Author Archives: Mike de Jong

An Update from our Local Councillors

If we can help in any way, please do contact us:

Anne Clarke
cllr.a.clarke@barnet.gov.uk
07548 128 870
@anne_clarke
Alan Schneiderman
cllr.a.schneiderman@barnet.gov.uk
07920 740 956
@Alan_s01

Donoghue waste site: The good news is that Donoghue will be leaving its Claremont Road site following recent Council approval for a residential development on the site. We do not yet have an exact date yet for the move but expect it to be later this year. Along with residents, we have been pushing for Donoghue to go and it is happening far earlier than originally planned as part of the Brent Cross/Cricklewood regeneration. We are however aware that Donoghue vehicles are still using Pennine Drive despite a weight restriction being in place. We are continuing to raise this with the Council and are trying to get a site visit for officers to see what is happening for themselves and to follow this up with Donoghue.

Millennium Green: We are really pleased that as part of the planning application for the Donoghue site, the developers will be funding improvements to the green and are discussing this with the trustees.

Brent Cross Town Community Fund: This has been supporting local community projects since 2019. It has supported a wide range of organisations, from support services to sports clubs, childcare providers to community gardeners. This year will be the fund’s fifth birthday, and the plan is to make it bigger and better! The fund will launch in May 2023 with the award winners chosen by the community, alongside a panel of judges by July. If you are part of a community group and have a great idea, you can reach out to the team at Related Argent by emailing: community@brentcrosstown.co.uk.

Controlled parking zone (CPZ): Consultation on a CPZ to cover the Golders Green Estate is expected to start in the summer. More information can be found on the Brent Cross Regeneration website.

Brent Cross West station: This is expected to open in October and will provide an additional stop on the Thameslink line.

Buses: Transport for London have announced that the changes proposed last year to our local bus routes 189 and 113 are not going ahead and the routes will remain the same. There has been a more recent consultation on some small changes to routes, including 102, 189, C11 and 210: the destinations will remain the same but there will be some tweaks to the routes to allow them to serve the new Brent Cross West station and the new housing at Brent Cross Town. More information can be found on the TfL website.

Schools: Work to improve the environment around Claremont and Whitefield Schools is happening soon with new planters outside Claremont and painting of the fences around Whitefield.

Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm

An update from Anika …

Spring has sprung at Clitterhouse Farm at last! The days are getting warmer, the tulips are blooming beautifully … and the weeds are growing. There is so much to do at this time of year, and we would love extra help. The garden is open for Community Gardening sessions on Thursdays and Saturdays. With or without green fingers, pop in and give us a hand with weeding, watering, potting on or just pass by to say hello.

This year’s plant sale kicked off at the beginning of March. We have a good range of annuals and perennials available, all organically grown in peat free compost. Tomato seedlings will be for sale from next week.

Join us for a holler and a sing! The Yardbirds Choir meets on Thursdays, 6:30 pm – 8 pm. Everyone can join, no experience needed, no sheet music, no auditions, no pressure! Let’s just have fun! £7.50/session, coffee and tea provided.

“Mindfulness through Art”, “Introduction to Watercolour Painting” and “Hatha Yoga” sessions are happening throughout the month. Please check our website for more details.

Sunday, 7th May: Boozy Brunch! We are excited to be collaborating once again with our resident chef duo, Sean and Megan of Sean’s Loaf, who are both professionally trained Michelin chefs. We will bring you a great selection of brunch options and classic cocktails. Please visit our website to have a look at the menu and to book your seats.

Saturday, 13th May from 4pm: Night Market! Our Yard Night Markets are back every second Saturday of each month. Expect delicious food stalls, drinks, live music, arts & crafts to create on the day or to take away, plant sale, pressed flowers, pottery, handmade jewellery, art workshops, face painting, wood craft and much, much more.

Friday, 16th June: We are pleased to announce that the touring theatre company Shakespeare in the Squares will perform Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s glorious romantic comedy of mistaken identity in Clitterhouse Playing Fields. Tickets are on sale here now!

Annual General Meeting

The AGM of the residents association will take place on Sunday, 25th June from 5 – 7 pm in the Carey Hall, Claremont Road.

Do come and make your voice heard. Our five local councillors have been invited.

Volunteers for committee roles are always welcome.

Remember this Car?

Sue Jones from the Real Car Company in Bethesda, Gwynedd contacted us a few weeks ago.

She wrote that they had a 1930s Rolls-Royce car which in 1946 / 1949 was owned (as per the documents) by a B F Withy (Withey) of 8 Clifton Gardens, Golders Green. She was trying to find out some family details so that she could expand the file she has on the car.

Thanks to a resident who is a professional genealogist (see www.kerrywood.co.uk), 19 days later, Sue and the owner’s daughter – now in her 80s – were sharing stories. The car file is now complete and can be seen online here https://www.realcar.co.uk/view-cars/2564.

