Summer fun and a very tall story!

JESTER FESTIVAL 2014

Of the many events this summer, the Jester is always one of our favourites. This year the weather looked unpromising but actually was kind to us. One comment was made as to why we didn't hold it in May because there was less competition then, and it's a simple answer - because the weather in May is even more unreliable than it is in July - even if we do compete with the final weekend of Wimbledon! Undaunted by the recent election results, the Lib Dems held their usual successful cake stall (thanks to all contributors)and managed to cope somewhat short-handed as many of us were participating on the Saturday with the wedding celebrations of Russell Eagling and Ed Fordham who were both, for obvious reasons, missing from the line-up on the stall for the whole weekend!

A VERY TALL STORY?

The Council have now produced their plans for the new school and housing next to the railway lines on the industrial site on Liddell Road (off Maygrove Road)by the railway line. We always thought the scheme was flawed because it featured a split site expansion of Kingsgate school in Kilburn, and would throw off all the businesses currently on site in favour of housing. However, the latest version of the plans have surprised and horrified many local residents.

Because the Labour Council intends to make a huge profit on the site as well as paying for the school, it will sell most of the site on to a private developer. The scheme currently includes a planned 14 storey tower block of private housing, and, against Camden’s own policies, will provide no affordable housing whatsoever. Our new Labour councillors are facing their first big challenge of serious local opposition to this massive new scheme. So what will our new Labour councillors do? Will they simply toe the Labour Town Hall party line or will they join with local people in opposing this new assault on the character of our area?



Looking west - Maygrove Road runs up the centre of the picture
and in the top right is the bottom of Sumatra Road



Camden are holding various drop in events on the plan:

Tuesday 19 July

9am-12pm at Sidings Community Centre

1pm-4pm in West Hampstead Community Centre,Dornfell St

6.30pm-8.30pm at Sidings Community Centre

Wednesday 16 July
5pm to 8pm at West Hampstead Library, Dennington Park Road.

Also there is a meeting on Tuesday 22nd July at 7pm at Sidings Community Centre, to discuss the planning application.

For more information you can contact us or go to Camden.gov.uk/LiddellRoad.

And still the traffic chaos goes on!

It was worse than ever this week when they turned it all around in Mill lane again, but at least there re some traffic signs further out (as requested by Flick Rea) which warn people driving into the area. Now, it has been announced there will be work further down Kilburn High Road and just today, we received this message below so be warned!! Maybe by Christmas we'll all be able to travel around West Hampstead and Kilburn without people coming to blows!

A5 KILBURN HIGH ROAD – IVERSON ROAD – CAVENDISH ROAD
A5 KILBURN HIGH ROAD - SHOOT-UP HILL – MAYGROVE ROAD – CHRISTCHURCH AVENUE
A5 SHOOT-UP HILL – MAPESBURY ROAD – MILL LANE Traffic Signals Modernisation 2014
Transport for London (TfL) has appointed ConwayAecom to carry out traffic signal modernisation at the junctions of:
 A5 Kilburn High Road – Iverson Road – Cavendish Road,
 A5 Kilburn High Road - Shoot-Up Hill – Maygrove Road – Christchurch Avenue, and
 A5 Shoot-Up Hill – Mapesbury Road – Mill Lane – Edgware Road.

