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NEWSLETTERS OF THE MUSWELL HILL AND FORTIS GREEN ASSOCIATION

PUBLISHED SIX TIMES A YEAR

NEWSLETTER HEADLINES: JANUARY 2010

As a member of the Association you are entitled to receive regular Newsletters.

Please join now by visiting the membership page.

Here are the highlights of the latest Newsletter.

Safer Neighbourhood initiatives
Whittington Hospital A & E closure threat
Alexandra Palace report on its future governance
Licencing regulations cause concern
Traffic update
CUFOS battle for survival
Avenue Mews to get makeover
Local planning matters
Members Letters, Meetings and Local events

SELECTED ARTICLES FROM PAST NEWSLETTERS

Click on the box dates below for fast links to archived newsletters

November 2009	September 2009	July 2009	May 2009	March 2009	January 2009	November 2008	September 2008
July 2008	May 2008	March 2008	January 2008	November 2007	September 2007	July 2007	May 2007
March 2007	January 2007	November 2006	September 2006	July 2006	May 2006	March 2006	January 2006

NEWSLETTER: November 2009

The Phoenix prepares for rebirth

The Phoenix Cinema has received £200 from our Association to add to its Centenary Restoration Project funds. During the presentation of our cheque to Paul Homer, Phoenix manager, our Chairman, John Hajdu, congratulated him and his team on the tremendous effort they had made so far to raise £950,000. There is still £118,000 needed before the restoration target is reached. The Phoenix has already received £606,815 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and several other charitable trusts have contributed. In addition the cinema's customers have responded to the appeal in large numbers. There have even been fundraisers collecting at tube stations.

In recognition of our Association's support for the Phoenix over many years, we have been awarded a place in its 'Timeline'. Those donating to the cinema have a year in its history dedicated to them along with a film that was made at the time. We chose the year 1948, when we were founded, as our date and our film of choice from that year is the wonderful 'The Fallen Idol'. The 'Timeline' is to be displayed in the foyer.

The project's aim is to refurbish the Cinema's interior and repair external walls to restore it to its original glory. The building will also be upgraded for today's audiences while retaining its unique style. The current office space will be converted into a large cafe and bar area which will feature a terrace at the front of the building overlooking the High Street.

The Phoenix, an independent cinema, is situated in a Grade II listed building with Art Deco and Edwardian features close to East Finchley tube station, which also has an Art Deco exterior and interior. Owned by The Phoenix Cinema Trust, a charity that prides itself on being run by the local community and volunteers who serve on the board and committees, the cinema first opened in 1910 and is held to be the oldest purpose-built continuously serving cinema in the UK.

Alexandra Palace matters

Our representative on the Alexandra Palace Advisory Committee reports that at the last committee meeting held on 1st September, the focus was on the points that David Liebeck, Chairman, should raise at the forthcoming 'Away Day' for Trustees. The conflict of interest for Board members in being both Trustees and Haringey councillors was discussed. A further point is that many of them serve only a short time on the Board and therefore rarely develop any depth of knowledge or understanding of the Palace issues. Another matter discussed was the need for an independent professional to act as executive officer for the Palace.It was also held that good business practice would dictate that in the future the role of consultant solicitor for the Board should be seen as a temporary one to ensure that the advice given is always impartial.

While it was agreed that the Board chairman would put these points forward on behalf of the committee, several positive points were noted about the governance of the Palace ad Park at the moment. The existing managers of both the Park and Trading Company are specialist professionals. The Park has retained its Green Flag award and has been given an award for its flower displays. The park is maintained under contract by John O'Connor Ground Maintenance. The Alexandra Palace Ornithological Group has succeeded in getting a £2,000 'Making the Difference' grant from Haringey Council to fund improvements to the conservation area for bird life. Work on the boating lake to enhance fishing activities is in progress.

Both our representatives on the two committees have been invited to and will attend an all-day 'Governance Review' Stakeholder's Forum involving a wide spectrum of local interest groups. The aim is to help form a plan of action to enable the current governance arrangements of the Palace and Park to be 'fit for purpose'.

Dangerous pavements get makeover

Following complaints by members about uneven and broken pavement slabs causing tripping hazards, our Association is pleased to report that Haringey Council has put into place a programme of repairs that will tackle some of the problems. The council is informing residents by letter if their roads are affected.

The works consist of taking up and relaying slabs; reusing original ones where possible. Granite kerbs will also be lifted and relaid; abandoned crossovers will be removed and the footway reinstated; the levels of utility covers will be adjusted and tactile slabs will be installed at road junction where possible.

Footways and kerbs in St James's Lane, between the Broadway and the railway arches, were scheduled for repairs in September and this month work has already started in The Avenue and Vallance Road, the entire lengths of which will be relaid. The November programme includes Muswell Road from Curzon Road to Rosebery Road and from Methuen Park to Rosebery Road. In some cases it will be necessary to cut back tree roots but this will be done separately by Haringey's tree specialists.

