Swiss Cottage Courier

Harben estate heating update

2012-02-07T17:55:00.000Z

This has been a terrible situation and we've a number of questions we'll be asking the Council, but in the meantime we've been pressing for the fastest action to restore heating and hot water. Below is the latest update from the Council, which is encouraging, especially with the temporary boiler, but it cannot come soon enough.. We'll update as we get more info.

"The first new boiler (boiler 1) is now built and awaiting final connections, ready for commissioning tomorrow morning. The Partners engineers worked through the night and will complete later this evening ready to commission.

The second new boiler (boiler 2) will be installed on completion of (boiler 1), we anticipate that this will be completed before the end of the week .

In the meantime we have ordered a temporary boiler which is likely to be on site and operational by Wednesday.

We will have throughput tomorrow which will be noticeable by the residents before tomorrow evening and subsequent additions to this throughout the remainder of the week, the two new boilers running the system will hold up the base demand with the temporary plant providing back up."

Sunday night snow update

2012-02-05T19:10:00.000Z

Latest update from Camden Council as of 1800 Sunday:

No snow is forecast tonight but the temperature is set to drop below zero, so the greatest hazard is road and pavement surfaces freezing over.

The gritting of priority roads will continue through the evening and early morning as necessary.

All cleaning services will remain suspended tomorrow with staff re-diverted to clearing ice and gritting pavements and side roads from 6am.

Grit bins will be topped up tonight.

The usual Sunday refuse collection service – which is collections from main roads - was resumed earlier today.

A decision will be made on domestic refuse collection services tomorrow at 5.30am.

We will put out a further update tomorrow morning before 9.30am updating you about other affected services.

We are not anticipating the severe weather to affect schools opening or staff getting into work using public transport.

Please continue to check our winter weather web pages for the latest service information.

Snow update

2012-02-05T12:52:00.002Z

Had good walk around ward. Priority roads gritted but of course that's not most roads. Plan and Budget for winter weather was agreed by last LD/Con administration and unchanged by current Lab one, so no grounds for party point scoring. Need to check further on how well grit bins working. Am sure Don will also have update from his end of the ward. Ideally we'd be able to do more on estates given older residents and will check on this. Couple of pics below. Raising a few problem points with officers shortly.

Our colleague Cllr Gio Spinella reminds us of the gritbin location map across Camden, highlighting the bins at Goldhurst/Priory and the Belsize Rd roadabout for example.

Winter weather warning - Camden gritting etc

2012-02-04T13:21:00.000Z

We've just got the following update from Camden officers:

You will be aware we are expecting severe weather later today with snow of 6-10cm forecast in North West London from 5pm onwards into the evening.

We have suspended all cleaning services this morning and diverted staff on to gritting duties. We are aiming to grit all pavements ahead of the snow falling but will start with priority areas such as areas outside hospitals and high footfall areas etc.

We aim to grit all roads, including housing estates, in the borough but will focus on priority routes. Gritting will continue throughout the night as necessary.

Our winter weather web pages will be updated if services are adversely affected and also contain important information on priority gritting routes, grit bins, keeping safe and tips for staying warm and helping vulnerable neighbours. You may want to refer residents to these pages if you are contacted. We will put out regular Tweets throughout the day.

You may be aware that a number of residents and community groups have snow shovels and we are hoping they will make use of these over the coming days.

Unsafe situation on Finchley Rd with gas roadworks

2012-02-01T23:04:00.000Z

Residents have raised concerns about the danger these works on Finchley Rd represent to pedestrians. There have been near misses and there is a real problem at night with cars jumping the temporary lights.

We've raised these concerns with officers today.

Some good news is that the works are expected to be completed this weekend and the traffic signals, and junction, will be returned to its original state by Monday morning. Camden officers have asked TfL that the timings are looked at again in respect of Fortune Green Road to see if any improvements can be made for the northbound vehicles. In addition, they have asked that the signals team at TfL look into the pedestrian movements and behaviour of drivers ignoring the signal instructions.

The not so good news (well actually we knew this) is that although the works at Fortune Green Road junction will be completed, the replacement of the Gas Main continues north towards Hendon Way. Transport for London are in discussions with Camden and Barnet as there is a need to reduce the southbound route from Hendon Way to allow the project to continue into Finchley Road (non-TfL section). It is expected that these works will commence next weekend, 11th February. National Grid have submitted proposals to TfL for consideration which, whilst disruptive, will reduce the working time to ten days.

We expect to hear more from Camden officers shortly and will keep you posted.

Barrow Hill reservoir redevelopment, new drop-on consultation meeting

2012-01-31T23:07:00.000Z

The second drop-in on this scheme for a replacement reservoir will take place on Tuesday 21 February 2012 from 5.00pm until 8.00pm at St Christina's School in St Edmund's Terrace.

Camden planning consultation email is changing

2012-01-29T22:40:00.000Z

The Council’s email address for comments on planning applications is changing. From end January, the email to use is planning@camden.gov.uk. Emails should no longer be sent to env.devcon@camden.gov.uk, although those that are, will still be received over the next month. The idea is to have a simpler, easy to remember email address.

Tree planting in Finchley Rd

2012-01-26T20:43:00.002Z

Tree Planting in Priory Rd: We’ve been asked about the rationale for trees being planted in Priory Rd recently, as there were concerns about roots etc. These trees were part of the Council tree planting programme, based on with less than the average number of street trees per road. Officers say they have checked and the new trees are appropriately sited, in terms of underground utility, obstruction of street lighting, relationship with other vegetation in front gardens, pavement width and street signage etc.

One of the main reasons for not being able to plant street trees is the presence of underground utility. In total 17 trial pits were excavated in Priory Road, but only 9 sites were successful. The borough has lost a significant number of street tree sites over the years. The current street tree population is approximately 8,500 and the target is 9,500.

The Council say that consultation is not always practical on new street trees due to cost, but they have assured us that if a resident is unhappy with a particular site, then this can be reconsidered.

Abbey Rd redevelopment planning application - comments by 14 February

2012-01-25T22:33:00.000Z

This major outline application for redevelopment has now been lodged, with comments due by Feb 14th. The reference number is 2012/0096/p and details can be found on the Camden planning website. The application is to provide up to 299 residential units (including up to 133 affordable units), up to 1,300 sqm of commercial floor space, up to 1,000sqm of business floorspace, up to 2,250sqm community and health floorspace; all following demolition of Belsize car park building, Abbey Coop Community Centre and Hinstock and Emminster blocks, site-wide walkways and pedestrian railway bridge. Cllr Don Williams will represent the views of ward residents on this application, please contact him with questions and concerns. Cllrs Roger Freeman and Andrew Marshall as members of the Development Control Committee cannot express a view on the application at this stage.

Peacocks, Finchley Rd

2012-01-20T15:13:00.002Z

Roger has been keeping an eye on this and writes:

It was good news for the vitality of Finchley Road shopping when Peacocks took possession of the ex-Woolworths site some months back.
In the short term at least it is also good news that - with Peacocks now in administration - the decision has been taken to keep all stores open while a buyer for the stores is sought. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Topping out ceremony for UCL Academy at Swiss Cottage

2012-01-16T18:20:00.000Z

Roger Freeman and I were delighted to attend the "topping out" ceremony for the UCL Academy this afternoon, celebrating with all those involved in the construction ahead of the kitting out of the building over the coming months. The Academy will open on this site in mid September this year (the students will spend the first two weeks of term in UCL accomodation before they move in here). The Swiss Cottage Special School will however be open late in the summer term. All fantastic news and all those involved and present today, from the new Principal of the Academy and UCL academic staff to Camden education officers and local residents who live near the site all most enthusiastic. See earlier posts from some details on the practical arrangements which may affect nearby residents once the academy opens, but we'll update on this later in the spring.

Xmas holiday parking enforcement, removal/car pound hours and CCTV enforcement

2011-12-21T20:11:00.000Z

Christmas and New York can be a confusing thing for parking controls. It's not always been well communicated in the past, but there are full details on the Camden site here

Below are the main details on what is being enforced on what day.

On-street parking enforcement

23 December 2011 Enforcement as normal
24 December 2011 Normal enforcement ends at 4.30pm
25 to 26 December 2011 No enforcement
27 December 2011 Bank holiday enforcement
28 to 30 December 2011 Normal enforcement
31 December 2011 Normal enforcement ends at 4.30pm
1 January 2012 No enforcement
2 January 2012 Bank holiday enforcement
3 January 2012 Normal enforcement

What does bank holiday enforcement mean?
We operate a consistent approach to bank holiday parking enforcement which is set out below. While not all parking restrictions apply, enforcement will still take place where there are safety and traffic flow implications or where the vehicle is causing an obstruction.

Bus lanes and moving traffic restrictions (such as box junctions and banned turns) are enforced as normal on bank holidays.

Which parking restrictions are in operation on bank holidays?

Certain restrictions will still apply on bank holidays and a penalty charge notice may be issued to vehicles parked in the circumstances and/or locations listed below.
•Double yellow lines
•Where a loading ban is in operation (indicated by a single/double yellow line with adjacent kerb chevrons and a nearby sign stating the hours during which loading is not permitted)
•Bus stops
•Footway parking
•Zig-zag lines
•Parking across a dropped footway
•Double parking
•Car Club bays
•Coach bays
•Diplomatic bays
•Dedicated disabled permit holder bays
•Blue and green disabled badge holder bays
•Electric vehicle charging bays
•Suspended bays
•Cycleways

Which parking restrictions are not in operation on bank holidays?

On bank holidays restrictions will not apply and a penalty charge notice will not be issued to vehicles parked in the circumstances and/or locations listed below.
•Resident or shared use (resident permit or pay and display) bays
•Single yellow lines (except where kerb chevrons indicate that a loading ban is in operation as outlined above)
•Pay and display bays
•Business permit holder bays
•Doctor’s bays
•Loading bays
•Market trader permit bays
•Motorcycle bays

Removals and car pound opening hours

23 December 2011 Enforcement as normal, opening hours 9am-10pm
24 December 2011 Enforcement to cease at Noon, opening hours 9am-6pm
25 to 27 December 2011 No enforcement, Closed
28 to 30 December 2011 Enforcement as normal, opening hours 9am-10pm
31 December 2011 Enforcement to cease at Noon, opening hours 9am-6pm
1 to 2 January 2012 No enforcement, Closed
3 January 2012 Enforcement as normal, opening hours 9am-10pm

CCTV enforcement

Moving traffic contraventions will be enforced 24/7 throughout the holiday period, with the exception of those restrictions that are not permitted under the relevant traffic management orders (TMO). This is detailed below as 'Bank Holiday Enforcement'.

CCTV enforcement operation

23 December 2011 Enforcement as normal
24 December 2011 Normal enforcement to cease at 4.30pm, followed by bank holiday enforcement
25 to 27 December 2011 Bank holiday enforcement
28 to 30 December 2011 Enforcement as normal
31 December 2011 Normal enforcement to cease at 4.30pm, followed by bank holiday enforcement
1 to 2 January 2012 Normal enforcement to cease at 4.30pm
31 January 2012 Enforcement as normal

Camden Council Christmas opening times

2011-12-20T21:58:00.000Z

Full details on Christmas and New Year services and opening times here.

Some highlights below:

Recycling and rubbish Collections

From 26 December 2011 to 6 January 2012, all recycling and rubbish collections will take place a day later than usual. Normal collections from Monday 9 January 2012.

Swiss Cottage leisure centre Opening times

24 December 8am - 5pm
25 to 26 December and 1 January Closed
27 to 30 December and 2 January 8am to 6pm
31 December 8am to 5pm

Contact Camden is closed:
• from 6pm Friday 23 December 2011 to 8am Wednesday 28 December; and
•from 6pm Friday 30 December.
Opens 8am Tuesday 3 January 2012

Emergencies
•phone 020 7974 4444

Contact Camden reception

Contact Camden reception is closed from 5pm on 23 December to 9am on 3 January 2012.

Some of the services provided by Contact Camden will not be available from Wednesday 28 December to Friday 30 December as they are closed over the holiday period. Please see individual services for more information.

Payments

Our secure online payment service will operate as normal, 24 hours a day, throughout the Christmas period.

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Cashiers

Cashiers will be closed from 24 December 2011 to Monday 2 January 2012

Health

NHS Direct
•Confidential health advice and information from a nurse, open 24 hours a day, call 0845 4647

Camidoc
•For an urgent GP consultation when your surgery is closed, call 020 7388 5800

NHS walk-in-centre
1 Frith Street W1D 3HZ
Open Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays open from 10am - 8pm
Closed on 25 December 2011

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Homelessness and housing advice

The housing options and advice team provides advice and information on housing options, finding accommodation, private landlord and tenant rights, harassment and illegal evictions.

For emergencies only, call 020 7974 4444.

Crisis at Christmas provides shelters in London from Friday 23 to Friday 30 December.

Housing patrol

Patrols from 6pm to 2am every day except:
24 to 26 December 4pm to 12am (midnight)
31 December to 1 January 2012 4pm to 12am (midnight)

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Housing repairs

Open 8am to 6pm except:
24 to 27 December Emergency service only
31 December to 2 January Emergency service only

For emergencies council housing repairs phone 020 7974 4444
•report non-urgent housing repairs online

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Libraries

Throughout Christmas, as well as at any time of year, you can renew your library items online or use our automated renewals line: 020 7974 4001.

Library opening times
24 December Normal opening times
25 to 27 December Closed
28 to 31 December Normal opening times
1 to 2 January 2012 Closed

Fuel poverty advice, support and grants from Camden Council

2011-12-05T21:32:00.000Z

Fuel poverty - either due to low income or poor heat efficiency in homes - is an increasing problem, and Camden has a wide variety of advice and grants to help them deal with these issues. Below is an outline of what help is available:

1.Affordable warmth – advice and support:

Green Camden helpline - 0800 801 738
The Green Camden free-phone helpline offers general advice on how to be greener and also provides free expert advice to residents on:

No cost and low cost tips on saving energy
How to avoid damp and condensation at home
Fuel bills, fuel debt and choosing the right energy tariff
Availability of grants and services for insulation and heating improvements
The helpline also makes onward referrals for grants and services and can help residents switch their fuel supplier.

WISH (Warmth, Income, Safety, Health) Plus service
WISH Plus is a multi-agency partnership managed by NHS Camden, providing a system for frontline staff in contact with vulnerable residents to refer them for free services to improve their health and well being. Core packages of support cover energy efficiency advice, home safety and security, benefit checks, health interventions and social support. Referring agencies include the Green Camden helpline, Age Concern Camden, NHS Camden and Camden Citizens Advice Bureau.

Energy efficiency grants programme
There are a range of council and government grants and services for energy efficiency measures for vulnerable residents, available in both the private sector and council housing:

Private sector - Warmer, Cheaper, Greener grants

Council tenants - Warm and Dry service
Measures include replacing inefficient boilers, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, glazing and various small energy saving measures.

We also offer a Landlord Grant to landlords accredited to the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme for energy efficiency measures such as cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and double glazing.

A free portable electric heater loan is also available for residents without access to heating, delivered in partnership with the Care and Repair scheme.

Information campaign

The Council runs a communications campaign which includes the promotion of services via leaflets, posters, dedicated web pages, Council and community newsletters, talks and workshops with community groups.

Free skills workshops
We offer free draught proofing and thermal curtain lining skills workshops for vulnerable residents across the Borough and also ‘train-the trainer’ sessions.

