The case for Cricklewood redevelopment

Any major redevelopment, such as the one proposed for Cricklewood, is bound to generate strong feelings. Many aspects of the scheme will be changed as the plans are developed. Barnet as a council seek to listen to all sides and make decisions in line with the policies agreed as best for the borough. Protest groups hail minor changes as "great victories". Blogger claim success as minor details are changed.

All of these comments neglect to mention the fact that the council have a huge task managing such applications. Staying the same is not an option. Sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette. The job of the council is to do what's best for everyone. If every development that ever upset anyone was abandoned, we'd all be living in mud huts.

Like all major road, rail and airport developments, there is a mass of objections. When the new resources are finally opened, the protestors use them just the same as everyone else and we all end up asking ourselves what the fuss was all about. When the fantastic scheme at Cricklewood is finally finished, I'm sure it will be the same.

A great place to start with the Easycouncil

The news this week was dominated by a malicious blogger who having insulted the Mayor of Barnet, went running to the Standards Committee when the Mayor gave him a bit of his own medicine. Unlike the legal system where the cost of legal fees discourages this sort of thing, the blogger got the whole thing free, courtesy of the taxpayer.

Maybe this type of case and the numerous other trivial freedom of information act requests, costing hundreds of pounds would be a great place to start with Mike's Easycouncil concept. You could still file silly complaints, you could ask all the questions you like about the cost and thickness of the leaders toilet paper, but you'd have to pay for privildge.

That would save millions up and down the country. Lets face it, who else is served by this ridiculous waste of money, other than malcontents and self publicists who only launch complaints to see themselves on telly