West Hampstead Parties!

Jubilee Celebrations in West Hampstead

Rather belatedly (and with grateful thanks to our sister blog West Hampstead Spotlight) a report back on some of our local festvities:

 

Residents in West Hampstead and Fortune Green entered into the spirit of  the Jubilee weekend with street party celebrations.

On SaturdayWHeart held a Big Lunch on West End Green organised by Sally Bowman and her team of helpers and sponsored by Chelsea Square.  There was a bouncy castle and face painting for children, a cake competition, raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and Spanish dancing.  One of the highlights was a large black chicken handing out chicken wings from Nandos.

Cllr Nancy Jirira with a visiting celebrity!

Also on Saturday, the Fordwych Road Residents' Association held their event in St Cuthbert's Church Hall,

while on on Sunday Friends of Fortune Green held a Big Lunch event, despite the rain.  They decamped into the Play Centre where at least 100 residents shared food and some entered the Bake Off competition.

On the Monday, MARA were lucky with their weather for their street party with masses of food and drinks and a "table competition of which this was the worthy winner!

 

Well done all the organisers for helping us celebrate the Jubilee weekend with friends and neigh-bours. These were just some of the parties in Fortune Green, but there were also events across West Hampstead. Now we're looking forward to the Festivals - The Jester on Fortune Green on 30 June and 1 July and the Kilburn Festival in Grange Park a week later. Just keep fingers crossed for a bit of sunshine!

Area Action Group (Area Forum)

The next West Hampstead/Fortune Green Area Forum (Area Action Group) is scheduled for Tuesday, 19 June, at the Synagogue Community Hall on Dennington Park Road. Regular attenders have been notified by e-mail or letter.

Here’s the agenda for the meeting, which Cllr Keith Moffitt will be chairing:

7 - 7.30 pm: an opportunity to meet ward councillors informally over tea/coffee

7.30 meeting starts:

Parking Policy review
For more details of the review, see below. The consultation formally ends on 18 June, but Camden will take into account comments made at the area forum.

Community Safety
Representatives from the Fortune Green and West Hampstead Safer Neighbourhood Teams

Neighbourhood Development Plan                        
James Earl, chair of the West Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Forum.

We'll aim to finish by 9.30 at the latest.

We look forward to seeing lots of West Hampstead residents on Tuesday 19 June.

Torch Relay in Camden - but not NW6/ 2!

Today's Press release from Camden Council

Camden’s exciting Olympic Torch Relay celebrations revealed

With one of London’s most happening high streets, spectacular performances from the best of Camden’s home-grown talent and iconic backdrops like Camden Lock  and St Pancras International there is nowhere but Camden to see the Olympic Torch Relay.

The Olympic Flame’s route through Camden on 26 July takes in the best of the borough. It all kicks off with a mass choir corridor singing out the torch at our launch event at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm Road at 6.45am.

The flame will then be carried by  torch bearers through buzzy Camden Town via Camden High Street – one of the world’s most visited tourists attractions with its world famous Camden Markets and renowned music venues from the Electric Ballroom to Koko – through St Pancras Gardens onto Regent’s Canal and into Granary Square and St Pancras International.

There is nothing like cheering on Torch Relay runners to whet the appetite for an Olympic sized breakfast and there will be lots of cafes and restaurants open along the route to refuel before heading into work or into the rest of your day.

Camden Council is also hosting celebrations along the route where residents and visitors can catch the Torch Relay and stay for entertainment from some of our top local artists.

Cllr Tulip Siddiq, Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture said: “Nowhere is more exciting than Camden and that’s why it’s got to be the top spot to see the torch relay. We want all Camden people to join in on the day. We already know what a unique and exciting place Camden is and we also want to welcome  visitors from across London and beyond to join us to see for themselves what Camden has to offer.”

Camden’s Torch Relay Launch – 6.45am

We will be celebrating the start of the torch relay in Camden with a launch event at the Roundhouse. A mass choir will join the Roundhouse choir to sing out the torch as it starts its journey through Camden at 6.45am.