Draught proofing is an effective way of saving energy and money whilst improving comfort in the home. The Transition Belsize Draught Busting team in partnership with the Council run practical workshops enabling residents to install durable draught proofing materials in their homes.

The Council runs thermal curtain lining sessions in community centres across the Borough. Adding a thermal lining to curtains reduces cold coming in and heat escaping through the windows by around 40 per cent.

2.Affordable warmth – large-scale energy efficiency programmes

In addition to the Warm & Dry service, the Council is also delivering a number of large-scale programmes to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel costs in council homes. Current projects are:

Heat metering installation
Solar photovoltaic panel installations on street properties
Combined heat and power to flats in Gospel Oak
Cavity wall and loft insulation
Behaviour change Study - how best to influence energy consumption behaviour change
Energy awareness training sessions for Council staff and contractors
Estate regeneration Housing projects set to achieve high standards of environmental sustainability

3.Contact details
If you would like any further information about our affordable warmth service, please contact the Council’s officer responsible for our affordable warmth work: Frances Evans (Sustainability Officer) frances.evans@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 1473

Cashless parking coming to Camden - but coins still accepted

2011-12-04T15:19:00.002Z

Camden is introducing this from December, but while other boroughs are moving towards a completely cashless system, in Camden traditional pay and display machines will still (in our view rightly and importantly) accept coins. The new system will allow drivers to use their mobile phones, smart phones, or go online to pay to park.

Motorists who pay by mobile or smart phone can get an optional text reminder of when a motorist's parking is due to expire. Users of smart phones including Blackberry, iPhone and Android will be able to download a parking app which can control and monitor all aspects of their parking in real-time. In addition the apps will allow you to see your parking history in an instant, and change or add vehicles to your account. The cost of using the service will be the same as paying by cash at the machine. Optional text reminders and confirmation texts are charged at 10p each.

The system will be provided by Parkmobile. Street signs and information on pay and display machines will show where cashless parking is available. Motorists wishing to register to use the cashless parking service can do so for free in one of three ways:
* Over the phone calling 020 3003 2532
* Online at either Camden.gov.uk/parking or with Parkmobile at parkmobile.co.uk
* Via the Parkmobile parking app which can be downloaded from Blackberry’s App World, Apple’s App store or Androids Market

Motorists who have used the Parkmobile service in other locations in and around London will not need to register again and will be able to park using the cashless service straight away. More information at camden.gov.uk/parking.

Burglaries in the Gardens area and suspect description

2011-11-26T17:49:00.000Z

From our local police team:

Burglaries have started to spring up in the area bordered by Canfield Gardens, Fairhazel Gardens, Greencroft Gardens and Broadhurst Gardens. There have been multiple offences all with the same suspect and modus operandi. The properties hit have all been backing on to the communal garden, entry has always been gained via the rear and is not forced. This means that people are leaving their properties insecure.

The suspect is described as a white male between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five with short dark hair and who wears glasses. Entry is gained through the back of the property via unlocked windows and doors and is during the hours of darkness in the evenings.

Area Action Group - feedback on key rubbish/streets issues raised

2011-11-06T19:46:00.002Z

The Area Action Group on Monday was reasonably well attended and Camden environment officers Roberto Molinari and Danny Wilks were excellent in responding to questions and informing people. Key issues raised include:
Difficulties with getting through on the new Camden call centre number and lack of response once enquiries logged on phone or on-line.
Removal of bollards at Goldhurst/Priory junction means vehicles mount the drop pavement, which is dangerous for handicapped people in particular – we are taking this point up with officers.
Weeds in Fairhazel Gardens – officers will get on to Veolia on this.
Street sweeping – with the reduction in street sweeping from 3 times a week to once a week we will notice difference, but that doesn’t mean our streets officers won’t seek to maintain appropriate standards.
Road and pavement works in Aberdare and Canfield (which have been widely praised) have triggered some pest control problems. We are taking up a couple of specific cases.
Housing estates – grounds maintenance contract management is now also under the care of our environment officers, it was agreed there was a need for better understanding by residents groups and TRAs of how this actually works.
Recycling bins are getting flytipping – on the side of Waitrose and particularly at the bottom of Netherhall – officers are taking up
Big communal properties with a green eurobin should be getting rubbish removed several times a week to prevent rubbish pouring out on the streets.
Hedge behind Broadfield estate not being cut back – we are taking up.
Dog fouling – a continuing problem despite the extra bins. Officers emphasised they will issue penalty notices and take action if culprits are reported anonymously. Also comments that more notices needed on estates. One specific plea to get the dog bin at the end of Goldhurst Terrace/Priory cleaned.
Winchester Rd – residents have no bins and never have had. Officers going to look at this.
Problems with vermin following roadworks in Aberdare and Canfield – Camden does have a vermin service.
Winter gritting etc – more salt bins in place and many shovels have been distributed. However the Council has a clear plan with priority roads and doesn’t have resources to do all roads immediately after snowfall. If anyone wants to know where to find the priority roads list online, let us know.
Complaints about noisy street construction work early in the morning. No work other than emergencies should be taking place before 8 – contact Camden noise patrol or your councillors if this is happening.
Waitrose shopping trolleys being abandoned in the Gardens area – officers going to speak to Waitrose on this.
On a more positive note, Paul Perkins, director of the Winchester Project, outlined the new enterprise work they are doing to encourage young people to get into careers and start-up firms.

Camden tenant convicted for subletting in legal first

2011-11-05T08:33:00.000Z

See council press release below, given the scale of social housing need, subletting is by no means a victimless crime, and it's good to see action being taken.

Camden housing tenant receives criminal conviction in legal first

Camden Council has become one of the first London local authorities to prosecute successfully a council tenant for housing fraud under the Fraud Act 2006, because he sublet his council property.

Camden’s housing investigation team successfully prosecuted the tenant under sections 1 and 3 for failing to disclose information to make a gain and exposing the council to loss, resulting in a criminal conviction.

On 28 January 2008 Oladapo Talabi was granted a secure tenancy in NW1. He was granted the tenancy due to overcrowding of the family home.

In September 2010 Oladapo Talabi rented out his property for approximately six months for the sum of £780 per calendar month. The person who rented the property paid £5,586 to an estate agent who was handling the letting on Talabi’s behalf. From this amount Mr Talabi received a lump sum of £4,000.

Following an investigation by Camden’s housing investigation team, Talabi was charged and on 1 September 2011 at Highbury Magistrates Court he pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud.

Mr Talabi returned to Highbury Magistrates Court on 26 October 2011 for sentencing.

District Judge Henderson took the view that Talabi had used the rental income to pay off his debts, particularly his rent arrears, and for that reason did not send him to prison but gave him a Community Order of 12 months comprising 100 hours unpaid work. There was no further award of costs as there were costs of £750 awarded to Camden at a previous hearing that are still being repaid.

Camden Council have proceedings for possession of the property listed in the Central London County Court to be heard in December 2011.

Area Action Group meeting Monday 31st October: Rubbish/Recycling + Winchester Project

2011-10-28T21:53:00.000+01:00

Swiss Cottage Area Action Group – Public Meeting Monday 31st October, 6.30 for 7pm, Crossfield Centre, 8 Fairhazel Gardens

This meeting will focus on recycling, waste and street sweeping. Together with your three councillors we will have with us Robert Molinari, who is a senior manager in Camden street environment services, and Daniel Wilks, who is the street environment officer for our patch.

In addition Paul Perkins, director of the Winchester Project for young people, will be giving us an update on its work.

Informal discussion/coffee with councillors and officers from 6.30, with formal meeting starting at 7pm.

Camden Annual Parking Report and Parking Policy Review

2011-10-28T21:36:00.000+01:00

For the last five years (it was one of the initiatives we introduced in the previous administration) Camden Council has produced a rather readable report on all the main aspects of parking in the borough. The full document can be read here, and below we’ve extracted some highlights of interest:

• The number of parking tickets issued in Camden for parking (as opposed to bus lane or moving traffic offences) was 279,011 in 2010/11, down from 318,477 in 2009/10, and very significantly down on the peak amount of 434,646 in 2006/7.
• Camden parking income amounted to £36m in 2010/11, compared with £44.6m in 2007/8. Parking expenditure last year (ie paying for machines, parking attendants, issuing of residents and visitors permits etc) was £16m, compared with £27.5m in 2009/10.
• The parking surplus can by law only be spent on specific transport expenditure. Last year £9.6m was spent funding the Freedom Pass for older residents in Camden, and on the Taxicard scheme for the disabled. £7.2m was spent on highway and traffic improvements and highways maintenance. As can been seen, with parking income declining quite noticeably, there have been significant cuts needed in parking expenditure to preserve funding for the good things such as the Freedom Pass that the parking surplus funds.
• Of PCN appeals in Camden, 2,610 were refused in 2010, but 2,024 were allowed. Camden’s 44% of allowed appeals compared with 50% in London as a whole.
• Road safety – road casualty statistics show that KSI (killed and seriously wounded) in Camden were 111 in 2010, down from 141 the previous year and 123 in 2008. (2007 was just 105 but 2010’s figures are clearly below the average of the last ten years). Cyclist casualties however remain a real concern.

Parking Policy Review

Over the coming months, Camden is going to be reviewing many aspects of parking policy, consulting on various aspects with residents and local groups – we will of course inform everyone as this takes place. The key areas being looked at include:

• The structure of controlled parking zones, including days and hours of control (for example, could there be fewer zones, with fewer differences in hours of control, which can be confusing. On the other hand, the current zones are now understood – change would itself be confusing).
• Reviewing the emission based charging scheme for residents permits to see if the scheme has in fact had the intended effect of encouraging motorists to switch to smaller, less polluting vehicles.
• Business permits and business visitor vouchers.
• Yellow line restrictions, simplifying and standardising days and hours of control across Camden.
• Pay and Display, including the introduction of cashless parking.

One thing to note in the parking report is the permit to parking space ratio in each residential parking zone. The ratio in Swiss Cottage (zone CA-R) is 1.13, which is in fact the highest in Camden (ie there are more residents permits than there are actually spaces on the road surface). This compares with 1.12 in Belsize, 1.10 in Hampstead, 0.95 in Fortune Green/West Hampstead, 0.85 in Kilburn and just 0.54 in Redington/Frognal.

New TRA for Broadfield Estate, Broadhurst Gardens

2011-10-27T22:28:00.000+01:00

Roger Freeman attended the well attended inaugural meeting of the reconstituted Broadfield Tenants and Residents Association tonight. A good development and Roger, Don and Andrew look forward to working with the newly elected committee.

Cycle contra-flow lane consultation in Gardens area/West Hampstead

2011-10-24T18:01:00.000+01:00

We want you to be sure you are aware of a consultation on cycle permeability in the West Hampstead area, including the Gardens. If you have not been leafleted get the details at www.camden.gov.uk/consultations.

If like us you had never heard the phrase cycle permeability before, it is essentially a scheme to allow cyclists to go contra flow on some roads in the Gardens area to make cycling easier.

Camden have taken the big picture decisions on this and are consulting on the detail. We have expressed our concerns on this to senior officers, expressing our view that local residents who use these streets every day as pedestrians, car drivers and cyclists should have a real input into decision making.

Rest assured that there are no plans to remove any parking bays.

Feedback from Safer Neighbourhood Panel meeting: burglary, vehicle crime, cycling on pavements

2011-10-20T20:27:00.000+01:00

Roger Freeman attended the October 18 meeting of Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhood Panel.

Sgt Nick Parry told us that the decision has been taken not to extend the Swiss Cottage/Kilburn dispersal zone when it expires on November 4th. The simple reason for this is that it has not been used ; if circumstances change, there is the mechanism available for it be reinstated quickly.
He noted that crime indices for burglary, vehicle crime and robberies were trending up. The burglary figure for September was high because someone in a converted house left the window open; a burglar got in and having gained access to the house committed five other burglaries. Sgt Parry reiterated it was in everyone's interests to take security precautions- if only to prevent their post code based insurance policies from going up. There will be more police patrols when the clocks change.

Cycling on the pavement remains an issue. Sgt Parry explained that this is not an arrestable offence and the only powers that they have is to issue a £30 ticket. He noted in the South of the borough the increased incidence of pavement cyclists grabbing the telephones of people whilst they talked; this has not happened in Swiss Cottage but was another reason he was focusing on this. 5 tickets had been issued in August and another 5 in September.

Vehicle crime continues to be opportunistic, driven by people leaving possessions in their car on display.

The meeting agreed that burglary, vehicle crime and ASB(including pavement cycling) should continue to be the priority areas for the Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Top End of Goldhurst - now to get cleaned twice a day

2011-10-14T17:35:00.000+01:00

Roger Freeman spent time earlier this week with Camden's Street Cleaning Officer for our patch, focusing in on the rubbish issues at the top end of Goldhurst Terrace by Snappy Snaps.

This area will now be cleaned twice a day and there will be meetings with the local shopkeepers to improve their waste collection methods.

We are also aware of ongoing issues with the flower stall at the top end of Canfield Gardenias outside Finchley Road Station and Camden's street trading officers are looking into this.

Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhoods Public Meeting - 18/10

2011-10-13T18:48:00.000+01:00

A reminder that the next police Safer Neighbourhoods public meeting with our ward Sergeant Nick Parry and his team will be on Tuesday 18th October at 7pm in the Crossfield Centre, 8 Fairhazel Gardens. A guest speaker will be Paul Perkins, director of the Winchester Project, which does such fantastic work with local young people.

Ground breaking ceremony for the Jewish Community Centre for London

2011-10-06T22:38:00.000+01:00

Boris Johnson and Dame Vivienne Duffield did the honours today at the ground breaking ceremony for the Jewish Community Centre to be built on the site of the old Mercedes showroom on Finchley Rd. It's a hugely ambitious concept, based on the model of the JCC in New York, and will be a fantastic facility not only for the Jewish community, but one which welcomes all of us. It will also, at a very micro level, help create a livlier streetscape on this part of Finchley Rd north of the O2, fitting in well opposite the Arts Centre. We look forward to following its progress as building progresses. And of course it's important to remember that the Jewish Community Centre is already up and running - it's put on 600 events over the last few years and has a very active programme you can see on its website - but the new buildin will give it a core and a heart.

http://www.jcclondon.org.uk/

New staggered pedestrian crossing on Adelaide Rd for the UCL Academy

2011-10-05T23:10:00.000+01:00

We've been asked by various people about this as the Academy is constructed, and Roger Freeman has reminded us of the following information which we thought it useful to pass on.

Our understanding is the Academy will have 180 in the first year-Year 7- as of next September and an amount unknown to mus in what we used to call the Lower VIth - it was not originally anticipated that they would start in 2012. On the basis that the Year 7 cohort for 2013 will be 180 and there will be a new lower VIth cohort, then these pedestrian works will have to be done by September 2013.

This is something we want to bring up with the Head when we see her in the near future.

Here's the quote from the planning permission:

29. a) A Section 278 agreement will be entered into with Transport for London to deliver a signalised pedestrian crossing no later than 2 years after commencement of development unless otherwise agreed by the local planning authority in consultation with Transport for London.

b) At no time shall the number of registered students at the UCL Academy exceed the number of 465 until the new signalised staggered pedestrian crossing with new island shown on the submitted Highways Works Plan has been completed, or such alternative interim measures or management plan have been submitted to and agreed by the Local Planning Authority in writing. The measures or management plan as have been agreed in such event shall continue to remain in place until the relevant highway works have been completed.

