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Residents clash over size of regeneration

by TOM SPENDER

Stonegrove and Spur Road estate residents who want to see immediate regeneration of their homes locked horns with other Edgware residents who are uneasy about the scale of the project on Tuesday evening.

More than 100 people crammed into the Green Lane community centre for an impassioned debate at the Edgware, Burnt Oak and Mill Hill Area Forum.

There was growing animosity between estate residents and the wider community, with each group accusing the other of selfishness.

And two of Edgware's three Tory councillors signalled their opposition to any scheme involving so many homes (1. 375) and tower blocks (the current plans include one 20-storey block). This could spell trouble for cabinet member for housing Councillor Brian Salinger should the matter come to a council vote.

Estate residents say living conditions in their blocks are fast becoming unbearable as the buildings come to the end of their 50-year lifespan.

Rita Bowden, of Garrick Court, said: "The condensation in my flat is so bad 1 can't sleep on one side of my room because I would get bronchitis. And it's getting worse. We can't wait for another five years of consultation. We have voted for the regeneration. "

But residents from outside the estate who far outnumbered estate residents at the meeting submitted a petition with 350 names to Barnet Council de- manding an

a b a n d o n m e nt o f the scheme until the whole of Edgware ward is consulted.

Stuart Niman, of Green Lane, said: "We are facing our properties devaluing like crazy. I don't believe the high-rise flats will sell and they will end up being council [housing]. "

And Tory Edgware councillors Helena Hart and Joan Scannell signalled they were prepared to rebel against the council over the issue.

"We are totally in favour of regenerating the estate. But we totally oppose any scheme which would squeeze substantially extra units per hectare onto the site, almost doubling the population.

"It will place an unbearable burden on existing infrastructure and exacerbate traffic problems. We want to pull down the tower blocks — we have always been told this was to be a low-rise development. We don't want to change the character of Edgware. " they said.

Brian Salinger, cabinet member for housing — who was at the meeting — said: "The Government and the Greater London Assembly are demanding that sites like this are maximised. If they are not, they will not approve it.

"It's the only way money can be guaranteed to make the regeneration a reality. "

There will be a public meeting to debate the matter further.

The Greengrove Partnership — made up of Family Housing Association, Unitary Construction and HTA architects -- has submitted an outline planning application to the council.

tspender@london.newsquest.co.uk

Tories divided over massive regeneration bid for estate

SPLIT OVER
£170M PLAN

THE £170million regener-
ation plans for the Stone-
grove and Spur Road estates were plunged into doubt after a split emer-
ged in Barnet Council's ruling Tory group.

Two Edgware Conservative councillors revolted against the plans to more than double the size of the estate at Tuesday night's area forum.

Councillor Helena Hart told the crowd, which spilled out of the estate's community centre onto the street, that they could, not support plans which drastically increased the population of the area in high-rise blocks.
To loud cheers, she said: "We

are totally, totally in favour of the regeneration of the Stonegrove estate.

"But we are totally opposed to any redevelopment which will squeeze in substantial extra units per acre onto the site, in effect almost tripling, the existing population. "

Under the plans, the Edgware estate would be expanded from 587 homes to 1, 375, including blocks up to 20-storey tall.

Former mayor Joan Scannell added: "I spent 20 years working in the housing department. I am only too aware of the social problems there can be, even with ten-storey blocks. "

Tenants on the estate, who have been helping to shape the plans for about four years, criticised them for trying to wreck their hopes of new homes.

Steering committee member Ingrid Beal said: "We want to knov, why the two councillors never came to one of our meetings and voiced their worries at the time. "

Cabinet member for housing

Brian Salinger refused to comment on the councillors' revolt or whether he had the support of his cabinet colleagues.

But he said: "We have got to do something because the buildings have come to the end of their useful life. "

The number of buildings had to be increased dramatically to provide private homes for sale which would fund the new social housing, he said.

Ian Johns, director of development with the Greengrove regeneration partnership, said the scheme may see some changes as a result of residents' opposition but denied it had lost the confidence of the council. He said: "We are listening and working to find a solution for the benefit of the whole community. "

Labour leader Phil Yeoman said: "It seems like the Tories are up to their same old tricks of party splits. Not only do they not consult residents, the cabinet doesn't seem to consult its own group. "

These are the two articles published by Edgware and Mill Hill Times, and “The Press” (Edgware and Mill Hill Edition)
One is by Tom Spender (Edgware and Mill Hill Times), the other by Joseph Lee ("The Press"). It is worth noting, that although this is reporting the same meeting, the different approach.