From COMMON PLACE CONSULTATION
Barnet Council wants to transform West Hendon Playing Fields into an exciting new park and we want your views on how it should be improved. The new park proposals will include new play areas, recreational spaces, sports facilities, improved infrastructure, and expanded leisure amenities.
Your input is vital to creating a thriving destination that is inclusive and accessible. We are planning engagement opportunities where we would love to hear from you.
1- You can join us in person at our drop-in events to meet the project team, learn more about the project proposal and share your aspirations for the park:
- Session 1: Wednesday, 15 th of November 2023 at Barnet Multicultural Community Centre, NW4 3TA from 3:00pm – 7:30pm.
- Session 2: Saturday, 18 th of November at Birchen Grove Garden Centre, NW9 8RY from 10:00am – 3:00pm.
Both venues have accessible wheelchair entry and toilets.
2- For those who are unable to attend in person, we are running two online webinars on 21st of November for you to learn more about the project proposal and ask any questions that you may have:
3- Take part in our survey by 17th of December. This will help us understand how you currently use the park, and your vision and aspirations of the West Hendon Playing Fields.
Our emerging project vision is to breathe new life into the site, turning West Hendon Playing Fields into a thriving destination that puts People, Place, and the Planet at the core of improvement efforts. The park will be inclusive to all ages and abilities, enhance local wildlife and biodiversity, and offer ample opportunities for physical activity and recreation.
We came up with this vision based on Barnet Council's aspirations for West Hendon Playing Fields, past engagement exercises, and what we know about the area. We need your input to make sure the final vision captures what the community wants. Complete our survey to share how you experience the park, your feedback on the vision and your ideas for improvement. We will use your feedback to design a park that you will enjoy.
Who will we be engaging?
We are committed to broad-reaching engagement with a diverse range of communities. We will be engaging with a wide range of groups, including:
- West Hendon Residents
- Tenants of West Hendon Playing Fields
- Conservation and Nature Groups
- Accessibility-focused groups
- Sports Groups
- Schools in the area
- Voluntary, Community and Faith (VCF) groups
- Local councillors
We will also be consulting with the following organisations to ensure that our proposals meet statutory requirements. They include:
- Brent Council
- Sport England
- Greater London Authority
- Canal and River Trust
- Metropolitan Police
- Environment Agency
- Natural England
- Thames Water
- UK Power Networks
How will we be engaging?
We are committed to engaging with residents and stakeholders in a way that is:
- Resident-first: We put residents first and emphasise the importance of the local community in shaping our proposals.
- Existing Knowledge: We leverage existing knowledge bases and networks from voluntary organisations and other groups to ensure that all communities, especially under-represented groups, have an opportunity to participate.
- Transparent: We establish clear parameters of engagement from the beginning to promote honesty and transparency.
- Innovative: We use best practices and innovative approaches, both online and in person, to engage with the community.
- Engaging: We raise awareness of West Hendon Playing Fields and generate excitement for our proposals to ensure early activation.
- Tailored: We tailor our engagement topics to the specific aspirations and needs of the community and stakeholders.
- Ongoing: We engage and communicate throughout the project lifecycle to keep you updated and involved.
We believe that these principles will help us to build strong relationships with you and your community, ensuring all voices are heard as we develop the proposals for West Hendon Playing Fields.
Our Promise of Feedback - Your voice matters!
We will listen to and record every comment you make. Our communication channels will be open, consistent, and transparent. We offer both offline and online communication channels to ensure accessibility for everyone. At the end of each key stage, we will tell you how we incorporated your input into the design of the Playing Fields. Where feedback has not been incorporated, we will clearly explain why.
LINK TO KNOWLEDGE MAP to comment on different aspects of the park.
There was a Master Plan for the area back in a 2018 consultation that includes various proposals LINK
