Route of new bridge across north marsh wetlands as they were in 1990s (IMAGE: COOL OAK)
Ben Watt, founder of the the Cool Oak group (Welsh Harp) has written a disturbing blog post LINK about the proposed 200 metre long steel and concrete footbridge across the Welsh Harp from the private estate that has replaced the West Hendon estate.
This goes straight through the north marsh threatening breeding species and may also endanger the area's SSSI (Site of Special Scientic Interest Status).
Ben Watt points out that this undermines the Joint Vision for the Welsh Harp that Barnet Council and Brent Council and other agencies have recently signed.
Brent Parks Forum is urging everyone to write to Barnet Council along the lines below:
Email Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change for Barnet Council at cllr.a.schneiderman@barnet.gov.uk, and Anne Clarke, London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden at anne.clarke@london.gov.uk
Dear Cllr Schneiderman and Cllr Clarke,
We object to the new bridge due to be built over the North Marsh of the Welsh Harp by Barratt PLC. We understand Barnet Council has statutory powers under s.97 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to stop this. The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 clearly states: "It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage the listed features of a SSSI or disturb its listed fauna, without reasonable excuse".
Unless the bridge is cancelled or the route altered, all of the signatories to the newly published Joint Vision for the Welsh Harp - which includes Barnet Council - will be party to the partial destruction of one of the oldest and most famous SSSIs in the UK.
Sign off with full address for your objections to be lodged with the Councillor. Keep a record of the email.
It is also important that Brent Council, as a signatory to the Joint Vision, also opposes the plans.
