Thank you!

We'd like to say thank you to everyone who voted for us in the local elections on 22 May and have supported the local “Spotlight” Liberal Democrats over so many years.

Although you voted for us in large numbers, it wasn’t quite enough this time, and West Hampstead now has three Labour councillors, who we wish well in their new role and in adjusting to the demanding life of a West Hampstead councillor. The good people of West Hampstead quite rightly expect a lot of their councillors!

Thank you also to the many of you who have emailed, tweeted, written or phoned us expressing your thanks for all the work we’ve done over the years. We really appreciate you taking the time to do that.

Having chalked up a total of 36 years between us as West Hampstead councillors, it’s hard to pick out individual achievements, but some examples we’re particularly proud of are Gillian’s success in bringing the Farmers’ Market to West Hampstead, John’s scheme to give our local paths proper names, including Billy Fury Way, and Keith’s role organising and chairing our well attended West Hampstead area forums.

You can rest assured that West Hampstead Liberal Democrats will still be playing an active part in the life of the area, not least in the form of our colleague Flick Rea, who is still a councillor for Fortune Green ward. What’s more you can still expect to see the paper version of Spotlight regularly landing on your doormat in the future.

Meanwhile, we look forward to seeing you at the Jester Festival on 5th and 6th July when West Hampstead Liberal Democrats will have their usual cake stall.

With best wishes

Your Liberal Democrat Spotlight team
West Hampstead Liberal Democrats

Keith Moffitt                       Tel: 020 7443 5419        kmoffitt@cix.co.uk
Gillian Risso-Gill                Tel:  07798 845 919       gillian@cohesionhr.co.uk

John Bryant                       Tel: 020 8795 0908        tranby1@btinternet.com 

Construction Working Group for West Hampstead Square

Today the Community Construction Working Group met with the developer of West Hampstead Square, Ballymore and the main Contractor, O'Hare McGovern Ltd (OHMG). The Group is made up of representatives of local groups in the community affected by the development and West Hampstead Councillor Gillian Risso-Gill who negotiated the establishment of the Group.  Community members at the meeting were:

James Earl                  Chair, West Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Forum
Candice Temple          Trees Campaigner and representative of Redcroft residents
Bridget Shaughnessy    West Hampstead Gardens Residents Association
Karina Leapman          Local Solicitor
Amos Sivan                 Local Architect
Cllr Gillian Risso-Gill    Councillor for West Hampstead Ward

WHAT and the WH Business Association will also be represented in the Group.  If there are other Groups that wish to be represented, contact gillian.risso-gill@camden.gov.uk

OHMG provided copies of the West Hampstead Square Construction Charter (CMP) which outlines
the environmental and sustainability aspect of the project and an outline of the environmental management controls during all stages of the project:  Key issues that emerged from the discussions

Building on site will start on 10th March 2014
Building will take place between 8am - 6pm, Monday - Friday and 8am - 1pm Saturday
There will be up to 45 lorry movements per day along Finchley Road and West End Lane, these will include removal of waste and delivery of materials
Most of the trees have now been removed from the site.
Additional soft landscaping has now been included on the south side perimeter.  There is no scope to include additional planting on the north side due to Network Rail fencing.
Marks & Spencer will take the large retail unit and one of the small units

Future meetings will be held every two months.

Replacement of Play Equipment at Sumatra Road Open Space

Camden Council are planning to undertake the installation of replacement play features at Sumatra Road Open Space.

The works will involve replacing defective equipment that was recently removed from the site as well as updating some of the remaining outdated play features.  The play grounds design and intended use for toddlers will remain the same.  In addition the safety surface surrounding the new features will be replaced. The works should be completed within the next couple of months in time for summer.

Good news for West Hampstead Overground station

When the controversial Ballymore development was first being suggested your Liberal Democrat councillors pressed the developers to include improvements to the Overground station, and finally this public benefit is to be realised.  Transport for London has written to us to outline TfL's proposals for upgrading the station.

Local people may be concerned at yet more loss of trees - four in total - but when we get to see the formal planning application we can all comment on the landscaping and planting that will follow. The extended and widened platforms and the re-modelled station will certainly improve pedestrian movements in and around the station, which will be widely welcomed.

