Gone but not forgotten

A bit overdue this, but worth noting nonetheless.

No 77, the wine bar on Mill Lane, seems to have shut up shop. 

I'm not quite sure when it opened, but it's been a local institution for a good couple of decades.

Gustoso, which couldn't boast the same length of service to the community, has also given up the ghost.

One of the better of the deli businesses to have arrived recently in the area, it opened on West End Lane only last year.  An offshoot of an established deli in Maida Vale, it had the aura of a business that understood its trade.  All the more strange, therefore, that it barely left the starting gate.

Another departure from the West Hampstead scene is CityNeighbours, an online bulletin board.  Its absence may explain a flurry of activity on the comments sections of this site.  If you've missed this, you might be interested in checking out the comments on the this page announcing the forthcoming (or impending) arrival of Tesco.  Feelings run high on both sides of the argument.

Amid all these departures, let's take a moment to celebrate a local success story.

   

The Kitchen Table café on Mill Lane recently passed its first birthday and goes from strength to strength serving its home-cooked, nutritious fare to its dedicated regulars.

Local eats

A brief post to praise The Green Room, the new(ish) restaurant on Broadhurst Gardens.  With warm service, excellent food and attractive decor, it is easily the best place to eat out in West Hampstead.  Reviews are available from Time Out and the Ham & High.

More prosaically, the new West End Lane branch of Strada is attracting favourable comment.  Again, the Ham & High has been hard at work sampling the culinary fare of NW6.

Pedestrian safety in West End Lane

A nasty accident last week, in which a man lost his legs, has led to calls for measures to improve pedestrian safety at West End Lane's junction with Iverson Road.

Some people feel the traffic lights do not give people enough time to cross the road.

More details from the Ham & High.

Revised plans for a West Hampstead interchange

Proposals to upgrade the various West Hampstead stations into a major transport hub are again on the agenda.  First Capital Connect, the operator of the Thameslink line, presented plans this week.

It seems the idea of converting the stations into a single interchange has been dropped.  Instead, there would be new stations for the Thameslink and Overground lines, the pavement along West End Lane between the two would be widened and there would be commercial development around West End Lane and Iverson Road to finance the plans.

A contributor to Cityneighbours, Marcia, says the meeting was told that Mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London are planning a significant expansion of the capacity of the West Hampstead stations:

When someone asked about the effect this will have on the underground, we were told Jubilee Line is increasing capacity by 40 per cent and, like it or not, West Hampstead is being developed as a major transport hub - but without the single station that it requires to be a proper interchange.  We also heard that Livingstone has designated West Hampstead an area for high density housing by 2025 - with lots of tower blocks - because of its excellent transport links.

So one of the issues that could be decided in the forthcoming London Mayoral election is whether West Hampstead faces a high rise future, with many more shops and offices around West End Lane and dramatic population growth.

Answers from Tulip Siddiq, Labour candidate for Fortune Green

Less than a week to go until the Fortune Green by-election.  Tulip Siddiq, the Labour candidate, has sent in answers to the Northwest 6 questionnaire.

You can also read answers from Heather Downham  and Nancy Jirira.

     

1.  What would you say is at stake in this council by-election?

A risk of further disengagement in the community. I've been canvassing a lot recently and communication between the Fortune Green councillors and the residents who live in the ward could be a lot better. I feel so strongly about it that I even made a video on my website, explaining how I would go about fixing it. Politics should be a two-way street, not a blind alley!

2.  What has motivated you personally to put yourself forward for election?

The desire to represent local residents. I want to voice the concerns of all residents, not just a selected few. I want proper consultation on topics that are important to locals, not just to the councillors. My website has had more than 2,500 visitors since the election began and constituents of all different ages and backgrounds have contacted me with their ideas. This is a clear sign that people are looking for different ways to communicate, but their voices aren't being heard.

3.  What impact would you say the change of control of Camden council has had in the two years since the last local elections?

Since the last local election, there has been a real lack of direction from the Liberal Democrat/Conservative council. Although it appears that there is a Liberal Democrat majority, the Conservatives seem to be running the show, so constituents are not really being represented by the people they elected. Also I am struggling to see what changes the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have made to West Hampstead since they've been in power. Most of the local improvements have taken place because of Labour's work on issues such as developing public transport and increasing local police.

