JCoSS ditch Green Travel Plan?

[johnc]

Rumours abound in New Barnet, that JCoSS have ditched their green travel aspirations and now plan to just let all the 1310 pupils of their already oversubscribed school be driven in by private car.

I know there hasn't been a school travel plan meeting with Livingstone School for a good while.  Perhaps the rumour started due to the lack of regular meetings.   Or perhaps the meetings aren't happening because the rumour is more than just a rumour.  God, I hope not.

Does anyone know the truth of the situation please?

Thank you.

John.
PS - Here's the story abouth the oversubscription:
http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/topstories/5036872.New_Jewish_school_oversubscribed_before_it_even_opens/

[david howard]

The rumours appear to be based on some facts but nobody is entirely clear.   Apparently the officers  ( Planning and Education)are in dialogue with the school over the Green Travel Plan (GTP) but this could be normal discussions or  an argument over terms. They are not saying. At the planning stage NBCA was promised a seat at the table when the GTP was discussed.     We have never been invited.  For the past year two local residents who would be affected have taken it in turns to raise the issue at the Chipping Barnet's Residents Forum and been given the run around.

At the last public meeting of the East Barnet Ward Police Community Action  Panel we were informed that the school was reviewing the GTP. They did not consider the original proposals to be workable having regard to the large catchment area (17 miles radius) and anticipated many more parents driving their children to school. The police have concerns over the amount of increased traffic and parking congestion in the area.  There may be a need for more yellow lines and controlled parking.

There were concerns over the problems that the construction vehicles had caused with congestion and damage to parked cars. Apparently suggestions had been made about making the area a CPZ.  There was no support for this in the local community.

i have written to the two remaing ward councillors asking what action they propose taking to enforce the original GTP.   Cllr Rams has told me he is taiking the matter seriously and will come back to NBCA

[johnc]

I see that the Barnet Times have published two letters on this:

[Gins The Thing]

I'm so saddened to read this.  Are our worst fears about that wretched Green Travel Plan -  that it was bogus, of no substance and a mere ploy to push JCoSS through the planning application - about to be realised ?  All that arguing, all that campaigning we did fighting over this very issue. Blimey.

Y'know for the sake of local democracy and the notion of public consultation that Barnet Council relentlessly & so earnestly bark on about I really really hope we're way off on this.

[david howard]

Following my email to the two ward councillors and the articles in the press I was asked on a Saturday morning if Ben Rich from Jcoss  could meet me. The meeting took place at 9.00am on the Monday.  Member of the local community had been trying to find out what was going on for 15 minths and being fobbed of but then when it suited JCOSS they could meet at 44 hours notice over a weekend.   they are trying to spread a story that they were trying to set up residents meetings for some time but were unsuccessful.   This is not true.

The original green travel plan is in existence.  The school proposes to run between 3 and 5 buses depending on demand from next September.  the old buses start in year four has been dropped.   further details of how the buses will operate will be known in May and there will be a meeting in New Barnet Community centre  probably on 20th or 27th May (date and time to be confirmed).

The main issue that is causing concern is the dropping off point for the buses.   The original GTP agreed New Barnet Station and near the Jesters PH in Mount Pleasant.   There are problems with the station and for the first three years the school want to bring the coaches nearer to the school.   The Borough Education Dept travel plan officer made some singularly inappropriate suggestions about alternative dropping off points.   The Planners are acutely aware of the sensitivity of any changes and are actively holding the line on the original agreement.

It is a matter of regret that the school GTP officer is not aware of the history of transport to the school and even more reprehensible that neither is the borough's school travel officer.  JCOSS are in breach of their obligations under the planning reserved matters requirements but the council officers should have been chasing them sooner.   There has been a deliberate policy of excluding the local community which has now come back to bite them.  The school will open in September and once again the we are having to battle on two fronts (JCOSS and Council) to look after the interests of the local community.
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[david howard]

There will be a public meeting at 8.00pm on Thursday 27th May in New Barnet Community Centre.   Further details to follow nearer the day