"Dig for Victory"

It's exciting times on Fortune Green! For some years the turf has been deteriorating badly and the least amount of rain has turned the north west section of the Green into a soggy swamp - a few years ago we had some ducks on it! The Friends of Fortune Green have been working on ways to improve the Green and have applied to various funding bodies to get the funds to do this next part of the work. To nearly everyone's surprise on digging down they found not the streams we had always suspected but a large WWII air-raide shelter. This has to be removed and filled in before the returfing could start  - it started today.

The battle will be won to improve the drainage on the Green but not before this hole has been completely excavated - its great fun to watch!

Meanwhile the Friends plan other improvements - heres an extract from their newsletter:

"The good news is that phase two of the renovation of Fortune Green is about to begin!  This will include excavating the remains of the WW2 air raid shelter then refilling and re-turfing the upper quadrant plus some 'spot' turf repairs elsewhere on the Green; two replacement noticeboards and one new one by the playground; a children's landscaped corner and a '2012' legacy running route.

The bad news is that this will cause some disruption and disturbance from now until Easter.  During this period the affected area of the Green will be fenced off.  Sorry for the inconvenience, but it will be worth it in the long term.

Your involvement will help make the project a success as it did with phase one.  So please make note in your diaries/calendars of the following dates; Sunday 3rd March (1 - 4pm ) to cut down the perennials and Saturday 16th March (also 1 to 4pm) planting." 

Camden's latest bright idea! Mobile catering in Parks

As Ward Councillors we have just received the following email from the Council :

"As you will be aware during 2011 and 2012 we trialled mobile catering concessions at Cantelowes Gardens; Kilburn Grange; Tavistock Square and Waterlow Park.  Over all the mobile catering concessions in parks and open spaces have had mixed success depending on the site but generally there has been positive feedback from the local community.  Income from mobile catering concessions has though been very low from £2,500 in 2011/12 to £4,350 in 2012/13. 

A barrier to the contract value has been the duration of the contracts and the scope of sites, limiting the potential for facilities to build up a customer base.  This year the parks and open spaces team are considering tendering licences across a broader range of parks and allowing successful providers to deliver a service from a pitch for 365 days a year during park opening times over a 3 year period with the potential for a 3 year extension following a performance and rent review.  In addition to this we are proposing to encourage social enterprises and community run organisations to tender, potentially favouring Contractors who can demonstrate social value and local benefit.

From Monday 18^th February to Sunday 31st March 2013 a survey will go live on the We Are Camden website asking for peoples opinion on this proposal."

Parks and open spaces included in this "broader range" include Fortune Green and the Peace Park in our ward. Please look at the link below and let Camden have your views and copy us in as well! (email flickrea@gmail.com)

https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/mobile-catering-concessions-in-parks/consult_view

Monday 18 February

Monday, 18 February 2013

Statement by Emily Frith, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn

Statement from from Emily Frith sent to Hampstead and Kilburn Democrat members this afternoon:

“Dear All

It is with regret that I have to let you know that I am standing down as the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn just a few weeks after I had the honour of being selected by Liberal Democrat members in the constituency.

This has come about because I have been offered a job in government in which I will be working to give the Liberal Democrats a stronger voice within the Coalition in key areas where I have expertise. However, as this job is politically restricted I will not be allowed to continue as a parliamentary candidate.

I am very sorry to be leaving the campaign at this stage, as I have enjoyed working with Hampstead and Kilburn's excellent team of campaigners backed by the strong membership I have enjoyed getting to know in recent months.

Hampstead and Kilburn is the most marginal three-way seat in the country, and I am confident that you will be able to attract an excellent new candidate very soon who will work with you on winning campaigns in next year's local elections as well as for the 2015 General Election.

I wish you every success in your future campaigning.

Best wishes

Emily “

Comment by Cllr Keith Moffitt, Leader, Liberal Democrat Group, Camden Council:

"Obviously our members and supporters in Hampstead & Kilburn will be disappointed as Emily had impressed during the selection and was already working hard with local campaigners. But it is a tribute to her standing within the party that she has secured this important role supporting Liberal Democrat Ministers in Government, and we wish her the best in the role.

"We will be looking to advertise for a new Prospective Parliamentary Candidate shortly."