Page 6 - HGS Suburb News 141 - Winter 2020
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ALLOTMENTS PUBLICATIONS
The cultivation of the garden gives the purest, deepest and most creative of pleasures through which all This year saw my retirement as editor of Suburb News and from the committee. We were fortunate to
may be able to feel in themselves the joy of being creators. find two volunteers, Marie-Christine O’Callaghan and Shelley-Anne Salisbury, to take over as co-editors
So stated Henrietta Barnett in the early days of the Suburb. Today, more than a century afterwards, up to of the paper. They can be contacted suburbnews@hgsra.uk. Shelley-Anne agreed to take over as chair of
100 gardeners create their pleasures on a dozen allotment sites – ‘backlands’ as the original architects called them – for the the committee.
communal growing of fruit and vegetables. The committee would like to thank our volunteers who ensure the delivery of Suburb News to the over 5,000 households on
To preserve and enhance those pleasures, as the Suburb’s founder described them, the Allotments Committee, meeting three our Suburb.
times during the year, has been concentrating on the tidy appearance of its sites and on the active use of plots by their tenants. 2019 COMMITTEE REPORTS After his absence for a number of years, we welcomed the return of Steve Morris to our committee. He has set up a new
The Committee’s preoccupations can be summarised as: dedicated website for the RA at www.hgsra.uk. He also continues to operate his website at www.hgs.org.uk for the benefit of
all Suburb residents and its organisations, and is also responsible for running our e-mail forum, the HGS List, for residents who
• Lettters were sent to all plotholders urging the removal of unsightly and unwanted materials, particularly plastics. are members of our association.
• Two walkabouts by Committee members were held to identify waste and unworked plots. The summer inspection also We continue to be responsible for the following:
judged the winners of the best plot awards. • Publishing Suburb News every quarter, with delivery carried out by a team of over 100 resident volunteers co-ordinated by
• Decision taken to fit self-locking devices on the Big Site gates, and to erect ‘privacy’ signs following crop picking by CHAIR’S REPORT Lorna Page.
unsanctioned visitors.
• Publishing the Suburb Directory every Spring and delivering it with Suburb News.
• With regular inquiries, many from those with no growing experience, two documents were produced by the Committee for This has been my second year as Chair of the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association. There have
newcomers. Entitled A Pleasure and a Privilege and The Green Allotmenteer, they provide a guide to Suburb growing been a number of changes and challenges in the course of the year, but I am pleased to be able to report that • Arranging for Suburb News and the Suburb Directory to be available to view online.
conditions and practices. The Publications Committee still needs volunteers to help with the Suburb Directory, the advertising and other jobs and can be
membership has again shown a small net increase on previous years, albeit recruiting new members continues
• Links with the Horticultural Society (the two organisations were once unified) continued through the early-season Seed to be a challenge. We particularly welcome younger residents and those in rental properties wanting to support contacted at publications@hgsra.uk
Swap, a well-attended event at which there was a talk and discussion on the mental health benefits of gardening. Many the work that we do as you are vital to our growth in the coming years. TERRY BROOKS, Chair (publications@hgsra.uk)
allotmenteers exhibited, and won prizes, in the Society’s shows.
