West End Lane road closure

Road closed, West End Lane

After the extensive Thames Water excavations, which disrupted life around West Hampstead for many months last year, the barriers and bulldozers have returned - this time to West End Lane.

Renewal of the gas mains is responsible for the latest disruption, which has been causing big traffic jams in West End Lane, Fortune Green Road and Mill Lane.  This is just the beginning of the project.  According to the Camden New Journal, work to the pipeline will be carried out around West Hampstead over the coming months.  The newspaper reports that takings at shops near the roadworks are already down by 20 per cent.

Interchange terminated?

West Hampstead station
Originally uploaded by Ewan-M

The on/off saga of improving links between the various train stations in West Hampstead seems to be moving into its off stage again.

Local campaign group, West Hampstead Amenity and Transport, say that Network Rail have put on hold plans to move the Overground station on West End Lane back a bit, thereby dashing hopes of widening the pavements.

The claim seems to be based on a consultation Network Rail is conducting on selling off land near the Overground station on both sides of West End Lane. According to the Ham & High, such a consultation usually presages a disposal, meaning the land would not be available for pavement widening.

As ever with this issue, nothing is clear cut. A Network Rail spokesman, quoted by the Ham & High, takes issue with the campaigners' interpretation and suggests the interchange could yet go ahead:

This exercise is designed to ensure that Network Rail retains land vital for the operation of the railway and ensures that future aspirations for improvement and expansion at West Hampstead are safeguarded. This consultation does not infer that the land will be sold.

Extended library hours

West Hampstead Library
Originally uploaded by Pashmin@

 

Camden's libraries will have longer opening hours from Monday.

For West Hampstead library, the difference is minimal - with an extra hour on Friday evenings. The new hours will be:

MON, TUE 10.00-19.00

WED CLOSED

THU 10.00-20.00

FRI 10.00-19.00

SAT 10.00-17.00

SUN 11.00-16.00

There's more of an impact at Swiss Cottage library which will now be open until till 20.00 every weekday. It's new hours are:

MON-FRI 10.00-20.00

SAT 10.00-17.00

SUN 11.00-16.00

Tramline for West Hampstead?

Route 3 tram
Originally uploaded by Kake Pugh

West Hampstead may get a tramlink to Brent Cross.

The proposal is part of a broader scheme for a network of lines into the shopping centre through north-west and west London. The line through our neighbourhood would run from Finchley Road with stops at West Hampstead, Mill Lane and Cricklewood.

The idea is being put forward by the Campaign for Better Transport, a lobby group which seeks to encourage alternatives to driving.  Eventually, the campaigners envisage routes stretching out to Finchley, Park Royal, Wembley and Ealing.

At this stage, the group are simply trying to gain support to get the project funded.  The scheme could cost about £16 billion pounds.  There's a meeting on the proposal in Whetstone tomorrow evening.  For more details, see the Hendon &  Finchley Times. 

Give the footpath to West End Lane a name

The path with no name

 

West Hampstead councillor, John Bryant, is asking for suggestions to name the path which runs alongside the railway between Broomsleigh Street and West End Lane - as well as two other footpaths in West Hampstead.

Apparently, because the paths are not named, they are not shown on the maps used by police - and this leads to delays identifying the location of crimes when people report problems on the paths.

There needs to be a local consultation before names can be given.  So Councillor Bryant is asking people to email him with suggestions. 

More on this from the Ham & High and the Camden New Journal.

New Indian take-away

The Tiffin Tin serves superior Indian food. 

It opened shortly before Christmas. We have tried it twice and have been impressed.

The food tastes very fresh, and each dish is subtly but distinctively spiced. 

They do take-aways or delivery. 

Recommended.