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NEWSLETTER: September 2009

Victorious bid for Making the Difference

An important gateway to Muswell Hill is to enjoy rejuvenation thanks to our Association's successful bid for £2000 of funds from Haringey Council's 'Making the Difference' fund. Under this scheme, which has been running since 2004, applications to fund local projects compete against one another for a share of the £50,000 that Haringey Council allocates to each of its management areas. Over 500 bids were received last year. The projects are all selected at the Local Area Assemblies.

Our Association's bid was for improvements to the two roadside verges at the junction of Colney Hatch Lane and Pages Lane and was based on the fact that they are frequently used by local people and are one of the first things that visitors see when entering Muswell Hill. The neglect that these verges have suffered is now to be addressed with new stone retaining walls and good quality topsoil. Evergreen shrubs will be planted and tree roots will be protected.

The final result should be a more welcoming view of Muswell Hill from this very busy road intersection.

Our Association's Committee is shortly to be considering our bid for 2009/10.

Our Diamond Jubilee Langton Clock Project is officially unveiled

The unveiling of our renovation of the famous Langton Clock, mounted on the wall above a shop on Muswell Hill Broadway was a great success. Attendees included the Mayor of Haringey, Councillors Gail Engert and Martin Newton, members of the Metropolitan Police and local people along with our Association representatives. This was followed by an informal gathering at Maison Blanc where tea was served.

Hornsey Heath Centre update

The official opening of the Hornsey Central Neighbourhood Health Centre will be on 25th September. After a meeting with senior executives, our Chairman and one of our committee members have found out more details about services from this Park Road centre. GP practices based at the centre will work from 8am to 8pm and will be open at the weekend.Specialist support services will include a pharmacy, diagnostics, physiotherapy, foot-care and blood tests. X-ray services will be available by the end of the year.

There is still no solution in sight however for the transport problems facing residents of Muswell Hill, Fortis Green and Alexandra wards, who need to use a bus stop for the W7 sighted on a steep hillside. There have been suggestions by our Association that some kind of dedicated shuttle bus service could operate. It was agreed that possibilities would be further explored with the transport officer of Haringey Council. In the meantime car users attending the centre will have use of free car parking.

Local trees are felled as part of Haringey's Council's maintenance programme

A street tree felling programme, now in its fourth week, is nearing completion. Dead and diseased trees are identified for felling as part of Haringey Council's cyclical highways maintenance. Notices are placed on the trees to advise residents of the work. On this occasion 18 trees in the Alexandra and Fortis Green wards were marked for removal. Replacement trees will be planted in all cases.

Haringey's Assistant Arboricultural Officer Oliver Tong can be contacted on 8489 5688 if residents have any questions about this work.

Muswell Hill Library repairs

Roof repairs at Muswell Hill's central library in Queen's Avenue are now complete and work is to begin on the first floor and the toilets.Our Conservation Officer, John Crompton, sent a letter to the leader of Haringey Council, Councillor Kober, which was published on the front page of the July newsletter, voicing our concerns about delays to repairs and related matters.

The reply from Councillor Kober contains the following statement: "We would agree that one of the library's main purposes is to provide an excellent range of books for all ages and tastes within the community..however it is important to respond to demand for other services, for instance, our wireless connections and fixed PC stations which are extremely popular at Muswell Hill as is the provision of CDs and DVDs."

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NEWSLETTER: July 2009

Muswell Hill Library - 3 years late Haringey takes action

Our Association's three year campaign for essential repairs to the sadly deteriorating Grade II listed Muswell Hill Library has, at last, borne fruit with work now commencing on the roof. This follows a series of problems and postponements by Haringey Council, which have resulted in water damage inside the building becoming ever more serious and even threatening the attractive and historic frescoes in the upstairs children's section of the library.

Prompted by Haringey's Head of Libraries, Diana Edmonds' apparent lack of information at the recent Muswell Hill Assembly as to when renovations might begin, our Conservation Officer, John Crompton, on behalf of this Association, has written to Councillor Kober, Leader of Haringey Council, to again voice our concerns. It expresses our dismay at the library's state of disrepair and the lack of clarity as to the Council's plans for the future of the building. The letter also introduces us as the largest residents' association n Haringey explaining that we work with many departments in the Council on a range of subjects.

The letter points to claims the Council cited over difficulties in getting Listed Building Consent for repairs to a flat roof, which cannot be seen from the street, their withdrawal of a plan to sell off the rear land for development and a failure to secure a building contractor in good time. Our belief was also stated that the primary purpose of the building, is, and must remain, the provision of book-based library activities aimed at all sections of the community and at all age groups in a building which is 'fit for purpose'.

Treehouse School cements good relations with us

Three of our Committee members have obtained important concessions from Treehouse School, Woodside Avenue, with regard to its application to use the fenced off grassed area in the south west corner of the site as a multi-use games area. The application, which had attracted a considerable volume of objections, including one from our Association, was for a hard-standing area surrounded by fencing with floodlighting. It was to be available for use every day of the week throughout the year.

