Fortune Green Spotlight

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!”