This meeting will include updates from the London Boroughs of Barnet and Brent on their activities at the Welsh Harp. The Environment Agency and the Canals and River Trust will also be providing updates on their recent work at the reservoir.

Welsh Harp Management Plan

The meeting report pack includes an update on the Brent Reservoir / Welsh Harp Management Plan, last updated in 2016. The plan is jointly managed by three organisations: The Canal and River Trust, Barnet Council and Brent Council. An action plan is included in the report pack, which details the progress that has been made on implementing the management plan and highlights the key issues and projects affecting the reservoir.

The actions in the accompanying Action Plan (Appendix A) are achievable over varying time-frames, though many are not affordable in the short term.
Extract from: Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee November 2024 v 12 11 2024

The report pack says that the action plan will be re-profiled and the works will be prioritised and closely monitored. It also notes that several of the projects in the action plan will need to be grant funded.

Welsh Harp Vision

The report pack mentions the Welsh Harp Vision, a plan for the reservoir published in July 2023. The plan was a collaboration between the Canal and River Trust, Barnet Council, Brent Council, The London Wildlife Trust, The Greater London Authority, Thames21 and other partners. According to the report pack, the organisations involved in the vision are seeking grant funding for some of the projects in the plan, and are considering applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant.

Welsh Harp Centre

The report pack states that Brent Council is currently considering plans for the future of The Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre and is being assisted by Thames21 who currently maintain a presence at the centre.

Marshland

The report pack states that marshland habitat at the reservoir is at risk of scrub encroachment, and that willow and scrub growth has exceeded the rate of management work over the past two decades. It says that the area of marshland (including fen, marsh and swamp) decreased by 0.3 hectares between 2008 and 2016.

Estimates from GIS aerial images suggest that the area of marshland (including fen, marsh and swamp) reduced by 0.3 ha between 2008 and 2016, due to succession to scrub woodland.
Extract from: Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee November 2024 v 12 11 2024

Invasive Species

The report pack states that invasive species at the Welsh Harp include Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed, and that the Brent River Catchment Partnership are investigating how to better control invasive species throughout the whole catchment.

Cool Oak Lane bridge

According to the report pack, Barnet Council will be leading on the provision of a new pedestrian bridge alongside the existing vehicular bridge at Cool Oak Lane.

London Borough of Barnet - Welsh Harp Update

The meeting report pack contains a report on the activities of Barnet Council at West Hendon Playing Fields, which are adjacent to the reservoir. The report notes that there have been no reported incidents of illegal encampments at the playing fields, and that the council is continuing to work with partners to identify and remove encampments.

West Hendon Playing Fields Master Plan

The report pack states that work on the West Hendon Playing Fields Master Plan is ongoing. The most recent update on the Master Plan was provided to the council's Policy and Resources Committee on 16 July 2021, and was included in the agenda for that meeting. The report pack says that the project is progressing, and that designs will be made available to the public in early 2025.

Welsh Harp and SSSI management

The report pack notes that Natural England¹ has changed the way it handles notices for works that require SSSI¹ assent.

Litter

The report pack says that a new approach to litter management at the reservoir was trialled over the spring and summer of 2024. The report pack describes how contractors employed by Barnet Council carried out a two-day litter pick in May 2024, with the waste collected by a licensed operator. Another litter pick is scheduled to take place in January 2025.

Bird hide

Barnet Council says it is committed to improving the bird hide at the reservoir and will carry out an options appraisal in April 2025 when the council's financial position is clearer.

Damage to the SSSI

The report pack details how damage was caused to the SSSI by building work at a property on Cool Oak Lane. The report pack says that Barnet Council served an enforcement notice to the property owner in May 2023, and that a subsequent retrospective application for a certificate of lawfulness was refused by the council in August 2023. It states that the council served a further notice in November 2023 requiring demolition of the outbuilding and removal of the materials within 4 months. As of November 2024, the appeal against the latest notice was still in progress.

As of November 2024, the appeal is still in progress. Unfortunately appeals take a significant amount of time to process. The planning inspectorate publish the average time taken for enforcement appeals, which is currently close to a year.
Extract from: 20241125 Committee Report Welsh Harp - Barnet