Anyone with trust in Barnet Council s commitment to putting the community first would have had that badly shaken if they attended last week s two-night planning committee session that approved the Brent Cross Cricklewood (BXC) application. Many opposing s
Anyone with trust in Barnet Council's commitment to putting the community first would have had that badly shaken if they attended last week's two-night planning committee session that approved the Brent Cross Cricklewood (BXC) application.
Many opposing speakers affirmed that they supported regeneration, but had encountered huge shared opposition to what is being planned.
"We are genuinely sorry" that not everyone agreed, said Jonathan Joseph, head of the BXC Partnership, but he was sure that the majority of residents supported the plans.
A government policy directive calls upon local authorities to "secure the highest viable" energy efficiency and emissions reduction. So, climate change should be an overriding objective, not giving way to Mammon and motor cars.
One councillor said he understood the energy-from-waste (EfW) facility and chimney up to 140m high (for CO2 and other emissions) were needed to cut carbon emissions. Who persuaded him of this doublethink?
The BXC partnership claims a 60 per cent emissions cut from doing this, because it would cut out methane emissions from landfill. Yet those emissions will be cut anyway as government incentives reduce landfilling, and more organic waste goes to enclosed digestion. It is not necessary for this to burn or gasify residual waste. In fact that is largely a separate question.
Anyway, if like others you disagree that this application is sustainable development, please tell the Secretary of State as soon as possible.
Jim Roland
Golders Gardens NW11
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here