New vision promised for the Welsh Harp by all three owners

Following sustained pressure from campaigners, the owners of the Welsh Harp - Canal and River Trust, Barnet Council and Brent Council - have officially formed the new Welsh Harp Strategy Group and commissioned environmental architect-strategists, DK-CM, to put forward a new 'vision' for the beleaguered reservoir. The public is invited to submit ideas.

Joint management plans have existed before, in which many of the essential recommendations have been little more than expensive pipe dreams.

This time, a fund of £500,000 for SSSI mitigation measures from the Hendon Waterside development is due from Barratt PLC. While some of this money has already been spent, it is known approximately 70% is still awaiting allocation.

Let's hope this money can kickstart real amenity improvements and ecological protections at the Welsh Harp, and begin to breathe new life into this historic green space.

It is thought the vision will be made public in early 2022.