4.  What would you say are the two or three most pressing issues for people in Fortune Green?

Where do I start!

1) Planning and Development - The current council's failure to control the major developments in West End Lane and the likely large scale developments in Maygrove Road and Fordwych Road make me think that local peoples' interests are not being considered. The Liberal Democrat/Conservative council needs to start listening to the residents whose lives will be directly affected by these planning and development proposals.

2) Environment - I'm concerned that recycling is taking a backseat with the present Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition. There are fears that recycling is being taken away from council estates in Camden generally. In Fortune Green we lost our garden waste collection. There is also an urgent need for a waste recycling facility in north west London. Residents have told me that they are tired of driving across the borough to recycle big items.

3) Transport - Under the Labour council, the public transport system improved dramatically in West Hampstead. More bus stops have been placed outside stations, the old Silverlink has become part of London Overground which means that I can now use my Oyster card on all railway services. I take the Jubilee line to work every day and the trains are always frequent which makes my journey very simple.

 
5.  What are your views on the following:

School provision for families who live in the ward?

Emmanuel School and Beckford school are both very good schools for our younger residents in Fortune Green. Hampstead School, a secondary school in the ward, is being improved thanks to a Labour government initiative.

The quality of play and recreational spaces for children in the ward?

The quality is simply not good enough. I've been to look at these play areas first-hand and was shocked by their disrepair and neglect. Many of the play areas for children in the ward are either unusable, locked up or ignored. We must concentrate on improving and maintaining the areas we have before we start planning new projects.

The state of Fortune Green itself (the park not the ward)?

It's a bit dilapidated and threatened by the large development nearby. Section 106 money has been given by developers to improve local community facilities and open spaces but we have had no voice in what is being spent. I suspect that it's not being spent in this area at all.

 

The problem of dog mess in parks and on pavements - particularly the railway path between Broomsleigh Street and West End Lane?

This issue needs managing. The previous council used to provide more pooper bags and bins but this has been reduced in the last two years. This is probably due to the number of cuts that the council has made to public services.

 

The way parking controls are administered by Camden council?

You may have seen my letter in the Camden New Journal about this topic. I'm seriously concerned about how parking has gotten so much worse under the current council, and yet their income from fines has risen. You can view all my concerns here.

 

The congestion, pollution and other difficulties caused by the installation of traffic lights at the junction of Mill Lane and Fortune Green Road?

This is actually a dangerous problem. The Lib Dem council said they would 'sort it out' but nothing has been done about it since they took power. This is typical of a complacent administration that makes false promises before an election and then doesn't deliver afterwards.

 

The impending arrival of Tesco in West Hampstead?

Small businesses may suffer as a result of this, but there is clearly a demand by some local residents for this type of shop in the local area. It is the job of our local councillors to make sure that any objections from locals are acted on before developments are given the green light. It is just not good enough to act like they are powerless, they need to stand up for our rights. That is what they have been elected for.

Charity windfall

Celebrity clothes are on offer at the West Hampstead branch of Oxfam on West End Lane, apparently.

Answers from Nancy Jirira, Liberal Democrat candidate for Fortune Green

Northwest 6 asked all candidates in the Fortune Green by-election to answer a questionnaire. 

We've heard already from Heather Downham, the Conservatives' candidate.  Now it's the turn of the Liberal Democrats' Nancy Jirira.

   

1.  What would you say is at stake in this council by-election?

One of the things I think is important is to maintain a hardworking team for Fortune Green with a strong, local community based voice.

2.  What has motivated you personally to put yourself forward for election?

I met popular former Councillor Jane Schopflin many years ago at the old Community Health Council. She enthused me with her passion for public services and fighting for the local community. I’d be really honoured to follow in her footsteps. I’ve long been involved in local community issues – but have only recently put my name next to a party label as this is the best way to get issues heard on the council.

3.  What impact would you say the change of control of Camden council has had in the two years since the last local elections?

