Russell climbs for charity

This story isn't hugely local - but if you see me looking apprehensive over the next couple of weeks - you might like to know why!

Next Thursday I'm taking part in Shelter's Vertical Rush challenge - running up 42 stories (920 steps) of the City of London's Tower 42.

At the time of writing I've raised just over £500 - but I hope to grow that further before the day itself.

If you want to join in - I think Shelter are still accepting registrations for individuals or teams.

Otherwise, why not show your support by sponsoring me!

So if you see me on the stepping machine in the gym on Fortune Green - you'll understand.

The massive rise of cycling in Camden

We have recently contacted by members of the London Cycling Campaign about various aspects of the council's approach to cycling.

After following up their points, I am happy to report that Camden is doing fairly well.

Under the watchful eye of Cllr Paul Braithwaite, Camden's cycling champion (and Lib Dem colleague from further south in the borough), Camden is one of the few London boroughs to sign up to help improve lorry drivers' awareness of cyclists.

Camden are certainly aware of the massive rise of the numbers of cyclists on our roads - see the extract below of a recent note I received from an officer in Camden's streets team.

The Fortune Green Safer Neighbourhood Team are also regularly reminded of how many cyclists are using the pavements - causing considerable nuisance to pedestrians.

As a cyclist myself (who sticks to the roads!), I'm keen to make sure there are plenty of secure cycle racks available - especially near shopping areas.

After years of installing ugly metal fencing to keep pedestrians caged on the pavements, Camden is slowly taking this sort of stuff out where it is unnecessary. This is a good thing - but the consequence is that there are fewer study bits of metal to lock your bike to!

You can see this happening outside the West Hamsptead Thameslink and Jubilee Line stations at the moment.

If anyone has any suggestions of places they would like to see one or two cycle hoops installed, do get in touch. We're very keen to hear any ideas you may have. You comment here or email the three of us in one go by sending a message to fortunegreen@hampsteadandkilburn.org.uk

You may be interested to know that each year, Camden undertakes a comprehensive survey to examine trends in traffic flows including cycling. Compared to 2009, cycle flows in 2010, have continued to increase dramatically in the borough. The average increase in cycling in 2010 compared with 2008 was 39%. Between 2001 and 2010, the overall increase in cycling is now 230%. To put this in context, the percentage of cycle trips in 2010 as a proportion of all trips rose to 15%.

FOWHL Needs You!

After the issue was raised at the recent Area Action Group, moves began to resuscitate the "Friends of West Hampstead Library" ("FOWHL") which has been in hibernation for some years

If ever there was a time for people who support libraries to come forward, this is it. Those with long memories may remember why the Friends/user groups sprang up in the first place - to save their local libraries 20 odd years ago when Belsize Library was the first of the Camden libraries to be threatened with closure.

There will be an SOS meeting for restarting FOWHL at the library

on Tuesday 22nd February at 7.30. All past, present and future friends and supporters welcome!

It's almost as if they WANT to close libraries

As reported last week, the council has launched its consultation about the future of the library service.

Two issues have subsequently come to light.

Firstly, the paper copies that are available at West Hamsptead library and those that were sent to the councillors for the West Hampstead Area Forum last week were missing the background information that explains the questions they're asking! Councillors expressed concerns about this when we were allowed to see the (already printed) copies of the questionnaire a few days before the consultation went live. We were promised that wherever the consultation would be - the second pack would also be available. I'm following this up - see my email to the Member for Culture below.

Secondly, if you fill out a survey online - there is no way of recording your suggestions about alternatives to closures - unless you already signal your approval of closures! If you fill out a paper copy - you can simply skip the questions about which library's you want to see shut and write in your own thoughts. But you have to agree to massive cuts in service before it will let you enter any alternative suggestions on the website.

And Camden have paid consultants £25,000 for this!

All in all, very disappointing.

Dear Tulip,
cc Fiona Dean

I wanted to let you know quickly that the library consultation isn't going ahead as you planned it.

On both occasions I've seen the consultation document available to the public - it only had half of the information. The crucial briefing documents were missing at both our Area Forum last week and when I called in at West Hampstead Library yesterday. At both the colour questionnaire is available - but neither had the background figures.

