Campaigners fighting school build fail with High Court injunction bid (From Times Series)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news & views by texting TIMES NEWS to 80360, or email us
Campaigners fighting Etz Chaim school build in Mill Hill fail with High Court injunction bid
4:17pm Friday 12th October 2012 in News
By Chris Hewett
Campaigners opposing the build are taking their fight to a second judicial review
Campaigners failed to obtain an injunction to halt the building of a new primary school in Mill Hill yesterday but said they were “delighted” that the case will get an early hearing.
A group of residents, led by disabled rights campaigner Dan Coleman, is fighting the building of Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School, in Daws Lane, Mill Hill.
They say the former Wyevale Garden Centre site, which was used by up to 15 disability and elderly organisations, should be retained for community use.
Owners sold the grounds to the school’s trust and, after overcoming a judicial review into its initial decision, Barnet Borough Council granted final planning permission for the new education centre last year.
The group has applied for a second judicial review into the matter and, despite failing in their bid for an injunction yesterday, will have their case heard at an early-stage hearing on October 24.
Gaon Hart, one of the campaigners fighting the build, said: “The decision on the injunction was fair but we got what we wanted in terms of an early hearing.
“We didn’t want to have to wait eight months and for the school to turn around and say ‘it’s all built now, you can’t knock it down’.”
Building work started on the school earlier this year and nursery, reception and year one classes have already begun in a former Sea Scout building that forms part of the site.
The group’s legal argument is based on claims the local authority did not properly assess the impact that losing the community facility would have on vulnerable groups in the area.
It claims up to 1,000 people from 15 organisations, including the council’s own adult services group, have been put out by the sale.
The campaigners also claim to have already lined up its own buyers, which they say would retain the site for the community.
Mr Hart said: “We have nothing against the school but there are other schools in the area for the children and other sites available for the developers – the disabled people have nowhere to go.
“We’re looking forward to October 24 now – this is it.”
Etz Chaim governor Adam Dawson declined to comment on the High Court judge’s decision and Barnet Council says it is unable to make any statement due to the upcoming legal dispute.
Comments(25)
Pegasus_1943
says...
9:52pm Fri 12 Oct 12
If the above statement is an accurate quote from Mr Hart has he not just admitted that had the school's opponents' attempt to secure an injunction been successful it would have been unfair! If that's the case why bother? Another huge waste of time and money and all at the expense of us the poor tax payer! Truly shocking behaviour. Disgraceful. Shameful.
HF.
Pegasus_1943
says...
9:52pm Fri 12 Oct 12
If the above statement is an accurate quote from Mr Hart has he not just admitted that had the school's opponents' attempt to secure an injunction been successful it would have been unfair! If that's the case why bother? Another huge waste of time and money and all at the expense of us the poor tax payer! Truly shocking behaviour. Disgraceful. Shameful.
HF.
Pegasus_1943
says...
9:55pm Fri 12 Oct 12
james smyth
says...
1:14pm Sat 13 Oct 12
Im sure they are the actual landowners,who leased it to the garden center,who built the building but whose lease was up and couldnt afford the new rental proposed and at the same time money was on the table from camerons croonies for "free Schools" (nothing free at all about them...and if they are "free" then why do they have restrictions on who can go)
and Etzclamp or whoever they are,was offered the lease by Barnet and simnply used the money on the table to secure it,safe in the knowledge that planning would sail through because the Government are pushing "free Schools and they are leaseing the building from Barnet for just that, they cant lose ! So that area of Mill Hill will become another segmentated area,and everyday those "particular Mothers" (on telly at the mo making complete fools of themselves and their beloved religion,well its hardly about religion in its true sense,more about who can outdo each other,who can spend and flash the most cash at Bar and Bap ripp offs! will be causing chaos in their cars. How about a planning condition that children had to walk to the school? much healthier for all?
not a nimby
says...
2:06pm Sat 13 Oct 12
James Smyth - what a disgusting and poorly written comment you have made. Do not compare the families who have chosen to send their children to Etz Chaim (and yes you do know the name just choose not to be polite enough to use it) with the people who are on the TV programme. The ladies on that programme bear no resemblance to the families at the school.
Also, you clearly could have benefitted from some better education, given you very poor command of the English language, spelling and grammar.
Pegasus_1943
says...
2:36pm Sat 13 Oct 12
You appear to have a very limited grasp of the facts of this matter. I suggest you do some reading up on the subject and invest in a dictionary (and perhaps some English language lessons). Then learn to keep your stupid and frankly disgraceful comments to yourself.
HF.
Pegasus_1943
says...
2:39pm Sat 13 Oct 12
You appear to have a very limited grasp of the facts of this matter. I suggest you do some reading up on the subject and invest in a dictionary (and perhaps some English language lessons). Then learn to keep your stupid and frankly disgraceful comments to yourself.
HF.
james smyth
says...
3:36pm Sat 13 Oct 12
If your so enlightened on this matter then please furnish me with ALL the up to date info that YOU have.
