Consultation on Belsize, Hampstead and Swiss Cottage conservation areas

NEW Important information about Consultation on Belsize, Hampstead and Swiss Cottage conservation areas is now availible. I provide the key links below:

Introduction

What is an Article 4(1) Direction?

What is special about the Belsize Conservation Area?

The case of the missing “MeLoveSushi” scooters in Belsize!

Corporate responsibilities of Business and Belsize

Having chaired the recent Belsize SNT Police panel public meeting of 16 Sep’09. A rather surprising fact emerged that the small chain of “MeLoveSushi” restaurants has had rather a lot of delivery scooters stolen by joy riders and being dumped in and around the Belsize area, causing considerable concern for local public safety in the Belsize area.

What is particularly concerning is that the restaurant appears not to be taking either the problem or the security of these vehicles seriously.

It was of the opinion of all those who attended the "SNT Public" meeting that there is a "duty of care" by all business such as “MeLoveSushi” towards the local community to secure and make safe their delivery vehicles. Incidentally the driving and parking of these vehicles in what is a public "walk way" at Swiss Cottage Market is rather suspect too.

Therefore, I like to remind the chain that corporate responsibility means exactly that, having a "duty of care" towards the local community and minimising Health and Safety risks to the public caused by operational delivery vehicles.

Author: Nigel Rumble

Hampstead Police Station today is safe from threat of closure.

The Metropolitan Police Authority has withdrawn its closure plans for nearly all London boroughs.

Through the tireless efforts and support of local residents and leading campaigner and Parliamentary candidate Cllr Chris Philp for Hampstead and Kilburn. It is great to report that all the hard work that Chris and the local team of Conservatives have helped to bring about this victory.

It is now hoped that the Police station will be developed again to form a cornerstone part of the local community here in Hampstead and Belsize. This is a very welcome item of news in this month of August.

Author: Nigel Rumble

The women who clear Sudan's minefields

Jamba Besta had planned to be a secretary, hoping to find work in an office as her homeland of South Sudan emerged out of a 22-year long civil war.

Instead, the pregnant mother heads an all-female team of de-miners, removing dangerous explosives from former battlefields.

"I never thought I would be doing this," says Ms Besta, welcoming her six-woman team back from the danger zone they are clearing.

"But it shows those people who think that women can't do jobs like this that they are wrong."

The team's members say they work better as an all-women team - supporting each other against often critical comments that de-mining is work only for a man.

"We live and work away from home all as one team, so it is good we are all women together," she says.

Sudan's north-south war - fought over ideology, religion, ethnicity and oil - ended more than four years ago.

Some two million people died in the war, and its bitter legacy of landmines and unexploded ordnance continues to kill and wound.

Please read the full story here

By Peter Martell
BBC News, Bungu

Advisory to all residents in high rise properties like Chalcots

The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Sir Ken Knight, to provide an independent overview of progress with the fire investigations at Lakanal House, Havil Street, Camberwell on Friday 3 July. Sir Ken will report back to the Secretary of State on progress and emerging findings as a matter of urgency.

Sir Ken’s Terms of Reference for his report include the fire safety matters applicable to this building and operational procedures and practices undertaken by London Fire Brigade at this incident.

Until this work is complete I would appreciate your authority offering some reassurance to tenants.

There are practical measures that you could take such as reminding tenants how to protect themselves from fire, this includes having a working smoke alarm and regularly testing it. If tenants are concerned they can contact their local FRA and the Fire Kills website http://firekills.direct.gov.uk has plenty of up to date fire safety information.

Primary School "Working Group" UPDATE 8th July '09

NEW SCHOOL provision of up to 90 Children for 2 years.

A new school site has been located in the Gospel Oak area. Reported by Richard Lewin "that the Council is proposing to lease and adopt an existing school classrooms in Courthope Road, NW3 for a 2 year period. The building can provide places for a maximum of 90 children and meets the required standards for school classrooms".

During this "Working Group" meeting all these proposals were discussed, although some concern was indicated at this provision possibility, the general feeling was of positive progress.

It was noted that a more hopeful air was present with these developments.
Some discussions were made on subject of policy and process in the admissions criteria. The waiting list has reduced somewhat but there are still a large number of parents with children totally "unplaced".

I am to provide a more thorough update later next week, but I thought I blog this wonderful news, which should give a lot of hope now for parents in the Belsize, Swiss Cottage and Hampstead areas.

Primary School "Working Group" UPDATE 23rd June'09

We are now into week 7 since the opening "public” meeting and have held 3 fortnightly "working group" meetings.

So the question is what has so far been achieved. Active discussions are still in progress with two schools for use of available site space for temporary classrooms, this would provide a potential of around 60 additional school places. But negotiations are still not complete. It was reported that a further number of schools have expressed a pototential longer term interest of expansion, most likely for the September 2010 intake.

There was a very emotional debate of the policies surrounding admissions criteria of what it is to be considered "unplaced", especially a request to allow "unplaced" status to be applied to Belsize and Swiss Cottage children early rather than wait until the over 5 and into the first academic term rule.

All parents actively discussed option C, which is the provision of a "new" school that could be "fast tracked" for example in an already available location site or facility. I asked Richard Lewin if his department can explore this high priority to enable a possible September 2009 real help, he has given his assurance that this will be so. But I have always stated and believe strongly that the focus must stay on Option A to create expansion to available schools as this is the only viable short-term approach with any hope of making the September 2009 intake requirements facing parents.

Dr Liz Taylor presented a "black hole" map of Camden, which I found to be very useful at seeing the graphic of the problem. She presented a heartfelt appeal for the officers to find a solution, whilst Cllr Alexis Rowell continued his "attacks" on the officers Richard Lewin, Ann Baxter and Louise Trewavas. For the record Rowell has repeated at every "working group" that nothing is being done, and asks "what's the point of coming to these meeting?" and fails to acknowledge other parents or myself reminding him at every fortnightly meeting that these meetings are in fact a "Working Group" and therefore, is not only a "reporting" but a "joint working task force" meeting.

It was observed during the meeting that a rift is now growing between the hard line ECO Champion of Camden and other meeting participants, parents as a collective are now taking the lead together with spokesperson Dr Liz Taylor.

The next “Working Group” meeting will take place Tuesday 7th July 2009 at 7pm at same venue TBC.

Author: Nigel Rumble