tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post7040405075100266317..comments2024-01-30T07:41:20.885+00:00Comments on Broken Barnet: Wrecking Ball, or - Mrs Angry's Basement Tapes: building enforcement in the age of 'Re' - the Barnet Tory-Crapita Joint VentureMrs Angryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-54105140755649868122017-01-17T11:04:39.117+00:002017-01-17T11:04:39.117+00:00You are right, Anon, to draw attention to the fact...You are right, Anon, to draw attention to the fact that despite approval only - presumably - being given last night, work has been taking place in library buildings. We can only speculate why this is so. But the whole nature of consultation in Barnet is a sham, as the current Tory administration & their officers have nothing but contempt for the wishes of residents, except in the case of a threat to being re-elected in a marginal ward.<br /><br />I will be writing about the library destruction soon, if I have the energy, as there are clear signs of a change in the council's stated proposals and what will actually be happening, or potentially happening once the physical assault takes place.Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-67397909977207471202017-01-17T08:51:06.965+00:002017-01-17T08:51:06.965+00:00I wouldn't hold my breath about the council ch...I wouldn't hold my breath about the council changing planning arrangements, since they are "bulldozing" ahead with their plans to reconfigure Barnet's library buildings. For example, Chipping Barnet's library has been closed for building works for the last few weeks, even though the planning meeting to approve those works takes place this evening, l7th January.<br /><br />Also, on the topic of libraries, I responded to the document sent out in regard to the changes of opening hours at Burnt Oak, and attach here a copy of my email to my councillors.<br /><br />Dear Councillors,<br /><br />Recently, Barnet's councillors asked borough residents to comment on the plans to change library buildings, part of the current restructuring process which means many library staff will lose their jobs. Responding to what they say is a need for libraries to be open in some cases between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., the council have begun to install an automated system accessible to library card holders, so that some libraries can be used when unstaffed.<br /><br />I objected to the new proposed opening hours for Burnt Oak library, citing Saturdays, where the hours were listed as between 2 and 5 p.m, thus cutting out the entire morning, which is in many cases the only time people can visit the library. Yesterday I read the reply to my objection in the report that was sent out. This is what it said:<br /><br />"The opening hours proposed are set out within paragraph 4.6 of this report. The opening hours show that there would be an increase in the opening hours of the library, albeit with a reduction in hours that the library is staffed."<br /><br />There is no paragraph 4.6 in the report. There is however a section marked 3.6 which simply represents a chart showing the staffed and unstaffed proposed opening hours. Not only does this chart differ from the large noticeboard in Burnt Oak library, for example, the chart shows weekday mornings as beginning at 7 a.m. and the noticeboard reads 9 a.m., but in addition, someone - presumably a council employee - has pasted what looks like a piece of grey tape over the section for Saturday morning. According to the chart AND the board "grey" means "closed." <br /><br />So I could be charitable and make allowances for a mistake in the numbering in the report, or even a mistake in the communication process that led to the discrepancies between the board in the library and the documents that were produced. But it's a bit harder to accept the cold dismissal of my objection and its implication that I didn't read the proposal properly. I did.<br /><br />I think any proposals to change the opening hours of Burnt Oak library should be shelved and planning permission denied, until these changes are outlined with clarity and accuracy. I would be pleased to learn that you support my views and to that end make representations to that effect at the planning meeting scheduled for 17th January.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-86348451493670801992017-01-16T18:43:57.359+00:002017-01-16T18:43:57.359+00:00All reasonable questions to put to the council, I ...All reasonable questions to put to the council, I would say, and whatever other appropriate bodies there may be. It really is very worrying that there appears to be no effective scrutiny of building work in this borough now. This puts residents and property at risk, as well potentially as workers on building sites, and is simply not acceptable in terms of contract performance from a privatised service. Mrs Angryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586223909475832791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6371203489316363738.post-62914408203284577482017-01-16T17:57:55.928+00:002017-01-16T17:57:55.928+00:00Since the last wall was removed in December 2016, ...Since the last wall was removed in December 2016, new walls have been built and deep excavations have taken place. Multiple beams have been inserted into the ground and tons of concrete have been poured as piling machinery and men worked relentlessly on despite the fact that no planning approval exists any more for the site.How do you extend and convert when not one bit of the original house remains?<br /><br />It is disgraceful that enforcement did not stop the works until it could be verified that any development was allowed. This development has been approached in a totally unsatisfactory manner. What is the point of a planning and building control department when it cannot regulate what developers can or cannot do? The most obvious reason for a stop notice would be that whatever is being built might be dangerous if it has not been approved.<br /><br />With the pavement works being carried out by the council and the big machinery and delivery trucks that are turning up at the site regularly, pedestrians and motorists have had a terrible time in the last 2 months.<br /><br />The workers are not wearing appropriate footwear for a construction site, there is mud and mess on the pavement daily and now a land collapse!!<br /><br />Is the development company,CDEG Ltd, building with with competent contractors? The poor neighbours! <br /><br />This is absolutely unacceptable. Who pays for all this extra inconvenience and stress? If work is being carried out, then surely someone from building control must be documenting and signing off stages of work against plans submitted to the relevant department.Oh wait.. there are no plans or at least the plans submitted are for a different application where a house is still standing.<br /><br /><br /><br />I Live On Vivian Avenuenoreply@blogger.com