Committee members, Pat Bloomfield, John Crompton and John Hajdu met with the Treehouse Chief Executive, the Executive Head Teacher and two other representatives of the school on 15th June to discuss some of the underlying concerns expressed by our members and many other objectors living in the vicinity. Most of our suggestions were received positively at the meeting and a number of concessions were made. The application is to be considered by Haringey Council's Planning Committee on 13th July.

Here is a summary of the main points discussed and agreed at the meeting: Treehouse agreed that the multi-use games area should not be open to commercial use - - They would retain the freedom to use the area at the weekends, but have no plans to do so. Should this be implemented the times would be limited between 10am and 6pm - - The possible reduction of the height of the floodlighting posts from eight to five metres - - Lowering the fencing from 4.5 metres - - The planting of more beech hedging along the alleyway and Woodside Avenue to compensate for loss of grassed areas - - The hard surface to be green - - An annual meeting with the school and local residents to be started in September.

The Planning Report can be accessed online at the Council's website under planning. Their officers are recommending that permission be denied.

Marks and Spencer expansion

The proposed expansion of retail space in the centre of Muswell Hill Broadway by Marks and Spencer, which includes the whole of the area currently occupied by Crocodile Antiques and cafe, has caused a degree of concern among our members and the public alike. The scheme, which is subject to agreement with adjoining building owners, incorporates nine new flats, three of which would be sited in the existing 'cottage' building due to be restored, and six of which would be in a new build recessed behind it.

Members of the public have contacted our Association to express their fears that existing Muswell Hill businesses might be adversely affected by the expansion and also that an elongated shop front would have a detrimental impact on the Edwardian character of the surrounding buildings as evidenced by the Abbey Building Society shop front opposite. Our Association is exploring some of the concerns in conjunction with Marks and Spencer before it submits a planning application. These include reducing the sense of enclosure for pedestrians in the Broadway, improving the appearance of the shop front and getting assurances from the company about the range of goods to be sold in order to lessen any possible negative effect on existing traders. This opportunity will also be used to try and iron out problems with access to the car park at the rear.

New BT Cabinets appear in our conservation area

Blanket objections have been made by this Association and the Muswell Hill Conservation Area Advisory Committee to the new green BT cabinets that have suddenly appeared on residential pavements in our area.The objections describe the cabinets as visually intrusive and protest at the amount of pavement space they take up. Some of them are placed near kerbs so that car owners cannot use kerbside doors, some are positioned in close proximity to other cabinets making a row of four in some cases, and they use pavement space to the extent that pedestrians cannot walk side by side down the path. Several cabinets have already attracted graffiti and litter is being dumped behind them. BT have submitted planning applications in retrospect.

It is believed that the cabinets have been installed in connection with a fast broadband service, which is being trialled in Muswell Hill. Our Association and the Muswell Hill CAAC are urging BT to investigate an alternative approach, for instance to devise shared use of cabinets or to bury the services underground.

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NEWSLETTER: May 2009

Making the Difference

Our Association is to renew its bid this year for Making the Difference funding from Haringey Council to improve two roadside flower beds near the Colney Hatch Lane junction with Pages Lane. These unkempt beds are located on a busy stretch of road that is the main route into Muswell Hill from the North Circular and are therefore well placed to give that 'welcome to Muswell Hill' feeling.

Over the years, the condition of these beds has deteriorated to the degree that they now look like nondescript grass verges. This spring has seen a few brave daffodils struggle to make a small display but the effect is rather sad. The proposal therefore, is to refurbish the beds and plant some new shrubs. New stone retaining walls would also be built and the soil replaced with good quality top soil. Tree roots will be carefully avoided. Handsome new beds such as these will make a real difference to thousands of road users and pedestrians using this busy junction. If our bid is successful, the result will be source of pride and enjoyment for our local community.

Park Road Health Centre visit

Our Chairman, John Hajdu, visited this site on 8th April. He describes it as a large, functional building on two floors with the ground and first floors for patients and the top floor, with a conference room, for around 100 staff. Two GP surgeries and a minor surgery unit will exist alongside a sexual health h clinic, a dementia unit, a diabetics unit, physiotherapy, podiatry, a blood testing unit (open only between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday). There is also going to be a coffee shop and pharmacy.

Of the 106 car parking spaces, about 20 will be for the disabled. Parking will be free, but tokens will have to be collected on leaving, to open the barrier.

Concerns were raised by our Chairman about transport to the centre, the blood testing unit opening times, queueing at reception, and he asked for an assurance that North Bank will continue to provide local health services.

Alexandra Palace news

The bombshell at the end of March was that Firoka has made a claim on the Palace for 6 million pounds. Refuting this will involve time and legal fees. It will be yet another financial burden on the Trustees, who are Haringey Council. Now that the Palace is firmly back in the hands of the Trustees, planning for the future has been made possible. Rebecca Cane has been appointed as the new manager for the trading company that deals with commercial events at the Palace. She was previously with English Heritage.

The second Walklate report, dealing with the period of time when Firoka was using Alexandra Palace, is available for viewing on Haringey's website at www.haringey.gov.uk. The recommendation to the The Board is that they take no further action on this matter.

