Latest news on Barnet Market

The owners of Barnet Market have, since 2002, had planning permission to develop the market site,  providing for a stall market on the ground floor with flats above and a car park below.  The planning permission  was renewed in 2005,  but the owners have done nothing with the site other than to demolish the old market, lose many of the stalls and turn the site into an eyesore (in a Conservation Area).  Earlier this year they applied to the Council to further extend the planning consent.

This application was considered at a Planning Committee meeting on 13^th July 2011 . Despite the opposition of the Friends of Barnet Market (FoBM), represented at the meeting by some 70 residents, and passionate representations by our MP, Theresa Villiers and Judith Clouston, Chair of the Barnet Society on behalf of FoBM, a further extension of 2 years was granted.

The application was opposed by FoBM on the grounds that the development plan proposed by the owners does not provide a suitable home for the market and fails completely to provide adequate delivery or servicing.  Despite the strong representations against, the Planning Committee approved, by  one vote, the extension of the Planning consent for a further two years.

The FoBM Committee, on which Hadley Residents Association is represented, was very disappointed that approval was given for such an unsatisfactory development proposal.  However, we will continue to support the Market Traders who battle on in extremely difficult conditions. 

Please help by continuing to shop at the Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In additon to the fruit and veg stalls the very popular fish stall, and the flower and egg stall, household goods jewellery, etc, the comparatively recent bread and olive stall is well worth a visit as is the evn more recently arrived butcher, who travels from Devon on Saturdays to sell cured baco and much else, including, today, 'Barnet lamb'.

THE LONDON MAYOR’S OUTER LONDON FUND

You will have heard of Chipping Barnet’s success in winning over £416,000 from the London Mayor’s Outer London Fund for the regeneration of the High Street.

The High Barnet Town Team (comprising the Barnet Traders Association, Barnet Society, Barnet Residents Association and Hadley Residents Association) hosted an event at The Bull Theatre on 6^th September and presented to local residents and businesses the planned initiatives to rejuvenate our Town Centre arising from this award. 

These included such things as the planting of street trees, provision of hanging baskets on every High Street lamp post, guardrail removal, removal of disused phone boxes and other clutter, opening up and re-landscaping the church garden, improved signage and many other projects; also feasibility studies on curb realignment and pavement widening at the two pedestrian crossing points in the High Street and visual and safety improvements to the Wood Street/High Street junction.

There was also  an opportunity to hear about the 'Visit High Barnet' website which is being designed and about proposals being made to the London Borough of Barnet about parking facilities for shoppers.

All the town centre businesses, members of the three residents associations, other local stakeholders, Council Members, Council Officers and representatives of the local press were invited.