Reason: In order to safeguard the pedestrian environment in accordance with policy T3 of the London Borough of Camden Replacement Unitary Development Plan 2006

Camden parking review coming up

2011-10-01T19:19:00.000+01:00

Rightly or wrongly, Camden Council is about to undertake a Parking Policy Review (PPR). In the next month or so councillors will finalise its exact scope and process before residents groups and individual residents get consulted in Dec/Jan.

One of the more controversial points in the review will be whether the current CPZ zones should be reviewed and simplified, possibly with fewer, larger zones. This has lots of implications and no doubt will trigger lots of discussion. As opposition councillors, at this stage the Swiss Cottage team will be taking a close look at what the Council administration proposes, and seeking maximum consultation for residents in our patch.

According to the Council, the Review will will seek to meet the following objectives:
Parking policies that are sustainable, fair and proportionate, with a greater focus on users, particularly residents, but also business
Ensure that the policies and services are transparent and provided consistently throughout the borough
Meet the wider council transport policy objectives
Address the needs of different users (and balance the tension between them)
Simplifying access and reducing the number of times customers need to contact the council.

Delivering the changes proposed as part of the PPR will we hope result in a fairer, more transparent parking system, which will continue to build on the positive outcomes already achieved, such as increased compliance, reduced traffic levels and increased use of sustainable modes of transport.

Areas of the service that are being looked at include:

The controlled parking zone structure
Permit provision
Pay & display parking
The future strategy for motorcycle parking
Emission based charging and yellow line simplification.

Victory on 18-20 Elsworthy Rd appeal

2011-09-28T22:25:00.000+01:00

We're delighted that the Planning Inspectorate has upheld Camden Development Control Committee's decision to turn down the application for 18-20 Elsworthy Rd. Andrew Marshall and local residents objected to the application at Development Control last year, with the committee unanimously rejecting the application due to its impact on the Elsworthy Conservation Area. So well done to Camden planning officers and Labour Cllr and DC Chairman Tom Neumark for the evidence they gave to the Planning Inspectorate. Now let's hope that we get a more sensitive and appropriate application for this site.

Local NHS Public Annual Meeting - 15th September

2011-09-04T19:23:00.000+01:00

The local NHS - the Camden Primary Care Trust - is holding its statutory public AGM on September 15th. As a new member of the Council's Health Scrutiny Committee, Andrew will try and get along. Given how much the NHS spends locally, and how much we all depend on it, this meeting should probably be better attended than it is usually is. Wrongly, it's being held at 2-5pm in the afternoon, which doesn't make it very easy for the bulk of the population that work to make it along. The NHS generally still needs to be more attuned to the needs of working people.

Full details in the NHS press release below:

Members of the public are invited to Camden PCT's Annual General Meeting on Thursday September 15, 2011.

The event will be held at the Conference Hall, St Pancras Hospital, 4 Pancras Way, NW1 0PE and will run from 2 pm to 5 pm.

Come along and find out how Camden PCT has performed over the last year and what the future plans are for local NHS services.

The agenda includes a presentation of the Camden PCT's annual report and accounts, an opportunity to have an NHS Health Check with one of our healthcare professionals, and a chance to meet the new Chair and other members of the new Clinical Commissioning Group.

If you would like to attend this event, please email Pravina Solanki at pravina.solanki@camdenpct.nhs.uk. Please let Pravina know if you have any special disability needs.

Community summits to give residents their say post-riots

2011-08-26T18:09:00.000+01:00

While Swiss Cottage ward did not see any significant disorder recently, we thought it worth publicising the community summits the Council and the local police are holding to give local residents, businesses and organisations the chance to have their say on how the borough should respond to the recent public disorder.

The three community summits will be held on:

Wednesday 31 August: Camden Centre, King’s Cross 7pm – 9pm
Thursday 1 September: Salvation Army (Chalk Farm) 7pm – 9pm
Tuesday 6 September: Kingsgate Community Centre, Kilburn 6.30pm – 8.30pm

You can just turn up on the night, but anyone interested in attending can also call Olivia Mensah on 020 7974 6409 or go to www.wearecamden.org to register interest or submit questions for debate in advance.

40-49 St Edmunds Terrace, Barrow Hill site - redevelopment approved

2011-08-15T07:30:00.000+01:00

Camden's planning committee approved the redevelopment of this site last Thursday. The vote was seven in favour, including Cllrs Roger Freeman and Andrew Marshall, with one against.

The scheme by developer CIT is for 40 new flats, arranged in three blocks, and one house. 21 affordable housing units are delivered with the scheme - 8 onsite and a further 13 at nearby Guinness Court.

It is a much less instrusive scheme than that we opposed two years ago, and which was rightly turned down by Camden planners. The current application has also been further improved through the negotiation process with Camden.

The main longer views are pretty well protected by the scheme in our view; above all it will not be instrusive from the top of Primrose Hill.

The site is designated in the Camden Local Development Framework for housing-led redevelopment.

There were a number of local objections, but also local residents expressing support. The Elsworthy Residents Assocation expressed support in principle. The Primrose Hill Conservation Area Advisory Committee did object, since it would have preferred one of the storeys on the blocks to be moved to the block further from the park. I could understand the argument, but I was not convinced that the difference in visual impact from the southeast of Primrose Hill would have been so significant.

Importantly the development is car-capped - ie the flats have offroad parking, but no right to a Camden or Westminster residents badge. We have asked Camden streets managers to monitor the parking impacts as the development goes ahead. There is also a construction management plan to minimise and plan the impact from lorry movements.

Finally, we know that Thames Water has got plans to modernise the Barrow Hill reservoir behind this site, and we'll be meeting them soon to understand more what this involves, not least so the consultation with local people can be as effective as possible. CIT and Thames Water are in close liaison since Thames Water piping under the site is one of the major complexities of redeveloping the site.

UCL Academy: accepting applications for Year 7 from September 2011 for 2012

2011-07-31T11:11:00.000+01:00

The construction process is clearly moving ahead rapidly, and as far as we can see, the regular meetings that contractor BAM is having with nearby residents is working well in terms of sorting out issues.

The Academy is definitely opening in September 2012 and will be accepting applications for Year 7 from September 2011. Parents should apply in the same way as for other Camden schools, using the common Camden application form. A lot more information on the academy and admissions at: www.uclacademy.com

The Academy will also be admitting 125 Year 12/Sixth form students in September next year, in order to have an older group in the academy from the start, as the student numbers build up over the coming years. This is, we think, a change from what was originally outlined, and we'll be seeking to find out more about this in the coming months.

Loudoun Road bridge strengthening - work starts mid August

2011-07-29T22:06:00.000+01:00

View Larger Map

As part of a national bridge inspection programme, Network Rail has assessed Loudoun Road Bridge to evaluate its compliance with current bridge standards. This assessment revealed that while the section of bridge carrying the carriageway complies with current standards, the footway and parapet does not. There is therefore a risk that the footway and parapet may not withstand the weight or impact of a vehicle should it mount the footway.
The Council will need to strengthen the bridge in the long term, in the short-term however it is planning a range of provisional measures to protect the bridge from vehicles including installation of high kerbs and pedestrian parapets. Nearby residents have been written to on this.
Works are due to commence on 15 August 2011 for ten weeks. In order to carry out these works, parking bays on both sides of the road will need to be suspended. The disabled parking bays to the northeast of the bridge will be relocated to the northwest side of the bridge whilst works are in progress on the east side of the bridge. The bays will then be reinstated on the east side once the work is complete. Due to the importance of protecting the footway, the “Pay and Display” parking to the west of the bridge will remain closed until the bridge is strengthened.
Although a date is yet to be established, Camden is actively working with Network Rail to agree a programme for the strengthening of the bridge. The loss of pay and display bays for a period is unwelcome, as are the parapets etc, but given the safety issues there doesn’t seem much choice in this.

Oil trailer, Goldhurst Terrace

2011-07-24T16:18:00.000+01:00

Roger and Andrew have been contacted by several people asking why this oil trailer is allowed to sit on the road at the western end of Goldhurst Terrace without any residents permit. We have asked streets officers and have been told that they will deal with this under Highways Act legislation. They will need to attach appropriate notices to the “trailer” warning that it is under observation and that failure to remove it by a set date, will result in Camden lifting it and its subsequent disposal.

We'll update people when we have more news.

Rear of Fairfax Mansions planning application for new car parking/bins/landscaping

2011-07-23T22:23:00.001+01:00

Flytipping and mess on the land behind Fairfax Mansions has been a perennial problem we have been trying to tackle.

Now there is a planning application from owners Fairfax Mansions LLP, presumably linked to their current work on the Mansions block itself. Application number is 2011/2533/P and comments are due by 27/7 - by email to env.devcon@camden.gov.uk.

The description of the application is:

"Use of land to rear of Fairfax Mansions as 27 bay car parking area providing 10 spaces for the commercial units on Finchley Road and 17 spaces for visitors to the comercial uses and/or the residential flats above together with landscaping, bicycle storage cage and bin storage areas."

The plans can be seen at:

http://planningonline.camden.gov.uk/MULTIWAM/doc/Proposed%20Drawing-2870913.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=2870913&location=VOLUME3&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1"

At first glance this may well clean up what is really an eyesore area, the issue however is just how many parking spaces are being squeezed onto the site - looking at the site today it's difficult to envisage 27 car parked there, as well as bike stands and rubbish bin storage. We trust Camden planners will assess all this carefully, including the position of the several trees on the site, which do soften the visual impact and are important for all residents nearby. We have written to planners on these points.

Note that the access road is not part of the application site - this is a Camden owned private road giving access to the Chalford housing block car park as well as servicing for what is now Peacocks.

Rubbish at Sutherland House, top of Greencroft Gardens

2011-07-18T20:59:00.000+01:00

I passed this yesterday and haven taken this up with street environment officers. This has been an ongoing problem, I recall five or six years ago getting officers involved in trying to make this rubbish site less messy.

Advice surgery 16th July

2011-07-15T19:05:00.001+01:00

I'm doing our regular advice surgery at 10-11am tomorrow Saturday at Swiss Cottage Community Centre. No appointment necessary. Beforehand I'm out and about in the Fairhazel/Goldhurst/ Harben checking out various issues.

Andrew Marshall

New Irish Centre Housing hostel: Conway House, Quex Rd, Kilburn

2011-07-13T23:16:00.000+01:00

The Council reports today on construction beginning on this new hostel. (Andrew and Roger voted for this application on the Development Control Committee recently. Details here:

Irish Centre Housing and Camden Council are celebrating the start of building works to develop a brand new 60 bed hostel in Kilburn.

Conway House, in Quex Rd, Kilburn will be used by Camden Council for their Pathway programme which supports vulnerable people on a journey to independent living.

The development is due to be completed towards the end of 2012 and will include six units of affordable housing with family sized homes.

A small ceremony was held on 7 July to mark the important milestone of the completion of demolition of the old building, and the start of building work on the new one. Plans and artists impressions of the new Conway House were on show.

The original Conway House, formerly a nursing home, had been operating as a hostel for homeless men since 1974. The building had not been modernised since 1982 and much of the accommodation included shared bedrooms and bathrooms.

The new hostel will contain private single bedrooms with en-suite facilities.

The project is a partnership between Irish Centre Housing, Camden Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, Homeless Link, Clydesdale Bank and Higgins Construction plc.

Beware of bogus tree surgeons

2011-07-12T21:26:00.000+01:00

I didn't quite believe this at first, but the Council is warning people against bogus tree surgeons calling around. Details below:

Camden Council is warning residents to be on their guard against rogue tree surgeons targeting homes in the borough.

The conmen have called door to door offering to carry out works that day, informing people they already have permission. This has meant unauthorised works carried out to protected trees and trees in conservation areas - resulting in their removal or destruction.

If anyone is approached by an unsolicited tree surgeon please inform the Council immediately and do not allow them into your home or garden.

Trees are an important feature of Camden and provide many benefits for the everyday lives of local residents and visitors to the borough. The Council receives over 1,500 applications for tree works within private properties each year and only approves works which are considered to be appropriate and in line with good arboricultural practice.

The Council is also warning residents not to cut down their trees without first checking to see if the tree is legally protected or in a conservation area – these cover more than half of the borough. Tree owners could face substantial fines if work is carried out without consent.

The Council’s tree and landscape team is always happy to advise on works to protected trees or trees in conservation areas and can provide a list of approved tree surgeons and the relevant application forms and guidance notes.

Please contact Camden Council on 020 7974 4444 to report a suspicious caller or for further information or email env.devcon@camden.gov.uk

Thames Water in breach of TfL permit on Finchley Rd - working too early in the morning

2011-07-11T21:51:00.001+01:00

We all know about the two years of roadworks coming up on Finchley Rd for National Grid Gas.

But in addition there are emergency works, and last Saturday (2nd) a resident rightly complained to us about loud pneumatic drilling at around 0700 on a Saturday morning, around the junction of Finchley Rd and Goldhurst Terrace. We got Camden officers to investigate with TfL, who have reported back as follows:

"These works by Thames Water were to repair a water meter, and involved the closure of 2 out of 3 lanes of Finchley Road southbound carriageway. To avoid the major traffic disruption this work would cause if done on a weekday, TfL asked for the work to be done at a weekend.

"At the same time TfL made clear to Thames Water that their permit would be refused unless they confirmed contact with London Borough of Camden’s Environmental Health Office in advance of starting work to agree appropriate hours of working. Subsequently the works permit submitted by Thames Water confirmed this, and also stated that work would not start before 08:00.

"On the basis of the complainant’s report that Thames Water started work earlier than 0800, TfL will treat this as a breach of the conditions of Thames Water’s permit and will act accordingly."

We are not entirely sure what sanctions TfL has over Thames Water, but we are certainly determined to keep up the pressure so that residents near Finchley Rd don't get ignored completely by statutory undertakers and their contractors. We'll keep residents posted on further developments.

Public Meeting on Abbey Road Area redevelopment plans 20th July

2011-07-10T16:23:00.000+01:00

View Larger Map

There is a public meeting on Wednesday 20th July at The Abbey Hive, 84-86 Abbey Road from 6.30-8.30pm at which the Council will be presenting proposals to develop the site of the Abbey Co-op and the Belsize Road car park. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the proposal before it is finalised and an outline planning application is made within the next month. The proposal is:

• Redevelop the car park site with housing and shops
• New community and health building at the base of Casterbridge & Snowman
• Redevelop the Abbey community centre, the Belsize Priory health centre, and the Hinstock/Emminster sites to provide housing, shops and employment space
• Improve local public spaces and road junction

We’re monitoring the process closely. Roger Freeman and Andrew Marshall, as members or the Planning Committee, need to be cautious about expressing a public opinion at this stage. Cllr Don Williams has expressed residents’ concern about the scale and height of the current proposals and is leading for us on this.

187-199 West End Lane Community Planning Day this Saturday

2011-06-30T23:16:00.000+01:00

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This Saturday there is an exhibition and community planning day - ie workshops and site visit - for this site - the long sliver of land between the tube line and the rail line, with the bike shop for example on it at present. It's owned by Network Rail and the Ballymore Group and they're planning to redevelop it with a residential scheme. This is their event, which they say will inform their eventual planning application. The event runs from 11am-4pm at Emmanuel Primary School, 101 Mill Lane.

Obviously this is in the neighbouring West Hampstead ward, but it is very relevant to many of our constituents who use West End Lane.

