Page 6 - HGS Suburb News 133 - Winter2018
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ALLOTMENTS                                                                                                                                                                                                                    PUBLICATIONS



                          The membership of the committee is made up of the Site Secretaries of the eleven allotments in the Suburb. The                                                                                                               The Publications Committee lost a much-loved member with the death of Charles Gale in March last year. He
                         Co-opted and ex-officio members include; HGS Trust Estate Management; Current Chair of the HGS Horticultural                                                                                                                  did invaluable work finding and retaining advertisers and was responsible for running the RA Discount Scheme
                       Society; HGS Residents Association Representative.                                                                                                                                                                            with local businesses.
                  Most of the allotments are owned by the HGS Trust, with two owned by the Orchard Housing Society. There are over 100                                                                                              The committee still needs a volunteer to take on the advertising brief for Suburb News. The Suburb Directory needs someone to do the
      plot holders of mixed ages who spend much of their leisure time raising crops for their personal use in this tranquil environment.  2017 COMMITTEE REPORTS                                                                    same job, and also a volunteer to administer the Discount Scheme.
      The Allotments Committee meets three or four times a year, liaising with the Trust to ensure that the efficient management of the sites is                                                                                    We thank Steve Morris, a former member of our committee, for continuing to operate his website at www.hgs.org.uk for the benefit of all
      maintained, that the plots are kept in good order by the users and that rapport with boundary residents is preserved. Other items include                                                                                     Suburb residents and its organisations.
      water supply issues; overgrowing hedges and trees; occasional vandalism; annual rents paid to the Trust. We also liaise with the HGS                                                                                          We continue to be responsible for the following:
      Horticultural Society, sharing meetings of joint interest.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    •  Publishing Suburb News every quarter with delivery carried out by a team of over 100 resident volunteers.
      During the summer, the condition of all plots is inspected by committee members. Plot holders may offer their growing produce for
      judging. Amongst the social events is the popular Harvest Supper where plot holders can provide food made from their produce, exhibit   CHAIRMAN’S REPORT                                                                     •  Publishing the Suburb Directory every Spring.
      their crops, and the plot winner(s) can collect their prizes.                                                                                                                                                                 •  Administering the Discount Scheme for RA members. A list of participating businesses can be found at the back of the Suburb Directory.
      The weather was as usual, quite mixed and rain early on delayed some sowing. However, we enjoyed a long warm spell at the end of the                                                                                          •  Publishing details of local events and news in Suburb eNews using the e-mail addresses of RA members.
      season with many extended crops, notably blackberries that seemed to be never ending.                                            I joined the Residents Association a few days before I moved to Hampstead Garden Suburb in 1994. I happened
      There are quite often plot vacancies. If anyone is interested in spending some of their leisure time in this calm and productive environment,   to meet the then Treasurer at a party in Hampstead. I remember he took my subscription on the spot. It never   •  Administering the Facebook page of “The Hampstead Garden Suburb Group”.
      please contact the site-secretaries (in the RA Suburb Directory on page 18), the Assistant Estate Manager at the Trust on 8455 1066, or   occurred to me then that I would later become your Chairman, let alone twice. Now I’m retiring after being   •  Arranging for Suburb News and the Suburb Directory to be available to view on line at www.hgs.org.uk.
      at paul@hgstrust.org, or Peter Hodgson; email peter-hodgson@hotmail.co.uk.                                   Chairman for three years. As many of you know, I was previously RA Chairman for four years ending with the Centenary Celebrations in                                         TERRY BROOKS, Chairman (rapublications@hgs.org.uk)
                                                                    ALLOTMENT COMMITTEE (raallotments@hgs.org.uk)   2006, which makes my total seven years.
                                                                                                                   The achievements of the Association over the past 12 months are documented in the individual Committee Reports on these pages. Year   ROADS AND TRAFFIC
                           CONSERVATION AND AMENITIES (CONSAM)                                                     after year the RA continues to recruit competent and intelligent people to help run our many activities and to organise our campaigns.