The letter we have received is set out below -

"Dear Councillor,

Proposed Station Improvements at West Hampstead

Transport for London (TfL) is currently working on a proposal for major improvements to West Hampstead London Overground station. The £7m scheme will see the existing station building replaced with a bigger, brighter, more accessible station which is integrated with the forthcoming Ballymore development.

The new station building will be adjacent to the current building, which will be partially removed to allow the pavement in West End Lane to be widened. The station will feature lifts to both platforms, providing step-free access from street-level to platform for those who have difficulty using the stairs. As the current platforms are too narrow for lift shafts to be installed, they must first be widened by a minimum of 3 metres. This will provide the added benefit of relieving congestion on the platform at busy times.

Work to widen the platforms will commence in late spring, together with platform extensions which are necessary to introduce longer, 5-car trains in 2015. Subject to planning permission, work on the new station building will follow in early 2015 and take approximately one year.

I have attached some initial drawings of the proposed station building. Please note that as we are still working on our concept design, these are subject to change prior to the submission of a planning application.

Next Steps

Our architects are working to finalise our initial designs in preparation for the submission of the planning application in spring 2014.

Preparatory works are also being undertaken including ground investigations will be carried out in the coming weeks.

In order to complete the platform and station works, it is necessary to remove four sycamore trees from the railway embankment along the westbound platform. The proximity of these trees to the new station building and platform means that the scheme cannot be completed with them in place. We are currently in discussions with tree officers from the London Borough of Camden regarding these trees and we intend to re-landscape the embankments to the rear of both platforms following the completion of works.

Comments

Prior to the submission of a planning application, we will undertake a consultation to allow passengers and the community to comment on the proposal. In the mean time, f you have any comments or questions about this scheme, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help.

Yours sincerely,

Gary Nolan, Stakeholder Communications Manager, Rail

TfL | 5th Floor, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NJ
(020 3054 8630 (Internal - Auto  88630
garynolan@tfl.gov.uk"

Partial Closure of Maygrove Road

On Thursday 30th January Maygrove Road in West Hampstead was completely closed in both directions between Ariel Road and Handrail House in order to lay sewers to serve the new development of flats on the Handrail House site.  The road will be closed for three months!  The closure will affect around 50 residences as well as access to the Peace Park and Sidings Community Centre.  Parking on the affected section of Maygrove Road has been suspended and through traffic will necessarily be diverted along nearby Fordwych  Loveridge and Iverson Roads.   Residents on Maygrove Road were notified of the closure the previous weekend but Councillors were only notified on the day the closure took place.

On Thursday evening Cllrs Keith Moffitt and Gillian Risso-Gill visited Maygrove Road to speak with residents about how the closure would affect them.  At the same time, we learnt that parking suspensions were in force in adjacent Loveridge Road  for tree and pavement works, placing further pressure in parking in the whole area.

On Friday 31st January we raised various concerns with Council Officers and secured the following actions:

-      Parking suspensions in Loveridge Road have been lifted and the planned works will be postponed until  after Maygrove Road is reopened.

-      There will be a "marshalled" filter lane available for refuse collection for the affected properties.

-     There will be a "marshalled" filter lane for accessing properties for the physically disabled, emergency services, grocery deliveries, etc.  on an "as needed basis"

-      All further works will be fully coordinated with Maygrove residents and Ward Councillors with a  weekly newsletter.

- Due to the configuration of the sewer connections they need to be done in a specific way and this  requires the whole section to be closed at the same time.

-      The sewer works and demolition will begin on Monday 3rd February, 2014.

Please let the Councillors know if there are any further concerns or problems caused by this closure.

Request to reconsider the development of Liddell Road site refused

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Officers rejected all the arguments by the local community and only referred to the overall Camden Plan
- They could not explain the disparity between their estimate of 80 job losses against the 250 of the businesses.
-  They could provide no examples of successful split site schools with 4-form entry
-  They could not justify a response rate of 5 from parents as an acceptable reflection of local opinion
-  They had not considered Free School or Academy options
-  They would not commit that the new £6.7 million would be spent on providing extra school places in NW Camden.

The Committee Chair was reluctant to have all the issues presented to be debated by the Committee. After a cursory discussion, the Committee moved to a vote on accepting the Cabinet's decision to expand Kingsgate School by developing the Liddell Road site to provide new school places.  The vote was 7 for and 3 against.  All the Labour Councillors voted for and the 3 Opposition Councillors voted against.  This meant that the option of the decision being reconsidered by Officers, given the evidence provided by the deputations was not discussed.