Community Breakfast 7am – 10 am

See the torchbearer and enjoy a community breakfast in St Pancras Gardens. The torch is set to arrive at this fun-filled celebration at 7.10am. Stay for craft workshops and entertainment from dance and music performances to a tai chi demonstration

Hear from Camden’s stars of the future 7am – 9.45am

Discover some of Camden’s young emerging artists at a musical celebration in Granary Square. Enjoy Camden Youth Choir, performances from David Craise and band and a water based performance spectacular from Akademi. The torch is expected to arrive at about 7.30am.

Catch some of Camden’s best loved acts 7am – 9:45am

Rounding off the morning's celebrations is a musical extravaganza in St Pancras International. Stop by to see professional performers including The Damon Brown Jazz Band, The Exhibitionists and Dance United, plus a presentation from Greenwood Dance Troupe There will also be an extra special performance from a surprise guest band. Catch the torch here at about 7.35am.

All events are accessible. There will also be a dedicated accessible Torch Relay viewing area on the island opposite Morning Crescent Underground station at the junction of Camden High Street with Crowndale Road.

The next day, on 27 July, the torch relay will make its way to the Olympic Stadium for the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony, signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Celebrate with Fordwych Road on Saturday

There's a lot going on this weekend - see this posting on our sister site - WestHampsteadSpotlight.

But in addition to all those events - the Fordwych Road Diamond Jubilee Party is also set to be a fun afternoon.

Based around St Cuthbert's Church towards the Maygrove end of Fordwych Road from 2:00-5:00pm there will be fun for all the family. More details on the Fordwych Road Residents Association website.

I'll be there - so hope lots of others will also be along to celebrate the jubilee and support the social side of a hard-working residents association.

Parking Review - apologies

We were all sent the wrong details to link to the Councils parking review - please see below for corre

As part of the Parking Policy Review (PPR), and as agreed at Cabinet on 7^th December 2011, a public engagement exercise will take place for a period of four weeks starting from today, to gauge opinion on issues relating to the size, days and hours of control of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs), as well as on the maximum stay in pay and display bays.  I would welcome your views on this issue and ask that you send your comments to parking.review@camden.gov.uk

The results of the consultation will inform where changes may be required to CPZ days and hours of control to respond to changing parking demands and lead to the development of a work programme of CPZ reviews.  A report outlining the consultation responses will be considered later in the year, outlining any options for change.  It is also proposed that this will be considered by the Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee. 
This questionnaire is being undertaken as part of the wider Parking Policy Review (PPR).  Some changes have already been implemented and details about these can be found on the PPR web page at Parking Policy Review.

The questionnaire will be available for anyone to respond to, but direct notification will be sent to the groups below:

- Residents’ and Tenant’s Associations;

- Businesses (through business forums and monthly e-newsletter)

- minority groups such as those representing the disabled and elderly;

- individuals who have previously requested changes to CPZ hours.

The questionnaire is available on the Council’s web site for public consultation on the following link: https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/test-fl/consult_view

                                  

Hard copies of all documents can also be obtained by emailing parking.review@camden.gov.uk (although please consider whether you really need a hard copy as we wish to keep printed material to a minimum).  The public consultation ends midnight on Monday 18 June 2012.

If you have any questions about the consultation or would like further information, please contact:

Email: parking.review@camden.gov.uk
Phone: 020 7974 4639

Parking Review

We have been "trailing" this parking review for ages - ever since it was promised before Xmas! At last we have received this message from the Cabinet member for Sustainability:

Dear colleagues

As part of the Parking Policy Review (PPR), and as agreed at Cabinet on 7^th December 2011, a public engagement exercise will take place for a period of four weeks starting from today, to gauge opinion on issues relating to the size, days and hours of control of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs), as well as on the maximum stay in pay and display bays.  I would welcome your views on this issue and ask that you send your comments to parking.review@camden.gov.uk

The results of the consultation will inform where changes may be required to CPZ days and hours of control to respond to changing parking demands and lead to the development of a work programme of CPZ reviews.  A report outlining the consultation responses will be considered later in the year, outlining any options for change.  It is also proposed that this will be considered by the Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee. 