                                                                                                                     I’m happy to report that the RA now has a younger generation of intelligent and well organised volunteers who are already taking over the
                                                                                                                   leadership of the Association. If you want to join this team, get in touch with any RA official – details can be found in the Suburb Directory   As always the Roads & Traffic Committee was heavily engaged in local traffic matters during 2017. In July the
                          Consam continued to keep up the pressure on all aspects of conservation in the Suburb. The work was actioned   which is re-published each year in the early Summer. If you are not a member of the RA, join at the AGM which is open to the public.  committee was represented at an RA public meeting which was called to discuss pedestrian safety in the Suburb.
                         by means of direct contact with the HGS Trust (HGST) and the London Borough of Barnet (LBB). I would like to                                                                                                                Following this we have had a series of meetings with our ward councillors, Barnet officials and Transport for London
                        thank my committee colleagues who have given freely of their time to help with this essential, and fundamental,    The two most recent elections I have won have been contested. These have been the only contested elections held for an RA Chairman   representatives to see whether improvements can be made to the Market Place/Kingsley Way/Ossulton Way junction.
                    aspect of the Residents Association’s work.                                                    since 1997. Thank you for your support.                                                                          Being a part of the A1 the junction operates under the authority of the more distant TfL rather than Barnet and we have appreciated the
      •  Contributed to the consideration of individual planning applications at 9 meetings of the HGST Property & Plans Committee.  I consider that the Residents Association continues to be an important force for good in Hampstead Garden Suburb.   active help of our councillors in bringing residents’ concerns to the attention of senior Transport for London personnel. We are hopeful
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    that a re-phasing of the traffic lights or some other change to existing arrangements might soon be introduced to allow for increased
      •  Contributed to the consideration of individual planning applications at 17 meetings of the LBB Conservation Area Consultative Committee.                                                                                   pedestrian crossing times.
                                                                                                                    Although the RA has no statutory authority, The Residents Association still serves an important purpose in providing volunteers to serve on
      •  Pursued general conservation issues with HGST and LBB at further meetings called for the purpose.         public committees, and to influence the HGS Trust and public authorities for the good of the Suburb. We also co-ordinate and publicise   As the year went on the committee heard from many more residents who had received CCTV issued traffic fines in Barnet. Members might
      •  Ongoing co-operation with HGST in and finalisation of supplementary guidance on paving and hard-standing, including the taking of   the many Suburb organisations which are active here. This year, together with other groups, we have prevented an outline scheme to   remember that at the public consultation in 2015 the committee strongly opposed the introduction of CCTV fearing that it might be used
      photographs to illustrate the guidance.                                                                      build a skyscraper in Golders Green towering over the Suburb near the Tube Station.                              over-zealously.
      •  Alerted HGST to several infringements of the HGST/LBB Design Guidance, with appropriate follow-up.                                                                                                                         These concerns were dismissed and cameras now monitor the yellow box junctions at the Golders Green war memorial and at the Bridge
                                                                                                                    The physical beauty of our location and environment has had a significant influence on the social cohesion and the unique cultural   Lane/Finchley Road intersection and also the zig-zag restriction at Brookland School, as well as at other sites frequented by Suburb
      •  Objected to several planning applications via the LBB planning portal.                                    diversity of our area. I have been honoured to have participated in a small way in this success during my leadership of the Association and   residents. We have received many complaints about unfair enforcement and we have certainly found examples of penalty charge notices
      •  Circulated LBB’s weekly planning applications to the HGS List Email Group.                                as chairman of some of its standing committees.                                                                  being issued without justification.
      •  Pursued with LBB and an independent consultant a number of public realm conservation issues.                                                                DAVID B LEWIS, Chairman HGS Residents Association (rachair@hgs.org.uk)  The rules governing box junctions and school parking restrictions are not always well understood – both by motorists and enforcement
                                                                    PETER McCLUSKIE, Chairman (raconsam@hgs.org.uk)                                                                                                                 staff – so members in receipt of parking or traffic tickets which they feel have been unjustly issued should always check with the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Committee before paying to see whether they might have a case for appeal.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Residents who have recently moved into or within the Suburb are reminded that it is vital to advise the DVLA of their change of address
                           EVENTS                                                                                                                                                                                                   as soon as possible because a misdirected traffic ticket often results in reminders also being sent to the wrong address. In those
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    circumstances the first notice of a CCTV generated ticket is often a clamped car outside the house and a demand for an immediate
                                                                                                                                     MEMBERSHIP                                                                                     payment of several hundred pounds in release fees.