Following the community planning day, there is a report back meeting on Wednesday 13th July at 7.30pm at St James Church, Sherriff Rd. We will keep a close eye on these proposals, though this is still an early stage.

Cycling in South Hampstead

2011-06-30T22:22:00.000+01:00

The Camden Cycling Campaign is reporting on a run four of their number undertook in May through South Hampstead, from the theatre through to West End Lane. They highlight a number of difficult areas for cyclists, and that's something we'll have to look at as councillors. A lot has been done in recent years to improve cycle lanes but often there are gaps in provision. Clearly there is a lot less money now to put in further measures for cyclists, but it's important to Boris, and important to all parties on Camden Council, and hopefully we can resolve some of the problems identified here.

Brian Coleman out in Swiss Cottage on his 50th birthday

2011-06-25T16:26:00.000+01:00

Our GLA member Brian Coleman was out and about with the three of us this morning on what turned out to be his 50th birthday - many happy returns to Brian.

We looked at a wide variety of street and transport problems, including the Broadfield site, where we think the Council is wrong to be considering development, the Waites site, the Network Rail land on Broadhurst Gardens, and the High Speed 2 ventilation site.

Charles Tannock MEP comes to Swiss Cottage

2011-06-23T20:20:00.000+01:00

A great evening for Swiss Cottage Conservatives with Charles Tannock MEP at the wonderful and newly restored Czech-Slovak club in West End Lane.

Camden Summer University: Over 100 free activities for young people

2011-06-22T22:34:00.000+01:00

Once again this great scheme is providing a huge variety of free activities for young people in Camden:

Camden Summer University (CSU) is now open for bookings, offering a wide range of courses across the borough from Monday 25 July to Friday 26 August 2011.

The activities are for young people aged 13 to 19-years-old, or for people up to 25-years-old who have learning difficulties, or a disability.

CSU aims to help people unleash their creativity, learn new skills and make new friends. This year’s programme includes: Bollywood fusion, parkour (free running), Kung Fu, master chef, music production and fashion design.

There is also the opportunity to gain accreditation on some of the courses, leading to a nationally recognised certificate.

This year it’s even easier to register and book courses with a brand new online booking system and improved website. Visit: www.cmdn.co.uk/summer.

More outdoor gym equipment at Swiss Cottage Open Space

2011-06-20T21:24:00.000+01:00

We've just heard that NHS Camden have provided further funding to increase the amount of outdoor gym equipment within Swiss Cottage Open Space. The equipment is designed for use by children, and consists of the following items:-

1 Hand Bike
1 Junior Recumbent Bike
1 Junior Cross Trainer

Works to install the equipment next to the existing outdoor gym will begin on Monday 27th June and be completed by Wednesday 6th July. The existing outdoor gym equipment should be unaffected by the works. Notices will be put up in Swiss Cottage Open Space to inform park users about the works.

Libraries cuts "called in" by Cllr Don Williams and colleagues

2011-06-13T22:56:00.001+01:00

Conservative Cllrs Don Williams, Andrew Mennear, Kirsty Roberts and Claire-Louise Leyland have "called in" the administration's libraries proposals, which means that the Culture & Environment Scrutiny Committee will need to reconsider the proposals and consider whether to recommend changes to the Council's decision-making executive.

Here's the full text of the call-in:

Reasons for Call In (The request must state whether or not you believe that the decision is outside the policy or budget framework)

We believe that the decision, as taken, was both outside the policy and the budget framework. Camden undertook an extensive consultation exercise to find out local residents' priorities for savings within the library service. It was not a surprise to find out that our residents do not desire library closures or a cut in library opening hours. However to find that a large proportion of the respondents were prepared to volunteer a considerable amount of their own time to keep the libraries open was a very new finding - in particular, that 1200 people (20% of respondents) were prepared to volunteer at least 10 hours a month. This finding provided Camden with an opportunity to look again at the options that had been placed before the public during the consultation, and did allow a proposal to be put to the Cabinet which took account of this willingness to volunteer.

Nevertheless, this proposal, subsequently adopted by the Cabinet on 8 June, was flawed and lay outside the policy or budget framework for the following reasons: 1) Camden's Strategy for the future development of the service (4.1 in the Executive Summary) states that 'Camden's libraries should be at the heart of their communities'. Proposal A states that 'The building to no longer be a Camden Public Library supported by the Council'. If Heath, Belsize and Chalk Farm libraries are no longer to be 'a Camden Public Library supported by the Council' it is not clear that Camden's libraries will be at the heart of their communities in Hampstead, Belsize Park or Primrose Hill. At the Cabinet meeting, Cllr Siddiq was asked what it meant to be a library 'that is no longer a Camden Public Library supported by the Council'. She did not give an answer and there is no clear definition. Until this is explained - and it is demonstrated how these three libraries will remain 'at the heart of their communities' - it is clear that the decision lies outside the policy framework of the Council; 2) 4.2 of the Executive Summary states that Camden will achieve its strategy for the future development of the service by 'ensuring we invest in libraries that are well-located', 'reviewing the service regularly to ensure value for money and setting challenging performance targets for each library'. If the strategy is to have libraries located in the heart of their communities, then that surely defines the libraries that are well-located as libraries in the heart of their communities. It is therefore outside the policy framework of the Council to say that libraries shall 'no longer be a Camden Public Library supported by the Council'.

With regard to reviewing the service regularly and setting performance targets for each library, once more Cllr Siddiq did not clarify how this could happen if the libraries are no longer Camden public libraries supported by the Council - again, outside the policy framework of the Council; 3) It is not at all clear that the Corporation of London, which owns Keat's House, will allow a library to continue to remain at the premises if it 'no longer be a Camden Public Library supported by the Council'. It has been indicated to us that they will not in fact allow a library to remain there unless it is clearly a Camden Public Library. If so, then clearly the decision is outside the policy framework of the Council with regard to the library remaining at the heart of its community; 4) The decision causes the Camden public library service to cease to function in Regents Park. While the building remains and services are offered through it, there will clearly be no library at the heart of the local community and therefore this decision is outside the policy framework of the Council; and, 5) while the decision on the Local Studies and Archives service was amended welcomingly to retain the service in the borough, no comment was made regarding the suggestion that Camden had failed to account for the fact that we may, as an authority, need to pay to access our own archives in future. There is a budgetary impact from this and therefore it is clear that the decision was outside the budget framework of the Council.

Proposed Alternative Course of Action 1) Clarify the status of Heath Library with the Corporation of London; 2) Ensure that the budgetary implications of the outsourcing/shared service provision of the Local Studies and Archives services are properly investigated and accounted for; 3) Clarify exactly what is meant by 'Camden's libraries should be at the heart of their communities' in the context of Proposal A; 4) Clarify exactly what is meant by 'The building to no longer be a Camden Public Library supported by the Council': eg, why should Heath, Belsize and Chalk Farm libraries not continue to exist as 'Camden Public Libraries' even if run by volunteers? Will it still be possible to access the Camden central library database from these libraries? Will these libraries keep their computers? Will members of these libraries be able to use their library cards at other libraries in Camden? etc; 5) Consult separately on the plan for Regents Park Library; 6) Arguably it's not possible for any library to remain a Camden Public Library without the consent of the Camden Public. Therefore we propose that full account is taken of the deputations to the Cabinet by both the Heath & Hampstead Society and CPLUG. Both organisations embraced the results of the consultation and proposed ways of using the offer of volunteering made by the respondents to the consultation in a way that might more readily lead to the savings being achieved in a way which is supported by the Camden Public. Therefore we propose that a delay is granted of six months to investigate fully the options they have outlined and have them compared against Option A; 7) Finally, we would note that this six months delay is warranted to develop both the CPLUG/H&HS business plans and also those of the volunteer-led projects for Heath, Belsize and Chalk Farm. After all, the team working up a proposal for Belsize Library had been told by the Head of Camden's Library Service to stop work on their proposal in the months leading up to the decision!

Canfield pavement blocked by builders

2011-06-09T22:51:00.000+01:00

Today saw some really unacceptable behaviour from builders at 44 Canfield Gardens today, with cement mixing machinery completely blocking the pavement all day, forcing everyone onto the road. This was not approved by Camden in advance. Cllr Roger Freeman chased senior street officers for some action throughout the day. It is frustrating to us that Camden officers gave the offending builders some hours to use their cement, and it was only around 5pm that the pavement was finally cleared up. We will seek answers on this, we really think this kind of activity by contractors need to be brought under much tighter control.

Burglaries: Gardens area a hotspot, especially Acol/Priory/Greencroft

2011-05-30T19:55:00.000+01:00

The Public Meeting of the Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhood Team took place last Tuesday the 24th. Cllr Roger Freeman was there.

Once again the focus was on burglaries.A hotspot map shows that the Gardens area is one of the worst in Camden for burglaries; within the Gardens area, the worst areas are Acol Road/Wavel mews; the Priory end of Greencroft and Greencroft between Fairhazel and Finchley Road.

The Police have been and are concentrating resources into this area and this subject regularly comes up in these meetings.The most common time for burglaries is between 8 and 11am. Very few burglaries happen at night.
In some ways the Gardens area is a perfect area for burglaries.There are many houses in multiple occupation, where it is often easy to gain access through the front communal door; there are many houses with a rapid turnover of people who have little incentive to invest in security and who do not know their neighbours and also many young professionals who are out for much of the day. The situation is worse in those houses who share communal gardens, given that anyone who can gain access to the gardens finds it easier to enter houses by the back. Basements especially those with secluded entrances are another issue.

The Police are taking a twin track solution; target hardening ie encouraging residents to improve their security and information sharing. An email burglary alert system is being set up,alerting residents to where burglaries are happening, modus operandi being used and new security tips.

To sign up give your details to SwissCottage.SNT@met.police.uk.
On a more positive note, good to see continued decline in vehicle crime and robbery/snatches and perhaps most important the Swiss Cottage team is fully up to strength under the continued lead of Sgt Parry.

Adelaide Rd Schools development - construction liaison meeting

2011-05-30T19:52:00.000+01:00

Roger Freeman attended this week's community liaison group for the construction of the new Academy building. This was a positive meeting; relations between the contractors and the local community continue to be good and construction is currently on schedule. Feel free to contact Roger Freeman for any issues on this.

Community Investment Programme: Camden consulting on possible development of site on Broadhurst Gardens

2011-05-30T19:44:00.000+01:00

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We have mentioned in past months Camden's Community Investment Programme, identifying under used land in the Council's portfolio which can be developed to provide funding for new Council homes and to repair the existing stock.

Various sites have been identified in Swiss Cottage Ward; the first site Camden is looking at is the open space on the south side of Broadhurst Gardens, just east of the intersection with Fairhazel Gardens between Broadhurst Mansions and 109-140 Broadfield (see photo above).

Before Camden decides whether or not to sell this site and/or to develop it, they have started a local consultation and have sent letters to nearby residents. Note that this consultation is quite separate to the planning application with associated consultation that would take place were Camden to sell the site and a developer to seek to build there.

We three Councillors are very keen that this consultation be fully effective and if you have not received the papers and want to comment, email ian.sumner@camden.gov.uk for the consultation documents. Local residents must be heard!

Feel free to contact us with any queries and your concerns.

Long-awaited libraries cuts proposals now out - Swiss Cottage library implications

2011-05-30T09:24:00.001+01:00

On 8th June Camden’s council cabinet will be taking the long awaited decision on the future of the library service. The report is now available here.

The report concludes with the options the cabinet may make to secure a £1.6m savings in the libraries budget. This includes £521,000 from a number of core savings including a reduction in book stock, the closure of the mobile library, a slight reduction in computers and a further cut in management costs. But the bulk of the savings - £1.079m – will come from one of three options the cabinet is asked to choose from:
Proposal A – Chalk Farm, Belsize and Heath libraries to close unless a non-council ‘delivery model’ (eg. volunteers/community trust) can be agreed, plus reductions at Highgate and Regents Park. All other libraries to see 10% reduction in opening hours. This ‘mixed model’ spreads the impact of the reductions between reductions in opening hours and fewer libraries.

Proposal B – Most impact on opening hours: a reduction in opening hours of 35% across all sites, and alternative delivery of service sought for Belsize and Chalk Farm libraries. Most of the saving in this proposal comes from reduction in staffing costs, whilst 11 of the 13 library buildings are retained in Council ownership and management

Proposal C – No change in opening hours but with seven libraries -Belsize, Camden Town, Chalk Farm, Heath, Highgate, Regents Park, West Hampstead – to close unless non-council delivery can be secured.

The cabinet is being asked by officers to approve proposal A, which suggests that the political decision has been made to go this route.

There is of course a lively debate about whether there are not other budget options available to the council which would mean cuts of this kind to front-line services could be avoided (see the alternative budget proposals put forward by Cllr Don Williams on behalf of the Conservative Group in March). For libraries, this could include shared back office services with neighbouring authorities.

From a Swiss Cottage perspective, a key issue is undoubtedly the difference between a 35% and a 10% reduction in opening hours at Swiss Cottage library, which is the borough’s central library. A massive reduction in opening hours in a library like this would really have been a tragedy. In the survey results, which have informed the report going to the cabinet, there is a clear tension between older users, for whom the number of libraries is perhaps more important than opening hours, and younger users, for whom longer opening hours in the evening and weekends are more important. There is also a difference between users who see libraries mainly in terms of book borrowing and others who use the IT facilities and see them more in terms of information centres etc.

A final point in the report on Swiss Cottage library is that the three storey building has a great deal of space that is not adequately used and therefore some work on potentially letting out some areas is to take place. The listed status of the building does limit what can be done of course, but it does seem to me from my knowledge of the building that there might be scope to rent out some space without any effect on the library provision.

Swiss Cottage/Kilburn dispersal zone extended for six months

2011-05-29T18:22:00.000+01:00

As notified on this blog, last Tuesday there was the Community Meeting to discuss extending for six more months the Swiss Cottage/Kilburn dispersal zone. As per our May 9 entry, this was introduced as a temporary measure following the murder of a Swiss Cottage ward resident in Kilburn's Mortimer estate.

Roger Freeman was at the meeting, which unanimously supported this extension, something that comes with the Police recommendation.
Readers may recall that from 2008 there has been a dispersal zone, covering initially the Swiss Cottage open space and later extending into parts of Kilburn Ward. The legislation is that they can only be for six months, but can be extended for a further six months following a public consultation and sign off from the Council and the Police. The dispersal zone was last extended for a six month period in June 2010.

Community meeting on extension of Swiss Cottage/Kilburn Youth Dispersal Zone

2011-05-21T00:12:00.000+01:00

A 28 day Youth dispersal zone has come into force in Swiss Cottage/Kilburn, following a number of serious youth violence incidents. It will initially run until 2nd June and the police are stressing it is to tackle serious youth violence, not lower level youth disorder. The boundaries are the same as the previous dispersal zone which was in place for well over a year.

In line with agreed procedures on dispersal zones a community meeting has been organised on the proposed continuation of this dispersal zone over the summer and autumn. The meeting will take place at Swiss Cottage Community Centre (Room 3) 19 Winchester Road,NW3 3NR at 1.00pm Tuesday 24th May. Please contact Roger Freeman for further information.

