tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post8218197301835152397..comments2024-03-29T13:59:53.760+00:00Comments on WEMBLEY MATTERS: 'This won't enhance Cricklewood' Drop-in about aggregate super-hub January 31st Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129943063330427887.post-91551190485700526932018-01-28T17:29:08.435+00:002018-01-28T17:29:08.435+00:00I think the word we're looking for is BS. I ha...I think the word we're looking for is BS. I had someone talk to me on Friday about how she'd heard that the Brent Cross scheme would turn our area into the paradise of milk and honey. Talk about spin. This, and the waste dump are all part of that wreetched scheme.<br /><br />That's what the developers spin is. The reality is the rubbish dump on Geron Way, the aggregate terminal behind Lidl, 29000 extra cars a DAY, the demolition of people's homes without proper compensation, an unsustainable car centred development and road layouts that totally screw over Brent. Lovely. <br /><br />The waste transfer station is absolutely linked to the Brent Cross redevelopment and always has been. Barnet originally wanted the Bestway site, but were rather taken aback when Bestway fought hard not to have their land bought for peanuts. The owner happens to be a self made billionaire, and a decent local Brent chap. He was rather annoyed at the cavalier way Barnet treated him - Bestway were hugely helpful to the coalition fighting the plans. <br /><br />Anyhow, Barnet gave up on that site and shifted along a bit. They need to move the current WTF from the eastern side of the railway line, so that they can build expensive flats and part of the station. <br /><br />Outline planning permission was given, somewhat illegally, years ago for the WTF. But, the developers THEN said they didn't need the WTF and wouldn't build it. They lied, just as they have on so many other issues. Barnet and Argent have also told massive fibs. <br /><br />Thing is, the WTF does NOT need to be there: even the North London Wadste Authority, who originally objected strongly to the resiting, said that. They then suddenly withdrew all objections at the eleventh hour. I can't get a straight answer from them on that, given ALL their objections are still totally valid. <br /><br />I'm absolutely sure Barnet and Brent are in cahoots. Once upon a time Brent stood up against them, but they don't anymore. Neither of the Brent MPs, or the H&K one has objected or spoken, nor even has our GLA member, Navin who was very much against back in the day. There's been speculation that Barnet would have objected to the LDO if Brent objected to Brent Cross, but who knows. Butt has his cosy chats with the Leader of Barnet, but do they get minuted? <br /><br />Add in to all this the fact that Barnet wants to mess about horribly with the roads. With Brent's active support. Who, exactly, is standing up for us? I've emails from Brent to Barnet which are utterly horrifying in their impact. <br /><br />It's also worth noting that the Brent Cross plans, which have always been about making the shopping centre much bigger, date back to the late 90s. That's before little things like online shopping got so prevalent and before both Westfields were built. It's a car centric plan, with no integrated Tube or rail, unlike Westfield. It's also predicated on an assumption that 70 percent of those who go to Brent Cross by car now will magically move to buses. REALLY?<br />Alison Hopkinsnoreply@blogger.com