Why are we doing this work?
The objective of this scheme is to modernise the traffic signal equipment at the junctions. This is an essential works to maintain an acceptable standard of equipment on street, and to maintain the efficient and reliable operation of the traffic signals throughout London.
What times will the work take place?
The work will start on Monday 21 July to Friday 12 September 2014, or until the work is completed.
TfL in agreement with the London Boroughs of Brent/ Camden, the working hours will be from 08:00 to 18:00 for weekday works with no obstruction to the carriageway and 10:00 to 15:00 on weekdays with traffic management on the carriageway. Side roads; will be closed 24/7 with no access to the A5.
What we would like you to know
We must balance possible disruption to residents with disruption to traffic. Working at the weekdays with traffic management exclusively on off-peak hours provides us with the best chance to complete these works as quickly as possible, with as little disruption as possible.
We will make every effort to complete all traffic signal modernisation works during day time hours allowing pedestrian movement where possible.
Side roads Christchurch Avenue, Mapesbury Road, Iverson Road, Cavendish Road, Mill Lane, and Maygrove Road will be closed to aid works and reduce congestion on the A5. Access and egress to properties will be maintained, however there will be no through access to the A5.
Keeping London moving
Transport for London is firmly committed to minimising disruption. We have worked closely with our contractor, ConwayAecom and the London Borough of Brent and London Borough of Camden in order to reduce the impact of these works on road users, local residents and businesses as far as possible.
I hope you will appreciate that a certain level of disruption is inevitable, and I apologise in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused as a result of these essential works. Should you require further information or an update during the delivery of these works please contact our Streets Customer Services department on 0343 222 1234 email: enquire@tfl.gov.uk or via the web at www.tfl.gov.uk/contact.
Yours faithfully,

Chris Hall
Consultation Team
Transport for London

Newly single

I have been asked how it feels to be the lone Lib Dem Councillor in Fortune Green – or in Camden for that matter! Which is a bit like asking someone how they felt when their whole family went down in the Titanic! I actually think it's like a relationship break-up - with all the pain and re-adjustment it takes to get back to an ordinary normal life. It's a sort of bereavement! Accompanied by survivor guilt!

But it helps to talk about it actually. And I have been enormously cheered by some of the nice things people have said and written to me - thank you. I promise I will continue to work with our local Spotlight team for the benefit of all residents in Fortune Green. As well as working in co-operation with my two new Labour colleagues who will have a taxing time ahead of them.

Meanwhile, I have only visited the Town Hall twice since the Elections on May 22nd. Once was for the formal “signing-in ceremony” with the Chief Executive, and once was to support a local resident in an interview with the Housing Department. Although I have spent a lot of time on emails and phone calls!

Single Councillors are virtually “non-persons” down in Euston Road - they have no rights because they’re not a “group”. For instance, I have no choice of committee places, nor where to sit in the Council chamber, nor a private place to go, nor even any speaking rights.

Not only is this a somewhat lonely position, it takes me back to beyond where I was 28 years ago, when at least there were two of us! But although I am older than I was then, I am wiser in the ways of the Council and don’t need to fight everything and everybody on every occasion. So I shall concentrate my energies on continuing to fight for Fortune Green residents with the help of the local “Spotlight” team and meanwhile try not to get run over by a bus!

Meanwhile - local problems don't just go away - there are countless issues from the traffic nightmares in Mill Lane to the un-neighbourly behaviour of various commercial enterprises in Fortune Green Road and a host of other things - a request to get our Mill Lane Bridge repainted to working on the Jester Festival, from repair and parking problems to the utter impossibility of dealing with "Contact Camden" . (I had to try FIVE times to pay my Council Tax bill today - so heaven help people trying to renew residents parking permits!)

Still the sun is shining today - so let's keep our fingers crossed for better times ahead!

Thoughts on a wet Bank Holiday



This is a picture taken on a happier, sunnier day than today but I've put it in to cheer myself up!

