News from The Barnet Society

A planning inspector has given the go ahead for Barnet House, the twelve-storey vacant office block in High Road, Whetstone, to be converted into 260 flats with affordable workspace on the ground floor.

An artist's impression illustrates how Green Belt fields off Mays Lane, Barnet, are to be transformed into London's first purpose built equine therapy centre where challenged youngsters will be able to interact with specially trained horses.

Barnet parish church is to host the first concert of this year's High Barnet Chamber Music Festival -- and the two soloists on the opening night, French horn player Annemarie Federle and tenor Brenton Spiteri have been busy rehearsing.

Barnet Council, now under Labour control, is intent on building a new relationship with the borough's residents to ensure improvements in key areas such as planning, public amenities, bus services and the protection of the Green Belt and open spaces.

London's first purpose built equine therapy centre  -- where challenged youngsters interact with specially trained horses -- is to be established at derelict stables in Mays Lane, Barnet.

Barnet Council has rejected plans for the installation of a 20-metre high 5G network telephone mast on the approach road to Barnet Hospital, close to the mini roundabout at the junction of Wellhouse Lane and Wood Street.

An application is being made under the Gambling Act to open a bingo hall on Barnet High Street in the historic building that was most recently a branch of the TSB bank and which was formerly the offices of the Barnet Press weekly newspaper.

Barnet Medieval Festival's spectacular re-enactments, attracting ever-loyal audiences, are generating increased interest in the role played by the two Battles of St Albans, as well as the Battle of Barnet.

Displays by mounted knights in armour and men at arms were another first at the increasingly popular Barnet Medieval Festival, now in its fourth year. A record number of over 300 re-enactors and 70 medieval tents filled the Byng Road playing fields for the two-day festival.

The Barnet Society is collecting photographs and stories that captured the fun and friendliness of the many street parties held over the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

A veteran High Barnet motorcycling enthusiast, 86-year-old Peter Biles -- who bought his first motorbike just before the Coronation in 1953 -- was one of the veterans taking pride of place in the pageant The Times of Our Lives on the final day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Whitehall and The Mall.

With fine weather on bank holiday Friday, Platinum Jubilee street parties were the order of the day, and the party planners were delighted with the turn out. Road closures in and around High Barnet ensured there was no traffic to disrupt them, and a good time was had by one and all.

Objectors to a plan to install a 20-metre high 5G network phone mast on the main approach road to Barnet Hospital say it would have an overbearing impact on residents in nearby roads and perhaps become a potential health hazard.

With so few outlets available for small shopkeepers and with so little space for new businesses and shared working, Chipping Barnet Town Team has decided to take the initiative and open temporary accommodation for budding entrepreneurs in a prime location.

A newly opened recital hall at Queen Elizabeth's School for Boys is to host three concerts to be held in July as part of the second annual High Barnet Chamber Music Festival.

Opening the new £4 million Signature care home in Wood Street, High Barnet, was the first official duty for the newly installed Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Alison Moore.

What is being billed as The Big Picnic on Saturday 4 June on the lawn beside Barnet Parish Church will be one of the highlights of local celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend. Streets parties are being arranged in communities in and around High Barnet with a range of lunchtime and afternoon get-togethers.

Hadley FC, the oldest football club playing in Barnet, have won promotion to a higher league. Next season they are looking forward to hosting some high-profile local derbies at their ground in Brickfield Lane, Arkley.

Hadley Green's pink marble drinking fountain -- out of order for the last 50 years -- might possibly secure a new lease of life and once again offer walkers and even their dogs a refreshing drink of water.

Barnet High Street is to lose one of its convenience stores -- the Sainsbury's Local at 146 High Street is to close later this year. Sainsbury’s said the closure had been a “difficult decision” and the company recognised that this would be an unsettling time for the staff.