Barnet Green Party has called for a public inquiry into the extension of Brent Cross Shopping Centre.

Green Party member Gardi Vaswani has written a nine-point letter to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who is also the Secretary of State for transport and the environment, claiming the extension would contravene a number of Government guidelines which exist to protect the environment.

The letter could mark the beginning of an organised campaign to persuade Mr Prescott to reject Barnet Council's decision to permit the extension. It emerged this week that East Finchley Traders Association has also written to Mr Prescott begging him to reject the plans.

Mrs Vaswani has referred to the council's Corporate Plan which promises "commitments to creating a sustainable, healthy environment", the Local Agenda 21 Strategy which has as its number one concern, the reduction of traffic, and The Traffic Reduction Act and Barnet Traffic Strategy, which aim to reduce car usage.

She said: "Approximately one quarter of a million trips are made each week [to Brent Cross], (73 per cent by car) and an estimated 22 per cent additional vehicles are expected. The number of cars going on a Saturday can be as high as 24,000."

Lawrie Chivers, chairman of the East Finchley Traders' Association, which represents more than 100 businesses, warns Mr Prescott the extension could be the final nail in the coffin for small traders.

His letter reads: "It has been suggested that many jobs will be created. A large number of these will be part time, employing young students and will not replace the full time employment lost by the many independent family-supporting businesses that will be forced to close as a result of these extensive multiple expansions."

Initial plans approved by the council are in the hands of Mr Prescott. According to a council spokeswoman because of the enormity of the extension, a public inquiry is highly likely.

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