Wisdom of Solomon (From Times Series)

Wisdom of Solomon

4:07pm Sunday 5th April 2009

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It was an eventful Finchley and Golders Green Planning Sub Committee last Wednesday evening. The public gallery was standing room only; the main interest being a planning application for an orthodox Jewish School in Golders Green Road.

(Naturally, the Microphones did not work so we all had to shout to be heard.) The schools site has along history. The Council is threatening to take out an injunction if the school continues to operate with out planning permission. Planning officers were recommending that the present application should be refused. To be fair to the Officers they did not have much choice. The school had already lost an appeal and the latest application was not materially different (it may have been exactly the same) to the application turned down by a Government Planning Inspector. The main reason for refusal was loss of residential accommodation and noise and disturbance.

Unusually, we were told that failure to refuse could lead to Judicial Review and costs to the Council. I remarked that this made a change to the advice often given that we were open to costs awarded against the Council if we refused an application!

Well I made the point that Councillors sometimes should use their local knowledge of an area in coming to their decisions. In this case I thought the school was fulfilling a vital role in the community. Golders Green Road is a mix of all types of uses. I could not persuade the majority of my colleagues so the application was refused. Many dejected and disappointed supporters of the school slowly filed out the room.

Next up was Grove Lodge in Regents Park Road, again. This was a subject of a previous blog. I am beginning to lose track of the issues in this case. But, whatever, the committee again refused an application from the developer for a relaxation of a condition relating to road safety.

We were then entertained and instructed into the methodology of testing whether a tree is so diseased that it has to be removed. I was particularly struck by the technical term “presler borer” (a few of those on the council I thought to myself).

The application was to remove a Willow Tree, the subject of a TPO. The tree is situated in Lydale Avenue NW2. This tree had been the subject of many applications in the past. An objector told the Committee that he suspected the tree had may be been deliberately neglected. I could not possibly comment. Clearly this tree was beyond saving. The Committee insisted that as a condition of the felling a suitable replacement tree must be planted.

An application to demolish a large detached house in the Garden Suburb was agreed; to be replaced by an even larger one. We were told that the existing house is out of character because it is too small!

I had observed earlier in the meeting that we needed to be blessed with the Wisdom of Solomon (a wag shouted out or the patience of Job), when it came to determining planning applications. Then would you believe it King Solomon himself made an appearance. Well not exactly, but in the shape of the King Solomon Hotel in Golders Green Road. We gave permission for an extension to the hotel (already built!) but not before we insisted that the applicant sorted out the car parking.

Who says planning is boring.