I’ve noticed a real change since May 2006. To be honest, although Labour neglected the area, I never thought they’d be voted out across Camden after so many years. There has been a new approach to issues which were forgotten by the former Labour administration such as housing repairs, the parking regime, the streets seem cleaner and the council has generally become more responsive. Almost best of all – our West End Green toilets were reopened and they seem much cleaner and better looked after!

4.  What would you say are the two or three most pressing issues for people in Fortune Green?

Its been clear from going around talking to people that there are big concerns about the potential closure of local post offices such as Mill Lane and Cricklewood. The response to the campaign has been overwhelming with hundreds of signatures and lots of envelopes hand-posted every day through my door.

The management of traffic and parking is also important to local people – such as the Mill Lane traffic lights; and there are ongoing concerns about large or inappropriate developments that threaten the character of the area.

5.  What are your views on the following:

School provision for families who live in the ward?

I know many families from my daughter’s primary school had to make massive changes in their life in order to secure a place at a good secondary school. The stress and worry of that time really takes its toll. From my work as a school governor I know that the problem has been just as bad in recent years. Children at the five local primary schools have no guaranteed secondary place in a Camden school. So I’m pleased the council has finally noticed that families living here need more school places. I welcome the planned new secondary school for north Camden and the major investment proposed for Hampstead School.

The quality of play and recreational spaces for children in the ward?

Much of our area has always suffered from a lack of open space – for example, if you live at the top of Richborough Road there is literally nowhere local to take children to play!  West End Sidings and Templar House are both provided with Sure Start (as well as play areas) and I would like to see Fortune Green itself have its own Sure Start. Meanwhile, the play area on Fortune Green will be improved later this year.

The state of Fortune Green itself (the park not the ward)?

When the work on the Sager development is finished, work will be carried out to restore that side of the Green.   But more is needed. It is certainly better looked after than it was, say, ten years ago and looked very good at the time of last year’s Jester Festival. I was sad that the replanting with Japanese shrubs a year or so ago didn’t seem to last - many shrubs being dug up or trampled on. I welcome the newly formed 'Friends of Fortune Green' and I look forward to working with them.

The problem of dog mess in parks and on pavements - particularly the railway path between Broomsleigh Street and West End Lane?

The problem lies with dog owners – not with dogs. We need to encourage owners to become more aware of their responsibilities or the problem – with all its attendant health risks – will simply continue. With reference to the 'Black Path', the Spotlight team have asked the Council to make special efforts to keep it clean.

The way parking controls are administered by Camden council?

When I worked as a health visitor I got a huge number of parking tickets from parking wardens who missed the ‘heatlh emergency badge’ that I always carefully displayed. I paid hundreds (if not thousands!) in unfair charges.  I was particularly pleased that on-street clamping was abolished by the Lib Dem-led administration and that it’s now easier to find out about parking suspensions. I shall be keeping a watchful eye to make sure that the parking regime doesn’t slip back into its bad old ways.

 

The congestion, pollution and other difficulties caused by the installation of traffic lights at the junction of Mill Lane and Fortune Green Road?

I have received countless complaints about this from local residents, particularly those with children and those attending Emmanuel school. This scheme, installed by the last labour Council and paid for largely by Transport for London, has been a disaster from the outset. I know the local councillors Flick Rea and Keith Moffitt have been trying to find ways to get it changed ever since. I promise to add my voice to this to secure changes.

 

The impending arrival of Tesco in West Hampstead?

Whilst some may welcome the proposed Tesco store, I am concerned for the future of our small local shops just when West End Lane shopping seemed to be at the beginning of a renaissance. I’m worried about the prospect of identikit high street chains filling West Hampstead. A councillor’s powers in respect of this proposal are limited. Tesco does not need permission for 'change of use', as it was already a retail shop, but the council can look into conditions to deal with the likely problems of parking, loading and unloading and traffic congestion that other areas in Camden have experienced. I will certainly use whatever influence I have to make the Council do all it can.

Answers from Heather Downham, Conservative candidate for Fortune Green

 

Answers have started arriving to the questionnaire sent by Northwest 6 to all candidates in the Fortune Green by-election.