This questionnaire is being undertaken as part of the wider Parking Policy Review (PPR).  Some changes have already been implemented and details about these can be found on the PPR web page at www.camden.gov.uk/parkingreview.  

The questionnaire will be available for anyone to respond to, but direct notification will be sent to the groups below:

- Residents’ and Tenant’s Associations;

- Businesses (through business forums and monthly e-newsletter)

- minority groups such as those representing the disabled and elderly;

- individuals who have previously requested changes to CPZ hours.

The questionnaire is available on the Council’s web site for public consultation on the following link: http://www.wearecamden.org/

                                  

Hard copies of all documents can also be obtained by emailing parking.review@camden.gov.uk (although please consider whether you really need a hard copy as we wish to keep printed material to a minimum).  The public consultation ends midnight on Monday 18 June 2012.

If you have any questions about the consultation or would like further information, please contact:

Email: parking.review@camden.gov.uk
Phone: 020 7974 4639

Local Victory

Local residents around Gondar Gardens with local councillors Nancy, Flick and Russell are here celebrating after the latest scheme for
development on the reservoir was emphatically turned down by Camden's Planning Committee last week.

But although we've won this particular fight - the war's not over yet! The developers may well appeal against this decision and are already in the process of the appeal against the refusal of the previous scheme. 

(This appeal against refusal of the first scheme (destroying all of the reservoir space, replacing it with luxury houses in the ‘pit’ accessed via a car lift) will be heard on 22/23/24th May from 10.00am at Hughes Parry Hall, 19-26 Cartwright Street, London WC1H 9EF. 

This was the "newsflash" from GARA - the residents association last week:

Great news.  Last night, 10^th May, Camden councillors refused planning permission for this scheme.

Many thanks to everyone who came along to support; to our local councillors for a spirited defence of the open space; and to everyone who worked so hard to achieve this result.  And, of course, to the councillors on the committee who voted to refuse planning permission.

This won’t be the end of the matter.  We are certain that the developer will appeal against this decision, as well as proceeding with the appeal against refusal of the first scheme (see below).

Help needed urgently

The appeal against refusal of the first scheme (destroying all of the reservoir space, replacing it with luxury houses in the ‘pit’ accessed via a car lift) will be heard on 22/23/24th May at Camden Town Hall in Judd Street. 

Urgent request – are you a solicitor or similar?

Can you instruct a barrister on behalf of GARA for the appeal hearing? 

We have getting advice from an ‘open access’ barrister but he is a very expensive QC.  A junior in the same chambers is available for the appeal at a much lower cost.  But we need a solicitor (or possibly an architect or planning consultant or similar) to instruct her.  GARA will cover all the costs; we just need help making this happen.  If you can help, please respond urgently to infogara@googlemail.com or txt David Yass on 07730814061.

We have very little time to instruct and brief a barrister – please respond urgently.

We need your money!

The appeal is costly.  We have already spent money on a barrister, ecologist, transport and planning consultants.  We need a barrister and ecologist at the appeal hearing.  Your donations are most welcome, please.  The funds will go towards the upcoming appeal and also, of course, the next one following on from refusal of the second scheme. 

Every little helps, however large or small – it is your donations that will make all the difference. Your generosity in our last hour of need raised a similar amount to that needed now, with many of you giving around £100.  That money was well spent protecting the reservoir at the previous planning appeal, and we need to do the same again now. 

Please make cheques payable to ‘Gondar and Agamemnon Residents' Association’ and send to the GARA Treasurer, 12 Agamemnon Road NW6 1DY, or make your payments direct to GARA: sort code 20-74-63, a/c 80451223, with your details in the payment reference (e.g. “28GG Yass”). 

--
Yours,
David Yass
Chair, Gondar and Agamemnon Residents Association

www.gara-westhampstead.co.uk