Agenda item

To provide an update to the committee in relation to Council activities during Quarter 2 & 3 (July-Nov 2023) in respect of the Welsh Harp / West Hendon Playing Fields

Prior to the presentation of the report, the Chair informed the Committee that a separate meeting was being arranged regarding the proposed construction of the Silkstream bridge to provide further information and have a more in-depth discussion on the concerns and queries of the Committee and local residents. The Chair then handed over to Harriet Duffield (Biodiversity and Conservation Officer, Barnet Council) who introduced a report that provided an update to the committee in relation to Council activities during quarter two & three (July-November 2023) in respect of the Welsh Harp and West Hendon Playing Fields.

To begin, Harriet Duffield detailed the work completed by the Community Safety Team during quarter two and three, which included removing illegal encampments and substances and completing intelligence-led weekend patrols. Furthermore, members noted that the Community Safety Team had been briefed regarding the public safety concerns arising from the planned Winter works and therefore they were carrying out patrols along the Reservoir in tandem with the security provided by the Canal & River Trust.

The Committee also heard that the new Volunteer Handbook had been distributed through the Barnet Green Spaces Network, with the Council actioning feedback from stakeholders to inform an updated version of the document. However, it was explained that in the meantime the processes outlined in the document would ensure that volunteering work conducted on London Borough of Barnet land was safe and covered by the Council’s insurance.

Members were advised that the contractors Maydencroft were undertaking survey work to inform the proposed extension of the West Hendon Allotments into their disused tenanted land. The scope of the project included ecological surveying before the production of a landscape concept plan then specification for works. It was outlined that the proposals would include new allotment space as well as conservation areas, a pond, orchard, apiary, and event space.

The Committee was informed that the Council had arranged contractors to undertake a winter deep clean of the site in January 2024; focusing on the site’s paths and areas of congregation. Moreover, the Barnet Greenspaces Team were working with the Canal & River Trust to aid litter removal during the Reservoir draw down and had contacted Natural England to investigate options to mitigate bankside litter around the Silkstream trash screen. Members were also made aware that two Canal & River Trust litter picks had occurred so far, and a litter pick organised by Friends of the Welsh Harp was scheduled for the near future.

In outlining the Council’s ongoing partnership work, members noted that the Council continued to work with Thames21 and the members of the Brent Catchment Partnership on catchment-wide projects such as the London Water Vole Recovery Program and were currently scoping survey locations at the Welsh Harp for American mink and water voles as part of this research, funded by the Mayor’s Rewild London Fund.

Regarding the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, the Committee heard that a review would soon commence so that the Council can collect and review baseline data which would include field surveys involving habitat mapping. It was explained that a consultation on the topic was planned for the new year and members’ involvement was welcomed.

In discussing the West Hendon Playing Fields Masterplan, it was detailed that the first two formal community engagement activities took place in November 2023, with these activities aimed to actively involve the community in informing the design development for the playing fields. However, members were advised that the online engagement platform, which included a survey, an interactive map and memory map, was still accessible and would continue to be open until 17 December 2023. In addition, statutory consultation meetings had been conducted with key entities such as the Metropolitan Police, Natural England and Sport England. Ongoing consultations were in place to ensure comprehensive engagement with relevant authorities.

Members were informed that the Planning Enforcement Team were working with Natural England to resolve the issues relating to damage to the SSSI from a development on neighbouring properties. In August, a retrospective application for the construction work was refused by the London Borough of Barnet Planning Department. On the week commencing 13 November 2023, Barnet Planning Enforcement served a notice to the property owner requiring the demolition of the outbuilding and the removal of the constituent materials from the property within four months of the date of the notice. The Committee was reassured that the Council was continuing to monitor the situation to ensure the required action was taken and no further damage was done to the SSSI.

In finalising the update, Harriet Duffield outlined that the Council were working with the Canal & River Trust and Brent Council to secure external funding to deliver the Council’s ‘Vision’.

