CRASH AGM
Around 60 people attended a well attended and constructive AGM last week. Roger Freeman was in attendance (Andrew and Don were at the main council meeting). We feel that it is important that there is a strong residents association and it would be great if more people could become involved, whether they can give a little time or a lot. Moves to set up a Conservation Area Advisory Committee (CAAC) are greatly to be welcomed. Throughout the borough CAACs play a vital role in representing local views in planning decisions. If you want to know more about CRASH and the plans for a South Hampstead CAAC, please contact Jean Austin or Susan Hadida.
Cycling on pavements
This perennial problem, which is really serious for the elderly, those with young children and the visually impaired, came up at the CRASH meeting. We checked in with the police team - they have issued 3 tickets for this in the last couple of weeks and lots of warnings, but most of this is on Finchley Road. Our new sergeant has asked his team to be more proactive in the Gardens Area around issuing tickets.
Broadfield Open Space – Victory!
The great news is that the Council has abandoned the idea of developing this site, following the extensive opposition demonstrated in the consultation last summer. We as ward councillors actively opposed this from the start, and it’s great that the council has seen sense and the threat this land has been removed. The council’s letter states: “Following this initial consultation, further discussions with estate residents, ward councillors and other local people took place over the following few months which reinforced the initial feedback we received from consultation. Because of this, and following consideration of options, it has been decided that no further consultation will take place about the redevelopment of this site and the Council will not be pursuing this option in the foreseeable future.” We do not think, by the way, that anything sinister should be read into the phrase “foreseeable future”. It’s just standard Council-speak, we really don’t see any signs that the council will return to this idea.
Council residents parking zones consultation
We mentioned this last month. The consultation has now closed, but there will be further consultation if Camden Council intends any major changes following this initial “open” consultation. We suspect any changes proposed may be quite limited, but as your ward councillors, we want to make sure any changes are clearly an improvement and command majority resident support. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, or if you would rather pass us your comments to pass on to the Council. More details here:
https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/test-fl/consult_view for details.
Safer Neighbourhoods Public Meeting feedback
Roger Freeman attended the May 22nd Public meeting of the Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhood Team. This was the first with the new Sgt Jason Collins. Two pieces of good news. The first is the team has been reinforced with two new members joining very recently and have the full complement of six officers. The second is that in all categories there has been a reduction in incidents; for example residential burglaries were 28 in the last quarter compared to 50 in the three months before ; robberies fell from 14 to 5 and all types of vehicle crime fell from 43 to 26. Two areas where everyone can chip in: the Police would welcome more Neighbourhood Watch schemes; if you are interested in setting one up in your area contact Roger Freeman. There are also some vacancies on the Safer Neighborhood Panel for Swiss Cottage ward and if this is something that could interest you, contact Roger Freeman. The meeting decided that the three main priorities of the Team should remain Burglary, Vehicle Crime and Anti Social Behavior, including bicycle riding on the pavement. For details of our local police team and policing priorities see: http://content.met.police.uk/Team/Camden/SwissCottage
Planning and licensing matters
Some of the current issues we’re involved with for residents include:
51 Fairfax change of use – this was on the agenda for DC Committee this week, but had to be postponed due to the committee overrunning on other items (which we know is always very annoying for residents attending). It will be coming to the next DC Committee on 19th July. We understand the strength of feeling on this application - Cllr Don Williams has objected.
64 Fairhazel planning enforcement – officers have told the owners to submit a planning application and stop work pending the outcome, but seem to be continuing.
50 Canfield Gardens basement application – we are aware of the very considerable concern this application is causing, and have liaised with officers to provide some advice to residents objecting. When we see if officers indeed recommend it (and many applications are turned down at this stage) we will liaise about the best way forward.
Mia restaurant – we are supporting residents who are rightly annoyed by the level of late night noise from outside tables, and enforcement officers are pursuing the matter.
Fairfax Road pedestrian crossing – register your support!
Thank you to those who have already registered your support. If you want to sign the petition, email us marked “Fairfax Road pedestrian crossing”, indicate your support, and we’ll print it out and add to the petition. We also intend collecting signatures on Finchley Rd over the summer.
Olympics update – impact on our area
Transport for London have done some additional modelling on London stations (see www.getaheadofthegames.com). This shows that West Hampstead is not anticipated to be much busier than usual. However, some of the stations close by are expected to be busier – in particular Finchley Road. In particular, Finchley Road is expected to be busiest between:
· 2.30-5pm: Saturday 28 July, Wednesday 1, Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 August
· 5.30-8pm: Tuesday 31 July and Thursday 9 August
· 1-3.30pm: Saturday 4 and Saturday 11 August
TfL assumes that at these times some of the passengers trying to get on at Finchley Road may walk up to West Hampstead (!). TfL have also released some information about the tube lines that will be busiest during the Games: it is anticipated that the Central, DLR and Jubilee lines will be ‘exceptionally busy’ and all other lines (including the North London Line/London Overground) will be ‘busier than usual’.For the Jubilee line it expected that most of the impact will be between Bond Street and Stratford.
For the London Overground (North London line) it is expected that the busiest sections will be between Clapham Junction to Shepherd’s Bush and Highbury & Islington to Stratford.
For an overview go to www.camden.gov.uk/2012.
Other issues we’re working on
These include:
· Finchley Rd bus shelter – the temporary shelter due to demolition works at 120 Finchley Road is causing congestion. Camden has asked TfL that the bus stop be permanently relocated to its current location to address the current confusion and congestion. We are waiting to hear.
· 211 Goldhurst crossover
· Fairfax Rd – vibrations getting worse, road surface needs work again
· Poor rubbish collection at top of Goldhurst
· Trees needing to be cut back on Canfield – officers have been serving notices where this
· Graffiti around West Hampstead tube
· Quality of housing management services
Councillor advice surgeries:
Monday July 2nd 7-8pm - Crossfield Centre, Fairhazel Gardens
Saturday July 21st 10-11am - at the Swiss Cottage Community Centre
In addition we’re always happy to come around and arrange to meet residents at other times.
Cllr Roger Freeman (Conservative)
[email protected]
0208 348 7626
Cllr Don Williams (Conservative)
[email protected]
07775 658091
Cllr Andrew Marshall (Conservative)
[email protected]
07808 579563