                          The busy Events Committee calendar closed 2016 with the annual New Year’s Eve Party in St Jude’s Church                                                                                                   As 2017 came to a close the Committee was in the process of submitting objections to a Transport for London proposal to convert several
                         followed by a spectacular Firework’s display in Central Square celebrating the arrival of 2017!                                                                                                            Market Place parking spaces into bays for the exclusive use of electric taxis. We are anxious that some of TfL’s policies, which might be
                                                                                                                                    The Membership Committee is responsible for encouraging residents both to join our association and to rejoin on an   appropriate for central London streets, are in danger of being introduced locally without proper consideration of local demand for
                       The 105th RA AGM was next on the calendar and in 2017 took place on Monday 27 March 2017 at its usual        annual basis. Our membership year is from January to December. In order to encourage members to maintain their   competing facilities. For many years we have had to work hard to explain to TfL that the Market Place’s viability depends upon access for
      location, Henrietta Barnett School. The event was well attended and also welcomed our local councillors who were able to interact with   membership on a continuous basis, we recommend they set up an annual Standing Order. Once set up, the renewal   residents and these latest proposals may represent a new challenge to one of our most important local shopping areas.
      local residents and contribute to the lively discussions around the state of repair of our roads and pavements, security and tree re-planting.   payments for the agreed amount is paid directly into the RA’s bank account. This both saves time for residents and cuts down time   We continue as always to take note of residents’ comments about all traffic related issues which in 2017 have included such matters as
      In May the Events Committee hosted the annual Michael Rowley lecture. Our very own Suburb resident and wife of Reverend Alan Walker,   and work for the membership secretary. Residents can also pay the annual subscription via cheques, Pay Pal or by making direct payments into the   long term parking in local roads, congestion around our local schools, the maintenance of bus services to and through the Suburb, and
      Lucrezia Walker, talked about the life of Australian artist Tom Walker who lived on the Suburb for several years from 1909. Her illustrated   RA’s bank account.                                                              problems caused by traffic diverting to avoid main road congestion.
      presentation showcased some of his paintings whilst giving us an interesting insight into his life in Hampstead Garden Suburb.   Our system also provides for members to make donations to Fellowship, the local charity for the over 60s. Each year we raise about £9,000 for   The Committee is always interested in hearing from members who might like to join, we are a small group but we do currently have one
      Swiftly following on was the Summer Picnic in Central Square – the biggest event in the RA Events calendar. The weather was kind to us   Fellowship via this facility.                                                        or two places. With that in mind we note with thanks the retirement of longstanding R&T member Michael Milner, and also with sadness
      this year and soon the queues formed at the bar to grab a free glass of Pimms. Picnic tables sold out and Sound of the Suburb   Maintaining a database for a community of over 5,000 households, requires regular attention which is done by the Membership Secretary, backed   the passing of Charles Gale during 2017.
      entertained whilst families and friends were enjoying their lunch.                                         up by Jeremy Clynes who provides our IT support. There is also a regular need for co-operation between the Membership Secretary and the Hon.                                           GARY SHAW, Chairman (ratraffic@hgs.org.uk)
      This year we also welcomed a lot of four-legged friends on the square. Our local charity “All Dogs Matter” had invited local dog owners to   Treasurer, Emma Howard.
      participate in a friendly “best of show” competition. Dog owners proudly presented their pooches in the hope to scoop one of the sought   Contact with members is principally by e-mail and occasionally by telephone. The date and time of the AGM is advertised in advance via Suburb
      after rosettes.                                                                                            News and via Suburb eNews to all members who have given the RA their email addresses. Postal mailings are used in May and June to encourage   TREES AND OPEN SPACES
      Other entertainment included known and loved favourites such as Face Painting, Balloon craft with Fizzie Lizzie, Donkey Rides, Animal   residents to join or rejoin. A further mailing is sent out in September, and a membership table is manned by volunteers at the annual summer picnic.
      Show, Punch & Judy and Arts & Crafts with Vera Moore.                                                      This also enables us to make contact with new residents and encourage them to join. Get-together parties for new residents are arranged from time
                                                                                                                 to time.