The possible hiring of the cricket club grounds by the new Heartlands Secondary School, for sporting uses, will be negotiated with the Cricket Club, which has the lease. Many local football clubs and cricket teams already use this facility. However, should floodlighting, extra buildings or extra grounds be involved, this will become a planning issue and will come before the Advisory Committee and the Alexandra Palace Board. Planning consent will also be required from Haringey Council.

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NEWSLETTER: March 2009

The hidden streams of Haringey

North Bank hosted a very popular event on Wednesday 18th February when 65 people crowded in to hear local historians Albert Pinching and David Dell delivered an illustrated talk on Haringey's hidden streams. Local photographs, historical paintings and maps assisted in the research for their book entitled 'Haringey's Hidden Streams Revealed', which took 3 years to write. Published by the Hornsey Historical Society, it is in its second printing. Copies of the book are available by contacting David on dell103@btinternet.com.

Most of the streams in Haringey arise from our own Association area, Muswell Hill and Fortis Green. One head-stream, originating near the Odeon Cinema in the Broadway, runs in a westerly direction through Cherry Tree Wood before forming the River Brent, which then joins the Thames at Brentwood.Three springs arise from North Bank itself. The Muswell Hill Stream derives from three principal head-streams rising on the north-east slopes of Muswell Hill. The main source being the 'Mus Well', located at 40 Muswell Road and now capped. This well was proclaimed by papal edict in the 12th century to have curative powers after a visiting Scottish Kind was cured of an unknown disease. It is also, of course, the source of the present name of our area.

The talk also covered the courses of other significant streams, which although culverted , can still be found today.

Green plaques scheme is a success

Our Chairman, John Hajdu, delivered a speech at the Haringey Local History Fair at Bruce Castle Museum in February about our role in initiating and developing Haringey's green plaques scheme. He described how the need for such a scheme had occurred to him after he was approached by a member of our Association who was trying unsuccessfully to arrange for a plaque in honour of local crystallographer and mineralogist William Barlow. After meetings with Haringey Council, the scheme got the go-ahead and a design for the plaques was agreed. Since then 6 plaques have been erected on local houses and there is a shortlist of candidates for future plaques. It is so popular that it has been agreed that one will go up every three months starting this spring. The scheme is very firmly established and is a great success story for our Association's history.

Alexandra Palace news

The new Chair of the Board of Trustees of Alexandra Palace is Pat Elan, who recently introduced himself to our committee members standing on the Consultative and Advisory committees. Since the lease issue is now off the agenda, the Board is focusing much more on the views of local residents. This is good news as a constant complaint of the Advisory Committee over the years has been that its recommendations to the Board have not been given sufficient weight - most recently over the whole issue of the proposed sale of the Palace lease to Firoka. Following the recommendations of the Walklate Report, the Board will be meeting more frequently as will be Advisory Committee. In addition it is proposed that a consultative assembly of the members of both the Advisory and Consultative Committees will be scheduled twice a year. A further report has been commissioned from Martin Walklate.

Park security is now an issue as Haringey Council is disbanding the Parks Constabulary at the end of this month and cutting the services they provide for Alexandra Park.Alternative provision for Park security will be provided by the Alexandra Palace security contractor on a more flexible basis. This should allow for more security at peak times such as school holidays and summer evenings. The Alexandra Ward police Safer Neighbourhood Team will continue with its high visibility patrols.

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NEWSLETTER: January 2009

North Bank to be our new meeting venue

North Bank in Pages Lane is extending its repertoire of services to the community by throwing open its doors to our Association and hosting our future events and AGMs. Members are sure to be delighted with this new central and accessible venue providing as it does free parking, a well-lit entrance and a lift as well as bright and comfortable facilities. Our meetings will take place in either the pannelled Oak Room or the Garden Room of this historic building, both of which have an audio loop system.

We will be joining a robust and lively community of service providers, users and volunteers, who make this newly-refurbished Victorian villa adjoining Muswell Hill Methodist Church a hive of local activity. Among them are health visitor and antenatal services and a well-established programme of drop-in groups for babies and toddlers. There are a number of courses available including baby massage, pregnancy , yoga and other independently run children's activity groups. North bank makes available to its users information on groups in other locations in N10 and provides a base for many other groups including The Vintage Club for older people on Thursdays with guest speakers and afternoon tea.

North Bank is set in large landscaped grounds that contain Muswell Hill's oldest tree; a healthy horse chestnut more than 300 years old with a trunk circumference at shoulder height of some 15 to 18 feet. Visit www.mhmc.org.uk for more information.

Traffic Update from Chris Barker

It's a small step towards sustainability but we are getting some hybrid buses. These are driven electrically and powered by batteries. The batteries are charged by the movement of the bus aided by a small diesel engine. The results is a quiet, smooth ride and a saving on fuel. There has been one on the 141 bus through Wood Green High Road for some time and now there are more on the same route. Check them out. They can be identified by green shrubbery painted along the sides.

The new countdown system, which tells you when the next bus is due, will be up and running during 2009. The indicators will be the same but they will be fed from information derived from Global Positioning Satellites, which can tell exactly where the bus is all the time, unlike the present system which replied upon the bus passing beacons every now and again.