• Discussions continued to take place on widening the system of raising rents based on the size of plots. We sadly had to say goodbye to Terry Brooks, Editor of Suburb News for the last five years and Chair of the Publications Committee for 20
years. However, we welcome two new co-Editors to the team: Marie-Christine O’Callaghan and Shelley-Anne Salisbury have been hitting
• For the second time, the Temple Fortune Hill site was opened to the public in July as part of the National Gardens Scheme. It ROADS AND TRAFFIC
attracted some 250 visitors. the ground running to generate this Winter Edition Issue 141 of Suburb News. Let’s hope we can continue to buck the trend of the
demise of printed matter as our hard copy Community Newspaper is so important to our residents in HGS. We seek a volunteer to edit
PETER HODGSON, Chair (allotments@hgsra.uk)
the Suburb Directory if any reader is interested in getting involved. You can contact the co-Editors on: suburbnews@hgsra.uk
Gary Shaw stood down as Chair of the R&T Committee in 2019 after many years. He remains involved
We welcomed a new Head of Litter in the year: Michael Green has done a splendid job in driving the litter picking initiative forward and in assisting our residents on traffic related penalty notices and can be contacted in this capacity on
parking@hgsra.uk We are grateful to Gary for his long and diligent contribution to the RA over many
CONSERVATION AND AMENITIES (CONSAM) we were fortunate to receive the support of LB Barnet with the provision of litter picking equipment. We already have around 70 years, not to mention his amazing knowledge on all related matters.
volunteer litter pickers as well as a host of girl guides and Henrietta Barnett School girls, and the Suburb is definitely looking cleaner! If
you would like to get involved, please email litter@hgsra.uk. The R&T Committee has continued to meet and operate following Gary’s departure and its members have carried on
addressing matters that are important to many of the RA’s members. These have included the following:
Consam continued to monitor and, where necessary, keep up pressure on all aspects of conservation Tony Ghilchik stood down as Chair of the Trees & Open Spaces Committee and Colin Gregory was elected as his able successor after
in the Suburb. The work was actioned by means of direct contact with the HGS Trust (HGST) and the many years’ involvement with the RA and this committee. Thanks to Tony for all he did for this committee over several years. • Carrying out speed checks on certain roads using the RA’s equipment as well as working with the Metropolitan Police Speed
London Borough of Barnet (LBB). Discussions with these bodies are conducted amicably and co- Watch team to try to deter speeding on our roads. We remain concerned about the speed of traffic in many of our residential
operatively – but with the necessary assertiveness to try to ensure that our Suburb is conserved in such a way Gary Shaw also stood down as Chair for many years of the Road & Traffic Committee to focus on other matters, but the committee has roads. Following speed checks in Temple Fortune Lane by the RA and then LB Barnet which showed speeding here, we are still
as to benefit both current and future residents. kept going and has made progress in various respects. waiting for LB Barnet to install the speed flashing signs that they currently favour. These are already in place in various location
in the Suburb albeit concerns remain about their effectiveness in deterring those intent on speeding.
I would like once again to thank my committee colleagues who have given freely of their time to help with this essential, and Hella Schrader is leaving the Events Committee after two years of chairing it and the efforts of Hella, and her husband Steve, in making
fundamental, aspect of the Residents Association’s work. My thanks to Janet Elliott and Andrew Plaskow who stepped down • The R&T Committee has also been working over recent years to try to improve the traffic restriction island and posts on
from the committee during the year. our events so special in many ways, but most wondrously in the baking department will be greatly missed. Addison Way near the A1 Falloden Way section. This route is frequently used by commercial vehicle and car drivers as a short
cut to avoid the traffic lights at Henleys Corner. Following representations by the R&T Committee members to LB Barnet, they
Here are just a few examples of Consam’s activities in 2019: We are also delighted to have a new website: our thanks go to our Hon Treasurer and IT guru, Steve Morris, for his hard work in creating have now approved a revised configuration here involving higher kerbs and posts closer to the kerb which it is hoped will deter
• Contributed to the consideration of individual planning applications at 9 meetings of the HGST Property & Plans Committee. this for us: see www.hgsra.uk. access by larger vehicles. In the meantime, we are constantly reporting repairs required to the existing metal posts which don’t
seem to deter anything very much. We hope the new configuration will be installed this year.