We therefore conclude that Camden Labour:
- do not listen to business or are concerned about job losses and livelihoods
- have not considered the logistical problems their split site plan presents to parents
- are not concerned about children's health and safety presented by arduous journeys to school
- are in the market to make £9.7 million from property speculation from a flawed education model.
- put their own political ideology before the education of Camden children and views of residents

We will continue to represent the views of residents at every stage of the development of this proposal.  There is still a long way to go!




-

Council Survey on Private Renting in Camden

With over a third of homes in Camden privately rented, Camden Council wants to explore how it can work with landlords, tenants and other residents to improve standards and make sure the private rented sector works for everyone and are conducting an online survey to look for ways to make improvements.  This includes private landlords and tenants, partners and people who live or work near privately rented homes.  Residents are encouraged to take part at  www.camden.gov.uk/privaterenting.  The survey closes on 14th February 2014.

Residents who do not have access to online services can pass on any issues or concerns they have to their local Ward Councillors by letter, telephone or by coming to the weekly Councillor Surgery every Friday, 6-7pm at West Hampstead Library.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Open Evening at Sherriff Centre

All local residents are invited to attend an Opening Evening at the Sherriff Centre at St. James' Church (corner Sherriff Road/West End Lane) on Tuesday 17th December between 4pm-9pm to view the plans for the new Post Office, cafe and retail space.  Light refreshments will be served.  The new facilities should be open in the Spring 2014.

2nd Anniversary of the West Hampstead Business Association

In November 2011, in response to requests from local businesses and as a business owner herself,  Cllr Gillian Risso-Gill  launched the West Hampstead Business Association with the support of Camden Council. Since then, the WHBA supports the annual West Hampstead Christmas Market on West End Green, established the hugely popular weekly WH Farmers' Market on the Thameslink forecourt and facilitated the future move of the Post Office to the Sherriff Centre in St. James'Church.The WHBA has also been the voice of local business and continues to promote West Hampstead as a good place to do business.

Last Thursday, 28th November, the WHBA hosted a visit by London Mayor, Boris Johnson at The Wet Fish Cafe, where he met local business people and was challenged on various policies that affect business such as parking, traffic, and business rates.  He then visited businesses on West End Lane, including West End Lane Books, Colour Division and Paramount before visiting the Sherriff Centre and discussed the innovative plans to run the first main Post Office and other services in London within a church building.

                  London Mayor Boris Johnson and Cllr Gillian Risso-Gill at the Sherrif Centre

To respond to the planned developments in West Hampstead and changing demographics and potential business opportunities, the WHBA is becoming an online members-only forum.  Discounted membership rates are being offered until 31st December.  For further information contact:
David Matthews - 07956 661987     Reuben Miller - 07957 606886
Andre Millodot - 07771 596077     Jenny Vincent - 07812 606112

The grit bin returns...

Lymington Road and Crediton Hill residents will be happy to see the new grit bin now in place after a former bin was mysteriously stolen over a year ago. Now we are ready for some snow...

Doris Lessing and West Hampstead - The New Café

Many words will be written over the next few days about Nobel prize-winning and West Hampstead-dwelling Doris Lessing, but I'd like to mention a short story of hers with a very strong West Hampstead connection.

"The New Café" is one of the short stories in the collection "London Observed", published in 1992 - for more on the collection see: http://www.dorislessing.org/london.html. It's only five pages long.

The story was set in what was at the time the first of the new wave of cafés in West End Lane. Hard to imagine now, but around 25 years ago the arrival of Dominique's café in West End Lane marked the start of a new era and was greeted with great excitement.

The West End Lane Dominique's, an Iranian family business, closed several years ago and was replaced by J's, which in turn has transmuted into Bella Luna.  But Dominique's lives on not only in Doris Lessing's short story, where the café becomes Stephanie's and the Iranians turn into Greeks, but also in its sister café on South End Green. And of course in the memories of those of us who were living in West Hampstead when "The New Café" was the place to go.

Have you queued for ages to get out of the O2 car park?

I know from personal experience and from residents' complaints that there can be long queues to get out of the O2 car park onto Finchley Road at certain times. So I raised this with Transport for London, who control the traffic lights at the junction. There reply is below.

I'll be interested to know if people think there's been an improvement.


