minutes+8th+February+2005


 * __Report of HFRA General Meeting – February 8th 2005__**


 * //__RA Delegates Present__://** Bernice Ashton – **St Ann’s Residents Group, N15;** Alex Irvine - **Bowes Park Community Assoc., N13;** Ule & Olle Lefmann - **Burleigh Rd Area RA, N8;** Peter Thompson - **Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Assoc, N2;** Laurie Owen - **Parkside Malvern RA, N8;** Pat Ayinde - **Bruce Grove Residents Network, N17;** Dave Morris - **Chestnuts Northside RA, N15;** Matt Danaher - **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Joyce Rosser - **Warner Estate RA, N8;** Stephen Whittle - **West Green RA, N15;** Robert Gainsborough - **St George’s Lodge RA, N10;** Vivienne Cuming and Simon Fedida - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22;** Bob Maltz - **Gladwell, Landrock & Cecile Pk Residents Action Group, N8** **//__Apologies:__//** David Singh – **Broadwater Farm RA, N17;** Frances Harve – **Stonebridge RA, N15;** Gloria Benson – **Tynemouth RA, N15;** Sue Hessel – **Haslemere Rd RA, N8;** Geraldine Marks – **Queens Ave & Fortis Green Rd Assoc, N10;** Gwen Owens – **Campbell Ct RA, N17;** Joyce Oyeyi Effiong – **Suffolk Rd RA, N15;** Yorema Ronish **– Alexandra RA, N10;** Marian Janes – **CASCH, N8;** Ibilola Campbell – **Tiverton Tewkesbury RA, N15;** Grahame Pearce - **Heron Wharf RA, N17;** Peter Dalby - **Chitts Hill RA, N22;** Judith Hanna – **Clyde Area RA, N15**


 * __1. Minutes of last meeting__** The minutes for the January 11th General Meeting were agreed. It was noted that a summary of local reports for Dec/Jan had been also been produced and sent out – it was agreed that this was a useful thing to do every 2-3 months…

There were reports from all groups present (and some in writing) about some of their most recent activities and concerns. As usual, some of the issues raised led to general discussion (including Group Repair housing regeneration schemes, and local planning controversies – see below).
 * __2. Local reports from RAs present__**


 * __3. Traffic calming and street scene__**
 * a. Living Streets** We agreed to affiliate to the ‘Living Streets’ organisation and find out more details of how local RAs can do Living Streets ‘street audits’ on the quality, safety and attractiveness of local streets. //__Update__// The affiliation fee is £15, and ‘Street Audit’ book is £10.


 * b. LBH Transport policies review** The HFRA gave evidence to the Council’s Transport Scrutiny Review on January 17th about traffic calming measures, schemes and policies, including the results of our highly successful Sept 2003 ‘Traffic calming - Safer Streets’ residents’ conference. Full details of this report were included in the minutes of that meeting.

Federation has been trying to advise objectors how to get through the complex pre-Inquiry procedures, and encouraging them to work together where possible. We circulated a request for local statements about threats to green spaces, conservation concerns, the concreting over of front gardens and loss of local community facilities. The meeting discussed our major concern that UDP policies were promoting high-density house-building throughout the borough leading to a massive increase in the population, without the protection for community interests and the social infrastructure needed (more schools, health facilities, parks etc). It was agreed that this was not environmentally or social responsible or sustainable. There were further concerns expressed over the huge ‘Heartlands’ project in the centre of the borough. The Secretary was delegated to investigate the potential for demanding a full ‘sustainability appraisal’ of the UDP.
 * __4. Planning and Development__**
 * a.** **LBH Unitary Development Plan** The UDP Public Inquiry starts on 12th April 2005. The

Whatever happens at the Inquiry, we are forging links and making alliances which will strengthen our ability stand up for the interests of our communities throughout the borough in the coming years.


 * b. Local planning applications** Some associations reported on local planning controversies they were involved with, including threats to ‘backlands’ sites. In particular it was reported that the private developers, Paul Simon Ltd, were responsible for many outrageous planning applications for intensive housing, being fought by local communities. Avenue Gardens Residents Association had successfully opposed an 8-storey Paul Simon block proposed for Brabant Rd, N22. But an even more outrageous controversy has erupted – Paul Simon Ltd proposing a 16-storey tower block in Lordship Lane on the site of Wood Green’s oldest public building – the old congregational chapel near the tube station. After this was discovered, AGRA tried to have the building listed. However, despite there being no planning permission yet, demolition of the chapel started – with Council knowledge and support. 15 people attended an emergency protest called by AGRA and the Federation, which received widespread publicity. //__Update:__// Residents on the Noel Park estate have now launched a protest campaign and mobilised over 200 people to turn out for a local official public meeting about this.

We agreed to monitor, publicise and campaign around the activities of Paul Simon Ltd. Can anyone with any information or experience of local problems caused by this developer please pass the details to the HFRA.


 * c.** **Parks and Green Open Spaces** We had helped form an alliance with the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum and other groups concerned over controversial UDP policies relating to potential development in the borough’s parks. That alliance has called for negotiations with the Council over this. //__Update__// The Council has decided that it can’t ignore the growing protests on this issue, and will be dropping the proposed policy. This is a major victory.

There were reports back from the Council’s ‘Green Open Spaces Scrutiny Review’ of the management and future of the borough’s green spaces. In the December and January review meetings the HFRA had successfully insisted that the remit must include the most fundamental issue - evaluating the policies for effective protection and expansion of green open spaces. We put out publicity encouraging residents associations and friends of parks groups to attend the final ‘Users Views’ session on Jan 24th – about 16 such groups attended a very lively meeting! Our secretary presented a detailed HFRA statement, including a number of points and proposals for the future. Grahame Pearce also made a presentation on behalf of the Wildlife Trust. Both were very well received. //__Update__// Most of the HFRA proposals have now been incorporated into the recommendations of the review panel.

run Tenants & Leaseholders Conference. Report back at the next meeting.
 * 5.** **__Housing__**  **a. Council housing** The Federation had applied for a stall at the Feb 19th Council-
 * b. Group repair schemes** Laurie from Parkside Malvern RA explained the problems they’d had over a local housing regeneration scheme to improve frontages and roofs. The local contractor had caused damage to a lot of homes, causing uproar among those affected. PMRA had co-ordinated residents action over this (following 2 special meetings), and the contractor has now been forced to make good the problems. Laurie’s view is: the schemes are good, but you need to watch contractors like a hawk, avoid Mullally Ltd, and do the scheme in small blocks of homes at a time.


 * 6. __Tottenham Area Residents Associations Networking Day__** There will be a special one-off event for RAs in the Tottenham area, backed by the HFRA, to discuss common issues and how to better work together. It will be on March 19th at Tottenham Green Leisure Centre. Being organised by open meetings. All RAs in Tottenham urged to attend.


 * __7. Public Toilets__** A Council review of the borough’s public toilets has been completed. Due to the responses, the Council have agreed to continue running them, with some changes…


 * __8. Disused telephone boxes__** It was reported that the Council have agreed to remove all phone boxes that are no longer used.


 * 9. __Federation Business__** **//a.//** **//Community Action//** **//bulletin//** We’ve gathered some news stories of local RAs’ activities for the next edition of our //__Community Action__// newspaper. Distribution is entirely through local RAs – so please let us know how many copies of the next edition your group could distribute (eg to all members, to all households in your area or to local meeting places and Drs’ surgeries etc). Its free, or a donation. **//b. HFRA AGM//** – provisionally set for June 2005.