It is GGERA’s joy and strength to have such enthusiastic and proactive neighbours willing to help.

Community Skips

Barnet Council continues to provide a Community Skip Service to help residents get rid of large unwanted items.

This service is free to use and is available to all residents across the borough, but you will need to prove that you live in the neighbourhood.

You can find out when the next skip will be in the area by following the links here.

David Lang

It is with great sadness that we received the news of David Lang’s passing away on 3rd March. He was a well-respected resident and neighbour.

Former Handley Page apprentice and member of both the Handley Page Association and the Victor Association, he became a devoted Handley Page ambassador, raising awareness among residents, Barnet Council and the Brent Cross Regeneration about the amazing and innovative aeronautical past of this area.

It was thanks to him that we learnt about Handley Page’s innovative airplane designs and the setting up between the World Wars of Handley Page Transport – in particular its pioneering civilian aviation flight from London to Paris, starting from the former Cricklewood Aerodrome, now the Golders Green Estate. Handley Page Transport later merged with other companies to form Imperial Airways, now British Airways.

Golden Jubilee Exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the building of the Golders Green Estate on the site of the former Cricklewood Aerodrome. Seen from left to right are David Lang, former Handley Page apprentice and resident of the Golders Green Estate, Kay Pass a former Airwork air hostess and the guest of honour, Wing Commander R H McIntosh DFC AFC RAF (retired), popularly known as All-Weather Mac.
All-Weather Mac had a distinguished flying career which began in 1917 and lasted 54 years, flying in both world wars, between the wars and after the second world war. On this historic occasion, David Lang had arranged for All-Weather Mac to return to the site of Cricklewood Aerodrome 60 years after he flew the last international scheduled air service from Cricklewood Aerodrome to Paris, Le Bourget on 28th May 1921 in the Handley Page biplane airliner with the registration G-EATM. He flew this aircraft back to Croydon Aerodrome the following day.

David influenced and was always supportive of the Clitterhouse Farm Project, now Our Yard at Clitterhouse, and the Memories Local History Group.

His legacy will always be remembered.

Our sympathy goes to his family.

Golders Green

The Golders Green Town Centre is changing. Full details here. Local communities are invited to take part in community workshops and visit the What’s On page to see what’s planned. If you want to join the Town Team or contribute to their projects or join the mailing list, please email goldersgreentowncentre@gmail.com.

The Head Room Café is a café run by mental health charity Jami (website). It offers “so much more than just coffee and great food”. There are free daily groups and activities providing support and education to everyone, improving mental health, raising awareness and creating connection throughout our community. Check out their free Community Programme here.

Crown Pub Reopening

The new owners of the Crown Pub in Cricklewood sent us this information about the reopening last week.

The Crown London Hotel is excited to announce the opening of The Crown Pub & Grill. The iconic and historic Crown Pub was inaugurated by the Honourable Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Alison Moore. The event was attended by over 100 influencers including local MPs, local Councillors, and business leaders.

A terracotta, Grade II listed Victorian structure the Crown Pub was first constructed by the architects Shoebridge & Rising in 1899. The Crown Pub is part of the prestigious London Regional Inventory of Historic Pub interiors. The Crown Pub historically acted as a coaching tavern, lying on a local route that accommodated carriages passing between London, Elstree, Watford, and St Albans. In the 1880s, the London General Omnibus Company selected The Crown Pub as a terminus for their horse-drawn double-deckers operating between Marble Arch and North London.

The Crown Pub adjoins The Crown London Hotel, a unique, modern, and Victorian-style hotel that is an ideal base for touring some of London’s well-known attractions. Part of the exclusive World Hotels Distinctive Club, from Best Western, the hotel features 152 bedrooms and suites, conference rooms, and leisure facilities. It also offers a wealth of dining options in its stylish Grill Restaurant including modern-day British classic dishes with a strong focus on grilled meats and fresh fish options cooked to perfection. The Crown London Hotel and the Crown Pub are part of the fast-growing hospitality company, AG Hotels Group.

Learn more here. Or for more information, please contact Himanil Bose (himanil@aghotels.co.uk)

London Transport

London’s bus routes faced some drastic changes following cuts in funding. However, it looks as though the 113 and other routes are safe for now. The full list of changes is:
https://www.mylondon.news/lifestyle/travel/full-list-london-bus-changes-25705063

This article explains a number of changes you can expect to see on the London underground:
https://www.mylondon.news/news/local-news/london-underground-13-big-changes-25792022.

Brent Cross West station is due to open in 2023:
https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/brand-new-thameslink-station-set-25859759
https://transformingbx.co.uk/transformation/brent-cross-west/new-station/