Closure of West Hampstead Library - but only for a month!

West Hampstead Library is to close its doors - but only for a month - and only so that some building work can be done.

(This is in stark contrast where to some other libraries in the borough where the council is effectively cutting all support to some libraries)

Councillors have received the following note about the temporary closure.

(I would add that library users are able to return books to any other library.  Kilburn and Swiss Cottage are the closest - but it might be that you work by or travel past one of the other Camden libraries...)

West Hampstead library will be closing temporarily from 5 March reopening on the 2 April, so that planned improvements can be made to access to the building. The works will include rebuilding the existing ramp, stairs, and hand rails, improving the external lighting, and installing bicycle parking. There will also be a community noticeboard and bench seating. The works were requested by local residents through the area action group/area forum which also provided some of the funding.  Library customers are being informed by staff, through posters at the library, an email to customers on our database and we are communicating with local schools, groups and stakeholders that use the library. Customers can use their library card at any library in Camden and we will be directing them to their nearest alternative services.  We will also remind them of how they can browse the catalogue and renew items online or over the phone. If you would like any further information or have any questions please let me know. Kind regards Mike Clarke  Head of Library Customer Services

Yet another new development proposal!

London's architechts are certainly being kept busy by the amount of development proposals that are being kicked around at the moment.

We've just received official notification of a new proposal for part of the Kings College Campus on the other side of the Finchley Road.

Whilst strictly speaking this is outside the Fortune Green boundary - as its only out by 10 metres or so - we'll be taking an interest.

Few would argue that doing nothing with these seemingly abandoned houses houses is a good idea.  However, whether these particular proposals will end up being a development we can support depends on the detail.  All we know at the moment is contained in the details below - ie 5-6 storey blocks on Finchley Road itself and 135 units in total (although my understanding of the whole site is that its quite large - the development area expanding behind the Finchley Road buildings and along Kidderpore Avenue).

The meeting is open to anyone in the community with a view - so if you want to find out more, either watch this space or come along on the night.

Dear Members of the Development Control Committee and Ward Members, Development Management Forum:
Redevelopment of the site at Kings College Hampstead Campus, Kidderpore Avenue, London, NW3 7ST
 I am writing to invite you to a meeting of the Camden Development Management Forum on Tuesday 28^th February 2012 at The Hampstead Synagogue, 1 Dennington Park Road, London,NW6 1AX.  Registration will be at 6.15pm for a 6.30pm start.  We aim to close the meeting at 8.30pm. At this meeting, representatives from CBRE Ltd, on behalf of Barratt West London and Kings College London, will be presenting a proposal to develop the site at Kings College Hampstead Campus, Kidderpore Avenue, London, NW3 7ST. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the proposal before a planning application is made. A brief presentation on the site and the relevant planning considerations will be given by a planning officer from Camden Council. The developer will then give a presentation of their proposals and this will be followed by an opportunity for people to ask questions and to give their views on the proposals as they stand at this stage.
 The proposed development consists of the following: ·        Part conversion of existing buildings on the site, and part demolition for new build, to provide 135 residential units (including onsite affordable housing).
·        Retention of the Caroline Skeel Library block and 17a, 19, 21, 23, 25 Kidderpore Avenue buildings for refurbishment and conversion into flats.
·        Demolition of 2 existing student accommodation blocks, and 328-330, 332-334 (both positive contributors in the Reddington & Frognal Conservation Area) and 336-338 Finchley Road buildings.
·        Construction of new buildings of 5-6 storey height along Finchley Road, and 4 storeys along Kidderpore Avenue, for flats.
 A planning application has not been received from the developer for this site. However, if one is submitted in the future Camden Council will carry out statutory consultation in the normal way and determine it in accordance with our duties as the local planning authority. We believe that the Forum can provide an opportunity to discuss developments before they are finalised and allow local people and ward councillors to have the chance to see what is being proposed and give their comments. We think the meeting will be helpful in identifying and focusing planning issues and that it will give you an opportunity to ask questions about the proposal and give your own ideas. The meeting will not be making decisions about the development proposal, nor are the developers required to take account of the discussion in any future application, which the Council must determine on its planning merits. If you need any further information or help about the Development Management Forum you can contact me by phone on 020 7974 1797 or by email at george.mckenzie@camden.gov.uk. You can also find more information about the Development Management Forum on our website by clicking on the following link. http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/environment/planning-and-built-environment/two/major-developments/development-management-forum.en We want to make sure that all sections of the community are able to participate in the Forum so if you require an interpreter (for a language other than English or for British Sign Language), need information in other formats or have any special needs please let me know.

