There were cheers from the packed public seating at Hendon Town Hall tonight as Barnet’s planning committee gave the green light for an enlarged Hasmonean High School.
By the narrowest of margins, six votes to five, the committee overturned the recommendation of its planning officers to reject the proposal, primarily on Green Belt considerations.
Councillor Melvin Cohen, chair of the planning committee and a Hasmonean old boy, said “an exceptional case has been made to override the Green Belt consideration”. Councillor Wendy Prentice, the committee vice-chair, had argued that approving the plans would set a dangerous precedent.
In an impassioned address to the meeting, Hasmonean parent Anushka Levey said general facilities at the boys’ and girls’ sections were “woefully inadequate” and the proposal represented a once in a lifetime opportunity.
