RESIDENTS in Brunswick Park are concerned with plans for a new “community hub” to replace a health centre which burned down earlier this year.

More than 80 people signed a petition against the planned new centre, which would be built on green park land away from the site of the Brunswick Park Health Centre which closed in January.

Barnet Council also wants to locate Osidge Lane Library and a nursery, as well as a special needs Acorn Centre at the site, and has brought forward plans which would see Metropolitan Open Land replaced by the existing health centre and library sites.

There will also be a new user and staff car park at the current entrance to the park, although there are no plans to widen a service road serving the primary school there.

Plans have now been submitted to Barnet Council for planning permission, after councillors discovered Government cash could be taken away if building had not started by September.

However, many residents are unhappy with the designs, which would create an "island" of dozens of houses between two major roads and a new car park.

Susyn Northwood, who has lived in her Osidge Lane home all her life, said the proposals would encroach on the back of her home and cause a traffic problem on the narrow service road.

The 52-year-old told the Times Series: “The health centre has been there for years, so why can't they rebuild it in that site? The library suits people round here, we don't need it replaced.

“We have a lovely large green space out the back which will be ruined if they build this. People use it to walk their dogs and play football, it's a real community asset.

“The new plans would move it right behind our homes and cause hundreds more cars every day to come down Osidge Lane, which already has traffic problems.”

She added: “At the moment it's a real green haven for people. We have a lot of birds and wildlife which will be scared off by increased use.”

Dave Bartlett, who has lived in the road for 22 years, said the plans would take more Metropolitan Open Land away from the park than the council would be given back.

The 54-year-old service engineer said: “They've also changed the plans. It was originally a polyclinic, now it's renamed a community hub. They could quite easily rebuild just the old health centre without having to move it and add more.”

Councillor Lisa Rutter, a Tory member for the Brunswick Park area, told the Times Series she could not speak out on the plans as she was a substitute member of the planning committee.

She said: “I have been at the library and spoken to a few residents who have expressed their concerns.

“It's a good opportunity for the area. There are lots of new things for the young which is a good idea, but again, we're there to represent our constituents and listen to them.

“I've taken my residents' concerns on board and what I'm going to try to do is get a response for their concerns and see if it can be sorted out.”

Residents have until Tuesday, June 22 to make their representations to Barnet Council.

What do you think of the proposals? Leave your thoughts below.