More details on next phase of roadworks for National Grid Gas on Finchley Rd

2011-05-20T12:42:00.000+01:00

Further to previous post on these works, which will extend over two years, National Grid Gas has just provided an update which is worth quoting from below, as the next phase begins:

"Various preparatory works have now been undertaken to prove the route of the new main, and work was brought forward to install a new section of main across the bellmouth of Platts Lane, to take advantage of a road closure already in place for other works in Platts Lane. This was completed last weekend.

".. the first main stage of the gas works will commence at the Cannon Hill junction on 23 May 2011, and continue until August. During the initial phase of this works stage, while NGG install their main across the Cannon Hill junction, Cannon Hill will be made one way northbound, with local diversions for traffic wishing to access Cannon Hill from Finchley Road.

Thereafter, NGG will be working on both sides of Finchley Road, between Cannon Hill and Hendon Way. They expect to complete this northern section of Finchley Road, up to the Hendon Way junction, by the end of March 2012. Although much of their work will be limited to the bus lanes, it is clear that certain stages, in particular their crossing of the Fortune Green Road junction later in the year and the Hendon Way junction in the new year, will be more difficult in terms of impact on traffic. We will provide updates to you as the works progress.

TfL has been working hard with NGG to minimise disruption arising from the works, for example by ensuring as far as possible that two running lanes are maintained in both directions, and to schedule more disruptive elements of work where possible to be carried out at the least disruptive times and periods of the year. Wherever it is feasible and safe to do so, NGG will be working extended 12 hour shifts from 08:00 – 20:00 Monday to Friday, to complete the works in the shortest possible time. NGG will also work 08:00 – 13:00 on Saturdays.

Emergency Youth Dispersal Zone in Swiss Cottage/Kilburn

2011-05-09T22:00:00.000+01:00

A 28 day Youth dispersal zone has just come into force in Swiss Cottage/Kilburn, following a number of serious incidents. It will run until 2nd June and the police are stressing it is to tackle serious youth violence not lower level youth disorder.

The boundaries are the same as the previous dispersal zone which was in place for well over a year.

Gastronomia La Delizia, 51-53 Fairfax: Licensing granted with shortened hours, but planning application to be determined

2011-05-03T22:28:00.000+01:00

The Licensing application for the proposed Gastronomia La Delizia, 51-53 Fairfax Rd was granted last Thursday April 28th. Following concerns from local residents, the Applicants shortened the hours they were seeking. The sale of alcohol will now end at 23.30 Monday/Saturday and 2230 on Sundays. This site is where the Interni furniture shop used to be.
Note that a planning application for a change of use has been submitted. As it has been a furniture shop, its planning classification is as a shop and permission is needed for it to become a restaurant; the reference number is 2011/0962. Details of this can be found on the web at http://planningrecords.camden.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer17/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=261523&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer17/SiteFiles/Skins/camden/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer17/SiteFiles/Skins/camden/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING.
If recommended by the Officers, this will be heard at the full Development Control Committee.If you need clarification of the differences between licensing application and planning permission, feel free to contact Roger Freeman, though as he is Vice Chairman of the Development Control Committee he will not be able to express an opinion on the Planning application.
Also note that comments are due in by Wednesday May 4th, although we are sure that given all the holidays there will be some flexibility.

Parking fines going up by £10 from 15th April

2011-04-03T12:28:00.001+01:00

Not good news, but we thought it worth passing on the news that parking tickets are going up on the 15th April - by £10 to £130 for the "more serious" (actually most common) offences, including being in a residents CPZ bay. London Councils, which brings together all the councils, decides on these charges once every four years at a London level. Of course the actual way in which the boroughs organise residents and P&D parking is up to them, but the charges are agreed centrally to get some consistency. It is btw worth adding that overall parking tickets have fallen by 11% across London in the last year.

Below is the London Councils press release which you can also see the link here:

"Penalties for motorists who park illegally or carry out dangerous manoeuvres which put other road users at risk are set to increase.

Following a public consultation carried out by London Councils and Transport for London (TfL), drivers who commit the most serious parking and traffic contraventions, such as parking on a double yellow or red line, will pay higher penalties from 15 April. There will be no change in penalties for less serious contraventions, such as overstaying at a parking meter.

London has two levels of contraventions. This means the more serious contraventions on London borough roads and all contraventions on TfL roads incur a higher penalty than other contraventions.

The current levels of penalties are £120 for serious contraventions in central London, including bus lane and moving traffic contraventions and London Lorry Control Scheme contraventions for drivers.

Lesser contraventions incur an £80 penalty. In outer London the penalties are generally £100 and £60, although in some particularly busy areas, such as town centres or around major venues, the higher level penalties may apply.

From 15 April, the two higher level penalty levels will each be increased by £10 - from £120 to £130 in central London and from £100 to £110 in outer London. The lower level penalties will remain the same.

Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, Councillor Catherine West said: “Parking penalties have not gone up for four years during which time inflation has made them less of a deterrent.

“Penalties must be set at the right level to deter motorists from disrupting the flow of traffic by parking illegally or putting the safety of other road users at risk by carrying out dangerous manoeuvres.

“The lower level of penalties remains the same to reflect the views in the consultation that more serious offences should receive more severe penalties.”

TfL’s Interim Director of Congestion Charging and Traffic Enforcement, Nick Fairholme, said: “We enforce traffic regulations to keep the Capital’s busiest roads moving safely for the benefit of all road users, not to raise revenue. Following the public consultation, we have taken the difficult but nonetheless important decision to increase the level of penalty charge. This will ensure that penalty charges remain an effective deterrent.”

Notes to editors:

London Councils and Transport for London held a three month public consultation between 1 July and 30 September 2010. The changes were agreed by the Mayor of London.

The level of penalty charges reviewed every four years. The last consultation, carried out in 2006, resulted in the introduction of the two tier parking system in July 2007.

Any money collected by the boroughs and Transport for London, after the cost of running enforcement is taken into account, must be spent on transport, and the case of the boroughs, environmental improvements.

London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee voted to scrap an agreement with the former Mayor of London whereby people who illegally park in a residents’ bay incur a lower penalty rather than a higher penalty if they can prove they were visiting a resident.

Penalties and charges for London Lorry Control Scheme contraventions for operators, release from wheel clamp, release from car pound, storage charge and disposal fee remain the same.

Schedule of parking penalties and related charges in London

The levels of Penalty Charge Notices in London are set out below. These are valid from 15 April 2011.

Levels of Penalty Charge Notice: Higher: £130; lower: £80

Higher level penalties apply to contraventions which are considered more serious, such as parking on yellow lines or where an obstruction is caused. Lower level penalties apply generally where parking is permitted but the regulations are contravened, such as overstaying on a pay and display bay.

Bus lane and minor moving traffic contraventions

Bus lane contraventions £130

Minor moving traffic contraventions £130

London Lorry Control Scheme contraventions

For drivers £130

For operators £550

Discount for early payment: Payment within 14 days 50%

Other charges

Release from wheel clamp £70

Release from car pound £200

Storage charge £40 per day

Disposal fee £70

Monitoring the Den Legacy club

2011-04-02T22:35:00.000+01:00

Given the ongoing reports of noise from the Legacy, last Saturday night/Sunday morning one of the Conservative Councillors on a late night patrol of Camden visited the Club at 1.30am and again at the closing time of 4pm. He reports that that the situation was quiet (though we know that is not always the case!) This is not the first time we have done this, and it is something we may well have to do more of.

Adelaide Rd schools development - community liaison group meeting

2011-03-27T20:33:00.000+01:00

Roger Freeman was at last Thursday's Swiss Cottage Community Liaison Group between BAM - the building contractors for the Swiss Cottage Academy - and local residents to review how construction issues are affecting local residents.

Basic message is so far so good, but early days of course. Works are on schedule and BAM's on site team have a good working relationship with people nearby.
BAM are keen that if any local residents have issues with the construction process that they be contacted immediately.

The next meeting will be on Thursday May 26.

Legacy Club new licensing application decision

2011-03-19T21:12:00.000Z

Roger Freeman spoke at last Thursday's Licensing Hearing for the Legacy Night Club. They were seeking authorization to open on Mondays till midnight; this was agreed once they had complied with Camden's requirements for acoustic controls in the Club.

Their request to extend their Sunday opening hours from 1030 till Midnight was not granted.

The Councillors on the Licensing Panel stressed very firmly the need for the Club to ensure that their clients leave the premises without causing disturbance to local residents. We will be continuing to monitor problems very closely. In the meantime if there are disturbances, and on the basis that it is not a 999 situation, it is good if you phone the non emergency contact number of the Met - 0300 123 1212 so that it gets reported to the Met Police Licensing Team. We also suggest that you email the Camden enforcement team at john.newcombe@camden.gov.uk (copy Roger Freeman in at roger.freeman@camden.gov.uk) so that the Camden Officers have got the fullest knowledge of the extent of the problem.

New planning application for Barrow Hill, St Edmunds Terrace

2011-03-18T22:16:00.000Z

View Larger Map

As your local councillors we wanted you to know that a new planning application has been submitted for Barrow Hill for 3 5/6 story blocks of flats. We know that this site is important for many of you.

You may remember that an application was submitted just over a couple of years ago in February 2009 and withdrawn after considerable opposition, not least from your councillor team, and officers declined to recommend it.

To see the proposal go to www.camden.gov.uk/planning and follow the links to search for planning application and then type in the number: 2011/0919/P.
Note that comments are due in by April 7 2011.
Feel free to contact Roger Freeman as per the communication details above but note that as Vice Chairman of the Development Control Committee he can only discuss the mechanics of the application with you.
Alternatively contact Andrew Marshall who, while a member of the Development Control Committee, will not be voting on this application given his past involvement on the site and will thus be able to discuss the merits of the site.

HS2 Public meeting this Wednesday

2011-03-14T17:39:00.000Z

There is a Public Meeting arranged by the HS2 Reference Group on Wednesday 16th March 7.30pm, at St Mary’s Church on the corner of King Henry’s Rd and Primrose Hill Rd. We encourage anyone living on or close to the new route to get along if they can, we'll also make sure as a councillor group we are represented.

Primrose Hill HS2 Reference Group: http://www.phhs2referencegroup.org

Quintin Kynaston rebuild: consultation on detailed designs

2011-03-13T18:51:00.000Z

Roger Freeman visited Quintin Kynaston for the consultation session held for the school design. A reminder that outline planning permission has been granted for the Boundary Road end of the site and there is now a consultation for the more detailed designs. For more information go to www.westminster.gov.uk/marlborough-hill-campus and any comments should be submitted as soon as possible.
Building work at the southern end is due to start in the next month or so; work at the Boundary Road end will start at the end of 2012/start 2013.

High Speed 2 Consultation begins - Swiss Cottage exhibition on 28th March

2011-03-06T20:16:00.000Z

The route consultation on High Speed 2 has now commenced. Lots of detail here.

First thing to note is that the deadline is quite long - 29th July. But of course this is a huge proposal and it's vital we get as much out of the consultation as possible.

There is a mobile exhibition which will move up the route over this period. It starts at Euston on March 24 and 25, then Queens Park on 26th, then in Swiss Cottage on the 28th March, from 8am to 8pm on the farmers market space. Then it's back in Euston on the 2nd April and Castlehaven on the 4th before moving north.

While the hours at Swiss Cottage are decently long, doing this on a Monday is not ideal, and we will make this point to Department for Transport. We hope as well that Camden Council will doing all it can to ensure this consultation is fully publicised locally and gets the support it needs to work well. More soon, once we've done some reading... We'll make sure we're there on the 28th.

National Grid gas works on Finchley Rd - update on side streets

2011-03-04T17:53:00.001Z

Further to previous post - checked with National Grid, the side streets which will be getting work are:
Cannon Hill, Lymington Road, Dresden Close, Frognal, Frognal Close and Alvanley Gardens.

So West Hampstead and Frognal wards rather than Swiss Cottage ward, but clearly the Finchley Rd work will affect us all.

Major gas works on Finchley Rd - public exhibition at 02 Centre on 17th March

2011-03-03T22:32:00.000Z

We've just been informed by National Grid about their plan to replace 6.5km of old metallic gas mains in Finchley Road, Camden. This work will take two years, which is pretty depressing. On the other hand, it's encouraging that National Grid is at least trying to brief people properly through a public exhibition. We'll make sure we're at the meeting, here are the details of the works:

"This essential work will involve replacing the ageing gas mains with new hard wearing plastic pipes, which will last for many years if left undisturbed.
Gas mains will be replaced in Finchley Road between Hendon Way and Swiss Cottage and in a number of side roads.

"The project will also include upgrades to businesses and domestic gas service pipes. Engineers will need access to properties to carry out this work and we will contact those affected in advance to arrange this. We are reminding people that they should always ask to see official identification before letting anyone into their property and that they can get more advice on this by calling 0845 605 6677.

"It is anticipated that this work will take around two years to complete.

"We are using high-tech tools to ensure that any disruption associated with the work is minimised.
Ground penetrating radar has been used to survey the existing mains and ensure the best possible work route is selected.

"We will also be inserting the new mains into the old pipes wherever possible, which will reduce the need for large scale excavations.

"We have also planned the work in consultation with local stakeholders including Transport for London (TFL) to ensure that it is carried out with a minimum of disruption. To enable people to find out more about the work we will be holding a public exhibition about the work at O2 Centre in Finchley Road on Thursday 17th March between 2pm and 9pm.

"We also have a helpline which members of the local community can call if they have any questions about the work or require more information (0845 605 6677).
The work will be carried out the North London Gas Alliance, a partnership between National Grid and Skanska.

"This scheme forms part of National Grid’s nationwide mains replacement programme, agreed with the Health and Safety Executive, which involves the replacement of all iron gas mains within 30 metres of buildings. Our project will leave a great legacy for the area by helping to ensure people in the area continue to enjoy safe, reliable and secure gas supplies in future years."

We will ask before the meeting which side streets are going to be involved here.

Waites lorries going wrong way on Priory Rd

2011-02-27T19:58:00.000Z

Lorries on the Waites houses redevelopment still seem to be going the wrong way on Priory Rd, which could be very dangerous, especiallly for cyclists. We have just got the council's surveyors to talk again to the lead contractor Wilmott Dixon, who say they are putting further measures in place to prevent this happening.

View Larger Map

Our newly-renamed South Hampstead Conservation Area!

2011-02-25T12:57:00.000Z

On Monday 28th Feb, Camden's Cabinet Councillor for the Environment will be formally approving the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy review. This follows a lot of work and extensive consultation. It's an excellent document that is well worth a good read, especially for this interested in local architecture and history. It should certainly improve the local authority's ability to manage this conservation area, which sadly as we know is on English Heritage's "conservation areas at risk" register. Three other points:

The consultation response strongly favoured a change of name for the conservation area (not the ward) from Swiss Cottage to South Hampstead, and this change is happening.

There was a comment about extending to include St Mary's Church, given the importance of local views. In fact the church is in the neighbouring Priory Rd conservation area, but the council certainly needs to make sure there is a holistic approach across conservation areas.

Finally, special thanks to all those in the residents group CRASH who contributed a great deal to this process, and many of their points are reflected in the final document being approved on Monday.

Feedback from Safer Neighbourhoods meeting

2011-02-24T17:46:00.000Z

Roger Freeman was at Tuesday's Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhood Meeting.
It started with a presentation from the local Crime Prevention Officer who reminded us that you can get a free security check for your home by calling 0208 733 6605; also that the over 60's one can have free security equipment-phone 0845 351 0642. Given the current financial climate these programmes may well cease so if this is something that interests you, you may want to do it sooner than later.

