Is there ANYONE in favour of a pedestrian bridge across the Welsh Harp reservoir? No information on primary provision at Environmental Study Centre

 

 

The Wesh Harp Joint Consultative Committee is usually a fairly mild affair but it livened up considerably last night when a resident suggested that Barnet Council were happy to let volunteers do the work  needed to maintain the Welsh Harp but brushed aside any criticism. The Brent Council chair of the Committee, Cllr Krupa Sheth, had refused to allow 'one issue' to dominate proceedings.

 

The bridge access is just visible on Barratt's publicity

 

The resident wanted to discuss the fact that current West Hendon residents had no knowledge of the proposed bridge across the Welsh Harp  at the Silk Stream first suggested in the original planning application in 2013 LINK.  Having found out about it they were furious, particularly as they would be expected to pay for its maintenance, in addition to that for the Cool Oak Pedestrian Bridge, through their service charges.

The planning approval had involved a different group of residents and needed to be revisited. The bridge had originally been proposed when a primary school was to be built  on the West Hendon site and would have given the pupils a short cut to extensive proposed sports facilities on the opposite bank.

The primary school proposal had been dropped and the facilities drastically reduced so it was claimed the bridge was not necessary and a 'bridge to nowhere'.

Ben Watt of the Cool Oak group.  had long opposed the bridge because of its detrimental impact on the SSSI  and disturbance to wild life, as well as doubts over its construction given the silty nature of the site. He was also concerned with the safety of anyone crossing the bridge. He sets out his case under Any Other Business in the above clip.

Barnet councillors were hard put to justify the bridge, claiming it had been secured under a Section 106 agreement with Barratt, and Barratts wanted to build it. It was a private bridge for public use. There were counter claims that Barratts had told residents that Barnet Council wanted to build it, although Labour who form the current administration, opposed it in 2013.  Has it become a Labour vanity project?

 

Proposals for 16+ provision at the previous Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre remained vague with any continuation of the primary environmental provision apparently not part of plans. I will ask for more information regarding the appointment mentioned in the last paragraph.

 

Welsh Harp Centre:

 

The Centre is expected to provide opportunities for young people aged 16+ with SEND during curriculum time, with provision for community use at other times. The provision for young people with SEND will focus on developing vocational skills, such as skills in horticulture, as well as offering opportunities to better prepare Brent’s young people with SEND for adulthood.

 

In respect of the building programme the stage 2 design has now been approved. The Council’s project team has a pre-planning application meeting scheduled in November with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) to outline the current design and obtain feedback. The LPA feedback and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders will influence the next stage of spatial design.

 

In terms of provision, Brent Council’s, Children, Young People & Community Development team are currently recruiting a staff member who will have oversight of the Welsh Harp Centre including curriculum development and liaison with community groups. It is expected that the post holder will start in January 2026.