Dear Councillor Moffitt

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the weekend operation of Finchley Road and in particular the exit from the O2 centre car park which gets busy on weekends.

This junction has been known to be problematic on weekends in the past and measures were put in place to allow for additional green time to traffic exiting the car park.  Upon investigation it was found that the timings which had been in place to assist traffic exiting the car park were being hampered by a fault occurring with the vehicle detection on street.  This fault is in the process of being fixed.  In the meantime, new signal timings which increase the green time to the exit from the car park onto Finchley Road have been implemented as of Saturday 9 November.

We will monitor the new timings on street with the hope that this will ease the delay that you have experienced. 

Review of Camden's key planning policy documents

What is being reviewed and why?Camden  Council is starting to review two of the key planning documents that the Council uses when it makes planning decisions - the Camden Core Strategy and Development Policies.  As a first step we are carrying out initial engagement to gather views from Camden residents and other interested parties.

Much has changed since the Core Strategy and Development Policies were adopted by the Council at the end of 2010, including:
• the publication of the Camden Plan;
• the introduction of the Council's Community Investment Programme;
• the National Planning Policy Framework and revised London Plan (our plans need to be consistent with these);
• changes to government policy and funding arrangements for affordable housing;
• new planning rules that mean some changes in the use of buildings no longer need planning permission;
• the introduction of neighbourhood planning;
• an extended period of economic uncertainty and accelerated population growth.

Therefore we now need to review these key planning documents to make sure that Camden continues to have robust and up-to-date planning policies that reflect current circumstances and help to deliver our local priorities.

The review will assess how existing policies are operating and how they can be made more effective.  We believe that the Core Strategy and Development Policies are generally working well and therefore envisage that many current policy approaches will not require significant change (for example, design and heritage).

Initial public engagement
At this stage we are inviting comments on any matter that interested people and organisations think it is important for us to consider when reviewing our key planning policies.   We would particularly like to hear views on the following:

• which of our planning policies could be improved and how?
• which policies are working well and should be retained?
• whether any new polices are needed?
• whether any policies or parts of the plan are no longer needed?
• what more can our plan do to create the conditions for economic growth and harness the benefits of              that growth for the borough and its residents?
• how can our planning policies do more to contribute to reducing inequalities in the borough?
• how can our plan contribute further to creating sustainable communities?
• how can our policies maximise the delivery of genuinely affordable housing and housing in general?
• should we continue our current approach to protecting employment land or should this be amended (and if so how)?
• do you think it would be helpful to combine the Core Strategy and Development Policies into a single 'local plan'?

Comments, to be sent to ldf@camden.gov.uk, are due by 20 December 2013.

What happens next?                                
The review of our planning policy documents has to follow a statutory procedure.  Once we have gathered initial views and updated our supporting evidence we will produce a draft 'Local Plan' for consultation and engagement (this is likely to be in summer / autumn 2014).  We will then consult on a further draft of the plan before we submit it for a public examination held by a Planning Inspector.

We will keep interested parties updated on progress with the review through our quarterly planning policy newsletters and web pages.

 If you would like further information please do not hesitate to contact the Strategic Planning team (ldf@camden.gov.uk or 020 7974 2519).

Tree Removals Planned in West Hampstead

We have been informed that the Council will be carrying out works to remove certain trees in West Hampstead after a recently carried out an inspection. 

It has become necessary to remove several trees for health and safety reasons.

Below is a list of locations and reasons for removal of the trees.

West Hampstead	Tree species	Reason for Removal
ALVANLEY GARDENS NW6	Aesculus hippcastanum	Trunk decay
CLEVE ROAD NW6	Robinia pseudoacacia	Dead/dying
CREDITON HILL NW6	Sorbus intermedia	Basal decay
FAWLEY ROAD NW6	Tilia europaea	Dying
FAWLEY ROAD NW6	Tilia europaea	Root and butt decay
HONEYBOURNE ROAD NW6	Betula pendula	Dying
WEST END LANE NW6	Prunus sargentii	Trunk Decay
WEST END LANE NW6	Sorbus sargentiana	Dying

The trees are scheduled for removal during the forthcoming winter by our term tree contractors. A felling notice will be placed on each a minimum of 10 working days before the work is carried out. Where required we will be placing additional information on the trees to inform residents.

The vacant tree pits have been added to the tree planting list.

