lead to a re-opening probably in early 2025.
Richard Ferrier, CEO of Heartwood Collection the hospitality group that has bought the Prince of Wales, has been talking about his group’s plans and he is keen to meet local residents to hear about how they see the future. He said they had been looking at the pub for some months before it closed as they enjoy being involved with pubs that have a base in their communities, and was very encouraged by the support of the local East Barnet population.
It has taken time to prepare a planning application for an extension at the rear of the pub so the new look will include a dining area, a large welcoming bar and an outside terrace. The iconic frontage of the pub will stay largely the same except for new signage and painting. The aim is to employ a team of 55-60 people working at the POW.
Richard is delighted to have the backing of your local East Barnet councillors and MP, as well as the East Barnet Residents' Association.
I will be in touch with EBRA to set up a meeting so Richard and his group can come and explain to residents more fully what they are doing. Meanwhile you can contact me at cllr.p.cohen@barnet.gov.uk if you have any queries. Thanks for your continued support.
[updated on Mon 08-Jul-2024]
North London Business Park Expansion PLANNING APPEAL REFUSED
Plans to double the number of housing units to be built on the North London Business Park in taller tower blocks were refused by Barnet Council's Strategic Planning Committee. Comer Homes appealed to the Government's Planning Inspectorate to try to overturn this decision, but the appeal was refused. The appeal decision is here.
Full details on our dedicated campaign website nlbp.eastbar.net
[updated on 2024-03-18]
Arnos Grove Station Car Parks CLOSED
The plans to destroy the car parks and build flats there were unanimously rejected by Enfield's Planning Committee.
The developers and TfL appealed to the Government's Planning Inspectorate who overturned the decision.
Work started to clear the site and start excavations. These stopped under the cover story that the ground was contaminated. However there are suspicions that the project is unviable in its current form and economic climate. We await further news.
In the meantime the site is not being used as a car park or as anything else. Well done Enfield Council!
[updated on Sun 12-Nov-2023]
Guide to Oak Hill Park & Wood
We have published our latest guide to Oak Hill Park and Wood on the Friends website foohp.eastbar.net/maps
[updated on Wed 22-Feb-2023]
Public Space Protection Order
A Borough-wide PSPO is now in operation.
Full details are here (3 MB PDF)
Notice Boards
There are two notice boards in Oak Hill Park - by the Golf and by the Café - and we now have keys to them. If anyone has information they would like placed there, please contact us. Nothing political, and no commercial advertising, of course.
Barnet's Local Plan
EBRA has been considering the implications of Barnet's draft Local Plans for several years. We have submitted many comments and suggestions to the Council's strategic planning team, and worked with FORAB on a Barnet-wide response.
The final draft is now undergoing "Examination in Public" which continues into October / November 2022.
You can read our MP Theresa Villiers' report on her involvement during the first week here.
Cockfosters Station Car Park SAVED!
EBRA has been working with CLARA and the Save Cockfosters team for the past two years to fine-tune residents' objections to this scheme to build skyscrapers on one of the highest hills in London, and persuade politicians to keep the essential park-and-ride facility.
Grant Shapps MP, the Secretary of State for Transport, has vetoed the plans because destroying the park-and-ride facility would severely hamper passengers' ability to access TfL's transport network.
This is such a good news story - within hours it was reported by our colleagues the Barnet Society:
barnetsociety.org.uk/transport-secretary-torpedoes-plan-for-building-tower-blocks-at-cockfosters-tube-station
The Bandstand
We're on a quest to find out more about the Bandstand in its prime.
Barnet Museum kindly sent an article from The Barnet Press written in 1943 about the "holiday-at-home" activities in the park during WW2:
