We welcomed our new Farmers Market (largely as a result of the efforts of West Hampstead Lib Dem Councillor Gillian Risso-Gill) which goes from strength to strength - blessed for its first weeks by glorious weather, and we also especially welcomed the Boundary Commission's final recommendation to leave Fortune Green where it was (largely thanks to all the wonderful letters written by local residents!). We look forward to the improvements promised for Fortune Green itself (due to the sterling efforts of the Friends of Fortune Green) and to the third Christmas Market to be held on West End Green on Sat 8th Dec sponsored by local estate agents Alexanders. Email : westhampsteadxmasmarket@gmail.com for more info - not sure if there are any stalls left but volunteers to help on the day would be very welcome!!) And, finally, we very much look forward to the planting of a "Jubilee Tree" on West End Green which is being donated by local estate agents Chelsea Square.
But not everything is good news:
the proposed changes to recycling are due to be in by next summer. All recycled materials except food and garden waste are to be collected together (co-mingling) and we shall only have one collection per week for recycling and the rest of the rubbish. The Council wants as many people as possible to start using wheelie bins and has written to a number of people in properties they consider suitable for wheelie bins to ask them whether they'd like a "small" or large bin and what colour. ("Small" is the same height as large but a bit slimmer and your colour choice is limited to green or grey) It isn't compulsory - yet! This experiment, which is likely to arouse some opposition, is only due to come in in "the north of the Borough"!
Another long delayed scheme is about to be agreed by Camden's "Cabinet". The long promised parking review has resulted in a report which proves there is some appetite for changes in hours (although not for changes in zones) Unsurprisingly the responses from across the whole of our zone (CAP) all massively in favour of increased hours. However.... Camden will not consider our area until late in 2013 (they're looking at the south of the Borough first!) and then they will go for full residential consultation like when they first introduced the zone. So - we're afraid it looks like no early solutions.
Other looming events are the "Ballymore" development (the railway lands off West End Lane opposite the post office) which we heard was likely to start in the Spring. Some of the little shops have already closed and it's all looking rather sad. The best thing likely to come out of the development is the
possibility of a new lift being created in the north east corner to allow access to the Overground - something people have been wanting for ages!Also it now looks as if the extraordinary building proposed for the old garden centre on Iverson Road is actually going to be built so the giant cranes will soon return to this part of West Hampstead just as they've nearly vanished elsewhere.
The Mill Lane development by the rail bridge is now finished and a group of residents is working with the developers and Camden to ensure that the promised wildlife area will go ahead.
Meanwhile another new development is set to rise on Maygrove Road backing onto the Peace Park while local residents are waiting with baited breath for the Inspector's decision on the future of the Gondar Gardens Reservoir.
Camden closed its District Housing Office at 156 West End Lane without remembering to tell tenants! They have apologised and promise to hold "drop-ins" for tenants at Swiss Cottage and Kilburn Libraries for tenants. The building itself is scheduled to be sold off for redevelopment in the future. Camden is busy maximising all its land holdings both large and small ( I recently dissuaded them from planning to build on Templar House's small but popular Pear Tree Garden - at least I hope so!) and other developers are greedily eyeing up every other space.
All this development in our area is why we support the Neighbourhood Development Forum in its efforts to produce a "Neighbourhood Plan" which will allow local residents some say in what is likely to happen in the future. (For more information - visit www.ndpwesthampstead.org.uk)
A final footnote - A new convenience store (BuyBest) is due to move in to the previous scooter shop on Fortune Green Road (corner of Burrard Road) and has applied for a licence to sell alcohol from 6am- 12 midnight. We have objected and hope that at the very least the Council will restrict the hours.
Another long running story is that of the change to the traffic lights at the Fortune Green Road / Finchley Road junction - done by Transport for London without any consultation - even with Camden's traffic engineers. It just happened - seemingly overnight - apparently done in the name of safety but in fact making this junction even more dangerous - especially for pedestrians! Finchley Road has become a sort of Berlin Wall - impossible to cross from one side to another without risk to life and limb and TfL just don't seem to care. We have taken this up with Camden and the GLA but still get bland answers.
All in all we are living in "interesting times"!
PS A short walk recently round NW6 showed different views of what you can do with a tree site!