      Before ending the year with our annual Fireworks display, RA Events took over Fellowship House to celebrate Halloween. Now in its 2nd                                                                                                            As in previous years, we continued to monitor the Suburb to identify problems to do with trees, grass verges and
      year, the children’s Halloween Party was attended by more than 40 children plus their parents. The house was packed! Story teller Sarah   Contact with Associate members, and Life members living outside the Suburb is maintained by sending copies of Suburb News 4 times a year.  hedges, with individual members of the committee covering the various areas. Our aim is to visit all Suburb roads
      Lloyd-Winder enchanted the children with her stories, whilst local artist Vera Moore engaged our party goers with Halloween Mask   The committee also helps maintain the Discount Scheme, which the RA has negotiated with selected local retailers. To facilitate this Resident   noting the gaps within the planting scheme and to help Barnet fill these gaps by matching the number of trees
      making, and her daughter turned some of our guests into butterflies and sprites with her Face Painting skills.   Association Membership Cards are issued each year, and remain valid for this purpose until the end of July of the following year.   they will plant, up to a set total cost. For Barnet’s spring 2017 planting they were unable to get all the trees the Residents
      Sadly the year was overshadowed by the passing of our dear Charles Gale, resident of Hampstead Garden Suburb and a long standing   Membership has been steady in recent years, with 1,750 households joining or rejoining in 2017. Thanks are due to all who helped contribute to   Association requested so we funded fewer trees than expected. The total planting was, once more, not enough to fill all the gaps. The tree
      member of RA Council and the RA Events Committee. We miss him greatly.                                     membership matters in 2017.                                                                                        on Finchley Road, by the corner of Temple Fortune Lane, which we funded to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, was badly damaged
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    and had to be removed during 2016. It is to be replaced by another elm, together with our small plaque, in the spring 2018 planting.
                                                                       DAVID LITTAUR, Chairman (raevents@hgs.org.uk)                                                                   JANET ELLIOT, Secretary (ramembership@hgs.org.uk)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Our work with the Central Square Residents Association, the HGS Trust and Barnet for replanting the flower beds in Central Square, with
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    some lifting of the lower branches of the trees in the square to let more light onto the flower beds, was completed with their official
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    opening on the 7th July. Later in the year we marked the many years of invaluable service to the Suburb by both Richard Wakefield and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Charles Gale by sponsoring Lutyens benches in their memory. The two benches are situated by the tennis courts, one each side of the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    central path, looking out across the new flower beds.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    We continue to play an active part in the management both of Hampstead Heath, with a representative on the Hampstead Heath
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Consultative Committee, and of Kenwood, as a member of English Heritage’s Kenwood Landscape Forum.
                                                                                        Come and discuss Suburb issues with your neighbours at the Residents Association AGM                                                        During the year the RA has given the Northway Gardens Organisation another small grant to help maintain their newly planted flower beds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    in Northway Gardens. The year has also seen the successful setting up of The Friends of Big Wood to protect and preserve the Big Wood
                                                                                 Monday 26 March 2018, 8pm – Henrietta Barnett School Hall, Central Square                                                                          Nature Reserve. The Friends have taken over organising the Bigwood Working Group and its six or so Activity Mornings a year working, out
                                                                                                                     All residents welcome • Refreshments                                                                           of bird-nesting season, to improve the woodland structure by coppicing hazel and removing some of the ground ivy and bramble to create
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    some small glades amongst the mature trees, whilst maintaining enough variety for the birds, bats, fungi and other plants to thrive. Have
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    a look at the website www.friendsofbigwood.com for full details of this work, and how you can join the Friends to get involved.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     TONY GHILCHIK, Chairman (ratrees@hgs.org.uk)
                                                                                                            The Financial Report and Accounts will be available on the website at
                                                                                                 www.hgs.org.uk/ra/agm/index.html by 12th March 2018. If you would like to receive a hard copy
                                                                                                   please email ratreasurer@hgs.org.uk or write to HGS RA Treasurer c/o 40 Temple Fortune Lane,
                                                                                                         London NW11 7UE. Copies will be distributed at the AGM 26th March 2018.

















      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
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