The committee has been particularly active this year and appears to be making progress in a number of areas.

Demolitions: Consam is concerned at increasing numbers of applications for demolition of houses. As a result of our lobbying, HGS Trust has published a policy document, Guidelines for Demolition/Rebuilding, which we hope will reduce the number of future consents.

Denman Drive Garages development: HGS Trust agreed to delay considering the application until after the Public Meeting. Consam drafted a letter of objection which was sent by the RA Chairman to LBB (London Borough of Barnet). The developers subsequently withdrew their application from HGS Trust and have not pursued it with LBB.

Satellite Dishes: LBB has agreed to take enforcement action against a dish on a Grade II listed building. LBB and HGS Trust have been supplied with a list of 82 further infringements. We continue to lobby HGS Trust and/or LBB to take enforcement action over these and the Trust has agreed, in the first instance, to write a letter to these residents.

Burglar Alarms: HGS Trust at our suggestion has published a policy document, Guidelines for Siting of Burglar Alarms.

Trust Procedures: We have asked HGS Trust to ensure that if there is any change in a planning application, then neighbours are always notified so they have a chance to comment on the revised plans. We have also asked them to ensure that all residents in a Close are notified of any planning application in the Close.

Planning Applications: We have two members sitting on the HGS Trust Property and Plans Committee (PPC) and LBB Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CAAC). Our members participate actively on these committees and we feel they have significant influence.

Conservation Areas: Immediately adjoining the HGS Garden Suburb Conservation area are two small conservation areas comprising two streets, Spaniards End and Heath Passage, which used to be in Camden. LBB has agreed to consider amalgamating these with the HGS Conservation area at the next review and also including the Manor House Hospital site.

Consam is lobbying London Borough of Barnet to reduce street clutter and produce a better designed street environment.

The Eruv: We have been campaigning for an alternative to steel Eruv poles in Wildwood Road. As a result LBB has said that the Eruv Committee has agreed to wooden poles at this location. However, the City of London has declared that it owns this section of Wildwood Road and will not give permission for any poles, so it may be that the Eruv will not go ahead in this location.

Royal Mail Pouch Delivery Boxes: We persuaded the Royal Mail to withdraw planning applications for 22 Pouch Delivery Boxes within the HGS Conservation Area.

Cable & Wireless has agreed to relocate eight very large and unsightly new cabinets at four locations as a result of pressure brought by Consam and HGS Trust.

Disabled Parking Posts and Bays: LBB has resited two new disabled parking posts in Oakwood Road and reduced them in height from 2 metres to 1 metre. It has also agreed to use the new style in future locations and reduce the size of the words painted on the road from 18 to 14.

Street Name Signs: LBB has agreed to refurbish existing street name signs and not to site them at high level as they do elsewhere in the Borough. They have removed one such sign in Litchfield Way after we complained. We are continuing to press for the removal of all new signs in the Conservation area containing the blue Barnet logo.

New Footpath Signs etc: We have asked LBB to consult on any new future signs.

Neighbourhood Watch Signs: While we support the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, we take the view that the new design for the signs is unsuitable for the HGS Conservation area and have requested LBB to defer implementation until after it has consulted with relevant bodies. We are negotiating with the Police, Neighbourhood Watch and LBB.

Police Trap Signs: We have asked LBB under what authority these signs have been erected. We have asked the Police to consider erecting these for a temporary period of only 6 months in any one location. We await replies.

Kerb parking: We are continuing with the pilot scheme of discouraging people from parking on grass verges by use of a leaflet. This has been very effective with one notable exception.

Guided walks: Members of the committee led guided walks around the Artisans’ Quarter in June and October.

Use of E Mail: As most of the committee’s members have E mail, we are experimenting with the distribution of minutes and internal correspondence by E mail. This enables the whole committee to participate in discussion between meetings.