Transport for London has confirmed that the service on route 603 will continue as it is. The possibility of adding more journeys has been considered but rejected. Future discussions on changes in the times of existing journeys will not include potential users.

We are pleased to note that the signs describing parking hours in Muswell Hill Broadway have been changed to appear less ambiguous. Parking is banned during rush hours including Saturdays. Haringey Streetscene says that a review of restrictions is in its provisional works programme for this year. Local shopkeepers are concerned by the present restrictions.

Alexandra Palace matters

Committee member and member of the Alexandra Palace Advisory Committee, Monica Myers, is calling for members to get involved in the Palace's future, especially at this interesting time in its development. A good way to do this, she suggests, is to attend the official meetings, which are open to the public, at which the future of the Palace is discussed. The general public can attend Board meetings, as well as the Advisory and Consultative Committee meetings. Most of the meetings take place in rooms above the Palm Court in the Palace itself. She also has some remarks on the subject of the scrapped gantries that used to welcome people into the Alexandra Palace park. They dated from after the 1980 fire, when the AP logo, still seen on the litter bins on the upper pathway, was designed. Since they were found to be unsafe, their removal was agreed by the Heritage Lottery Fund managers as part of the plans for the park. She feels that our Association would certainly like to see a clearer demarcation at the entrances to the Park than the present notice. "Finance is the stumbling block. However, the changed road markings, mini-roundabout at the ice-rink entrance and the light-operated pedestrian crossing in front of the Palace have at least helped to slow the traffic down".

The Friends of Alexandra Park Theatre held a bring and buy table top sale in December to promote awareness of the theatre and to raise funds to host future theatre events. During the sale, member s of the public were invited to step into the theatre itself and admire tits decaying grandeur. It first opened in 1875, two years after the first Alexandra Palace was destroyed by fire. Designed to seat 2,500 people, it has not been in use now for 65 years. If you would like to join the community of Friends in supporting this Grade II listed building, contact Anastasia on anastasia.christofis@googlemail.com.

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NEWSLETTER: November 2008

GP numbers in West Haringey will remain stable

Helen Poole, Head of Primary Care, West Haringey and Project Leader for Hornsey Central Hospital, described the Primary Care Strategy as a long term plan with 'a shelf life of about 30 years', the result of which would be a network of GP practices that will feed into the services offered by the new Hornsey polyclinic. Meetings are now to be held with all GP practices, which will determine where practices see themselves in relation to the developments. This stage of the process will be clinician-led. There is also to be a public consultation this year. No decision had yet been made, stressed Helen Poole, about details relating to the 'hub and spoke' model or about how remaining space at the polyclinic would be allocated. She added that while no guarantees could be given about the location of some GP practices and how many would remain, GP numbers in West Haringey would not be reduced. She acknowledged that the Hornsey Centre was not well sited for access by public transport.

Muswell Hill Festival Volunteers praised

A huge thank you has been delivered to the MHFGA volunteers who assisted at the Muswell Hill Festival by Julia Stanger-France, spokesperson for the Hornsey Trust and leader of the Festival team. The volunteers' contribution. particularly in collecting admissions charges, clicking in the numbers and distributing programmes, played an invaluable role in making the Festival the success it was. Julia estimates visitor numbers were around 8,000 while money raised was well over ten thousand pounds.

Langton Clock renovation appreciation

Clock expert John Kendall is almost at the end of his labour intensive task of restoring the landmark Langton Clock.He deserves all our thanks and appreciation for all his wonderful workmanship. It has now been waterproofed and is connected up to a master controller, which will pick up GPS time signals. He reports plenty of interest in the clock with members and passers by calling in to his shop to admire it. The next stage is for EDF to access the procedure needed for mounting it onto its brackets.

Ally Pally report shames trustees

The highly critical independent Walklate report on the temporary licence to manage Alexandra Palace granted to Firoka last year, was commissioned by Matt Cooke, the newly appointed Chair of the Trustees. A temporary licence had been issued as a matter of urgency on the assumption that Firoka was going to withdraw from its agreement to purchase the 125 lease to redevelopment the Palace. The report states that the evidence to back this up was questionable and the licence was rushed through without recourse to legal or financial advice or any consideration of the alternatives. Firoka, while occupying an office on the site, was able to profit from the revenue made by the Palace during the period of the licence at an enormous loss to the business and, ultimately to Haringey council tax payers. In the meantime, the sale was subject to a judicial review, ultimately upheld due to irregularities that were found. The independent report also revealed the lack of clarity between Haringey Council, which legally holds the trusteeship of the Palace, and the Board of Trustees. The Board is made up of appointed Haringey councillors and operates on powers that are delegated by the Council. Our Association commends Councillor Cooke for commissioning the report, the result of which is a detailed action plan to improve the governance of the Palace. It involves legal and financial Council officers, training sessions for staff and Trustees as well as regular reviews. The report is included in the minutes of the Alexandra Palace and Park Trust Board dated 26th September 2008 and can be found on Haringey Council's website at www.haringey.gov.uk.

