Times Group Newspapers  E Thursday, September 18, 2003 9 www.edgwaretimes.co.uk NODIE and Big Ears square up over estate by TOM SPENDER Noddy and Big Ears, the two inseparable pals, have fallen out - over the regeneration of an Edgware council estate. Noddy - - or, to be exact, NODIE, an acronym for No to Over-Development In Edgware — first appeared in Edgware sev- eral weeks ago and has been fea- tured in this newspaper. It is a group formed by resi- dents living near the Spur Road and Stonegrove estate who are concerned that the plans for regeneration will see the number of homes on the estate site more than double. It feels this will place an intolerable burden on local infrastructure. NODIE sup- ports regeneration, but not these specific plans. Now Big Ears has turned up and is firmly for the current regeneration proposals. Big Ears stands for Broad Interest Group in Edgware Actively Regenerat- ing Stonegrove and is a group formed by estate residents who say the estate is crumbling and they desperately need new homes. Big Ears's Ingrid Beal, of Ware Court, said: "The regeneration proposals have been the subject of a great deal of scaremonger- ing. Change is never easy. We would obviously much prefer to have our homes rebuilt without the need for additional housing, Friends divided: children's characters Noddy and Big Ears are both now involved in the Spur Road and Stonegrove estate regeneration debate                                                                                  K57I9 34 do not see are the current levels of overcrowding and the unhealthy living conditions of damp and mould growing on the inside walls of residents' homes. " Ms Beal said Big Ears and NODIE should get together to find a mutually acceptable way forward. And NODIE's Adrian Fisher said he would welcome co- operation: "We both want the same thing — a pleasant environ- ment we can all live in. I would welcome a constructive meeting with Big Ears. " NODIE has set up a web site offering details of the regenera- tion propoals and a summary of residents' concerns, at www.nodie.org.uk Big Ears does not yet have its own web site, but it can be reached by emailing bigears_edgware@hotmail. com tspender@london.newsquest.co.uk but we recognise this is not a real- istic option. "Some people say the infra- structure cannot take any more, so these much-needed homes should be built elsewhere. But is the infrastructure any better any- where else? Regeneration will bring with it various improve- ments to the infrastructure, including a new health centre and a community centre. "What local people sometimes