First up, Heather Downham - who's standing for the Conservatives.

 

 1.  What would you say is at stake in this council by-election?

West Hampstead and Fortune Green have a very particular quality. They are very comfortable and relaxing areas in which to live. The future of our area is at stake, because of the ongoing battle to stop inappropriate planning applications succeeding, and thus devastating our green open spaces, play areas, and over-populating the area, with all the ensuing consequences, i.e. lack of places at schools, no policing, and an increase in crime. We must be vigilant.

2.  What has motivated you personally to put yourself forward for election?

As I said before, I want to preserve the character of our area, and I want the necessary changes to be good for all of us. I have lived here for over 25 years, and I want to fight to keep our amenities, i.e. the post offices, to preserve dust bin and recycling collections on at least a weekly basis, and to try and improve the parking problems. I have a wide experience of life, and know how to deal with a lot of day-to-day problems, i.e. noisy neighbours and rogue freeholders and developers and I should like to help others in the neighbourhood who are finding their own problems difficult to solve.

3.  What impact would you say the change of control of Camden council has had in the two years since the last local elections?

I think the change of control at Camden council is having a very positive impact.

i) Parking problems are now much better handled. No clamping, and more realistic notices of parking suspensions.

ii) Libraries open much longer.

iii) Plans for a new secondary school in Swiss Cottage, and improvement to Hampstead School.

iv) The free removal of graffiti, an excellent idea.

It seems to work having a Liberal/Conservative partnership – different ideas and thinking.

4.  What would you say are the two or three most pressing issues for people in Fortune Green?

i) Control of inappropriate planning applications.

ii) Crime is rising again in Fortune Green, so more police patrols, and if possible dog patrols in the cemetery.

iii) Fight to make sure post offices and the police station remain open.

5.  What are your views on the following:

School provision for families who live in the ward?

Two very good primaries – Emmanuel School and Beckford school – which get very good OFSTED results. Both very high teaching standards. In terms of secondary schools, Hampstead School is about to be improved by the council with new facilities for sport, science and drama, and I am sure it will continue to improve.

The quality of play and recreational spaces for children in the ward?

There is a shortage of play areas in the ward. Fortune Green is there, but in the west and north of the ward there is no park or play area – it is much needed.

The state of Fortune Green itself (the park not the ward)?

Fortune Green has lost a lot of its appeal since the Sager Building has gone up. It needs some refurbishing with new trees and maybe flower beds. In summer there is always a problem with football players interfering with peaceful people.

The problem of dog mess in parks and on pavements - particularly the railway path between Broomsleigh Street and West End Lane?

On the pavements most people now clean up after their dogs, or the street cleaners do a wonderful job of removing dog mess. It is still in the parks, you have to be careful, but maybe a few fines could stop the nuisance. I must have walked down the path from Broomsleigh Street to West End Lane on a good day as there was no obvious mess, but I am very aware of the problem and I want the council to use the new fixed penalty powers it now has available.

The way parking controls are administered by Camden council?

The administration of parking controls has improved. Now that clamping has been banned, it stops cars being targeted. Also, clarification of ‘a day’ – now 8.30-18.30 – has saved much trouble. Attendants now seem to be more reasonable in their attitude.

 

The congestion, pollution and other difficulties caused by the installation of traffic lights at the junction of Mill Lane and Fortune Green Road?

The traffic lights at the junction of Mill Lane and Fortune Green Road are a disaster. They cause pollution in the Emmanuel School playground, and affect the pedestrians waiting to cross the road, and waiting parents. The traffic jams are extraordinary. The traffic backs up down Mill Lane, you can waste an extra five minutes, the 139 bus gets stuck, the C11 gets stuck as well, and the 139 should not even be in Mill Lane. It also has created a ‘rat run’ down Hillfield Road, where traffic is moving much too fast for the area.

The lights are a menace; they do no good, and cause havoc going south and north along Fortune Green Road and West End Lane. But we must make sure there are safe crossings, so it’s not an easy question – I would want the council to look at this afresh together with local residents and see what all the options are.

