Fortune Green and the census

2011 is a census year.

Held at the end of March, it will be interesting to see how much the demographics have changed over the last 10 years. We are unlikely to get any interesting feedback very quickly as the Office for National Statistics tends to take a long time to process the results.

However, now is a good time to see how officialdom saw Fortune Green 10 years ago at the 2001 census. The summary below was produced by the Council then.

Jazz on Rye

We have just heard about this lively looking event on Monday 7th Feb.

Unfortunately, it clashes with our Area Forum (more details later). However, if that's not your thing - you might well be tempted by popping down to David's Deli instead.

Loading bay at Fortune Green Tesco

The Council are consulting about a proposed loading bay outside the Tesco on Fortune Green Road.

http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/having-your-say/consultations/2011/fortune-green-road--parking-changes-development-funded-works-/fortune-green-road--parking-changes-development-funded-works-.en

You have until 15th February to make any comments.

The problems at 'our' Tesco aren't generally as bad as they are outside the one in the middle of West Hamsptead - but things can get pretty hairy in rush hour times - and its not pretty when two 328's meet each other head on.

A loading bay would give a bit more room at this pinch point.

If you'd like to copy us in to any responses you have - you can email the three of us at  fortunegreen@hampsteadandkilburn.org.uk

Amendments to 1 Mill Lane

Flick, Nancy and Russell monitoring the demolition of 1 Mill Lane last year

The site of the now-demolished house at 1 Mill Lane (next to the railway bridge) has been the subject of multiple planning applications in recent times.
Taylor Wimpey have now applied to vary the existing planning permission again.  There is outstanding permission to build 39 units on the site.  If granted, the new application would mean the changes below:

• A slight reduction in the size of the building.
• A larger reduction in the size of the basement.
• The replacement of the car lift with a ramp.
• The two houses would be moved forward to allow each to have a small private amenity space to the rear.
• Minor elevational changes including additional balconies and a brise soleil.
• Minor internal alterations including the deletion of one of the two lifts and reduction in the size of the lobby. The number of units and the number of bedrooms each would have would not be affected. 

You can make comments on this new variation by going to the application viewable on the Camden website.

Non completion of the Fortune Green/West Hampstead "jigsaw"

A couple of years ago the then Lib Dem led Council agreed a plan for various services in our local area. Camden agreed Emmanuel School needed expanding and should build on part of its long designated expansion site (160 Mill Lane -the "Open Space") Sington Nursery which was in long term temporary portacabins on the site would move up to a newly rebuilt Fortune Green Play Centre and, as a temporary measure, would move into the Community Hall in Broomsleigh Street. (This was purchased from the Church by the Council and refurbished partly as the temporary home for Sington Nursery and partly for the newly re-established West Hampstead Community association who would eventually take over the whole building.) This was a complicated set of proposals nicknamed by us "the jigsaw".
Things went slowly, the rebuilding of the school attracted some initial opposition, but eventually received planning permission. The nursery moved into the Community Hall with the Community Association upstairs. So far, so good - but a change of Council and a change of Government and a mounting financial crisis intervened.
Although the proposals for Fortune Green Play Centre to become a joint facility with Sington Nursery were approved in the autumn, and we had all been assured the money was in place, it now seems clear the Council are unlikely to proceed with the plans. The future of the Play Service seems under threat, the capital money seems to be no longer available and the scheme, if not completely abandoned is very definitely on a far back burner. Sington Nursery which does have some Government money available until March, doesn't look if it can spend it and, although asking if it could move up to Fortune Green anyway, has been told "No" - forcing it to remain in very unsuitable temporary premises and leaving the Community Association in only half their premises! A disaster all round. Time, we think for someone to use some imagination and work out a compromise solution and for a community based campaign to make sure that our local services don't lose out irretrievably.

End of Christmas

(I never realised how difficult it was to take a pic of a pile of Xmas Trees!) This is the second huge heap of trees left for recycling on Fortune Green. The first one looked like a forest!
Fortune Green is just one of Camden's tree recycling sites and the use of it has grown and grown over the last few years. Interestingly, most of the trees there this year seemed to be of the "non-dropping" variety which shows how popular these have become. I had one this year and it certainly lived up to its title although I had it up for nearly a month - worth the extra cost!
Its so much better to recycle your tree - I still see the odd one just abandoned in the street - perhaps the Council should expand the number of sites?
The Christmas tree on West End Green was TINY this year - we have grumbled about it - but everyone just assumed it was to do with "the cuts"! Actually they were provided by the company which has the Council's waste contract, and next year they will be asked for a somewhat larger one! However the lights were pretty and added to the look of West End Green when the extremely successful Xmas Market was held there on 11 December. (With huge thanks to all who participated and organised it ) Everyone got very excited about holding regular markets on the Green - if you are interested - get in touch with us - in particular Cllr Gillian Risso Gill whose enthusiasm for supporting our local businesses got this particular ball rolling.