The importance of securing the backs of houses(and indeed garden sheds) was stressed; indeed over the winter months there have been problems with people gaining access to the open space in the Fairhazel,Priory,Compayne, Broadhurst axis and entering houses from the back. 6 arrests for burglary have been made recently in the local area.

The meeting agreed that the team should concentrate on anti social behaviour(including bicycle riding on pavements); residential burglary and vehicle crime.

National Census on March 27th

2011-02-20T09:49:00.000Z

The Census takes place on March 27th. Participation is required by law. The census is important for the way we take decisions over the coming decade on the whole range of local and central government services. Last time in 2001 Camden had the 7th lowest response of any local authority in the country (23% of households didn’t respond), which isn’t great but reflects the nature of our population (most of the other low-response councils are in central London). Groups with typically lower than average response include students, young men, ethnic minorities. The publicity campaign starts on the 28th February, and Camden staff are working closely with the Office of National Statistics to get as high as possible a response from Camden this time.

Libraries and the Council budget

2011-02-06T10:46:00.001Z

This post is a personal view from Cllr Andrew Marshall.

I fully understand local people’s frustrations about the threats to our library service – as a councillor I voted in 2000 to keep the three threatened libraries open.
In terms of the possibility of community groups running libraries, we certainly all need to understand as much as possible and as soon as possible about the feasibility of this.

But in terms of how much taxpayers’ money we can afford to go into Camden’s libraries in future, I can’t help feeling that CPLUG and others are perhaps focused to some extent on the wrong things. There’s simply no point in looking at the libraries budget in isolation, rather than at the council budget as a whole. Since councils of all political hues – from Conservative-run Hammersmith & Fulham to Labour-LibDem-run Wirral – are closing libraries, it is surely unlikely that there some unique problem in the management of Camden libraries that can be uncovered as the answer to our prayers. Issues like whether fines are being paid of course have their place, but are simply not central in the context of the scale of the council’s budget.

I really urge everyone such as CPLUG with a keen interest in local services to read the budget papers that went to the council cabinet at the beginning of December, in order to get a sense of the scale of the challenge and the breadth and depth of the cuts in areas such as elderly services, child social work and voluntary sector funding.

The idea has been floated that cuts might not have to made in 2013/4 as the economic situation might have changed and the council tax could be raised. I’m afraid if you read the council budget papers it’s pretty clear how far from reality this view is. Britain has a huge structural deficit – it needs economic growth first and foremost to help repay it. You can’t spend the same money twice. Moreover the scale of council tax increase needed would be in my view completely unacceptable to local residents, many on fixed incomes – the leverage inherent in the current local government finance system does not make this at all feasible, even if desired.

I was struck in November that one member of the Heath Library friends group committee told the Ham and High:
“I’ve been told the amount spent on libraries in general is minimal compared to what is spent in other areas. Is it worth the small saving for such a huge upset?”

Well, the council budget is publicly available, so she and others can easily see whether libraries spending is indeed minimal. As for the huge upset, virtually every area where there will be cuts is seeing a huge upset. The point is that if you need to make cuts on this scale, you need to make savings virtually everywhere. You can’t afford to ringfence much from savings, since that just requires even greater savings elsewhere. I’ve not heard either local groups or the local media coming up with any other significant alternative savings – I don’t necessarily expect them to, but it’s important to grasp the context in which councillors are setting the budget as a whole. And while of course there is always scope for further efficiencies, it’s simply not credible to think that £86m can be found in this way.

I profoundly wish that Britain – and thus our local authorities – was not in the fiscal position it is in. But it is.

Street sweeping times and costs

2011-02-05T11:33:00.001Z

At our recent residents area group meeting for Swiss Cottage, a number of issues around rubbish collection, recycling and street sweeping came up. One specific one was around concerns about sweeping at weekends and late at night, with potential extra costs for the local authority at a time when money is very tight. We've got a very helpful response from the Camden Environment Dept, which is worth seeing in full:

"We are currently working with our contractor Veolia on the first phase of a three year programme of street cleansing efficiencies that will reduce the amount of street cleansing that we offer, and that this first phase does concentrate on reductions in evening and weekend cleansing work carried out within the borough. Whilst we need to maintain acceptable standards of cleanliness we have identified a number of areas that will get a reduced level of late afternoon, evening and weekend sweeping. This will lead to savings in overtime costs by our contractors and allow a reduction in our overall street cleansing costs in 2010/11.

The use of overtime payments to cover out of hours working has reduced over the period of the Veolia contract, although some street cleansing staff have retained this provision within their terms and conditions of employment. Whilst shift working operated by our contractors has minimised the impact of overtime costs, the planned changes will further reduce this requirement. This remains an area of focus for the work we are doing with Veolia to further reduce costs.

We will be looking at further savings and efficiencies from our waste and cleansing services throughout 2010/11 to deliver additional savings over the next three years. As part of this we will be looking at greater engagement with residents, businesses and visitors to the borough on the issues of reducing littering – both as encouragement but ultimately as enforcement where required."

Legacy nightclub application to extend licensing hours

2011-02-03T21:23:00.000Z

We have just heard that The Legacy nightclub has applied for a license alteration to extend its opening hours. They are not requesting any change for the hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They are applying to open till Midnight on Sunday(current 22.30) and Monday(currently they have no license to operate on Mondays); and for Tuesday and Wednesday an extra hour for music and dance till Midnight.(Currently they can serve alcohol till Midnight).

Given the ongoing issues with this club and the problems it is causing residents nearby, as Ward Councillors we plan to oppose this application, as at least residents currently have some respite on Sundays and Mondays. We will also ensure that local residents are fully aware of this application.

Full details can be accessed here.

Contact Roger Freeman if you need further information.

The 'mirf' where our recycling gets separated

2011-02-02T21:16:00.001Z

Roger Freeman has been visiting Bywater's Materials Recovery Facility (a MRF or 'mirf' to those in the know) at Bromley by Bow.
This plant receives all of Camden's dry recyclables from business and households - in other words everything that goes into the green general recycling bin and the blue bag for paper. Note that Camden's black bag waste as well as cooked food and garden waste goes to another facility in Edmonton.

Bywaters have a most impressive operation whereby they separate the contents of the recycling box into plastics, glass, paper and metal and indeed further separates the plastics into PET Plastic (basically beverage bootles) and HDPE plastic (basically milk bottles) and other plastics.
The whole issue of recycling came up at last week's Swiss Cottage Area Forum. Note that the reason Camden asks you to separate the paper into the blue bag is that they can get a higher price for paper so separated. Examples were cited at the meeting whereby operatives were mixing the contents of the blue paper bags with the green general recycling box. This is a firm no no, and if anyone sees examples of this please contact Roger Freeman, citing the time and place where this is taking place.

New Academy/Special School residents liaision group

2011-01-30T20:57:00.000Z

Roger Freeman attended last Thursday's Community Liaison Group Meeting to monitor construction activities at the new Swiss Cottage Academy.

At this very early stage, matters are progressing well but the tempo will pick up in the next months, especially with the decamping of the Swiss Cottage Special School at the end of February. In the second quarter lorry traffic will reach 20 lorries a day for about three months.

The next meeting is on March 24. Feel free to contact Roger Freeman for further information.

Labour's "donations from the rich" plan is a stunt, the numbers don't stack up

2011-01-28T22:03:00.001Z

Camden Labour's idea to get voluntary donations from the local rich to mitigate the cuts is a stunt. Let's get some things clear.

Of course we all want to encourage people to contribute more to charities locally. Arguably the tax system should do more to support this.

If the local authority starts making a major effort to raise voluntary donations from local people to fund what are currently council activities, it will very likely end up in competition for donations with local voluntary groups - from Hampstead Theatre to community centres - who are hard at work raising funds. It will be difficult to ensure that additional donations are really additional to current charitable donations and don't cannibalise current charitable giving.

The example floated by Labour in the CNJ talked of 100 bankers paying 5p in the pound to raise £500,000. It may very well be that there are 100 bankers with £100k average bonuses who would pay this. But while £500,000 would save a couple of libraries, and I don't doubt the importance of that, it doesn't actually make a big impact in a situation where the council is looking at making savings in the revenue account of over £80m over three years, and it's wrong to give the impression it would.

A more realistic calculation would be to think about what it would take to raise £5m, year in, year out - still a small proportion of the £80-100m budget gap, but a bigger chunk of it than £500,000.

Let's say you ask "rich people" to pay, say, an average of £1,000 a year, to be funnelled by the local authority to local services like libraries and lunch clubs, Perhaps some people would pay a lot more than £1,000. But £1,000 is still a chunk of money, even for most affluent people. But if we assume £1,000, and we want to raise £5m, then that means getting voluntary donations from 5,000 households. That's about one in twenty of Camden households. How likely is that? Everybody has different financial situations, but some of those living in more expensive properties in Camden are pensioners, with property assets but lower incomes. Others have got children in private education and heavy childcare costs, and at least in their minds have got a lot of outgoings.

Remember, what we're talking of here is revenue support, where you need to bring in money every year, not as a one off exercise to raise capital for a new building. And bank bonuses, however unacceptable, are not guaranteed over future years; they are dependent, at least to some extent, on market conditions.

Whatever the challenges of council spending at present, do those most concerned about libraries, or adult social services, really want these to be funded from uncertain flows of voluntary donations?

I really don't blame Labour for raising the point. The more people donate to good causes, the better. But Labour's idea is rooted in the age-old Labour idea, that money from the rich - whether raised in taxation or from donations - can fund an expensive welfare state. The fact is, this option never existed and doesn't now. Whatever marginal tax rate you set, there simply aren't enough rich people to pay for spending. Ultimately it's the hardworking middle classes that have to pay for high state spending, and, over time, for structural deficits that aren't attended to.

So yes, our voluntary sector organisations should step up their efforts to raise more money from the local rich. But no, Camden Labour shouldn't invest significant council officer-time and resources, and the hopes of local people, in what is ultimately a chimera. The numbers just don't stack up.

Gold-buying con-merchants on local estates

2011-01-27T20:36:00.000Z

Beware - this week con-men have been leafleting estates in the Kilburn and Swiss Cottage area, offering to buy small amounts of gold people have for cash. They come back after an hour and knock on doors, trying to buy gold at a very low price that bears no relation to the market price. It seems a couple of people may have been caught out. Please keep an eye out and report any sightings to the local police team.

Well attended Swiss Cottage Community meeting

2011-01-26T23:09:00.000Z

We'd around 60 people at the inaugural meeting of the Swiss Cottage Area Action Group tonight. A very diverse group across the ward, though fewer younger people. While there's obviously always a worry that such meetings can be talking shops, people seemed to find it useful and there is a great desire to get access to good relevant information on council and TfL policies.

We covered the broad outline of the financial challenges the Council faces. There were considerable concerns about cuts and a desire to protect above all services for young people and for vulnerable elderly people. Comments included using school buildings more effectively outside school hours, and having more out of school activities at reasonable cost for children over five.

It was interesting that nobody seemed concerned at the reduction in rubbish collections to once a week, but on the other hand there were a lot of specific comments and complaints about how the recycling system is now working. We'll do some digging with Environment managers on these points and get back to people.

Camden Transport officers gave an excellent presentation on both the new Camden transport strategy, which is currently out for consultation, and some of the specific transport issues around Finchley Rd. Officers are taking up a number of issues with TfL, including the phasing of lights at the end of Goldhurst, better crossing at the top of Greencroft, and timing of pedestrian lights on Finchley Rd by the library. We heard that TfL is going to look properly at options for improving pedestrian crossings at each of the three corners of the Swiss Cottage gyratory system.

Swiss Cottage Area Action Group meeting on Wednesday 26th January - come along and have your say

2011-01-23T16:25:00.000Z

On Wednesday 26th January there will be a public meeting of the new Swiss Cottage Area Action Group, giving residents the opportunity to discuss the implications of the Council’s spending plans and local priorities for Swiss Cottage with your three ward councillors and your neighbours. These replace area forums. With money tight, it’s more important than ever that what the Council does reflects genuine community need wherever possible. While we know there is cynicism that such meetings can be talking shops, they will help us do a better job as ward councillors in pressing for what are considered top local priorities. The meeting will be at the Crossfield Centre, 8 Fairhazel Gardens from 7-8.30pm on the 26th, with refreshments from 6.30pm. If there is a specific topic you will be raising at the meeting, do get in touch with us beforehand if possible, so we can do some research!

One issue we know will be coming up, and which we have been involved for a long time, is flytipping and rubbish on the service road running off the top of Fairfax Rd - see photo below.

View Larger Map

Local roads and pavements getting repaired this year

2011-01-22T12:53:00.000Z

The Council has now decided which roads and pavements will see planned maintenance in the 2011/12 municipal year as £6.88m (this also includes street lighting).

The assessment and prioritisation is based on an annual independent survey, third party claims, other works undertaken by utilities, and engineers site visits. Below is the initial programme; further condition surveys will be undertaken in February/March to see what impact the winter has had, after which the priorities will be fine-tuned. In Swiss Cottage ward the programme for 2011/12 is:

Footways
Aberdare Gardens
Compayne Gardens – from West End Lane to Priory (in fact this is mainly in West Hampstead ward)

Carriageway
King Henry’s Rd – Adelaide Rd to Lower Merton Rise
Canfield Gardens– Broadhurst to Fairhazel
Harley Rd

There will also be bridge assessment and strengthening work on the Loudoun Rd bridge.

In neighbouring wards, footways work will take place in the following roads: Cotleigh, Dynham, Adelaide, Fellows, Kylemore, Solent. Carriageway works will include Boundary Rd, and parts of West End Lane

Full details of the Council plans here.

In addition to this planned maintenance, the Council does aim to tackle dangerous potholes and pavement problems wherever possible – please let us know of any problems and will take these up.

A great play at Hampstead Theatre

2011-01-18T23:30:00.000Z

Just back from the press night of Tiger Country at Hampstead Theatre (in Swiss Cottage ward!), written and directed by Nina Raine (author of Tribes at the Royal Court).

A very enjoyable play about life and death in the NHS, with a lot of funny lines throughout and a slow build in terms of the characters and the issues they face. Big cast and well staged. Do go and see it, here's the link. On until Feb 5, certainly deserves some strong reviews and a West End run.

Camden Community Investment Programme/Placeshaping - Swiss Cottage sites

2011-01-16T12:06:00.000Z

The Council is preparing plans for different areas of Camden, both to get improvements/efficiencies in public buildings and spaces, to assist with social housing needs, and to sell or develop surplus assets to raise money towards the Council’s capital spending (schools, roads etc). You can find more detail in the council report here. For Swiss Cottage, the key identified sites are outlined below:

Woolworths site/Chalford - 177 Finchley Road
This contains 29 units of Council housing, as well as the retail unit and an open residents car park to the rear. Possible redevelopment opportunities range from ‘small scale infill residential development upon the underused car park to potentially a major mixed-use redevelopment of the site with new modernised retail and enhanced residential development. A larger scheme could not only generate larger receipts, but also help improve the Finchley Road streetscape and..deliver an additional housing supply. Network Rail has extensive property holdings adjacent to this site and there may be opportunities to explore a joint approach between the two organisations to invest in the area to deliver.’

Finchley Road Commercial Units
‘The Council owns a small number of properties along, Finchley Road, Lithos Road and Rosemont Road, with retail units at the ground floor and residential accommodation above. The properties may be viewed as primarily commercial assets which may be disposed of at a suitable time.’