 

The impending arrival of Tesco in West Hampstead?

Tesco is a difficult question and I know there are different views locally on this – and of course the council’s powers are limited as there is no planning ‘change of use’.  Although we want to keep West End Lane unique, with diverse shops, wine bars and speciality boutiques, bakers etc, there are a lot of young people living in the area, students and more elderly folk whom I think have suffered from the lack of affordable food. We have some wonderful delicatessens and specialist bakers, but the existing supermarkets are expensive, and do not have a huge range of goods. We have a lot of charity shops in the High Street, and the site Tesco will occupy is not very convenient. It is close to the station, but people in the north of the ward will still shop at their local corner shop. The sad thing is that the existing traders have left a gap in the market, which Tesco has been able to exploit. I wish this was not so, but it is unfortunately a fact.

The Tesco backlash

Unease is surfacing about Tesco's planned move into West Hampstead. It's taking over the premises of the Woods & Woods furniture shop on West End Lane.

 

Tesco will open here in the summer

 

Two groups have been started on Facebook to oppose the move. (If you're a Facebook member, you can find them here and here.) And there's a bit of a discussion taking place on Cityneighbours.

Over on the new blog about West Hampstead, Alisa says:

"We do not need another convenience store and we have long liked the fact that we were not another high street. Our shops (if not our coffee ones) are unique and local to our area and what makes West Hampstead what it is. Realistically there will not be enough custom for those shops and the lower prices of a new multi store chain."

This negative sentiment is not shared by all, however. One of the contributors to Cityneighbours says:

"There are too many independent food stores selling rubbish on WEL (West End Lane), so maybe Tesco would keep them honest."

And comments left on this site were enthusiastic - including this one from Grumpyboots:

"At last we will have something other than crappy corner shops and rip-off organic shops."

It's not entirely clear at whom campaigns trying to stop Tesco's arrival are directed. Since Tesco doesn't need planning permission to take over existing retail premises, there's no particular role for the council to reject or approve Tesco's move into the area. Nonetheless, the development could add an interesting dimension to the Fortune Green by-election campaign.

Tesco is coming to West Hampstead

A Tesco convenience store is to open in West Hampstead. The pine shop Woods and Woods on West End Lane is currently holding a closing down sale. According to the Ham & High, the owner received an offer he couldn't refuse from Tesco - which plans to open a convenience store on the premises in the summer.

Swimming in pizza

La Pizza di Michele
Originally uploaded by Delfo.


The Camden New Journal gives a puff to the imminent opening in West End Lane of Strada, a pizza and pasta chain. Apparently this brings to eight the number of pizza joints in West Hampstead. I must say I hadn't noticed. When it comes to pizza, the only game in town is Pizza Express. La Brocca is ok for a change, but I much prefer their pasta.

West Hampstead Fire Station

Things to like about West Hampstead: seventh in an occasional and totally subjective series.

Fire Station
Originally uploaded by LadyBanana.

Described by Pevsner as an admirable example of London fire brigade architecture, West Hampstead fire station was "one of the first to adopt a domestic vernacular style." Certainly one of the most attractive features of West End Lane.

More things to like about West Hampstead:
Roni's Bagel Bakery
Plaques to ordinary folk
The cheery house
West Hampstead Tube station
Tiled street signs
West Hampstead Local Food Festival

West Hampstead round-up

Apologies if you've missed the lack of postings on Northwest 6 since Christmas. The nasty cold virus that's been knocking around kept me away from the computer.

As it happens, there's not been much to report from our neck of the woods. But there have been some noteworthy developments in West Hampstead more generally.

Such as the story of the woman who lives in St. Cuthbert's Road, off Fordwych Road, who was told that residents' bays are not for parking in. According to the Ham & High:

Sarah Bailey from West Hampstead went away for a weekend and left her car in a bay outside her house.

On the Monday Ms Bailey, who is eight months' pregnant, returned to her car and found the bay had been suspended the day she left and she had been ticketed.

Ms Bailey appealed against the ticket on the grounds that three days' notice was insufficient.