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NEWSLETTER: September 2008

Local GPs battle to survive

The failure of the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust's draft Strategy document to include the highly successful Rutland House Practice in Colney Hatch Lane in its outline plan for healthcare in our area has caused dismay to its 6000 patients. They are now left with the prospect of longer journeys to the new Hornsey polyclinic and the loss of their personal doctor-patient connection. The Strategy document sets out a new 'hub and spoke' healthcare plan, which centres around a polyclinic in Park Road and only three GP practices mentioned as spokes. Our Chairman contacted TPCT Chair Mr. Richard Sumray to ask for clarification regarding Rutland House's status in the Trust's healthcare strategy. Mr Sumray replied that the public had reacted to the Trust's proposals with 'misperception and confusion'. The fact that Rutland House was absent from the Strategy document was, he said, not significant as 'absolutely no decision has been made about the future of any GP practice at this stage.' Our Association became concerned about the future of healthcare services in our area when the decision was made to sell off Fortis Green Clinic in 2006. The May draft of the TPCT's 2008 Primary Care Strategy entitled 'Developing world class primary care in Haringey' can be seen at www.haringey.nhs.uk/home and look for publications - Primary Care Strategy.

Muswell Hill Library suffers setback

Urgent remedial works to Muswell Hill Library, housed in a Grade II listed building, have been postponed by Haringey's Cabinet Committee until 2009 or 2010. It is not clear whether the promised roof repairs are to suffer the same fate as the rest of the building. This latest setback follows over two years of campaigning by our Association for improvements to the building. Before this latest news, Pat Bloomfield, our Planning Officer, had contacted Diana Edmonds, Assistant Director of Culture, Libraries and Learning, to see if she could find out any more about Haringey's timescale for the library works. She discovered that a roof survey had been done and was told that 'a full specification will now be commissioned and tenders procured.' The repairs to the roof would then have been completed within six months. Pat now says that since the deferral she is in despair about the difficulty in getting any firm information about library works. The listed building continues to deteriorate with evidence of damp and water damage inside. Even the splendid lanterns at the library entrance remain unused because the necessary wiring cannot be connected until the other works are done.

Green Plaque unveiling for local naturalist

Haringey Council is hosting a new plaque unveiling in honour of noted English naturalist William Bernhardt Tegetmeier, who lived in St. James' Lane. Tegetmeier (1816-1912) had a special interest in pigeons and bees and became a published authority on poultry. He met and eventually corresponded with Charles Darwin and eventually became a Darwinist himself. He was the founder of the Savage Club and published several works on domestic science. His remains lay at East Finchley Cemetery.

The Haringey plaque scheme is our Chairman's brainchild and came to fruition in 2007 after three yeas of planning with the borough council and local historians. A local craftsman, Paul Jones, makes the plaques, which are financed by Haringey Council. This is the borough's sixth plaque, the first of which was erected in Muswell Hill.

The plaque will be unveiled on Friday 5th September with our Chairman John Hajdu performing the unveiling in the presence of members of the Tegetmeier family.

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NEWSLETTER: July 2008

Champagne celebrations for our Diamond Jubilee

Members at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 21st May celebrated our Association's 60th anniversary with champagne and a magnificent cake. The party concluded a well-attended meeting. The committee underwent a re-shuffle with the departure of four old stalwarts. Committee member and past Chairman of our Association, Bill Tyler, spoke on behalf of all members when he thanked Gerry Saunders, Eugene Myerson, Dawn Miles and Robert Andrewes for their sterling efforts over the years in helping to build our Association. The four have almost 60 years of service on the committee with Robert Andrewes having the distinction of being our longest serving Chairman from 1988 to 2001. As a sign of gratitude and appreciation each was presented with life membership. A new committee member, Brian Livingston, joined us as guardian of the environment and green spaces. The remainder of the committee was re-elected en bloc.

Muswell Hill Library development doubts

Feelings ran high at the May Muswell Hill Area Assembly when the subject of Muswell Hill Library came up. Some in the audience, most of them Association members, spoke to protest against the proposal to sell land to the rear of the library to fund its refurbishment and expansion. The plan is to use the plot to build either six one bedroom flats or four two bedroom flats with two parking spaces. The buildings would be two storeys high to align with the adjoining mews buildings. This issue has been bubbling for over 2 years. The comments from the floor were that sums raised from the land sale could not be adequately predicted in light of falling house prices and that plans drawn up for library development might not be viable. Doubts were also raised that the space left for the library extension would not be big enough. Alternative suggestions for the use of the land were put forward including transforming the area into an arts centre like the Chocolate Factory in Wood Green or making it into a paying car park. Haringey Head of Libraries, Diana Edmonds, pointed out the difficulties in obtaining money for libraries from external sources saying she and her colleagues were keen to provide the public with the modern library it wanted. While essential repairs are already covered by an ongoing maintenance fund, she stated that the dilapidated state of the Grade II listed building would require a large sum of money for restoration. The Deputy Leader of Haringey Council, Cllr. Lorna Reith and Cllr. Liz Santry declared that they were confident that the professional advice the Council has taken on the library development ensured that it was realistic. The sum required for the library development is £1.3 million and they assured the public that all moneys raised by the sale and development of the rear land would be ringfenced for the refurbishment of the library.