• Contributed to the consideration of individual planning applications at 17 meetings of LBB’s HGS Conservation Area We also said goodbye to our long-standing Assistant Secretary, Rosemary Goldstein, who has diligently and efficiently done minutes for
Consultative Committee. the RA for over 37 years. Christina Brownson, our new Administrator, will be taking over this work as well as supporting the RA on other • Recognising local concerns about safety on Falloden Way following three fatal accidents in recent years, the Residents
• Pursued general conservation policy issues with HGST and LBB at further meetings called for the purpose including security administrative matters. Association commissioned an independent safety report from a specialist traffic consultancy organisation to seek to establish
whether there were any aspects of the stretch of the A1 going through Hampstead Garden Suburb that were inherently
guidance, electric vehicle charging points, pavements, street furniture, neglected gardens, establishment of precedents, specifically dangerous and where improvements might be made. The full report is available on the RA’s website: https://hgsra.
solar panels, external lighting, oversight and enforcement of consents and issues regarding specific properties and areas A few dates for your diary for 2020: the AGM is on 30 March; the Summer Fair on 14 June. We also have a public meeting on police and uk/info/2019-wilbar-a1-report.pdf. The Committee continues to liaise with LB Barnet and TfL officials to seek improvements on
including Meadway Gate and several other topics. security matters at Henrietta Barnett School Hall (Bigwood Site) on 28 April. I hope to see you there. this major road that cuts through the Suburb.
• Alerted HGST to infringements of the HGST/LBB Design Guidance, with appropriate follow-up. EMMA HOWARD, Chair, HGS Residents Association (chair@hgsra.uk) • The CPZ has just been extended further by LB Barnet and now covers the top end of Erskine Hill and new sections of North
• Pursued with LBB, with voluntary help from an independent consultant, a number of public realm conservation issues. Square. The matter of CPZs continues to provoke strong feelings with many residents being in favour of the introduction of a
• Discussed Henrietta Barnett School expansion application with school authorities, with ongoing monitoring of the 2019 CPZ throughout the Suburb, whilst others resent the charges and resulting restrictions and would prefer not to see a CPZ
funding bid. where they live.
• Monitored projects in areas adjoining HGS for any impacts on the Suburb. • Other aspects dealt with in the year include numerous reporting of potholes and dangerous paving as well as damage to our
roads and related infrastructure. We have also requested LB Barnet to consider improvements to the roundabout on the
• Circulated LBB’s weekly planning applications to the HGS List Email Group. MEMBERSHIP junction with Hampstead Way and Meadway as there have been several traffic accidents here and it remains difficult for
PETER McCLUSKIE, Chair (consam@hgsra.uk) pedestrians to cross the roads here with no traffic shelters or crossing points in place. LB Barnet have deferred this review to
2020 for budgetary reasons.
The Membership Secretary is responsible for encouraging residents both to join the Residents Association and to RUPERT DENNY, Committee Member (traffic@hgsra.uk)
renew their membership on an annual basis. Our members can also make donations via the RA to Fellowship
EVENTS raised over £11,000 for Fellowship via this facility.
House, the local charity providing activities for the over 60s and others in its community centre. In 2019, we again
Maintaining a database for a community of over 5,000 households requires regular work and attention. Contact with members is TREES AND OPEN SPACES
The Events team’s programme kicked off in March with the Residents Association Annual General principally by e-mail and occasionally by telephone. We like to hold email addresses for our residents so we can send them Suburb ENews
Meeting which drew in good attendance. Residents had the opportunity to meet members of the RA regarding local events and other news relevant to the Suburb. If you would like to be on this email list, please let us know by sending an
Council as well as local Councillors, to ask questions and to enjoy refreshments. email to membership@hgsra.uk. At the start of the year Colin Gregory took over as Chairman of the Committee from Tony Ghilchik,
In early June we hosted one of the RA’s smaller events at the Friends Meeting House, the Michael Rowley lecture. This annual Electronic and postal mailings are used in Spring each year to encourage residents to join or to renew their subscriptions. You can also who had chaired the Committee very ably for ten years. Under his chairmanship Tony built up very
event continues to be popular with our residents. This year’s guest lecturer, James Stourton, a former Chairman of Sotheby’s meet us at our table manned by volunteers at the annual Summer Fair on Central Square (to be held on 14 June 2020). Contact with good relationships with Barnet Council members and officers and Colin has continued with this since
and writer and broadcaster talked about ‘Heritage Now and Then’ to mark the 50th anniversary of the Hampstead Garden Associate Members and Life Members living outside the Suburb is maintained by sending them copies of Suburb News. New residents to taking over. We continued to monitor missing street trees and are funding the planting of an additional 14
Suburb conservation area. the Suburb may hear about us from the HGS Trust when they buy a property here or can read about us in Suburb News, delivered to trees by Barnet Council this year. We were concerned that some of the trees planted last year were planted too late in the
every home in the Suburb. season and have urged the Council to plant them earlier this season.