Hilgrove Garages
‘Located between Hilgrove and Dobson Close, close to the Finchley Road, this site is dominated by a large ground and underground garage block which has been vacant for several years. Its redevelopment in connection with the reconfiguration of surrounding facilities could deliver a mixture of housing types, new play and open space facilities.’

Broadfield End, Broadhurst Gardens
‘Located on the edge of the Broadfield Estate, not far from Finchley Road, this is an open site between two large existing buildings both with blank flanks. The estate has significant areas open space and this site makes little contribution to resident amenity. The site’s development would be likely to strengthen the street scene, linking the estate building and Victorian Mansion block.’

194 / 194a Goldhurst Terrace, NW6
‘Number 194 is a residential property currently occupied by residents with autistic special needs and 194a is a vacant former day centre. There are a range of options that could be explored to improve the accommodation either by refurbishment or by providing it elsewhere, thereby releasing this site, with potentially high residential value for alternative use or disposal.’

In addition, the report discusses a possible redevelopment of the Council’s 156 West End Lane site (the Travis Perkins lease runs out in 2012). A major redevelopment here is likely and would unlock much-needed capital funds.

The report also looks at all the various properties forming part of the Abbey area regeneration study (in Kilburn ward), including the Langtry Walk shopping parade, Belsize Priory Health Clinic, Abbey Road Car Park, Abbey Community Centre, Langtry Children’s Centre, and Abbey Hive Community Centre.

It’s important to emphasise that in Swiss Cottage all these ideas are at an early stage and feasibility is being explored – there would certainly be much more consultation before any of them starting moving forward, including with any affected council tenants, who would ultimately of course be rehoused in better homes. We will be keeping a close eye and representing local views.

The Abbey area plans are at a different stage, after several years of consultation with tenants and residents on the Abbey area estates, and a planning application may be forthcoming shortly. Don Williams, who is not a member of the Planning Committee, has expressed residents’ concerns about the plans and will lead on representing local views.

Greencroft traffic problems

2011-01-09T09:34:00.002Z

We've raised with Camden officers a couple of matters that residents have raised.

Firstly the phasing of the crossing across Goldhurst by Waitrose - lack of pedestrian phasing means people take risks crossing on red.

View Larger Map

Secondly we have pressed -again - for a crossing at the back of Waitrose by the top of Greencroft. Given the speed at which cars swing round in this one way, it is very dangerous crossing here as pedestrians have to.

Thirdly there still seems to be a problem with cars going down the main bit of Greencroft the wrong way (ie turning left from Fairhazel). We'll see if better signage is possible.

Adelaide Rd Schools development - Notes of Community Liaision Group meeting

2011-01-01T11:57:00.000Z

We thought it worth posting these notes from the recent meeting, which Cllr Roger Freeman attended. The plan is to have a more 'public' meeting every quarter, with a smaller group representing residents groups meeting with the contractor and the council as a liaison group monthly.

Notes of Adelaide Road Community Liaison Group Meeting
Thurs 25 November 2010, 6.30pm at Swiss Cottage School

The following documents were available at the meeting and continue to be available as downloads from Camden.gov.uk/bsf

• The Construction Management Plan
• The terms of reference for the Community Liaison Group
• A newsletter for residents produced by BAM

Attendees:
BAM construction (6); LB Camden officers (3); Roger Freeman, ward councillor; Kay Bedford, headteacher of Swiss Cottage school; 12 local residents including 3 reps from residents’ associations.

Introductions:
The meeting was opened by Avril Rogers, LB Camden Programme Manager.
Kay Bedford, headteacher at Swiss Cottage special school gave an introduction.
Contractors BAM introduced their team members and gave a 20 minute presentation.

Issues raised by residents:

How will lorries arriving be managed?
- as per the Traffic management plan. ‘Just in time’ system so no waiting
- Site times are 8am – 6pm Mon-Fri, 8am – 1pm Sat

Which way will lorries come in?
From Adelaide Road. They won’t go down Harley, Elsworthy or Winchester Roads

Removal of Frank Barnes asbestos – is this being done by a specialist?
Yes, by licensed specialists

Where will the skips be?
In the car park of Frank Barnes, sealed

8am – 6pm seems like a long time?
This is a planning condition

Won’t traffic be horrendous with all the extra children? Where are the drop-off points?
On the plans - similar to where they are now. A transport study was carried out. UCL Academy has a school travel management plan and will walk/cycle use the buses. TfL requires Camden to contribute to the cost of providing adequate buses. A new crossing point is being created. The key priority is safety.

What is the start date for the demolition of Frank Barnes?
7 Feb – work on the main site starts soon after.

Where will the 3 cranes be that you mentioned?
These are shown on the plans of the site. None will over reach any surrounding buildings.

I live right next to the access point in Harley Road – how will you make sure it’s safe with so much site traffic?
A qualified ‘banksman’ will be employed to safely manage access. Gates and barriers will protect pedestrians. Gates will always be closed unless there’s a vehicle coming in.

Will the water supply/drains be affected? No

What hours will lighting be used?
Only when needed in winter and will go off at 6pm. All lights will be pointing inwards towards the site.

Will the site be alarmed? Yes

Will damage to the roads be repaired?
Yes, we agree a dilapidation report with the council.

Where are the hard play areas?
These are indicated on the plans. These won’t be floodlit for out of hours use.

Where will the site offices be?
In the current Frank Barnes parking lot. Two small offices will be appearing there soon.

What about the trees? How will these be preserved? Who is responsible?
A full arboricultural survey has been done. The trees will be fully protected during works. There will be some trees coming out but they will be replaced. There will be no net loss of trees.
There are landscape consultants working on the scheme who will ensure no loss of amenity or biodiversity. LB Camden has a tree section which is part of the Culture and Environment directorate.

What are the busiest dates for work on the site? How will we be kept informed of when heavy works are taking place?
Peak times are mid 2011 to the end of 2011. BAM is producing and circulating regular newsletters to residents, these will provide advance information. The monthly CLG will also be kept informed. Wider public/open engagement meetings will be held quarterly.

HS2 meeting on changed route for consultation in coming months

2010-12-31T19:16:00.000Z

I attended, along with around 50 others (residents groups and councillors) a briefing given by the HS2 team at Camden Town Hall just before Christmas. There’s a lot of information you can find on the HS2 website, especially the announcement of the proposed change of route for consultation published by the Secretary of State on the 20th December.

Below are some observations, these do not attempt to be comprehensive and do reflect our particular interests as Swiss Cottage ward councillors.

The main consultation on the route will take place in the first few months of 2011 – exact timings and process to be announced. This is the real opportunity for public information and consultation on what is undoubtedly a complex and concerning proposal. While Camden Council is not the planning authority, as ultimately this will be decided by a so-called Hybrid Bill in Parliament, it is vital that the Council keeps involved to ensure the consultation is as effective as possible. I suggested to them at the meeting that given the diversity of Camden and the fact the issues change as you move north, the consultation needs to be very locally focused and relevant to Euston, then Primrose Hill/Belsize, then Kilburn etc.

While there are no changes to the proposed westward expansion of Euston (with demolition of around 300 homes), in the Primrose Hill/Swiss Cottage area the line has been moved north by around 100m, and will be closer to existing tunnels. The detailed map of the route in our area is here. Effectively it goes under Gloucester Avenue, then crosses Adelaide Rd around Eton Rd, then along Fellows Rd under the Chalcots blocks, then under Swiss Cottage open space, Regency Lodge, the Hilgrove estate and then the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate.

It will be deeper than originally outlined, some 30-50m, reflecting the height of the ground – ie it will get deeper as the ground rises up to Fellows Rd. According to HS2, the change in route reflects further work by them and in particular the increased depth and closer alignment with existing tunnels, as well as the fact that there is now a link to St Pancras/HS1 as well as Euston. Some of our residents in Swiss Cottage ward will be relieved by the change in route, others in our ward, and many in Belsize ward, will inevitably be very concerned. It is unfortunate that as it happens in Camden the route is now very largely under council estates.

Ventilation shafts – the shaft at Hawtrey Rd is of course gone. Instead we have one on Adelaide Rd near the nature reserve (but on railway land) and one in Alexandra Place where the arcade of shops is. The shafts are two storey buildings around 25x25m with some parking for emergency vehicles. While HS2 emphasised how inobtrusive such ventilation shafts are in East London on HS1, and how they can reflect local situations to some extent, there are natural concerns about noise, fumes etc as well as visual impact. All of this needs to be examined in detail, not least as the plans for Alexandra Place are very near housing, and seem to supercede the council’s own estate regeneration thinking in the area.

It was emphasised that the tunnels (three single tunnels) would all be dug from Old Oak Common in West London, with all earth etc removed from there.

Many concerns were naturally expressed both about vibration during construction, about settlement of older homes nearby (and what degree of guarantees will be given), and about long term stability, not least for high rise blocks. HS2 has a lot of answers but the devil is clearly in the detail and all of these issues will have to be examined in great detail.

This is going to keep all of us busy over the coming months, and as Swiss Cottage councillors we’ll be doing what we can to keep residents informed and represent their views. The Primrose Hill HS2 Reference Group website is also worth looking at, though at the moment it does not reflect the revised route.

Camden Council and the Cuts

2010-12-22T09:50:00.000Z

We sent out this short note on the cuts in Camden with our December newsletter, and a couple of people suggested we also post it here. It is simply some selected highlights and some explanation of the process and can't be seen as comprehensive. If there are things constituents want to know more about, get in touch, or come along to the Swiss Cottage Area Action Group meeting on January 26th at the Crossfield Centre.

The Council and the Cuts

This is not the place for discussion of why there is a structural deficit and such like, but we now know a bit more about the Council’s spending plans, and thought a few highlights would be useful.

We now know (minus some loose ends) how much money Camden will get in government funding in 2011/12 – essentially this equates to a reduction in spending power of 6.54% in real terms, with further real terms reductions in the following two years.

The Council needs to set its budget and council tax for 2011/12 by the end of March. But it already knows that it faces a likely “budget gap” of £80-100m it must close over the next three financial years. Sensibly, council officers have already put forward proposals covering all three years – though much of the savings for the 2012/13 and 2013/4 years are only at a headline level at this stage and (rightly) generally subject to consultation. Some highlights:

• Up to 900 council posts will be going, largely but not exclusively by retirement and voluntary redundancies.
• The budget plans assume a two year pay freeze for council staff.
• The total cost of senior managers will be cut by 20% over three years – by deleting posts and freezing salaries.
• In adult services, there will be increased targeting on the vulnerable with some services no longer free to those who can afford to pay. Provision of discretionary services to those without a “substantial and critical need”, such as luncheon clubs will see significant reductions.
• Libraries – by 2013, some £1.6m will be taken out of the libraries budget of around £8m. The Council is proposing the closure of some smaller libraries, as yet unidentified, with consultation throughout 2011 on how to ensure we maintain a good quality library service for less money. Camden currently has the second highest number of public libraries per square mile in the country, and the third highest library costs per 1000 people. (Camden has 13 libraries, Hammersmith and Fulham for example has 6). There will certainly be discussions about whether community groups can in some way run some libraries, but given the integration of the service (inter-library loans etc) this is not necessarily the easiest public service for such “big society” efforts.
• Voluntary sector funding – by 2012 some £2.5m will have been saved out of this budget, out of about £9m. At present Camden funds over 100 groups, from community centres to Hampstead Theatre. We will know more on this when a report comes to the council cabinet in February – essentially there are no significant reduction until 2012 to give some time for organisations to plan, for example sharing buildings, merging services etc.
• Waste and street cleansing – there will be a phased reduction in the frequency of street cleansing, but the once a week rubbish collection does not seem to be at risk. There will be more focus on problem areas, with businesses having to take more responsibility for keeping their areas clean, along with tough enforcement.
• Schools are broadly protected with funding increasing by 0.1% in real terms each year, but there are substantial reductions to subsidy and provision for the early years service, concentrating on help here for those who cannot pay (Camden is currently one of the few places that provides free nursery provision for 3 and 4 year olds, regardless of ability to pay, well above the national statutory requireents and subsidy)
• The Freedom Pass will continue; it is worth noting the cost of this increases much faster for Camden than the rate of inflation for various reasons (it’s likely to be £11-12m next year, up some £3-4m)
• Councillors will lose some staff support for their casework enquiries, we are being encouraged to log and track enquiries ourselves.
• Many fees and charges will increase by more than inflation – for example there will be a £10 fee for collection of an unwanted white good such as a freezer.
• Planning consultation will be rationalised – see in planning section below.
• For better or worse, the idea of merging Camden’s top managers with Islington has been dropped, but “shared services” with Islington and other councils to cut costs are still very much on the agenda.
• In Camden’s own council homes, non-statutory internal repairs will cease, as will non-essential communal repairs. There are also long-overdue proposals to turn around voids more quickly and cheaply.
• The Council will be reviewing the property assets it and the voluntary sector have in the Swiss Cottage and West Hampstead areas (indeed across Camden on a area cluster basis), in order to make limited resources go further – perhaps with fewer but better buildings and some money freed for much needed capital. Consultation with voluntary sector groups and interested individuals is getting underway.
• Last but not least, council tax will be frozen next year in Camden, as it was in three of the last four years. This reflects specific money the government has given to incentivise councils to keep council tax down at a very difficult time.

Overall there is no doubt these are very significant changes to local services in Camden, though they do come after a decade of sharply increased public spending. We neither want to underplay the changes, nor to be alarmist (don’t believe everything you read in the press on this), but to help people understand what is going on and ensure we get the best value from council services within the resources available. If want to know more on anything specific, get in touch, or start here on the website:
http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/publications-and-finances/twocolumn/the-camden-challenge.en

Snow: the expectations gap and Camden's performance

2010-12-20T22:36:00.003Z

I’m no expert on road surfaces, or on snow. Like (virtually) all councillors on (virtually) all subjects, I need to listen to the advice of council senior managers, then apply my common sense, what residents tell me, and what I see out and about in my patch, in order to try and come to a judgement about how well the Council is doing in tackling the bad weather. And while there are always areas for improvement, my view as of tonight is that there is, on this topic, a biggish gap between what at least some people expect and what actually can be achieved.

Camden Council doesn’t have the resources to grit every road across the borough – this point is getting better understood - and it prioritises those it does based on a number of factors. Priority routes and footpaths across the borough include transport hubs, main roads, bus routes and the road network around schools, hospitals and emergency service depots. This is part of a wider network agreed across London to keep the capital moving.

The problems this weekend were not due to a lack of grit, but the fact that the heavy snow and low temperatures reduced the effectiveness of the grit. Camden actually gritted at higher distribution rates of 40 grams per m2 in the worst hit areas, but even at these rates, where snow is deeper than 6cm, salt becomes ineffective as it sits on the surface, and when road surface temperatures fall below -5 degrees it also stops working. Road temperatures in parts of the borough were down to at least -9 in places, and we saw up to 12cm of snow in the north of the borough and up to 6cm in the centre and south. All this explains why some people are convinced particular roads weren’t gritted at all for a couple of days, when streets managers were able to confirm to me when and where they were gritted. Remember, snow is water – no one expects that the council can instantly dry the pavement whenever it rains!