The questionnaire is meaningless unless you understand the questions being asked - for which you need the figures.

As we're paying £25,000 for this consultation it amazes me that we've missed such a basic trick.

Given the reassurances you gave at the Councillor briefing and in the public meeting at Hampstead Old Town Hall, please ensure that the documentation is complete everywhere it is being handed out. I suggest that the extra document needs to be folded inside every questionnaire otherwise this will happen again and again.

Tube users (that's most of us!) will be unsurprised to hear that the Jubilee line will continue to suffer from weekend closures up until Easter.

Councillors have just been sent the following table from TfL (via the Council)

NB - A tick means the section is closed - grey means that part of the line is open

	West Hampstead - Stanmore (Jubilee)	Waterloo - West Hampstead (Jubilee)	Harrow-on-the-Hill - Aldgate (Metropolitan)
12/13 Feb	ü		ü
19/20 Feb	ü
26/27 Feb	NO CLOSURE
05/06 Mar	ü	ü	ü
12/13 Mar	ü		ü
19/20 Mar	ü		ü
26/27 Mar	NO CLOSURE
02/03 Apr	NO CLOSURE
09/10 Apr	ü		ü
16/17 Apr	NO CLOSURE
Fri 22 Apr (Good Friday)	ü		ü
Sat 23 Apr	ü
Sun 24 Apr	ü
Mon 25 Apr (Easter Monday)	NO CLOSURE

TfL have assured us that works on the Jubilee Line will be complete by the end of Spring 2011.

We certainly hope so.

Libraries consultation

At last night's Area Action Group (formerly Area Forum) there was a presentation about the proposed cuts in Camden's services -( more to follow) and we discussed the consultation on the future for Camden's libraries. Some of us think it has flaws, but at present that's the only way of expressing your views. Survey forms should be available in the local library, but they seem to be somewhat hidden away. But you can read all about it and fill in the survey online :
http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/consultation-on-library-savings
Please do fill it in and watch out for news on the revival of the watchdog group - Friends of West Hampstead Library - and let's hope it becomes a watchdog with teeth!!

Area Forum tonight

Check out our sister blog - WestHampsteadSpotlight.blogspot.com for details.

Gondar Gardens application received

Linden Wates (West Hampstead) Limited have submitted a Planning Application with Camden for the Gondar Gardens Reservoir site.

Details here.

(Note: I'll be raising with Camden the error on the website that says that comments closed a few days before the application was submitted!)

At first glance it looks the same application that they've discussed with residents over the last few months ie 16 x 4 bedroom homes. However, only very minimal details are available on the Camden website at the moment (it normally takes them a few days to get the associated documents viewable) so residents and councillors will want to see the full plans before taking that as read.

Below is their artists impression of what they were proposing at earlier stages with residents.

Whether they've come up with a plan to safeguard the habitat for the slow worms whilst building 16 x 4 bedroom homes remains to be seen!

Put out the lights!

Four years or more after they were first installed the controversial traffic lights at the corner of Mill Lane and Fortune Green Road are coming out! This is what Camden has to say:

Dear Councillors

You may be aware that in summer 2009 we consulted on the removal of thetraffic signals at Mill Lane/West End Lane/Fortune green Road junction,the results of which led to us to recommend that the signals be removed.This was approved by the then Exec (Environment) Sub-Group on 1 December2009. We secured funding to remove the traffic signals at this junctionin the current financial year; however delayed undertaking the changesin the summer holiday (when schools are on holiday) due to major utilityworks which took place on West End Lane during this period.

We are now planning to commence the work necessary to remove the trafficsignals and replace it with two zebra crossings, starting on site on 14February.

We are writing to the residents/businesses/local groups who were originally consulted. In addition, we are planning to put up signs warning drivers of the changes that will be taking place soon.


Simi Shah Principal EngineerPublic Realm and SustainabilityCulture and EnvironmentLondon Borough of Camden
Telephone: 020 7974 2066

It will be interesting to see what happens and whether there is chaos as people readjust -let's hope there are no casualties!