Later in June, the RA’s biggest event, the Summer Fun Day, took place. The weather left us guessing until the last moment and
a wet and windy morning led to a slow start. But soon the weather turned brighter and the crowds started to arrive. Dog We are pleased to say that, after some years of decline, membership of the Residents Association has been growing in the last couple of A number of new ornamental trees requested by the RA were planted by Barnet Council in Lyttelton Playing Fields in the
owners were again able to enter their pet into the dog competition organised by local animal charity, All Dogs Matter. And years with 1,775 households joining or renewing in 2019. If you would like to join us and support the work we do in the Suburb please spring; a few struggled in the dry weather, but regular watering from the Council and local volunteers helped ensure they all
there was lots more: the Punch & Judy show, face painting, donkey rides, table tennis, football and Arts & Crafts kept the see our website at www.hgsra.uk/about/join.html or contact me at at the email address below. made it through and will flourish. The Committee is working with Barnet Council to install an outdoor table tennis table next
children entertained. The cake and plant stalls as well as the Pimms tent and music from Sounds of the Suburb were very MICHELE ROITER, Membership Secretary (membershipsec@hgsra.uk) to the gym in this location and develop a community orchard, as suggested at a meeting of RA volunteers.
popular with the adults. We also monitor tree work by Barnet Council and the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust and expressed our concerns about
In the autumn, children were invited to join the RA Hallowe’en Party. Fellowship House was buzzing with excited children pruning work both Barnet Council and the Trust were proposing to carry out just as trees were coming into leaf. We play an
dressed up in their favourite costume ready to party. Excellent entertainment was provided with a festive theme including active part in the management of Hampstead Heath and made representations to the City of London in response to their
apple bobbing not to mention singing and dancing. There were also Arts & Crafts activities and Face Painting. consultation about the possibility of opening a café on the Heath Extension. We are also represented on the Kenwood
Landscape Forum and successfully opposed English Heritage’s proposal to site a memorial on the edge of the Heath.
2019 was brought to a close with the RA’s annual New Year’s Eve Party in St Jude’s Church followed by the Fireworks display at
Central Square. For the 2nd year running, The Spaniards Inn generously sponsored the event. Residents enjoyed a drink with During the year the RA gave grants to the Northway Gardens Organisation and continued to work with The Friends of Big
their family, friends and neighbours to see out 2019 and welcome in 2020. At the stroke of midnight, Platinum Fireworks Wood on management issues concerning Big Wood and Little Wood. With financial constraints, and parks not a statutory
released a stunning display of fireworks seeing in the New Year in style. responsibility of local authorities, working together is the only way to preserve the wonderful green environment of our Suburb.
HELLA SCHRADER, Chair (events@hgsra.uk) We always welcome new people with an interest in trees to assist us so please do contact us at trees@hgsra.uk if you think you
can help.
COLIN GREGORY, Chair (trees@hgsra.uk)
Come and discuss Suburb issues with your neighbours at the Residents Association AGM
Monday 30 March 2020, 8pm – Henrietta Barnett School Hall, Central Square
All residents welcome • Refreshments
6 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS 7