But heartless parking chiefs turned down the appeal and council officer Pat Egan responded: "Residents' bays are not primarily intended for long-term parking and I believe that the advance warning given in this instance was sufficient."

Down at the other end of West Hampstead, a decision by Kingsgate School to serve halal meat has prompted an ugly row. The school took the decision to meet the needs of Muslim children, who make up around three quarters of its pupils. But if you want to serve halal, it is very difficult also to provide a non-halal meat alternative. So now some non-Muslim parents feel their needs are not being met. One of the parents protesting about the decision, Jacqueline Gomm, tells the Ham & High:

"I'm absolutely furious, I feel that I cannot let this happen. I sent my kids to this school because I don't want them to be affected by religion."

While a Muslim Liberal Democrat councillor, Faruque Ansari, says:

"There should not be any issue here. We should all be flexible and try to understand each other. It's just the same meat at the end of the day."

One of the curiosities about this story is that a number of other schools in Camden have switched to halal without prompting similar furore. At Kingsgate, parents feel they weren't consulted properly. According to the Camden New Journal, while 91 per cent those who responded to a questionnaire sent to parents said they wanted halal meat or didn't object, only a third of parents actually participated in the consultation. The ripples of this story have reached the national newspapers, with The Sun among those covering it.

Today's H&H reports that West End Lane is suffering a "retail exodus" as traders flee the combination of high rents and parking restrictions which are driving away customers. This story is prompted by the closure of Nicolas, the wine merchant, whose manager is quoted as saying:

"The rent has increased quite substantially over the last seven years but business has not increased so much. It is always with great sadness that we close. West Hampstead is a nice area, exactly the sort of area with a village feel that we like."

Not exactly an area in crisis then? But wait, the H&H says the closure of Nicolas comes hot on the heels of the departure of Audio T (the hi-fi shop), that funny leather and gifts shop near the library, and the newsagent whose premises were taken over by the friendly and popular David's Deli.

We could do with a few decent food shops. But there's life in West End Lane yet.

Welcome to the new Notting Hill

It's official: West Hampstead is the new Notting Hill. We are told that the abundance of cafés, bars and delis is fuelling demand for quality properties in the area.

Or, more prosaically, a chain of estate agents has expanded its local branch and has imaginatively generated a bit of publicity.

Charity begins with the dustbin

Charity shops on West End Lane are complaining about the volume of rubbish among the goods that people donate to the shops to sell.

Volunteers at West Hampstead's Oxfam shop have told the Ham & High (not online) that they get CD cases with no CDs inside, books with pages torn out and clothes which go straight into the recycling bins.

Staff at the Cancer Research shop tell a similar story, saying it takes volunteers a lot of time to sort the saleable stuff from the rubbish. They urge donators to do this sorting themselves.

You can see their point, and this would explain why they might occasionally look a little askance when you walk in with a pile of clothes - not a reaction you'd ever encounter at the West Hampstead Community Association shop at the top of Broomsleigh Street.

West End Lane development

A piece in the Ham & High this week, not online, tells a sorry tale about developers flouting planning laws in West End Lane and, so far, appearing to get away with it.

The development in question is the one opposite the corner of Iverson Road, where large cranes have been stationed and hoardings have reduced the pavement to a narrow strip. The site was previously the base of Paramount estate agents, who plan to move back there when the work is complete.

The Ham & High says the developers, Effective Properties, gained planning permission to extend the existing property higher. But what they've done is to demolish the property in order completely to replace it with a project which has not received proper planning scrutiny.

Both the West Hampstead Local Consultation Group and West Hampstead Amenity and Transport are concerned that the council has so far taken no action to enforce its planning authority. Both fear the situation sets a precedent which will encourage other developers to disregard the community.

The Ham & High quotes council leader, and local councillor, Keith Moffitt, as saying the planning law is complicated and not helpful, creating a risk that Camden could face a "massive legal bill" if it gets it wrong. However, a council spokeswoman also tells the Ham & High, "We are taking action."

If you want to express your concern, you can contact your councillors through Write to Them.

West Hampstead Local Food Festival

Things to like about West Hampstead: sixth in an occasional and totally subjective series.

