Newsletter June 2010

We have had some fine weather in recent weeks, a stark contrast to those miserable bitterly cold days that were afflicting everyone when we issued our last newsletter. We still have many of the potholes to remind us just our bad it was but, as we report below, the fine weather has been accompanied by a much brighter outlook in the High St. Otherwise we have a mixed bag to report; good progress with the Council in developing a long-term town centre strategy, but some setbacks on the planning front, and still no certainty on the future of Barnet Market.

Our AGM is on 22nd June. Do come along to listen to and maybe contribute to the discussion on topical local issues. A full notice is on the back page.

Around the Town Centre

For the last couple of years our reports on retailer changes have been rather gloomy. At one point last year the number of empty shops got into double figures, but things are now looking much better, suggesting that we indeed are now emerging from the recession. Currently only five shops are empty on the High St, one in The Spires, and one other on St Albans Rd awaiting alterations. On the main stretch of the High St only the former restaurant and photo shop opposite the Post Office remain empty.

Losses this year have included Banana Republic in the High St, Adams in The Spires, and the curtain and blind shop at the top end. At the bottom end we lost the Internet Café and the bed shop. The latter was promptly demolished to make way for a block of flats. Baggage World in The Spires closed but is now re-opening. Similarly, following a long period of closure Chicken Cottage has been revived, though its brash appearance in such a sensitive spot in the conservation area continues to meet the strong disapproval of many residents.

New arrivals have tended to replicate similar outlets, which can be rather disappointing, though maybe the competitive demands of comparison shopping can be useful when it comes to prices. Still. we may be grateful that no more spectacles or card shops have arrived. We have a number of new clothes and accessory shops aimed at young women, and all seem to be conforming to a new fashion for names consisting of just four letters – Gems, Aura and Hype. The arrival of Sainsburys Local has added to the already rather crowded convenience store market, though the late opening will be welcomed by some.

Ready for the summer yet another milk shake and ice cream outlet is opening at 90 High St (of which more below under Conservation). We also have yet more estate agents – Anscombe & Ringland and Hobdays have added to a very crowded market, though the latter has brought a much needed smart uplift to the premises they now occupy. And if you are lucky enough to have some gold bullion hidden in the attic you can now sell it to the London Gold Factory just south of W.H.Smith.

More changes have occurred at the north end. The Lock Shop has moved from St Albans Rd into the High St. The former auto shop is now providing a competing health food outlet - Health Matters - just along from Holland and Barrett, and the former Mothercare shop is temporarily in use providing assorted bric-a-brac. The former auto shop in the High St never left the area but moved into premises down the alleyway alongside Boots. As A1 Auto Factors they have been trading on-line but only recently opened as a shop. Another auto shop remains at the south end of the High St.

At the south end another gents barbers has opened at 51 High St, and on the opposite side we have another dry cleaners and Lighting Revolution. A minor but welcome improvement is the spruce up to the frontage to Curry Cottage. It was looking very tired and hopefully the smarter presentation will be reflected in improved patronage. A goodly number of other retail outlets along the High St could similarly do to rethink their kerb appeal.

Politics

Recently some residents groups elsewhere in the Borough, mainly those in areas where there are concerns about major development schemes, got together and fielded candidates in six wards for the council elections held on 6th May. They called themselves Residents Association of Barnet, a name open to confusion with ours. Though they fared rather badly in the elections they have indicated that they intend to stay in business.

This development has prompted us to think about our name. The Association was formed when we were a Hertfordshire town, and of course pre-dates the formation of the London Borough of Barnet. Thus ‘Barnet’ was originally clearly associated with High Barnet (or Chipping Barnet as the town was previously known). Times have moved on. ‘Barnet’ is now recognised as a descriptive term for the whole Borough and ‘Chipping Barnet’ is now the name of the wider Parliamentary constituency in which we are located. Our constitution confines us to representing residents in the High Barnet and Underhill local authority wards, for which ‘High Barnet’ is now the most appropriate generic description. Having reflected on all of this your Committee will be asking the AGM to consider changing our name to High Barnet Residents Association.

Town Centre Strategy

The council has been very supportive in facilitating the work of the Strategy Board, which now includes representatives from the local traders, residents’ groups including ourselves, and various specialist interests. We believe this is the first time ever that the council has chosen to involve the community, both residents and traders, from the outset.

A major initial contribution from ourselves was to conduct a survey of residents during February and March. We put out 3000 leaflets, 2000 delivered to a representative selection of streets in our area and 1000 distributed via local outlets such as Waitrose and the Library. The issues respondents felt most strongly about were the survival of the market and cheaper short-term parking for shoppers

The Strategy Board has met twice and five sub-groups are working on specific issues – the local economy, the town centre character, traffic and parking, arts and culture, and the public realm. With all this work we are unlikely to see the finished report before the end of the year.

Barnet Market

Though we really knew it all along, our survey informing the Town Centre Strategy confirmed just how important the market is, not just to local people, but also to the many who travel in from other areas to use it. That the town centre is much busier on Wednesdays and Saturdays demonstrates just how important the market is to the economic well-being of the whole of our shopping centre.

As part of our involvement with Friends of Barnet Market we have participated in the preparation of a petition to the market owners asking that a proper surface be applied to the St Albans Rd site. No fewer than 5000 people have signed the petition, a remarkable number and no doubt it includes many of our members. At the time of writing the petition was about to be submitted.

Meantime, the market continues to be well patronised. The core of long-standing traders have been joined by two excellent new stalls, one selling fine bread and the other delicious sweet and savoury pies, which has definitely given the market an extra edge. We urge members not to be put off by the poor state of the surface, and if you are not a regular patron do go along and explore what is on offer.