The Council has also been deploying all the staff and vehicles it has available. Over 200 council-contracted Veolia cleansing staff worked from 5.30am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday on footway snow clearance duties, and council crews were out each night gritting. Kentish Town police officers also helped gritting teams to clear gridlocked roads in parts of the borough hit by heavy snow and heavy traffic. It’s not clear to me that there were any other public sector staff around here just waiting around to be put to work at night and over the weekend – the council can’t reassign social workers or library staff. Unlike the way the fire service works, snow hits everywhere so you can’t get mutual support from other boroughs; they’re dealing with their own roads. Remember as well that over 70% of Camden staff live outside the borough, some at long distances, due to the nature of the local housing market.

Some people seem to have a very, very clear view of what they believe they are entitled to expect from their local council when it snows – several on twitter talked of suing the Council if they slipped on ice. But if you don’t know how much you’re paying, you can’t easily form a judgement about whether you are getting what you pay for (and of course this is true of many public services). In fact, the extra cost of winter maintenance accounts for a really small proportion of the Council’s cleansing contract with Veolia – under £200,000 (and other councils are little different). It’s important to note that Veolia takes the “weather risk” on this – we pay the same however much snow there is in a winter. But if we want more staff, and more vehicles to grit and clear snow and ice, we’d need to pay for them, and judge that spending against other public services.

Snow ploughs have been mentioned - they are used far more widely in more rural areas. Traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps make urban roads pretty unsuitable for snow ploughs.

Camden has used about 200 tonnes of salt since Thursday, with about 180 tonnes in stock. Deliveries were due today, and the council will be confirming salt stock to LLACC (the co-ordination body for local authorities in London).

The Council is hand gritting priority pavements and crossovers near hospitals, fire and other blue light services, and was gritting priority routes later today, while snow clearance continues on estates.

The Council cannot be very generous in sharing grit stocks since we need to ensure that we have sufficient to deal with our own priority routes. More than this, there is London-wide monitoring of salt use, and if we are seen to be using too much (for example not on the highway) then that might impact on any mutual aid requests for stocks Camden might make later. All councils would like to be more generous, but equally must conserve some stock given that we don’t know how long this will continue. Camden will call on the TfL central salt stockpile if there are any problems with salt supplies being delivered, but supplies are coming through at present. Camden would formally move to “resilience routes” (a tighter category than priority routes) if LLACC instructs boroughs to conserve salt supplies.

Grit bins were re-stocked on Thursday and Friday, but are now unlikely to re-filled again until Camden are confident we have enough salt.

I’ve also asked how the Council’s new community shovels programme has been doing. Well, over 1,200 emails were sent to local groups in October offering them free snow shovels. Since this offer started, the council has received over 200 requests from groups and to date over 1,000 shovels have been delivered across the borough by the council, including 160 on our housing estates. This still leaves around 2,000 shovels available from Regis Road – groups can call and pick them up on weekdays.

One other point to which there’s no answer. Given our form of life these days, cars are inevitably parked at a density on the roads of Camden that can be dangerous when it’s icy with cars and other vehicles banging into parked cars.

This aspect of council activity is under considerable scrutiny, often from people (particularly perhaps those on social media) who don’t need to use many other council services. That’s all fine, councils need to be responsive, but as councillors we just need to keep in mind as well all those other services which get much less public scrutiny – say child protection – but are of course vital. It's also the case that many of those unhappy about gritting are willing to listen and take into account the facts about resource limitations, and about salt's effectiveness in low temperatures

It is also worth us all remembering that something called “the local council” doesn’t grit streets at night or chisel ice off pavements. That’s done by a lot of relatively poorly paid staff, and all of us who have better paid jobs in warm offices, and wouldn’t have been thrilled to volunteer to work outside overnight at the weekend should try not to forget that – even as we rightly expect high quality public services.

There’s a lot of useful information now available on the website at www.camden.gov.uk/winter, including the TFL resilience route, Camden priority gritting routes, grit bin locations, priority footways.

Transport Secretary of State Philip Hammond rightly yesterday asked a scientist to report on whether as a society we need to be spending more to deal with severe winters (meaning airports as well as local roads). It’s fine starting that work now, but let’s make sure we don’t take any hasty decisions on this. Just about the worst time to decide whether you should spend more on preparing for winter is when it’s just snowed and we’ve had the lowest temperatures for 40 years (think of the Dangerous Dogs Act). The Government and councils should decide on any changes in winter planning in good time, preferably when it’s nice and warm outside and we can get the balance right.

Meanwhile, let’s all take some personal responsibility where we can, and be challenging but also reasonable in the expectations we have of Camden, or indeed any local authority at times when nature reasserts its power. As ward councillors we're keen to hear all views.

This represents Andrew Marshall's views and has not yet discussed with colleagues Roger Freeman and Don Williams!

Camden snow update 1000 Sunday

2010-12-19T10:56:00.000Z

Councillors have just got this update from the Council's communications head:

"Despite the heaviest snowfall in London for more than 40 years, all priority roads in Camden are up and running this morning.

We will continue to ensure priority routes are gritted today and will attempt to grit side roads where we can. You can see a list of priority gritting routes on our web site.

Street cleansing services remain suspended as staff will be removing snow and ice from priority pavement areas. You can see a list of priority footpaths on our web site.

Refuse services are running today but there are potential problems with safe access because pavements and some roads remain hazardous so disruption is likely.

The temperature today is not predicted to get above freezing and will drop to -7 tonight with a possibility of more snow showers.

We will be up updating our winter web pages throughout the day, so please refer to this for the latest news. I will only send another email update today if there is a significant change in the weather.

Camden snow/gritting update 2000 Saturday 18th December

2010-12-18T21:17:00.000Z

Snow situation update from Camden Council below as of a couple of hours ago. Staff are working very hard, but obviously there have to be priorities in the maintenance plan, we are not paying as taxpayers to have huge resources on standby for heavy snow, so there is inevitably some disruptions. Any Swiss Cottage/West End Lane area residents with specific concerns, please get in touch and I will try and get specific problems sorted. Please also look at the Council's winter weather pages which are being regularly updated.

"All the main priority routes in Camden are now running freely except Fitzjohns Avenue which staff have been working on this evening. Earlier in the day the weather caused traffic to come to a standstill and this meant that our gritting lorries were unable to get access to priority roads. The police have assisted us in managing the traffic to gain access.

Over the last two days we have spread nearly 200 tonnes of grit and our staff will be out gritting priority roads throughout the night. Side roads will not be gritted so remain hazardous. Some priority pavement areas have been gritted but most pavements will not have been.

The weather for tonight is predicted to get to -7 but no snow is forecast so conditions will be hazardous tomorrow too."

Bit more detail on potential changes to Camden's consultation on planning applications

2010-12-18T11:30:00.000Z

We’ve now got a bit more detail from officers about proposed changes in Camden’s consultation on planning applications. As part of the work the Council is doing to generate savings for the planning service, the Council is looking to amend its Statement of Community Involvement (which sets out the approach to consultation) during Spring/Summer 2011 to enable a rationalisation of the consultation undertaken, and there will be a consultation on these changes at that time.

To give some context, Camden received about 3,510 planning applications in 2009/10 municipal year and carried out both statutory and non-statutory consultation on these. On average, around 13 letters were sent to neighbouring property occupiers per application, amounting to over 47,000 letters, and an additional 2,680 site notices were displayed. Camden is also now required to notify the public of Planning Applications through the local press after losing its special dispensation. The response rate is fairly small with only between 10 -13% of consultation letters being responded to. The cost of the Council’s current consultation process is estimated to be around £165,000.

The current level of consultation on planning applications actually undertaken by the Council is considerably in excess of both legislative requirements and the Council’s own minimum standards. Where the law requires either a site notice or a letter to an adjoining occupier, the Council frequently does both. The number of letters and site notices displayed has increased incrementally and this has now become standard practice.

Given the need for savings, the Council is looking at reducing the number of site notices and letters to adjoining occupiers, whilst extending electronic consultation and increasing the use of email alerts to enable the public to engage with the planning process. In addition, officers will be proposing something we have regularly suggested – ie making changes to the letters themselves to make it more likely that they will be read and acted on. For example this could mean writing to the occupier by name rather than just “the occupier” (and for various reasons this is not as easy as you might think, especially in an area with high turnover) and making the envelope stand out to ensure they are aware that this is a consultation about a planning application and not junk mail. (It’s important to remember that planning consultation is always about contacting occupiers (who may be short-term tenants) rather than owners (in fact the Council has no ability in every case to identify ultimate owners).

I’ve no doubt that many residents and amenity groups will be concerned about these changes, and the point of the consultation will be to hear fully local views before any changes are made. Given the scale of savings needed though, I can’t condemn these changes out of hand. The key must surely be to concentrate on the type of consultation that is actually effective, rather than keep doing things that don’t work as well in an area like this. If addressed letters to neighbouring occupiers continue, then I think losing site notices would potentially be acceptable. Most importantly, the Council – and councillors – need to keep encouraging everyone to sign up for free electronic alerts. You can sign up for planning and licensing applications, as well as street works and parking bay suspensions, and you can choose either one or more properties (addresses) or wards, or a surrounding radius (in metres) from where you live to limit the search to your local area. But undoubtedly more constrained planning consultation will put an extra premium on CAACs and amenity groups being alert to applications (and I am conscious just how much volunteers do already), and on ward councillors to take a more active than ever role in helping residents monitor applications and object where relevant.

Planning consultation changes

2010-12-13T21:46:00.000Z

The Council's savings proposals - or cuts - to tackle the £80-100m budget gap over the 2011-2014 period include many challenging changes which will be felt as reductions in front line services.

I'd like to highlight here one change that hasn't got much play so far - the reduction in planning consultation to the statutory minimum, saving, along with some other planning changes, £420,000 per annum. Traditionally Camden has put more effort into consultation than many authorities.

I've asked planning chiefs what exactly these changes will mean and am waiting to hear back.

This change will be very unwelcome, but it is the kind of change needed for the council to balance its budget. Residents already often complain about lack of effective planning consultation. Now on many occasions the problems are those inherent in a complex urban environment - letters to occupiers don't get spotted, people are too busy to spot notices on lampposts and so on. What this really does mean is that there will be even more of a premium on diligent residents groups - and ward cllrs - monitoring planning applications for problematic applications.

When we know more we'll post again on this.

Work on grass areas at Swiss Cottage

2010-12-07T22:41:00.000Z

We've just been informed by council officers that work will be starting tomorrow and continuing over the next couple of weeks to carry out repairs to the grass areas at Swiss Cottage. These works are being undertaken to improve the grass cover.

The main works should be completed before Christmas, but the protective fencing will remain up until the grass has established, which should be in early spring weather permitting.

Apparently the cold weather held up the work and with temperatures apparently going to rise slightly, the decision has been taken to go ahead now. I certainly don't have the expertise to question our parks experts, we must really just hope that these works will mean that the grass areas are stabilised so they aren't again this coming years blocked off when the weather is warmer.

Watch out for York Stone thieves!

2010-12-06T22:01:00.000Z

Incredibly, over the last six weeks, 149 square metres of York stone paving has been stolen from five locations across Camden. So Camden Council is asking residents and businesses to be on the look out for rogue contractors stealing paving stones from the boroughs roads.

York stone paving is in place at various locations across Camden and enhances the local environment. Costing £110 per square metre to replace, it is estimated that the current thefts will cost more than £16,000.

The police and council’s antisocial behaviour team have been alerted and areas considered vulnerable are being monitored. The council is asking residents and business owners not to approach contractors but to report any suspicious activity during office hours to the Highways Engineering team on 0207 974 2015.

Out of office hours reports can be made to the council by calling 0207 974 4444 or alternatively call 999 and report to the police.

The council will seek to prosecute anyone caught stealing paving from the streets of Camden and will push for the maximum penalty.

Labour Councillor Sue Vincent who is now Cabinet Member for Environment at Camden is quoted rightly saying:

“I would urge anyone who doubts the legitimacy for works on our roads and pavements to contact the council so that the parasites preying on our paving can be brought to justice.”

Cold weather update Wednesday 2100

2010-12-01T21:10:00.000Z

Update from Camden Council this evening:

Today’s 5pm weather forecast indicates possible snow and sleet showers in Camden after midnight. Heavier snow is forecast for south east London.

We will grit priority roads between 8pm and midnight tonight.

Many roads and pavements are dry so although the temperature will remain sub-zero, the potential hazard from ice will be less than in previous days but still there.

All services – street cleaning, refuse, recycling etc - are working as normal. There has been some disruption to street cleaning in the north of the borough today as staff were diverted to clearing snow and ice off pavements. We will suspend pavement washing all the time temperatures remain close to sub-zero.

We will be monitoring the weather closely and will update our winter web pages if any of our services are affected.

Cold Weather update Tuesday 2200

2010-11-30T22:25:00.000Z

Update from Camden officers, please note the Council's winter weather pages link below, and please get in touch if there are significant problems on gritting and pavement clearing over next few days, obviously the Council will need to prioritise.

The weather forecast for this evening is potential heavy snow showers of between 1-3cm until at least midnight. The temperature will remain sub-zero. Untreated pavements and roads will potentially be a hazard.

Cleaning in the north of the borough has been suspended.

Tonight we are gritting our priority roads and pavements and replenishing our 150 grit bins.

We will be monitoring the weather closely and will update our winter web pages tomorrow morning if any of our services are affected.

Adelaide Rd UCL Academy - first meeting of Community Construction Working Group

2010-11-28T14:31:00.001Z

Roger Freeman attended last Thursday's November 25 inaugural meeting of the Community Working Group to cover the impact that the Construction of the Adelaide Road School site will have on local residents.
The Head of the Swiss Cottage Special School explained some of the features of the new School when built. Important to note that the School will be relocating to Brondesbury when the construction takes place, which will make the construction process much simpler.
BAM - the Contractors - outlined the Construction Management Plan; that together with the first quarterly newsletter can be accessed here.
Preparatory work has already began on the site where the Academy will be built; the most intensive construction activity will take place in the second half of 2011. The completion date for the Specialist School is April 2012 and for the Academy September 2012 (but with only one year group starting at a time).
The Community Working Group will be meeting monthly with a quarterly public engagement meeting. If you were unable to be at the meeting but would like to take part in the Community Working Group, contact Roger Freeman and he will point you in the right direction.
It was confirmed that Construction Traffic will be using Adelaide Road and not be using Winchester Road, Harley Road or King Henry's Road

TfL gives more detail on Jubilee and Northern line progress

2010-11-16T22:13:00.000Z

Roger Freeman met Senior TfL management along with other local councillors at a meeting arranged by Brian Coleman as GLA member for Camden to discuss Jubilee and Northern upgrades following TfL purchasing Tube Lines last June.

He was assured that the vast bulk of Jubilee line closures have taken place, although there will be more by year end. Remember to find out future planned tube closures here. By year end the stretch of the Jubilee line between Stratford and Dollis Hill will have been moved from the fixed block to moving block signalling system and this will mean that trains frequencies can be increased from the current 24 TBH (Trains per Hour) to the projected 30. The next job will be to install the new signalling system in the Dollis Hill/Stanmore tranche which will be done next Spring. This will mean weekend closures of the Jubilee north of West Hampstead Station, where trains will stop.
For the Northern Line TfL are very confident that the closures will be very much less than what had been suggested by Tube Lines, before they were bought out by TfL in June 2010. TfL will make sure that they have learnt all lessons from the Jubilee line signalling upgrade and anticipates announcing the Northern Line closure programme in early Spring 2011.