A century of local postal services ends

At 1pm on Wednesday 25th June 2008, Alexandra Park sub-post office closed, ending almost a century of service to the local community, in spite of a vigorous campaign by residents to keep it open and a petition against closure with over 3,000 signatures. The profit-making branch served 45,840 customers, more than Muswell Hill's main Post office at 44,808. But this held no sway with the officials authorising the closure. As branches were selected for closure according to how much money they would save, many local residents have questioned the purpose of the six weeks consultation. A statement from the Haringey Federation of Residents' Associations brands these closures as a contemptuous dismissal of the views and protests of Haringey residents.

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NEWSLETTER: May 2008

Lease of life for Langton Clock

The much-loved iconic Langton Clock on Muswell Hill Broadway has been taken down for repairs and restoration thanks to three years of MHFGA campaigning and success in securing a grant from Haringey's Making the Difference fund. The clock, which was above the Kate Kuba shoe shop, once Langton the jewellers, is now safely with a local clockmaker receiving all the care and attention it deserves. (pictures and more details on Notices page)

Local Police meeting attracts over 100 residents

A public meeting to discuss anti-social behaviour and recent events in Muswell Hill was held on Tuesday 15th April at the Birchwood Centre on Birchwood Avenue. Run by Shaun de Souza Brady, Chief Inspector for Community Engagement in Haringey, it was attended by over 100 residents eager to discuss their concerns about a range of problems. Three sergeants from Fortis Green, Muswell Hill and Alexandra wards were also there to address the issues that cause residents most concern, thereby adopting a partnership approach to their work. In a lively meeting, residents outlined a general feeling that Muswell Hill and the surrounding areas were becoming increasingly dangerous and threatening at night and that an improvement in policing was needed. Chief Inspector de Souza Brady detailed proposed measures to improve policing like more precise information from CCTV cameras, leaflets on licensing law will be distributed to residents and a street drinking ban is likely to be in place by Christmas 2008. The latest crime figures for Haringey provided by the Metropolitan Police show a decline over the period of 12 months up to February 2008 in all areas apart from residential burglaries and car crime.

Television heritage of Alexandra Palace

John Thompson, Curator of Alexandra Palace TV Group Museum and Chairman of the British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum entertained our members at the March meeting with a lecture on the early development of television in the years before the Second World War, with the focus on Alexandra Palace and John Logie Baird. Using film and early TV images, he explained that when Alexandra Palace began broadcasting, both the Baird and EMI systems shared the south-east wing of the Palace, but in February 1937 the EMI technology was chosen exclusively to provide the service. Although television broadcasting ceased during the War, Alexandra Palace mast was still used, but for broadcasting on frequencies close to those used by the Luftwaffe for homing in on London targets, causing targets to be missed. TV services resumed from the Palace in 1946 but moved to Lime Grove in 1950. The transmitter was still used for news broadcasts between 1954 and 1969 and became the first dedicated new facility in the world. The studio wing was then taken over by the Open University before finally closing down.

Helicopter Noise

Many comments have been received from members about helicopter noise following an article in the March newsletter which reported concerns about low flying, especially late at night. Some observed that the aircraft are occasionally engaged on police operations but that most are private. Many consider flights to be increasing especially in the summer moths. It appears that Alexandra Park is the worst effected, possibly because the Palace is being used as a navigation aid. Concern was also expressed about the environmental impact of the use of helicopters.A helicopter route map provided by the Civil Aviation Authority shows our area as being just a few miles north of an expanse of restricted airspace called the London CTR. A London Assembly report, produced by the Environment Committee, calls for more effective monitoring of helicopter movements and a clear and accessible public complaints system. This report is available on their website at www.london.gov.uk - assembly environment meetings.

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NEWSLETTER: March 2008

Our New Newsletter Editor

Barbara Erskine, born and bred in Muswell Hill, is taking over from Gerry Saunders. as Newsletter Editor from the May edition. A long-time MHFGA member, she brings with her years of sound knowledge of local issues built up through years of voluntary work and campaigning. Barbara is also secretary of Friends of Alexandra Park and sits on the committee of the Park and Palace CAAC.

Broadway CCTV cameras on 24-hour watch

After a two-year campaign in which our own Association has maintained constant pressure on the local authority for action, closed circuit television cameras are now to be placed at each end of Muswell Hill Broadway, which will come under 24-hour surveillance for the first time. It is believed that both will be in operation by mid March, managing traffic and monitoring community safety during the day. After 7pm, the cameras will be used solely to monitor anti-social behaviour and will help prevent theft and other crime.

One camera, on the roundabout at the top of Muswell Hill, covers Queens Avenue and Colney Hatch Lane and is already fully operational. The second camera close to St James's Lane will cover the south of the Broadway and towards Highgate, St. James's Lane and Fortis Green Road.