 Yours faithfully,

George McKenzie Community Liaison Officer

Roadworks in Finchley Road

Far from being over - we are in for more delays! See below from Transport for London:

Planned National Grid Gas (NGG) Works – Finchley Road

Transport for London (TfL) is writing to make you aware of the upcoming traffic management changes to the ongoing NGG scheme taking place at Finchley Road at the junction with Hendon Way.

Between Saturday 11 February 2012 and Sunday 19 February 2012 Finchley Road will be reduced to one lane southbound at Hendon Way.

TfL has worked hard with NGG to look at ways of keeping two lanes open, however there is simply not enough road space to allow this, without removing a traffic island and diverting a traffic movement. This latter option was carefully considered but rejected as it would be even more disruptive.
In liaison with TfL, NGG has agreed the to take the following steps to minimise disruption:

· Increasing the number of teams to three for this stage of the works
· Working further extended hours, seven days a week, up to 23:00 where this is possible within local environmental constraints
· Changing their normal work methodology

Through doing this NGG have reduced their programme duration for this stage from 4.5 weeks to 9 days. To further minimise disruption, works will be taking place over the half term, as traffic volumes are lower.

TfL anticipate vehicular disruption in the area and to mitigate this, mobile Variable Message Signs will be in use in the area to pre warn drivers of these works. TfL’s London Streets Traffic Control Centre (LSTCC) monitor London’s roads 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the responsibility of keeping London moving. The operators in the LSTCC will monitor this location during the works and if necessary remotely put sophisticated timing plans onto our traffic signals to help ease congestion. TfL has worked closely with the London Boroughs of Barnet and Camden in order to reduce the impact of these works on road users, local people and businesses as far as possible.

I apologise in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused because of these. Should you require further information or an update during the delivery of these works please contact our Streets Customer Services department on 0845 305 1234 or via our website at www.tfl.gov.uk/contact

Yours faithfully,


Chris Hall
Consultation and Engagement Manager

Why be a Councillor?

There are lots of reasons why people become Councillors - some good, some less so. Some are in search of a stepping stone to a wider political career, some almost get elected by mistake and some of us just have an urge to communicate and be part of their immediate world. Not being personally a very tidy person one of my reasons was an urge to sort things out and where possible to make things easier and more comfortable.

Therefore I was very happy when one of my earliest activities as a councillor for Fortune Green was to arrange for a bench to be installed half way up the hill from West End Green to Fortune Green! Not a huge achievement in the world's terms like peace in Northern Ireland or reforming the Health Service, but a small satisfaction!

So I was sad when 25 years later (yes -I've been a Councillor for a very long time) "my" seat began to look very shabby and one of its arms had come off!

However, thanks to a very helpful Camden officer, it is now going to be repaired!! So there is still a sense of job satisfaction! Even if one can't sort out every problem that easily!

The changing face of Maygrove Road

We've been sent some computer generated pictures of the finished development on Maygrove Road.  Its not far off being finished now - but these images give you an idea of what it will look like when fully complete and scrubbed up.

I think these images are particularly helpful in trying to imagine what the road will look like when both this building and the proposed scheme at the next door Handrail House (the office building trimmed in green) are both finished.  If the Handrail House development goes ahead as currently envisaged that side of Maygrove will be much taller than what people have been used to.

Snow update

More information can be found about council services in the snow on this part of the Camden website.

In particular - readers of this blog might be interested in the offer from the council to local groups to give out shovels to help clear paths which can be found at the Snow Shovels for Community Groups section. (It is, of course, effectively an urban myth that you can be successfully sued for clearing snow from the pavement - see http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_191868)

Local grit bins can be found across our area around the north of Fordwych Road, the south of Fordwych Road, around Mill Lane and around Fortune Green itself.