Now help us get to 2,000 signatures to get a policy review at the March Environment Committee
The Barnet Labour petition to stop the Council building solar panel farms on Barnet’s parks has reached 1,000 signatures in just seven days.
Labour councillors are urging people to continue sharing the petition with friends, neighbours and family to help get to 2,000 signatures by mid-February, which will secure a review of the policy at the 11 March Environment Committee.
The petition has already been shared by many residents’ associations and community groups concerned about the Council’s plans that will restrict access and reduce space at some of Barnet’s parks.
The forty-five parks and green spaces at risk are all on the Council’s ‘low quality/low value’ list – a category that was invented by the Barnet Conservatives to justify investing less money in some parks.
A Labour motion to scrap the scheme was rejected by the Conservatives at last week’s Full Council meeting (19 January). Every single Conservative councillor present voted against the Labour motion.
The scheme to generate money from building renewable energy facilities in parks was announced at the last Environment Committee.
Labour councillors believe there is other land that the Council owns that would be more suitable for this purpose, and there should be a red line on building anything on parks apart from play equipment or other parks facilities that enhance and improve access to and use of parks.
Barnet Labour’s Environment spokesperson, Cllr Alan Schneiderman said: “It’s amazing that over 1,000 people have signed our petition so quickly, but it’s not surprising. The plan by Conservative councillors to build on Barnet’s parks is outrageous. It’s clear that Barnet residents value our parks and open spaces, and want to protect them from development.”
Ends.
Notes:
- A link to the petition can be found here: https://www.barnetlabour.org.uk/2021/01/19/stop-building-on-barnets-parks-petition/
- A copy of Cllr Clarke’s motion can be found here: https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s62975/Opposition%20Amendment%20to%20Opposition%20Motion%2014.2.pdf
- A copy of the 45 parks deemed ‘low quality/low value’ can be found here: https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s28489/Figure%20AI.13%20-%20Low%20ValueQuality%20and%20Undesignated%20Sites.pdf
- A copy of the Environment Committee budget proposals including this scheme can be found here (Line ENV12): https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s61216/Appendix%20A%20-%20Business%20Planning%20Savings%20Template%20Environment%20Committee%20-%20MASTER%20v12.pdf