First, this is a huge "thank you" to all the lovely people in Fortune Green, West Hampstead and Cricklewood who gave us their support in the Elections last week and who have loyally supported the local “Spotlight” Lib Dems over so many years - you know who you are! Although I am encouraged and grateful for my re-election, I am devastated that so many of my council colleagues like Nancy Jirira and Keith Moffitt have not been as successful. They have been excellent, hardworking councillors who have done an amazing amount for West Hampstead and Fortune Green for many years (in Keith's case - for 20) and we should always be grateful for their dedication. Being a Councillor is time-consuming, poorly paid unless you are a "Cabinet member", and, sometimes, just sheer hard slog! But certainly my local Lib Dem colleagues have done it for the best of all reasons - that they love this area and have ambitions to make it even more special, and also to help local residents in their too-frequent battles with Camden Council. They were great Councillors and will all be a hard act to follow!
Secondly, to everyone who has hinted, or even asked outright, reports of my standing down are wildly exaggerated! I have the experience of my many years as your Councillor and my knowledge of how the Council works to put at your disposal and enough energy and enthusiasm to continue to do so.. I will still be a strong voice for Fortune Green and will stand up for you at the Town Hall and I will shout if necessary! We must never again lapse into the forgotten corner of the Borough just because we are so far from Kings Cross and Euston Road. This was the main reason I came into local politics in the first place and the main reason I stay. Thank you for enabling me to do so!
Finally - as ever there is lots to be done - issues of parking and local traffic, our often filthy streets and a new general feeling of unsafeness since the police cuts made by the Tory Mayor. There are individual cases to take up, the poor treatment of leaseholders, the dreadful repairs service for tenants, overcrowded housing, noise nuisance and, always planning issues.
Please get in touch by emailing me on flick.rea@camden.gov.uk, or contacting me by phone on 020 7794 8454 and leaving a message if I’m not there. I will be restarting regular advice surgeries again in a couple of weeks and will publish the details.
So, once again, a big "Thank You".
Flick Rea
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Fortune Green

The misfortunes of Fortune Green



Illegal parking on double yellows by Capital City

 


Illegal double yellow parking outside Monte Cristo

The area close to Fortune Green itself has been the source of much trouble and aggravation recently. After the Council took the decision NOT to change parking hours, attention has fociussed on the need to maximise the number of parking spaces available. There are currently several disabled redundant parking bays and the unused car club bay at the junction of Ajax and Achilles Road but the Council, who have been informed of these over several months has now said they can take no action until after the Council Elections on May 22. They are not allowed to carry out consultations during “purdah” (the period before the elections). But we are pressing for an early start to this –May 23rd would be a good day!



There are two other factors which are affecting the issue – one is the unneighbourly behaviour of Capital City Motorbikes who park/sell/repair motorbikes all over the road and footway at the end of Achilles Road and park their vans at will in adjacent streets. The Council is now investigating this. The second is the new “shisha café” Montecristo. (Like Capital City – it has, currently no planning permission to operate although their application is currently with Camden for decision and their trading operation is also being investigated -) Their major offence recently is that their customers have been parking outside on double yellow lines every evening on Fortune Green Road and Burrard Road, seriously impeding traffic and buses and in open contempt of traffic regulations. We persuaded Camden to send parking enforcement officers to take a look and for at least two nights the yellow lines have been clear – long may it last!



 

Fortune Green – There has recently been what, in Fortune Green Ward terms, is a local crime wave. (Our figures are normally one of the lowest in Camden) We’ve seen a mugging, shop break–ins , car damage etc! This is obviously not specifically related to the Green – however, we are getting complaints about groups of young people breaking into to play football at night in the Play centre and reports of groups of “undesirables” hanging around on the Green – particularly near the top where it adjoins the cemetery. Recently, even after recent work to the lighting, one of the lamps at the top by the Play Centre was out and we have specifically asked for the lighting to be upgraded and increased on the Green. Unfortunately, with the Safer Neighbourhood Team being severely reduced by the Mayor, the police cannot keep an eye on it as much as they did and we are now getting regular comments and complaints from residents that the Green feels unsafe. We’ve requested an early site meeting with Camden officers in charge of the Green.

For local news and year-round action - please support your local Lib Dem team - Flick, Nick and Nancy at the Council Elections on May 22nd! And remember to vote Liberal Democrat in the European elections on the same day.

Published and promoted on behalf of the Liberal Democrats by S. Drage at Unit 1 Streatham Business Centre, London, SW16 2ED. Printed by Conrad Print Society and published and promoted by E. Watson on behalf of Flick Rea, Nick Russell and Nancy Jirira(Liberal Democats) all at 242 Webheath Community Workshops, Netherwood Street, London, NW6 2JX

Traffic problems and Building works




Flick Rea inspecting the preparations the day before the closure

  Road Closures – For the second time in just a few weeks, local traffic was in more than its usual chaos by reason of road closures. Now we all understand that from time to time, necessary works have to take place. It just seems that we get more than our fair share. And it seems no-one seems to give thought to notifying early enough - let alone consulting with local groups and local ward Councillors. At least the recent closure of Maygrove Road finished promptly but just as we'd got used to a clear route to Kilburn again - we received another "whammy". This time it was Mill Lane's turn.

