minutes+10th+February+2004

__Report of HFRA General Meeting of__ __10th February 2004__


 * //__RA Delegates Present__//****//://** Peter Hall – **Sandlings** **RA, N22;** Jane Laporte – **Woodlands Park RA, N15;** Robert Gainsborough – **St George’s Lodge RA, N10;** Laurie Owen - **Parkside** **Malvern RA, N8;** Simon Fedida and Vivienne Cuming - **Avenue Gardens RA, N22;** Dave Morris – **Chestnuts Northside RA, N15;** Stephen Whittle - **West Green RA, N15;** Peter Thompson - **Muswell** **Hill & Fortis Green Association, N2** **//__Apologies:__//** Sammy Leggat – **Robert Burns Hse RA, N17;** David Rennie - **Palace Gates RA, N22;** Paul Burnham – **Partridge Way RA, N22;** Marian Janes – **CASCH, N8;** Joyce Rosser – **Warner Estate RA, N8;** Pat Ayinde and Tim Wilmott - **Bruce Grove Residents Network, N17**


 * __1. Minutes of last meeting__** Accepted as accurate.


 * __2. Local reports__** Local reports led to a number of discussions on matters raised.


 * //Sandlings//** **//RA, N22//** The Council have agreed to plant 2,300 new plants and shrubs for the communal areas and gardens, and to cut back some of the larger bushes for safety reasons. New security cameras planned, and the children’s play area may be re-designed. Continue to run their own community centre – many social activities going on, and new youth club activities planned.

St George’s Lodge RA, N10 Small block of flats, privately run by the residents themselves. Demanding the removal on health grounds of a Marconi / T-Mobile phone mast installed against their wishes - hired their own monitoring equipment (£50 off ‘Powerwatch’) and discovered radiation ‘off the scale’. Campaigning vs local traffic speeding at the bottom of Muswell Hill (3 walls recently demolished by crashes).


 * //Woodlands Park RA, N15//** The traffic calming measures campaigned for for 2 years are at last being done. Helping to organise Chestnuts Park festival (May 29th). Local protests over the future of the vital café in Chestnuts park after council upped the rent 400% (backdated 2 years!). Setting up a local residents’ history project. Met with council planning dept to get them to force companies to remove the illegal billboards they put up without planning permission (48 out of the 50 sites in the area!).


 * //Chestnuts Northside RA, N15//** Many residents outraged at plan to demolish a local, historic pub to build yet another block of flats in a very crowded area. CNRA rep spoke against the controversial application at the Planning Sub-Cttee, but after one and a half hour of arguments the Councillors scandalously voted for it. Landlord has the lease and is determined to stay, and is designating part of the pub for local history photos. Attempting to negotiate with Paul Simon Ltd responsible for a ‘backland’ development causing problems due to neglect of the site by the developers. Organising protest against closure of local Post Office. Did ‘walkabout’ with LBH tree officer to identify sites for new pavement trees.


 * //West Green RA, N15//** Ensuring Council prune local trees. Helped get local plaque in Lordship Rec to commemorate the 40 people killed in a bombshelter by an air-strike there during the second world war. Surveyed local shops – 12 men-only clubs and 9 derelict shops in a small area. Trying to get Turnpike Lane bus station toilets re-opened. Trying to stop parking on pavements.


 * Avenue Gardens RA, N22** Helped form HEART (Heartlands Environmental Action Residents Together) with the 4 other local RAs affected by the huge proposed Heartlands development – aim to lobby at all stages and promote the interests of the local communities. Opposing closure of local Post Office. Seeking more pavement trees.


 * //Parkside//** **//Malvern RA, N8//** Worked with Avenue Gardens RA to set up HEART re: Heartlands development issues. Campaigning for reduced traffic through Hornsey Park Road – succeeded in getting agreement for a new zebra crossing.


 * //Muswell//** **//Hill & Fortis Green Assoc, N2//** After a long campaign by local residents the new bus route to Swiss Cottage has started – despite only running at school opening and closing times it seems to be a success. Launched their annual front garden competition. MHFGA helped revive the annual Muswell Hill festival which will have a new organising group and a new lease of life as a Donkey Derby / Community Festival, probably in Priory Park on June 13th. Holding a public meeting about the future of Ally Pally and Park. Involved in local planning issues. Funds obtained for zebra crossing at Muswell Hill roundabout. Council have agreed to supply ‘litter gripper’ implements free of charge to any members wishing to pick up litter in their own street. There’ll be a Parkland Walk 50th anniversary celebration day on 3rd July. //www.muswellhillandfortisgreenassociation.co.uk//


 * __3. Planning matters__**
 * a****. Planning and Development Conference** Details about our planned conference have been mailed out to local residents associations. It was agreed to amend the flyer slightly. If anyone knows of any organisations that can circulate the flyer, please contact Dave (8211 0916). It was decided to produce 2 supporting documents – Dave to draft a short ‘Opposing Planning Applications – Standing Up For Our Communities’ leaflet/flyer, and Simon to begin drafting a more detailed and substantial pamphlet/guide on ‘How To Oppose or Contribute To A Planning Application’. //Action Simon Fedida and Dave Morris//


