Andrew Dismore

Andrew Dismore, Labour Parliamentary candidate for Hendon and London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden has launched a campaign against plans to develop the large area of land, 14 acres, uphill from Mill Hill cemetery. The land is between Milespit Hill and Woodcote Avenue.

Mr Dismore said:

“Barnet Council has already agreed, wrongly in my view, that the land has an established use as a cemetery. This is even though there are no graves in it and it has not been used commercially for at least 60 years for any purpose: its last known use was as a pig farm before WW2- It is now a haven for wildlife, including muntjac deer.

 “The planning application is for a giant multi faith mausoleum; columbaria (places for the public storage of urns holding deceased’s’ cremated remains) ; for a new access road (using a way that has been closed since before the war); a 43 space  car park, which would involve the destruction of trees with tree preservation orders on them; associated hard and soft landscaping;  and a maintenance shed. I understand plan also intends a one way road system on the site.

“This is a development that goes way beyond what should be permitted in the Green Belt and a mausoleum is not a cemetery.

“I believe the proposals have a much wider effect, including  not just the impact on green belt policy for Mill Hill  generally if the scheme is allowed to proceed,  but also for example additional traffic and disturbance in the wider area.

“I visited the land a few days ago, with representatives of the Westminster Association of Relatives (“WAR”) WAR, Mill Hill Preservation Society (MHPS) and Mill Hill Residents’ Forum, and we could see that the land had already been pegged out, even though planning consent has not been given as yet.

“The recent history of this land is relevant and controversial. It was originally owned by Westminster Council, and was sold with the cemetery itself and the ancillary buildings for 5p, in the notorious “sale of the cemeteries” scandal by Dame Shirley Porter, then leader of Westminster City Council, in the 1980s. The cemetery was badly neglected by its new owners to the extent that the vigorous campaign by the Westminster Association of Relatives ( “WAR”) forced the council to buy back the cemetery (and two others elsewhere) for several million pounds, obviously with Westminster sustaining a huge loss. However, the asset strippers won out: they kept this land (which was not then used for anything) the lodge which was converted to a residential dwelling, and other buildings.

“Co-incidentally, I was a Labour Councillor in Westminster throughout this time and was instrumental, as Labour spokesperson on the issue, in supporting the relatives’ campaign, so I remember the background very well.

“Westminster Council who again own the neighbouring cemetery have also agreed that the new owners have right of way across the existing cemetery to use the land as a cemetery ( but not for construction traffic) and are considering whether the existing  chapel can be used by the developers for their clients, if their plans are approved.

“This scheme is deeply worrying and represents a major threat to the Green Belt. I believe MHPS and the Mill Hill Residents’ Association are opposing the plans as are WAR. Barnet Council must not   give it planning permission if they are serious about protecting the Green Belt.

“I urge everyone who cares about the green Belt to back my campaign and to write to the Council objecting to this scheme.”