Please also fully explain just which was so stupid and disgraceful in my comments.
Also why is it that you feel the need to have your say twiceYET again? Obviously you have a poor understanding of how to post an article,maybe it is you that need to do some reading up.
@ not a nimby
The school is for Jewish mothers to send their Jewish children to school,the TV programme is about Jewish mother of the year .
You say that there is no connection between the two,however you have your opinion and I have mine and the facts speak clearly for themselves,
Pegasus_1943
says...
4:53pm Sat 13 Oct 12
Also the school is not for only Jews. It is a school with a Jewish ethos open to all who apply and who either fulfil the religious or geographical. Not all children at CofE schools are practising Christians... Do some research before making statements.
For the record and before you jump to a conclusion I am neither Jewish nor have a family member connected to the school. I am simply bored of people constantly sniping at this school.
Grumblepop
says...
6:37pm Sat 13 Oct 12
james smyth (should that not be a capital J & S? (Maybe he does not know a noun from an adjective) has abused the English language to show his anti-semite self .
" Etzclamp or whoever they are" and "those "particular Mothers" making complete fools of themselves and their beloved religion"
We know that most of the time james smyth says...
Derek Collins
says...
9:30pm Sat 13 Oct 12
Here's hoping Barnet and the school put an end to the bitter, 'nimby', faintly racist objectionists.
Mike NW7
says...
3:53pm Mon 15 Oct 12
WhyaretheresomanyNIMBY'S
says...
5:38pm Mon 15 Oct 12
I believe I already know the answer.
not a nimby
says...
6:38pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Not every car that drives down Daws Lane is for Etz Chaim. Yes some of them are and it would be foolish to say they weren't BUT Goodwins school is just around the corner and many cars on Daws Lane are dropping kids there. Many people use the car park and then walk onto Mill Hill Broadway either for work or to catch a train. This is evident from the number of cars that are parked in the car park long after the school drop off has finished.
Pegasus_1943
says...
6:45pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Delighted you have posted on this article. I recall that you and your group stated that the some 500,000 people visited the old shop there each and every year. That would be an average of 1350 visitors each day 365 days a year. Therefore are you of the opinion that some 80 or so school children who are currently going to this school only 5 days a week and not at all during the school holidays are causing more issues than existed when around 175 people visited the old shop every hour?
Either your estimation of the popularity of the garden centre is exaggerated and flawed or you simply will say anything in opposition to this school. Which is it to be?
HF
Derek Collins
says...
8:04pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Fed up. A new school is going to brighten up Daws Lane. Daws Lane was baadly in need of investment everyone could see that!
Deal with it and stop wasting our money on a pointless, self centred, nimbyism crusade that the wider general public will feel in our pockets when our local authority has to push up It's Council Tax because of the mindless actions of the minority!
Mike NW7
says...
10:35pm Mon 15 Oct 12
I get sad when I think about my summers spent at the Lido, especially the summer of '76. Now we will have a high security fence around the swimming pool site and the only thing brightening up Daws Lane will be the yellow jackets of the security guards at the school staring at everyone as they pass by. So maybe in that sense Derek is right.
Barnet won't be pushing up the Council Tax, it's against their ideology and instead they'll push up the parking revenue by introducing charges to the Daws Lane car park given half a chance. Mark my words!
Chris Everington
says...
8:35am Tue 16 Oct 12
Mike NW7
says...
9:41am Tue 16 Oct 12
The danger is twofold - one, that the council introduce charges to the car park and existing commuters then park in the surrounding streets, and two, the council then use the excuse to introduce resident parking zones around Poets Corner. We will then pay, and pay through the nose for parking permits.
Have a google of other resident parking zones in Barnet and you will be struck by how much Barnet Council soak out of these unfortunate residents who have to live in Controlled zones.
Pegasus_1943
says...
10:12am Tue 16 Oct 12
For once I actually agree with you (well a little bit anyway). Many people fly parking in the daws lane car park to avoid the station car parking costs is not new and is not the fault of this school and its parents. It is the council who charge £5 a day to park at the station and I understand why commuters park up in poets corner to avoid it.
As Chris points out this is not the fault of the school or its parents who only use the car park for a short time slot. I understand being upset with the council on this matter but honestly feel it is wrong to try to lay the blame on the school.
Chris Everington
says...
4:54pm Tue 16 Oct 12
james smyth
says...
5:09pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Also as a result that would put paid to all the mothers driving to school and taking up all the parking,would just need a keen parking attendant to enforce it.
Chris Everington
says...
6:51pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Derek Collins
says...
8:43am Wed 17 Oct 12
Mind you, back in 1976 the building wasn't earmarked for a Jewish school.
Derek Collins says...
6:04pm Fri 12 Oct 12
Our very own Prime Minister commented on beating down the 'not in my back yard' objectors to free schools, in his Conference speech. I do hope the school wins through as they have been a total breath of fresh air for Dawes Lane and a complete pleasure during the many interactions I've had!
Stop wasting other peoples money!