NEARLY 20 different groups from across the political spectrum have formally formed a coalition to fight the massive Brent Cross Cricklewood Scheme.

Barnet Cyclists and Barnet and Enfield Friends of the Earth are among groups to have joined the new alliance to stop the £4.5 billion scheme.

Brent MPs Sarah Tether and Dawn Butler have also teamed up with the group, which includes ten residents' groups, and two other London transport groups.

Councillors from Brent and Camden have also given their backing to the coalition.

Barnet Council is set to decide the fate of the plans, which will see 7,500 new homes and 27,000 new jobs created on a 151 acre site, next Wednesday.

Group co-ordinator Lia Colacicco said: “We're not against regeneration completely, but we feel this particular plan is not sustainable.

“We believe Barnet Council will pass these plans, they have been working with the developers for more than ten years, but we want to put pressure on to get a planning inquiry.”

The group are unhappy with many facets of the plans, including transport solutions, the environmental impact and the scale of the project.

Last week a £1bn package of transport and social schemes was unveiled by the developer Brent Cross Cricklewood Development Partners.

They say investment in parking and roads through the package will mitigate the expected 9,000 extra cars coming to the area because of the plans.

Jonathan Joseph, the development manager, added: "We expect that by the time the development is complete, only a third of all daily journeys will be taken by car, as opposed to 70 per cent now."

Documents for the planning meeting will be released by Barnet Council tomorrow.