Traffic chaos on Mill Lane as seen
from Nick Russell's flat in Ellerton


Notices went up overnight and , once again, no prior notification or consultation to local groups or councillors. And furthermore it caused total chaos as everyone went back to work and school after the Bank Holiday.



 
We have told Camden in the stongest possible terms that this is sloppy procedure and extremely discourteous and shows the contempt in which the Council seems to hold its residents.


Building works (1) The new “post office in a church” at St James, Sherriff Road is coming on apace and should be open mid July!
Fr Andrew Cain saw me taking a picture of the muddy patch outside and invited me in where it’s already beginning to look amazing. There will be the post office counters, a café, a stationery shop, a meeting place area and a fabulous soft play area for young children. Top marks for an imaginative and exciting development and to Fr Cain for his determination to get this project up and running. Fortunately these works are NOT stopping traffic!

Building works (2) The new development at the old Handrail House on Maygrove Road (that caused the closure of Maygrove Road while they installed a new sewer) is still at the demolition stage (PIC) and they have cut down a number of trees making the area rather bleak, although the big ones on the Peace Park are safe. The developers have promised to plant new trees.

For local news and year-round action - please support your local Lib Dem team - Flick, Nick and Nancy at the Council Elections on May 22nd! And remember to vote Liberal Democrat in the European elections on the same day.

Published and promoted on behalf of the Liberal Democrats by S. Drage at Unit 1 Streatham Business Centre, London, SW16 2ED. Printed by Conrad Print Society and published and promoted by E. Watson on behalf of Flick Rea, Nick Russell and Nancy Jirira(Liberal Democats) all at 242 Webheath Community Workshops, Netherwood Street, London, NW6 2JX

Rubbish - top of the heap!



Nick Russell is fed up with flytipping!

 We’d like to thank everyone who responded to our recent residents' survey and thought we’d like to share the results. To no-one’s surprise your two biggest issues are firstly, a variety of complaints about litter, dumping and the general state of our environment and secondly, traffic and parking. These are the issues raised most frequently on the doorstep as we speak to local residents.

Interestingly, there’s no real consensus on the general standard of street cleaning. It seems to depend on exactly where you live – some roads are obviously better than others! But we weren’t surprised at the mention of one or two "hotspots", such as near the recycling bins, outside shops and everyone's bête noire - the Black Path at the bottom of Broomsleigh Street.
A specific issue was dog dirt, with reference to the lack of special "dog bins". (It appears the Council is now not installing these bins and requests dog owners to "scoop it and bin it" in an ordinary litter bin - not that this seems to help with persistent offenders! )

On the specific issue of computerised visitors parking “e-permits” - a huge majority watraffic and parking and, secondly,nted to stay with scratchcards for as long as possible and some people even underlined this and repeated "No, never"!

Individual comments were many and varied and ranged from complaints about the new Shisha cafe in Fortune Green Road to a request for clear warning on recycling arrangements over Bank holidays. They also covered complaints about the traffic lights at the junction of Finchley Road and Fortune Green Road, the need for a lift at Finchley Road tube station and the appalling deficiencies of the Council's "customer service" telephone arrangements.

Nationally, we were pleased to find out that so many of you understood that it was the Liberal Democrats in government who were responsible for the £700 tax cut, putting money back into our pockets; that by and large you approved of the "pupil premium" (currently £900 for every child on free school meals paid directly to schools); and that you support our campaign to increase jobs and apprenticeships.
We’ve taken note of all your individual concerns and will continue to work hard for local improvements all year round.
Best wishes,
The Fortune Green Liberal Democrat Team - Flick, Nick and Nancy
Flick Rea flickrea@gmail.com 020 7431 6753
Nick Russell nickrussell.libdem@gmail.com 07901 815362
Nancy Jirira nancysoko@aol.com 020 7433 0787

Parking survey - the result

The results of the parking survey across Fortune Green and West Hampstead which took place last autumn have now been announced by Camden Council. There was a response rate of 13.9% which doesn't seem high when there are such strong views about parking in parts of our area.

