An unhappy compromise

Dec 10 2009 Harrow Observer

GOOD news for once - the Metropolitan Police have stated that they want to modernise the Peel Centre in Colindale and release the land containing the running track and several playing fields.

Since this site is so near the A5 and the Northern line, many of the youth of Harrow and Brent will have excellent new facilities, only a few minutes from home. This is a great way to provide an 'Olympic legacy', for sporting excellence on the track, and team-building in football and rugby.

Oh, wait a minute.

I seem to be mistaken. Actually, Barnet Council is trying to tear up such a plan and wants to build blocks of flats on the site instead. The council has created a strategic Colindale Area Action Plan, substantially paid for by private developers, and the site shows pictures of flats on all that land (with a 'spine park' down the middle).

The parallels with the current Brent Cross debacle are remarkable. The council first takes funding from developers under a planning process agreement. It then develops a strategy for land use which, with the best will in the world, must be compromised by the funding it has received.

The Metropolitan Police are also in no hurry to retain this land in public ownership. It is possible that a campaign can be mounted to try to preserve the current running track and playing fields, and bring them into public use. However, when a planning application is submitted in a few years' time, the council will say that the land use was finalised in 2009 and, yes, destroying the sporting facilities is fine.

Do older readers remember the days when local authorities promoted what they felt was the 'public good', instead of merely being there to service the needs of private developers?

JOHN COX Address supplied