'A complete sham': Council paid firm £2m to build Cycle Enfield before end of public consultation

At a Mini-Holland progress meeting on July 12, it is recorded the council had submitted a works order to Ringway Jacobs to build the Palmers Green leg of the £42m cycle lanes project.

The minutes say "The scheme is currently out to statutory consultation and there have been no relevant objections.”

However, consultation did not close until July 29, by which time it had received approximately 1,600 objections

Enfield Council said it was normal “forward planning” for an order to be placed months before the work was due to start. Construction on the route through Green Lanes began on September 12.

But Save Our Green Lanes, who have been vocal opponents of the scheme, said it proved the council had not listened to the objections of the public.

Spokesperson Helen Osman said: “You should be aware that this whole so called consultation is a complete sham. Even though at least 1,600 people objected, the council is pushing on regardless. 

“The people have the right to know that they are being completely ignored by their council. They are supposed to pay regard to the wishes of local communities. Whilst the council will counter this by saving they have listened and made changes the fundamental problem is that this is tinkering.”

Save Our Green Lanes recently took Enfield Council to court twice, seeking first a judicial review of the consultation, then an injunction to stop the work happening.

The council won both cases, leaving the community group with a £10,000 legal bill.

Council spokesman Andrew Golder said: “This is simply forward-planning. It is normal practice with any large-scale infrastructure project to prepare work orders several months ahead of the work actually starting.

"The order placed enabled the contractor to reserve resources, pending the outcome of the consultation process that has continued to shape the detailed design.”