The overall results were about two to one "satisfied" with current parking hours but this varied considerably across the three zones. Hardly anyone was keen on an extension of weekend hours, but it's clear that there was a clear area of disagreement in one area in particular.
The report says:
On a street by street basis, a small number of streets located in the east of the CA-P(c) subzone returned higher numbers in favour of extended hours of control during the week. Specifically, these are: Achilles Road, Ulysses Road and Aldred Road. These results are very similar to those of the consultation held in the CA-P zone in 2008/2009, where a majority were in favour of the status quo, but residents in the above roads were in favour of extending the hours of control."
The report goes on to discuss making a "mini-zone" or extending the full day controls of CA-P(a) into CA-P(c) but recommends finally:
"6.15 Overall, whilst there is some interest in making changes to the hours of control in CA-P(c) it is difficult to justify implementing the changes given that in most cases, those wanting change are not in the majority. The current split in hours treats the whole “Greek Streets” area as a single area, which is geographically easily comprehensible to all. Any changes made would be to a small concentration of streets, which would result in a further layer of complexity on street. This is not conducive to a coherent and easily comprehensible experience for all road users and is contrary to the objective of the Parking Policy Review to simplify the parking regime on-street for all parking users.
6.16 While it is recognised that those who desire longer hours feel very strongly on the issue, it is not considered that this should be carried through based on the context of majority opposition to change from the wider coherent area. Therefore, for these reasons, it is not advisable to extend the CA-P(a) boundary to cover those streets where the majority of residents wanted longer hours."

This report which can be read in full with all the figures at: http://democracy.camden.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=612&MId=5160&Ver=4
will be considered and decided upon at a meeting on 18th March at 5pm, at the Town Hall in Committee Room 2. The decsion will be taken by the Cabinet member for Sustainability, Planning and Transport and, at our insistence, will be a public meeting so anyone can attend. Anyone wishing to speak should contact the Committee Clerk, Lorraine.jones@camden.gov.uk by 5pm on Friday. Or you could email the Cabinet Member Phil Jones.

This is a recommendation which will infuriate all those who have been campaigning for a better deal for parking for residents in their street, even while others will be happy with no change. It now falls to us to make sure we can maximise the amount of spaces in this area which are available. This means reviewing yellow lines, removing unused disabled and car club bays and removing other intrusive and illegal parking. Your local councillors will make this a priority.

Good news for North-West London!

Absolutely delighted today to hear of a very large spanner in the works as far as Barnet's proposals for the Brent Cross development! Many congratulations to the " Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood campaign! We could be saved huge increases in traffic up here on the North -West frontier of Camden! Let's hope this very large spanner (aka Secretary of State Eric Pickles) does the trick and forces Barnet and their development partners to come up with more modest and sensible schemes!

Here is the Coalition's press release:

PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 4th March 2014
The Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood development is celebrating the shock news that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, has issued an Article 25 so-called “stop notice” preventing Barnet council from granting planning permission, entering into any agreement or passing any resolution that could influence the site’s planning status without ministerial authorisation.
Coalition member Lia Colacicco said “I had to pinch myself when I saw the email. Since 2010 the presumption has been to pass everything, so this was a welcome surprise. Many of us wrote to Eric Pickles asking him to call in BXC for a public inquiry given its impact for miles around– and our MP Sarah Teather and Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council, also wrote regarding the disbenefits to Brent which have been ignored. We mentioned irregularities in the process, public transport, TfL’s objections, the loss of Cricklewood’s only green space and other green spaces in the wider area, and the selective use of transport assessments. But above all the impact on the surrounding areas, particularly the 29,000 extra cars a day.
“We deplore the loss of the promised street layout in this new 'town centre', and its last-minute replacement by a bog-standard indoor shopping centre. We also are horrified by the 'secret' new basement voids, that can be quietly turned over to yet another three layers of car parking.
”We have been calling this a dinosaur development because it was conceived in the 1990s - and it shows. There is nothing exciting, visionary or futuristic about it, only basic sustainability measures – just the highest density most profitable option. North Londoners deserve something exceptional. This is a huge victory for us and our dream of a public inquiry is one step closer.
The group are now hoping that the Secretary of State will reject the recent amendments and call a Public Inquiry. The group is at pains to point out that they are pro regeneration, and pro new homes but against the recent amendments and the missed opportunity to spend some of the £200m planning gain money on better public transport, including possibly light-rail (trams or DLR) for the area.