Conservation and Planning

Recent months have been relatively quiet for planning applications in and around the Town Centre, though such activity as we have seen has not been very welcome. There is no progress to report on the Council’s enforcement efforts with the former Crown and Anchor building, the boarded up former restaurant on the corner of Moxon St, or Abasi convenience store at 74 High St. We have had a lot to say about these properties in past Newsletters so we will not dwell on them this time.

Meanwhile another property owner, at 90 High St, has again disregarded the council planners. The owner twice applied to alter the frontage to convert the shop into two units, was twice refused, but has gone ahead with the work anyway. We alerted the council to what was happening and we are told that enforcement action is being taken. Alas we have been here before.

Another regrettable feature of this latest property alteration is the addition of heavy metal shutters to the front – again something that requires planning permission in the conservation area. Although a majority of our High St shops do not have shutters it is a continuing trend, including many shops that do not have high value stock on display. Apart from the impact on the appearance of a building in a conservation area, heavy metal shutters send out a very negative image, suggesting the area is unsafe and crime ridden. This can only have a detrimental effect on the appeal of the area and have a negative effect on overall trade. We will never make this an attractive town to live and shop in as long as this kind of down market image is perpetuated. Do these people ever think about the broader implications? Do they not know that High Barnet has one of the lowest crime rates in London? We are raising the matter with the Traders Association.

The conversion of the former Albion pub in Union St to three cottages is now well advanced. The changes are such that the building is now unrecognisable as a pub. We are pleased that the external appearance and fittings are sensitive to the conservation area status of Union St.

Crime and Policing

Over the winter there was a small rise in the number of crimes in our area, but of all the Boroughs in North-West London Barnet has the second-lowest crime rate, being just above Harrow. Within the Borough High Barnet and Underhill wards had recorded crime rates a little below the average for the Borough. All this is against a background of a decline in total crime of around one-third over recent years. In all our two wards each record in the region of 80 crimes a month.

Locally, theft from motor vehicles, anti-social behaviour and violence against the person remain the most common crimes. The theft of purses around the High St has seen a substantial decline though the problem has not gone away. A bogus caller operating in the High Barnet area has been knocking on doors and employing various wheezes to persuade people to part with cash. The Safer Neighbourhood Team has made considerable progress over the last year or two with anti-social behaviour in the Chesterfield Rd area, though we are aware that residents there still remain concerned about the behaviour of unruly youths.

Recent police successes include the arrest of a known burglar who was in possession of property he had just stolen from houses in New Barnet, the recovery of a BMW stolen locally that was found at Felixstowe awaiting shipment abroad, and a further arrest in New Barnet of a local man caught stealing a SATNAV from a car. The Community Support Officers now patrol singly and can be seen up to midnight in some areas. Local priorities are currently focussed on bogus callers, burglaries in the area around Hadley Rd, and anti-social behaviour. We do hope that the excellent achievements of recent years will not be prejudiced by threatened budget cuts, such as reports that the London Mayor is cutting the Met by 455 officers.

High Barnet Station

Still on the subject of cuts, the hours of opening of High Barnet ticket office have been substantially curtailed, now open mornings only up to 10.15am weekdays and closing at 15.00 Saturdays. Sunday opening is just 10.15am to 12.45pm only. Not a welcome development, but perhaps indicative of the kind of public sector cutbacks that are threatened over the coming years.

Green Home Zone

Backed by Barnet Council and the Energy Saving Trust a ‘Green Home Zone’ in High Barnet was launched in March, embracing some 2250 homes behind The Spires and around Meadway. The aim is to encourage residents to reduce domestic energy and car use, capture more rainwater and reduce domestic water usage, buy sustainable products, grow their own food and buy more fair trade or locally produced products. All very laudable aims which we wholeheartedly endorse.

A leaflet was circulated in the designated areas in March and had some supporting press publicity, but so far we have not seen any follow up. If this initiative is to make an impact it will need a sustained effort over a long period. You can arrange a free home energy check by emailing info@greenhomezone.org

Local Events

Following on from last year’s successful and highly enjoyable event Friends of Ravenscroft Park are staging another themed family day on Sunday 6th June 12noon to 4pm. This time the theme is 1940s London – anyone who has held on to an old gas mask – just in case – will at last have an opportunity to wear it! Weather permitting it promises to be a fun day, with the added attraction for us that BRA should have a stall.

On the afternoon of Sunday 13 June the Environment Centre in Byng Rd is staging its popular annual open day, with the usual range of family entertainment supplementing its environmental educational activities. Again BRA aims to have a presence.

Barnet Bowls Club

Keeping up the themes of summer and green issues, Barnet Bowls Club have reminded us that their season started at the beginning of May. Situated at the back of Court House Gardens, access to the greens and clubhouse is via Manor Close, off Wood St.

Dating from 1926, the Club is an important local recreational institution. The club have use of two splendid greens, owned and maintained by the council. The adjacent clubhouse caters for social events as well as bowling, with events organised during the playing season and in the winter months as well. Male or female, beginners or experienced players, are all equally welcome, and the Club is on the lookout for new members of all ages to swell their ranks. Contact Bill Mills on 01707 655032.

INVITATION TO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

There will be reports from the Chairman a Membership update, followed by election of Officers. We need to elect Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members (up to seven places). We are keen to recruit new members to the committee, if you are interested please contact the Secretary no later than the day before the meeting. We will also discuss the proposed change to our name.

Following the formal business we will have a presentation and discussion on the progress of the Town Centre Strategy Board. If successful, the outcome of the work of this group should form a blueprint for any improvements or changes to High Barnet town centre for many years to come. So we are anxious to ensure that they get it right. Do come along to hear about this issues being considered and to have the opportunity to add your own comments.