 * b. Unitary Development Plan** Vivienne reported back from the last LBH Environmental Scrutiny meeting. UDP consultation schedule was discussed. Council have agreed to meet before April various groups which have made substantial objections. All those who’ve sent in responses have received acknowledgements and further info. Despite recognising the importance of having extended last year’s consultation to 12 weeks (which we had lobbied hard for – and which resulted in a much greater response rate), they only plan a 6-week public consultation in Sept 2004! It was agreed that the Federation would again call for 12 weeks – RAs are encouraged to do the same. //Action Dave Morris,// //and RAs//


 * c. The Mayor’s** **London** **Plan** This important document sets policies for London, and tends to dominate many Council policies. The London Development Authority is consulting over the Mayor's new Economic Development Strategy for London – at 5.30-8.30pm, Thursday 4th March at The Decorium Centre, 22 Western Rd, N22 (the rear of Wood Green Common, off Station Road). A chance to get clued up, forewarned and to object to any anti-social development policies impacting on Haringey. All welcome. //www.ldn.gov.uk//


 * __4. Post Offices closures__** There are 7 local branches serving local communities around Haringey which are currently under threat of closure: Gorleston Rd, N15; Park Lane, N17; Lordship Lane, N17; Westbury Avenue, N22; Crescent Rd, N22; Philip Lane, N15; Colney Hatch Lane, N10. Robert (St George’s Lodge RA) reported that he was involved in Postwatch and that the Post Office was ‘consulting’ over closing 3,000 of their 8,500 local branches ‘unless there is a social or economic need’. However, despite this being obvious - there have been protests all over the country - they had so far ‘consulted’ over 210 branches in London, of which 4 had so far been saved. We agreed that POs are a vital service for local communities, especially for the least mobile and most vulnerable residents, and that all 7 faced with the axe in Haringey should stay open. We agreed to support the local campaigns and protests. Chestnuts Northside RA was organising a local protest, and proposed that the Federation organise a Haringey-wide rally. This was agreed - outside Wood Green Library (near the PO there) March 6th, the last Saturday before the ‘consultation’ deadline of March 9th. //Action: Dave Morris was delegated to write with our views to Post Office Ltd, and to do publicity for the rally.//


 * __5. Traffic calming__** On Wednesday 11th February The Transport Planning Stakeholders Forum was due to meet at Alexander Palace to discuss Haringey's transport policies and priorities. Members of local Haringey organisations and Council officials from the transport planning and street scene departments would be taking part in a consultation exercise to assist the Council in developing its bids to Transport for London for transport funding in 2005/6 and for future years. The main focus points to be traffic calming schemes, cycling, walking and public transport. We agreed to send a delegation to present the results of the November 2003 Traffic Calming / Safer Streets residents conference, and to promote safer streets throughout the borough.


 * __6. Illegal Billboards__** Having discovered that 48 out of 50 huge commercial hoardings/billboards in the West Green area had been put up without planning permission, Woodlands Park RA have been a. trying to get them taken down, and b. trying to get the planning dept to check if this is the same throughout the borough and do something about it. The hoardings obstruct local views and damage pavements. WPRA met with Liam Hart in the Planning Dept who’s now ‘looking into it’.


 * __7. LBH relations with Residents Associations__** We agreed to send a letter to the Leader of the Council regarding the confusion being created by the Housing Dept - the Housing Dept’s Tenants Participation Team are conducting a ‘consultation’ exercise over recognition of residents associations (26 of which receive grants from the dept). Yet they have tried to discourage RAs from supporting the Federation, and they don’t even acknowledge the existence of the majority of the 100-plus RAs in the borough, most of whom have working relationships with various other LBH departments as needed. //Action: Dave Morris//

===__8. Rubbish and Waste Issues__ Our waste management officer, Stephen Whittle, will be sending 2 letters on our behalf : a. to the Council with our support for community clear up days and special skips b. to the Council and Water/Sewer authorities about what action they are taking to deal with rats.===


 * __9. Federation Admin etc__**
 * //a. Speaker//** We had been invited to address a meeting of the Ferry Lane Action Group, N17. Dave to go.
 * //b. HFRA Annual General Meeting//** We agreed to hold this year’s AGM on Sat April 24th.
 * //c. Fundraising//** Our application to Scarman Trust is in, but we’re still in desperate need for ongoing funds. It’s proposed that we organise a sponsored cycle-ride around the borough. To be discussed at next meeting.
 * //d. Mailing List//** To save money we have begun to fillet down our mailing list to one contact (eg secretary) per group, plus also to any delegates who’ve attended HFRA meetings. With about 110 local associations, its still a very substantial mailing. Can all RAs let us know their main contact, and try to go on our email list?