For further information about the Council’s tree programme (including tree removal and re-planting plans), log on tohttp://camden.gov.uk/trees. The above tree will be placed on the website list of trees to be removed once the works order has been issued to the tree contractor.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact -

Robert Butcher 

Arboricultural Officer
Culture and Sport
Culture and Environment
London Borough of Camden

Telephone:   020 7974 1862
Fax:               020 7974 1649

Clean Camden Campaign

This week the Council has launched the Clean Camden campaign, a new initiative to tackle environmental crime across Camden. The campaign will crack down on those people who continue to litter, dump their waste or unwanted items, or not clear up after their dog. The new education and enforcement team will lead operations across the borough to increase the action being taken to tackle these issues.

The Clean Camden campaign also calls on residents to help us crack down on environmental crime by identifying local enviro-crime hotspots or offenders so we can target our work.  Anyone caught committing an offence will be issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice, and flytippers face being prosecuted and fined up to £20,000.

Please encourage local residents to visit www.camden.gov.uk/cleancamden or call 020 7974 4444 for more information or to report a problem or offender.

Camden Council preparation for severe weather expected overnight

Camden Council have sent us this summary of actions the Council has taken to prepare for the potential severe weather between Sunday night (27^th) and Monday(28^th) morning.

·         Engineering Services have been clearing drains and gullies in areas prone to surface water flooding.  This includes having the contractors on standby to respond  Sunday night and Monday.

·         Environment Service have been liaising with Veolia to ensure additional resources are available to clear leaves and debris over the weekend and also Monday afternoon to assist with any subsequent clear-up.

·         Parks and Open Space have briefed the tree surgeon contractors and confirmed they will be on standby in case of any issues.

·         Contact Camden are reviewing their cover for Sunday night in case there is an increase in calls.

·         Building Control have supplemented the duty officer rota for Sunday night and Monday, adding additional officers who will also be able to respond.

·         Emergency Management have made the AD Resilience aware of the situation and have made contact with equivalents in Camden police and Camden fire brigade and forwarded alerts to resilience colleagues in the borough.  Will continue to monitor weather updates and contact key staff as necessary.

·         Economic Development have facilitated messages to key contractors working on independent building sites on the borough to make sure they are aware and taking necessary actions.

·         Housing Repairs and Improvements are asking all scaffolding contractors to make sure all building sites are locked down to prevent flying debris.

·         Adult Social Care have facilitated contact with all service providers to raise awareness and ensure they are prepared.

·         Communications issued a joint  message (with HR) on Essentials yesterday and the Duty press officer is on standby to provide internal and external comms assistance over the weekend.

·         Schools, fortunately the schools are closed for the Half Term holidays.

Christmas Festivities on West End Green

Saturday 30th November     West Hampstead Christmas Market,   10am-4pm
                                            sponsored by the West Hampstead Business Association.
                                            Stalls will include local artists, crafts, festive food, jewelry
                                            and cards.
                                            Activities will include African drumming, carol singing, arts
                                            and crafts and dancing for families and children.

6, 7, 8th December              Cabbages & Frocks Festive Marketplace - to 4pm each day
                                            Stalls will include festive fayre, vintage arts and crafts and
                                            some food

No to shelter at northbound bus stop by Thameslink Station on West End Lane

Various residents have asked me why there isn't a shelter at the very heavily used bus stop next to the West Hampstead Thameslink station on West End Lane, next to the Black Path entrance. I've been caught there in the pouring rain myself a few times, and even the old phone box that provided refuge in a storm disappeared some time ago.

So I asked Camden if a shelter could be installed there. Sadly, it turns out there is a very good reason why the answer is "no". The stop is on a bridge, which means there is insufficient depth to accommodate the electrics and so on for a shelter. In fact, it's the same reason this stretch doesn't have proper paving, but instead an "imprint" surface which mimics the look of paving slabs.

A disappointing response but at least the reason for it is clear.

Consultation on the proposed expansion of Kingsgate School and redevelopment of Liddle Road site.

As West Hampstead Ward Councillors we fully support the need for a new primary school in the area.

At present there is a Public Consultation about the proposed expansion of Kingsgate School and the redevelopment of the Liddell Road site (www.camden.gov.uk/kingsgate) with a closing date of Tuesday 15th October 2013.