The West Hampstead local food festival is shaping up to be a community invent to, er, savour.


Tomatoes from the Isle of Wight
Originally uploaded by Grievous Angel.


The festival, now in its second year, is organised by Camden Friends of the Earth.

The clouds cleared in time to give this year's launch event a pleasantly summery feel. West End Green has never been more inviting - with market stalls selling fresh produce and hot foods, and a jazz band. Plenty of people were stopping by to enjoy the grub on their way home from work.

It's something of a misnomer to call it a local food festival, since agriculture isn't one of the industries for which this corner of north west London is justly famous. The most local stallholder I spotted was the Celtic Bakers from Cricklewood - an organic bakery which, according to The Observer, tries to operate as ethically as possible. Otherwise, it was meat, cheese, fish, and fruit and veg from around the south of England.

It all looked excellent and the point was well made that it's possible to lead a good gastronomic life without having to fly in food from the other side of the world.


Buy local
Originally uploaded by Grievous Angel.



More things to like about West Hampstead:

Roni's Bagel Bakery

Plaques to ordinary folk

The cheery house

West Hampstead Tube station

Tiled street signs

Local food festival

Camden Friends of the Earth are organising a local food festival in West Hampstead - with restaurants in West End Lane committing to serve food sourced locally.

The festival kicks off with a special event on West End Green, 3pm-7.30pm on 14th June. There'll be a farmers' market, cookery demonstrations and a jazz band. Last year's event, which I must say completely passed me by, looks to have been rather jolly.

Camden Friends of the Earth tell me there'll be a closing event too on Saturday 24th June - also on the West End Green, 11am-4pm.

Nice to see the Green, which seems normally a rather sorry place, becoming a focus of neighbourhood festivities.

West Hampstead interchange back on track

It seems plans for a big interchange between West Hampstead's three railway stations are not being scrapped - as previously reported by the Ham & High.

Laing Rail, which runs the Chiltern franchise, are developing detailed proposals. These would include facilitating the Chiltern service to stop in West Hampstead as well as the existing Jubilee, Silverlink and Thameslink line. There would be development on the side of West End Lane where the current Silverlink and Thameslink stations are located. The aim would be to complete the project by 2011.

Laing are giving details at a public meeting organised by West Hampstead Amenity and Transport on 25th January at 8.30 in the Community Hall on Broomsleigh Street. Go there, if you want to influence a plan which will have a huge impact on your neighbourhood.

Parking

A group of Camden residents seem to be behind an initiative to campaign for a more lax approach to parking in London.

The London Motorists' Action Group believes that councils are pursuing a draconian enforcement of parking controls which is out of proportion to their responsibility to keep traffic moving. Its website calls for fair enforcement of parking and other traffic regulations. The group is demanding an end to such practices as: the removal of vehicles and the issuing of fines for trivial contraventions; clamping where there is no traffic management benefit; and the imposition of controlled parking zones without proper regard to the interests of retailers and their customers.

One of the founders, Nick Mavrides, is said by the Ham & High to feel that the CPZ in Kentish Town pushed one of his sports shops out of business. He says:

"CPZs have changed the appearance of boroughs across London. All the shops that are left are coffee shops, estate agents and charity shops because there is no parking.

"Shopping locally keeps the community alive. Forcing people to drive miles out of town is completely against the idea of reducing traffic."

His decription of declining local communities certainly rings true of West Hampstead. But the problem predates the arrival of the residents' parking scheme. It's long been more convenient to drive to places like Brent Cross, where parking is untroublesome, than to take one's chances on the streets off West End Lane.

The decline of independent businesses in West Hampstead has also been accelerated by high property values. When retailers retire, they have difficulty selling their businesses as going concerns because the economics of the businesses can't sustain the prices the properties now command.

But parking policy does have a role to play in sustaining communities. I have often wondered why Camden doesn't operate a Kensington and Chelsea type parking zone, which would allow Camden residents to park anywhere in the borough. This would give people more of an incentive to support businesses across the borough, and make them feel more attached to the borough and the communities it comprises. It might also help them believe that their local council tries to represent their interests.