Repairs in West End Lane – good news?

Pedestrians on West End Lane risking a drenching

The good news with a question mark is because it’s good news when problems in West End Lane are being sorted out, but of course a certain amount of disruption nearly always comes with it.

In all the recent rainy weather it became apparent that the resurfacing of West End Lane on the Thameslink bridge wasn’t all it might be, with some “ponding” that could mean pedestrians getting soaked by passing traffic. I reported this to Camden and they’ve told me that works to put this right should be taking place on Sunday 9 June.

Meanwhile, I wrote here a couple of months ago about the new super-high kerbs on West End Lane on the stretch opposite the Alice House, reporting that when the road surface was relaid there it would be raised, so that the kerbs would be back to the normal height again.

This work has been held up by the scaffolding outside Barclays Bank at the junction with Fawley Road. I’ve been told that the scaffolding will be coming down any time now, and Camden are arranging for their contractor to start on the remaining footway work on 26 June, with completion scheduled for 5 July.

Once these footway works have been completed Camden will be arranging for the road surface to be relaid on the southbound lane from 246 West End Lane (Oxfam) to Barclays, when we should be saying goodbye to those high kerbs.  Camden expect the work to be finished by 12 July 2013. It should take a couple of days, depending on the weather of course.

Flick for Mayor!

This Wednesday Camden's Council will be voting on who to appoint as Camden's Mayor for the next municipal year, and Camden's Liberal Democrat councillors will be nominating Flick Rea for this position.

 

Many West Hampstead residents have told me what a great mayor they think Flick Rea would make and for anyone who hasn't seen it I wanted to share with you this letter recently published in the Ham & High and Camden New Journal from my friend David Abrahams.

 

Cllr Flick Rea

Dear Editor

 

I was very disappointed to read that Camden Labour are seeking to prevent Cllr Flick Rea from becoming Mayor of Camden after 27 years of tireless service to the people of Camden. Flick is admired and respected across the Borough by people of all political affiliations and none. She would make an absolutely first-class Mayor for Camden.

One of the very sensible reforms brought in by the Lib Dem/Conservative Partnership Administration in 2006-10 was the decision to 'share the mayoralty' amongst all the political parties in Camden. This meant that a Labour councillor, Nurul Islam, was elected Mayor for 2008-09 even though Labour was in opposition at the time. Nurul was a very popular and successful Mayor, who was elected unanimously and enjoyed the full support of all parties during his term of office.

It was a great shame that Labour abandoned this sensible and popular reform as soon as they got back into power in 2010. Their argument that some terrible political calamity will overtake Camden if there is an opposition Mayor doesn't remotely stand up to scrutiny. The Mayoralty is primarily a ceremonial and representative role. As all successful Mayors know, the role is not about party politics. Sadly Labour's approach seems to betray the kind of petty tribalism that some politicians love, but most members of the public can't stand. Surely Camden deserves better than that.

 

David Abrahams

Chair, North West Camden Liberal Democrats

RHS Britain in Bloom 2013 comes to Kilburn Grange Park

The Kilburn Grange Park Collective and the Kingsgate Garden Club will be celebrating the nationwide launch of the RHS Britain in Bloom 2013 by sowing seeds to create an edible herb and vegetable garden for local residents to use.  Volunteers will be planting seeds provided by the RHS in the raised beds between the playhut and adventure playground in Kilburn Grange Park on Sunday 14th April at 11.30am.  All local residents are invited to join in.

More Roadworks on West End Lane

On Sunday 14th April there will be parking suspensions and 3-way traffic signals at the junction of West End Lane and Iverson Road whilst new Skid Resistant Material will be laid down on the carriageway by Camden Council contractors.  The work will be carried out between 9am and 5pm and should be completed the same day.

Watch out for parking bay suspensions, details of which will be fixed to posts and street lamposts.  Any vehicles left in the prohibited area or otherwise illegally parked, may be towed away.

Consultation on Housing Allocation

Camden Council is consulting on changes to the way it allocates council and housing association housing in the borough.  The consultation will include community groups and anyone seeking social housing.  There are two ways to participate:
1)   by completing an online survey at www.camden.gov.uk/allocationreview by Monday 15th April 2013.  Paper versions of the survey will be available shortly from Camden libraries.
2)   by applying to attend a workshop in mid-April by contacting Lucy Hutton Tel:  020 7974 2501 or email lucy.hutton@camden.gov.uk.

Consultation on the proposed St. James Community Post Office

The Post Office is running a public consultation on the proposal to move the West Hampstead Post Office from its present location in West End Lane to St. James Church on the corner West End Lane/ Sherriff Road, 200 yards south.

Rationale
The current Post Master is unwell and cannot continue to work.
Under the Post Office Network Transformation Programme the current site is too small for a new Post Office and a new site is needed.
St. James Church is the only site of suitable size currently on offer in the West End Lane vicinity.
After a public bidding process last year, the Post Office accepted St.James as a suitable venue.
The Church is preparing its business case, plans and additional fundraising efforts are being developed.      The Church authorities are supportive of the proposals.

The Proposal
The new 3 counter Post Office will be placed in the Church at the rear of the building together with a cafe and shop selling stationery.
The building will remain a Church for worship on Sundays and through the use of a separate side chapel for daily worship away from the retain and Post office areas.
The complex of Post Office, Cafe and Shop will be run by a Social Enterprise Charity - The St. James Trust - which will lease space from the Church and be run separately from the Church.
The Trust will employ the Post Office, Cafe and Shop staff, meet running costs, pay back any loans incurred and then any 'profit' will be put back into the community through employed community workers.
It is hoped to provide through the income:
      -   Debt advice service, in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau
      -   Family Support Worker offering Toddler drop ins and parenting support
      -   Youth Worker offering Youth Cafe and support
      -   Pensioner support through subsidised Lunch Club in the cafe.
The new Centre will be open Monday-Saturday from 8am until 6pm with the main Post Office open  9-5.30pm and some 'out of hours' provision.

Consultation
This proposed scheme would be the first of its kind in an urban area in the UK and the Post Office would like to hear the views of local residents and businesses:
By Phone - Call 08457 223344
By email - comments@postoffice.co.uk
By letter - write to National Consultation Team, PO Ltd., PO Box 1138, St. Albans AL1 9UN
Closing Date:  5th April 2013

Roadworks by The Alice House

In case you're wondering what's going on with the pavement outside The Alice House, the answer is that Camden are widening it slightly.

There have been lots of complaints about how narrow the pavement is there ever since The Alice House created the decked area on its forecourt - which it was perfectly entitled to do, as it's their land.

So we've persuaded Camden, as part of the new "entry treatment" at the entrance to Inglewood Road, to slightly widen the adjacent pavement in front of The Alice House. It's only by a foot or so but could make all the difference if you're pushing a buggy or a shopping trolley.