The need for additional school places in the area should be a high priority.  Under the present Government policy, any new school would have to be a Free school or Academy and two new Free schools have been opened in other parts of Camden during the past year, funded by the Government.  Unfortunately, the current Labour Administration,  is  ideologically opposed to the option (even though academies were introduced by the last Labour Government) and so have not addressed the escalating school place shortage problem in the North West of the Borough  and only now promoting the expansion of an existing school that is funded by building private homes for sale.  The new places will not be available untill 2016 at the earliest.

As Ward Councillors we continue to campaign for extra school places but we believe that the approach being consulted on is flawed for the following reasons:

1)  There can be no educational case made to have a school based on two sites, a mile apart with railway lines in between with no direct access route between the two.  Separating Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils would require additional resources and effort from staff to promote a single school ethos as well as providing a lack of continuity to the children.  Schools operating from two sites should be in close proximity to each other and so, in reality, Kingsgate would have to operate as two separate schools.

2)  A 4-form intake at one school could prove problematic in meeting future demographic and educational needs.  Whilst 4 forms could be accommodated in a new building, Kingsgate is currently in an old Victorian building that may not be suitable for the modern  teaching methods for a 4-form older year group entry.

3)  The increase of 412 additional pupils on the new site will add to traffic and pedestrian congestion on West End Lane, Kilburn High and surrounding streets during peak morning rush hours and in the afternoons with families travelling to, between and from the two sites.  Access between the two locations would be particularly problematic to parents with children attending each site, even if start and finishing times are staggered and would be unduly tiring for young siblings.

4)  The new proposed catchment area equidistant between the  two sites will mean that some children in Kilburn Ward, who make up much of the current Kingsgate intake, will  have less change of attending Kingsgate School than they do now and therefore would be disadvantaged.  Those children who failed to get a place this year would be even worse off.

5)  In order to finance the new school under the proposed plan it will be necessary to build 120-160 new homes for sale (equivalent to 60-80% of the West Hampstead Square development) but are unlikely to include adequate social or "affordable" housing for local residents.  In addition, the influx of around 300 additional residents in an area already subject to intense development will have a cumulative impact on local services such as transport, traffic, parking, health services, parks and playgrounds as well as school places.

6)   The 33 profitable businesses currently on site which provide employment and services to local residents will be displaced which will have an effect on the local economy.  Although a small amount of new employment is included in the new development, it will not replace what is being displaced.

What West Hampstead needs is a new 2-form entry secular school that would address the needs of West Hampstead children and not deprive children in neighbouring wards of school places.  If an application had been made to build a Free School or academy the funding would have come from Central Government and so there would be no need for Camden Council to raise money through building more homes for sale.  We take a pragmatic view of accessing the funding that is available through Central Government, rather than putting personal political ideologies before the needs of local children.  Kingsgate is an Outstanding school and its success and education provision to local children should not be compromised by political expediency.

We would be very interested in having receiving further thoughts and feedback from local residents on this issue and the consultation process.

Further information on the Council's proposal can be found at www.camden.gov.uk/kingsgate.  Comments on the consultation can be emailed to kingsgate@camden.gov.uk by Tuesday 15th October, 201

Thames Water Sewer Works in West End Lane

We've been chasing Thames Water and Camden to find out when we can expect the sewer repair works in West End Lane to finish.  The works mean we have a temporary one-way system and have only not caused greater disruption because it's the summer holiday period and traffic is lighter than usual.

Here is the latest from Thames Water and Camden - we haven't tried to translate it into English but the good news is that the estimated completion date is now next Wednesday, 21 August.

Thames Water have come across some major difficulties with reparing this collapse sewer, and it now seems that they have found the defective pipe and works can now be completed by the date given below.

Many thanks to Jack Holroyde at Cycle Surgery for the photo.

Here's the combined message from Thames Water and Camden:

Just to confirm:

•    We have located the defective pipe.
•    CCTV and Jeter on site to confirm if any further works required.
•    If no further works required damaged section to be replaced today
•    Heading will be packed by End of Play Saturday
•    Shaft backfilled by Monday
•    Road concreted Tuesday with Rapid hardener
•    Road Reinstated by Wednesday evening and site cleared.

The lateral connection has had to be completely replaced and it was initially hoped that it would only require a section repair however it transpires that a full length replace is needed. The revised estimated completion date is now 21 August 2013.

We do appreciate that these works are causing a level of disruption however we will continue to work with Thames Water in order to get the highway back to full use as soon as possible.