In thanking Harriet Duffield for the update, the Chair welcomed questions from Committee members, with contributions summarised below:

•         In response to a query on the location of the illegal encampments, members were advised that further information on the whereabouts of the encampments could be provided outside of the meeting.

•         Members thanked the Canal & River Trust for removing and destroying rafts from the Reservoir and highlighted that the Canal & River Trust was also removing debris on the marshes and had placed an order for new rafts to be installed once the water had been refilled for the breeding season.

•         Regarding the vision for the West Hendon Playing Fields, the Committee was informed that the illustration used during the first round of engagement was used as part of a design competition and at the current stage of the project there was no concrete design proposals. It was explained that designs would be developed after the engagement period had closed.

•         Members noted that concerns relating to HGV traffic near the Broadway would be passed on to colleagues in the Highways Team.

Following the consideration of the main report, Harriet Duffield provided an update regarding the proposed construction of the Silkstream bridge. It was detailed that a feasibility study reviewing the design and construction method of the bridge had been completed, identifying that the carbon footprint of the bridge could be reduced by c60% and that it could be built using a lighter weight design. Furthermore, whilst no final decision had been taken, it was likely that the upkeep of the bridge would remain the responsibility of Barratt. The same was also true for day-day management issues, although this would need to be handled in close liaison with the Council team managing West Hendon Playing Fields. Lastly, it was outlined that a number of documents needed to be drafted as conditions of planning, which had been approved by Natural England.

In opening the floor to any questions from members, the Chair reiterated that a further meeting would be scheduled to provide a forum for a more in-depth discussion regarding the proposals for the Silkstream bridge. Questions, comments and responses are summarised below:

•         The Committee emphasised that the construction of the bridge would result in a disproportionate amount of damage to the SSSI due to the proposed position of the bridge, not the weight or construction method used to build the bridge. Members highlighted that there were alternative routes available which would still serve the purpose of providing access to the sports and playing fields and would reduce the damage to the SSSI significantly.

•         Members outlined the disturbance that the construction of the bridge would cause to wildlife in the area due to increased footfall, with the Committee explaining that surveys showed that birds were consistently taking flight due to high footfall.

•         Although recognising and welcoming the Council’s efforts to open further communication channels regarding the issue, the Committee stated that at the time in which the planning permission was granted the area had been wrongly evaluated as low-value wet woodland rather than historical wetland that had overgrown. Members explained that the area was not low-value land but rather a mosaic of habitats which supported the vitality of the SSSI which was not considered during the original planning application.

•         The Committee raised safety concerns relating to the original proposal as there was not any provision for lighting in the area.

•         Members highlighted that many local resident had signed a petition opposed to the construction of the bridge due to ecological and financial reasons, as residents had been informed by First Port that they would be responsible to pay for the upkeep of the bridge.

•         In response to concerns that the Barnet Labour Group was reneging on promises made regarding the bridge during their time in opposition, the Chair explained that the Council still held concerns relating to the construction of the bridge and reiterated that Barnet Labour would not have granted planning permission for the bridge if they were in power at the time of the planning application. Nevertheless, the Council was now in a position where planning permission had been awarded for the development which could not be unilaterally reversed, but options were being explored to mitigate resident concerns and the bridge’s environmental impact, such as exploring alternative designs.

•         In response to a query as to why the Council had not utilised their power to revoke or modify planning permission in exceptional circumstances, the Committee noted that the question could be raised at the planned engagement meeting where planning experts could provide a more detailed explanation.

•         Regarding whether too much money had been spent on the proposal to construct the bridge to abandon the plans, members were advised that this would be an issue to raise with Barratt rather than the Council.

In bringing the consideration of the agenda item to a close, the Committee welcomed Feargal Sharkey (Cool Oak Group) to the meeting who spoke on their fondness of the Brent Reservoir, River Brent and SSSI and welcomed the additional meeting on the Silkstream bridge to have an open discussion to progress the issue. In concluding the agenda item, the Chair reiterated that further details relating to the Silkstream bridge would be provided at the additional meeting and details of the meeting would be distributed once they had been arranged. As no further issues were raised, the Committee AGREED to note the report.