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!