Spring stirrings around Fortune Green

We may have had a dreadful wet and windy winter but at least the first daffodils are appearing on Fortune Green! The Green itself – already soaking wet and more like a swamp was not improved recently when Council workmen dug up great stretches of it to relay the electric cables. Feeling somewhat guilty now for reporting most of the lights were out and nagging the Council to do something about it! We’ve also taken up the issue of poor lighting generally around the Green which may have been a factor in a recent mugging in Ajax Road. Considering Fortune Green has one of the lowest crime rates in London, we are all hoping this was a one-off! Its certainly the first that most of us can remember for years!
There is news of a possible planning application for “Unit 5” in the Sager building on Fortune Green Road. Since the withdrawal of the horrendous planning application for the Abercorn School in the Sager building, a new “school” application is likely to be made. However, this would only occupy one unit, and won’t have a couple of hundred schoolchildren! It is a psychotherapy school with a maximum of 40 adult students likely to be there at any one time - unlikely to generate the huge amounts of traffic and extra parking which were major flaws in the previous scheme.

It seems the report on our long awaited parking review will be published on Camden’s website this week and a decision on the results will be taken by Cabinet member Phil Jones on 18th March at 5.pm. We have requested this meeting to be in public so anyone wanting to comment can go along.

We are also still chasing up the problems caused by Capital City Motorbikes, but it’s a long business involving planning, traffic and other officers so don’t expect a quick result!

Some of you have contacted us about the new “shisha” café at the corner of Burrard Road. This is currently operating without planning permission and we’ve asked Camden officers to investigate.

It’s being a busy February!

Best wishes,

Flick, Nick and Nancy

The local Lib Dem Spotlight team

Tuesday 27th January saw a packed meeting at West Hampstead Library discussing the latest draft of our Neighbourhood Development Plan. (for more info go to the website: www.ndpwesthampstead.org.uk )
This plan been written by people who work or live in West Hampstead for those who work and live here and suggests guidelines and planning policies for our future.

There was time for plenty of questions but overall the Plan received a positive reaction. It is still out for consultation until 28th February before it sets off on the long process to formal adoption.

Among the speakers was Councillor Flick Rea who had been asked to talk about the history of planning and West Hampstead and the good reasons for having a Neighbourhood Plan.

“ I first lived in West Hampstead over 50 years ago and have represented Fortune Green as a Councillor since 1986. I have been in my present home for over 40 years and my children and later grandchildren were brought up here and went to local schools.

I am passionate about West Hampstead and Fortune Green and like to think I have played a small part in its past, its present and hopefully its future.

Which is why we are here tonight.

Two years ago, learning of the new powers in the Localism Bill, my fellow Councillor Keith Moffitt and I decided the idea of a Neighbourhood Plan was something we should enthusiastically adopt if we could find some people to do it. So we called a public meeting to see if enough people would be interested, and to our great pleasure there were! A steering group was formed to explore the idea and 2 years later – here we are!!

I’d like to pay tribute to all the hard work that has gone into this, involving scores of people but primarily the committee and the indefatigable Chair, James Earl – I doubt if anyone else would have had the determination, dedication and patience to put this together over the last 2 years. Thank you!

This plan helps to achieve something I was determined to do when I first wanted to become a Councillor all those years ago - to stand up for West Hampstead, in particular to take on the powerful Council Planning Department. I always felt they were trying to impose borough- wide policies from the fastness of the Town Hall in Euston Rd which had little or no relevance to areas like West Hampstead.

Over the years there have been some successes - we obliged Camden to set up a Consultation Group especially for this area. It met regularly, drafted guidelines for local design and for the preservation of shopfronts in West End Lane. We also commented on local planning application often at an early stage and inputted early on into various drafts. Another early local success was the setting up of the West End Green Conservation Area – largely inspired by developments taking place by West Hampstead Mews.

Over the years locally people have battled over the “interchange” now the “Growth Area” down by the stations. Originally a gleam in Ken Livingstone’s eye when Mayor of London, the present Mayor happily endorsed it and we are now stuck with it. The area is scheduled to have 500 new homes and 100 jobs (though there is more sign of the former than the latter at present.) But there are still those seeking to amelioriate its effects and this draft NDP carries on that tradition.

If it sounds as if planning is a constant battle – then yes it is – developers are unrelenting and will try and try again – look at Gondar Gardens… or even the many applications and appeals re the buildings along Mill Lane, the last of which was turned down by the Council only last week. And we are now facing new battles as everyone seeks to enlarge their properties and the Hampstead basement curse has arrived!

That said, it’s not all about holding back the flood – people change, places change and West Hampstead has definitely changed! West End Lane was once home to four butchers with another on Mill Lane and, (within living memory- though not mine,) one in Fortune Green Road. The only places for a cuppa were the Bridge café (still defiantly unchanged) and Wendy’s Wimpy Bar (long gone). There were two Chinese and one Indian restaurant, the Black Lion, the Railway and the Alliance, (albeit briefly the Rat and Carrot, Rat and Parrot and Slug and Lettuce) there was also the Prince of Wales where the Sager building (another planning battle lost on appeal) is now.

But West Hampstead is a different place now with its sushi bars and shisha cafes, wine bars and café society. But we mustn’t regret the past – West End Lane is still special with attractions like the book shop and the Wet Fish café (formerly the local fishmongers!) and a new Waitrose will be welcome. Is this the beginning of the upmarketing of West End Lane? I rather suspect not – I think West Hampstead will always retain its quirky independence – a place where a former Hampstead resident who had moved down the hill told me: “My dear – I love it here - you don’t have to put your make up on before going out to buy your Independent in the morning”!

Long live West Hampstead!”

Shock to Maygrove Road Residents and potential chaos!

Residents in Maygrove Road were horrified when they got a letter last Wednesday from the developers of Handrail House saying their road was to be totally blocked to traffic for three months starting the following Monday(27th) to allow them to put in a new sewer. This came as a great surprise to everyone, not least your local councillors both from Fortune Green and West Hampstead. Also residents of neighbouring streets and the local Sidings Community Centre had not been notified. We think this was an appalling failure of communication from both the developers and Camden Council. At present we're trying to find out who was to blame!

What does this road closure mean? All parking will be suspended, and there will be no road access between Ariel Road and Handrail House although the pavement on one side will remain open. But there should be area-wide signs warning of the closure as Maygrove Road(along with Iverson Road) is a major through route from Kilburn High Road. Traffic chaos - at least for the first few days - is likely to be the result.

Sue Measures, the manager of the popular local Sidings Community Centre, is furious as the developers promised to work with local people to minimise problems during the development. Many of those who attend the classes and events as well as the nursery are very concerned that their day-to-day access will be more difficult and the Centre has had to send out a large number of urgent notices to users and local residents.

There have already been lots of complaints about this and the shortness of notice, so it seems the developers have agreed to hold off till later this week but we don't think that'll do much to help. Councillor Flick Rea says : " This work may well be essential but I am asking Camden to explain why it will take three months - surely it could be done more quickly? Also why were so few people consulted - especially ward councillors so we could have got a warning out to residents? This is deeply unsatisfactory and shows the low degree of care for local residents!"

Request to reconsider the development of Liddell Road site refused

On Tuesday 21st January a Special meeting of the Council's Childrens, Families and Schools Scrutiny was held to consider a Call In request by West Hampstead Councillors that the Cabinet decision to develop the Liddell Road site to accommodate an expanded Kingsgate School to be funded by the sale of 140 flats and business space. The Ward Councillors John Bryant and Gillian Risso-Gill were supported by three deputations and an audience of concerned local residents.

John Bryant presented the Education case (that should have been the main concern to the CSF Scrutiny):
- No education arguments have been presented by Officers to justify the current proposal for a split school site other than expanding an existing Outstanding School. Alternative solutions to provide extra school places in NW Camden, such as a free school or academy (where Government funding would have been available) have not been considered.
- The move to a 4-form entry from the originally proposed 2 form entry is a recent addition to the proposal for the Liddell Road site without consideration whether the existing Kingsgate site would be able to accommodate 4-form year groups.
- The move from a 2-form to a 4-form entry carries risks however good the current management might be and particularly on split sites.
-Children in all age primary schools gain benefit of having children of different age groups as part of their school community. This would not be possible in a split site school.
-The examples provided by Officers of split school sites in other areas, eg Emmanuel School were not comparable to the proposals for Kingsgate School since all the sites were on the same road.
-If the Council proceed with selling market homes on the site, there will be an estimated profit of £3 million.
- Since the Cabinet decision, the Council has been awarded £6.7 million from the Government to fund new school places. This would mean that the need to fund a new school or expand an existing one by selling market homes would not be needed. Nor would the need to displace the existing businesses as the site is large enough could accommodate both businesses and a school.

James Earl, Chair of the Neighbourhood Development Forum argued that:
- The plan to remove all the existing 25 businesses, resulting in loss of jobs, was against Camden Planning Policies and questioned the suitability of the site for the uses proposed
- The Consultation process was flawed with a very low response rate and the views of local groups had not been included.
- A co-sited school, with sites a walking distance of a mile apart would not be acceptable

Sue Measures, Manager of Sidings Community Centre and Elizabeth Pearson, mother of two toddlers argued:
- The practical and logistical issues for parents of having children at two sites
- The travel issues to Liddell Road and presented photos of pedestrian congestion that morning at the West Hampstead Interchange that parents would have to contend with
- The loss of early years provision in central Kilburn, currently provided at Kingsgate but if moved to the new site would be adjacent to the existing provision at Sidings.
- The consultation with parents was inadequate and misleading, leading to a low response rate

Branko Viric led a deputation of 3 businesses currently trading on Liddell Road
- The proposal will lead to the closure of 25 businesses, many that are unable to afford to move,the loss of jobs, services to local residents, and the loss of rent and business revenue to the Council.
- The businesses will no longer be able to offer apprenticeships to local residents.
- There has been no meaningful consultation or discussion with the businesses by the Council, other than the setting up of an online portal.
- There are no suitable premises available or affordable for the displaced light industrial businesses within Camden . The nearest potential space is in Tottenham, so the local customer base would be lost.
- Alternative sites for a new school in West Hampstead have not been fully explored, eg. 156 West End Lane.
- The pedestrian route between Kingsgate School and Liddell Road along narrow pavements that cannot be widened could be dangerous to young children and parents with buggies.
- The low response rate on the Council's flawed consultation demonstrates a lack of support or awareness.

Cllr Gillian Risso-Gill supported all the above and argued:
- Many of the families whose children currently attend Kingsgate live in the social housing estates around Abbey Road in South Kilburn. Many travel to school by bus with a short walk to the Kingsgate School. There are no bus routes serving the new site and journey times would double by bus and congested pavements through rush hour. This may not be acceptable to parents with toddlers. They may not be in the catchment area of the new school. The only alternative schools would be St. Mary's or St. Eugene de Mazenod, both faith schools and over subscribed.
- Six employment sites have already been lost in West Hampstead recently for housing development which has impacted the local weekday economy.
- No consideration has yet been given to the new housing developments of 380 homes that are under construction in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site in West Hampstead Square, Iverson and Maygrove Roads which will put additional strain on local services as well as traffic and pedestrian routes.
- The proposal for new employment on the new site would not be suitable for the existing light industrial businesses. The new employment space proposed would be office based and may not be attractive to businesses due to Camden's insistence on car-free developments.