Firoka still interested in Palace lease

Firoka, the development company, are still interested in buying the long lease of Alexandra Palace, reports Monica Myers, our representative on the AP and P Advisory Committee. Following the High Court ruling last November, more information will need to be released this time when the public is consulted by the Charity Commission on the sale of the lease. Currently the Commission is deciding how to comply with the court's judgement. The Advisory Committee on February 5th suggested yet again that the trustees advocate the adoption of public sector best practice for consultation, which involves the disclosure of documents. Had this been adopted for the first consultation, the public would have had sight of the terms of the lease.

A draft proposal is being drawn up by the Save Ally Pally group for the future of what the group describes as "The People's Palace'. It is still in the consultative stage and further information is available on their website www.saveallypally.com.

Debating the paths to a more sustainable way of life

The packed house at the first of our spring meetings in February demonstrated very clearly that many of our members are well aware of the need to foster a more sustainable way of life by combatting carbon emissions that produce global warming. Our Association is a member of the Sustainable Haringey Network and committed as a body to raising local awareness and promoting community solutions. Four prominent local residents, with our environmental specialist Dawn Miles in the chair, told of measures taken in the cause of sustainability.

Quentin Given of Friends of the Earth said that groups like Sustainable Haringey will thrive and become effective and that local groups should be focussed on the best ways to get people to make changes in their own behaviour. Dr. Bill Smith, one of our members and a local pioneer in the installation of solar panels for domestic hot water, explained the grants available, the advantages and costs, and the need to balance environmental considerations with the important conservation aspect. Architect Ruth Schamroth focussed on insulating our homes, which in Muswell Hill is no easy task with pre 1920 housing in many areas, that were not built to conserve energy. Her message was to 'close the gap' by draught proofing, using double glazing where possible, insulating lofts, sealing floor boards and skirting panels. Fred Fitzke, a member with an allotment and fruit and vegetables in his back garden, said his aim was for self-sufficiency in food. Grow your own, was his advice. Getting started is crucial, he said, so dig a small area and work up. He said that for instance, two to three months of the year he harvests raspberries.

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NEWSLETTER: January 2008

February launch for our sustainability campaign

Our first spring meeting on Wednesday February 20th was devoted to the pressing and ongoing subject of sustainability as part of this Association's contribution within a borough-wide network working together to make our lives, our communities and our society sustainable for generations to come. The target of our campaign will be to encourage participation in national aims for the future. Keynote speakers outlined their vision. Quentin Givens from Friends of the Earth showed ways of achieving carbon footprint reduction, Dr. Bill Smith related his experiences of using solar panels and Ruth Shamroth, our local energy auditor, enlarged on her free services for householders in increasing energy efficiency. Ruth provides her service through the Our Homes group of the Haringey Sustainabiity Network.

Our own newsletter is produced on tinted stock manufactured by International Paper, one of the world's largest paper groups. Their environmental policy is at least as strict as national legislation. More than 70 per cent of their wastes are recovered, recycled or reused in some way.

Parkland Walk consultation

Second stage stakeholders' consultation on works to take place on the Parkland Walk was held before Christmas with general agreement on most issues. Drawings and designs for public consultation should be ready for the Muswell Hill Assembly meeting on January 29th. A six-weeks public consultation period will follow with work beginning at the end of the summer. Our anti graffiti specialists Jack Whitehead and Bill Jago are still reporting Muswell Hill underpass (on the Parkland Walk) is still being treated as a hot spot and clean-sup time is good.

Haringey launches new Tree Warden Scheme

Haringey Council launched a new Tree Warden scheme at Bruce Castle Museum on December 1st. Alex Fraser, the Council's Principal Arboricultural Officer said: 'Tree Wardens are local people who care about trees and would like to be involved in practical projects in their community, which protect and enhance the borough's trees'. The launch day included an introduction to the scheme by the Tree Council, the Tree Trust for Haringey, live music and the planting of a number of new trees in Bruce Castle Park. A programme of training and talks for new tree wardens will take place during 2008, to teach the skills required to undertake a basic range of activities, including tree planting and aftercare, winter and summer tree identification, the tree work industry and woodland ecology and management. Details can be obtained from Alex Fraser on 8489 5657 or email at alex.fraser@haringey.gov.uk. Our own association has had a team of three tree wardens for some time who advise on such matters as tree felling, lopping and pruning.

More Green Plaques for our famous citizens to be unveiled

The first Haringey green plaque was unveiled in October and now three more are to be installed soon - at 14 Cranmore Way, 25 Southwood Avenue in Highgate and at the High Cross United Reformed Church in Tottenham. On January 28th the Mayor of Haringey, together with our chairman, will unveil a plaque at 14 Cranmore Way in memory of W.J.Collins (1856-1939), who was the architect and developer of estates in Muswell Hill and lived in a house called Rookfield which stood where Cranmore way is now. The second at 25 Southwood Avenue is to commemorate William Heath Robinson (1872-1944); artist, illustrator and cartoonist known as the 'Gadget King' who died in this house in 1944. The third plaque, to be unveiled at a later date, will be at the High Cross United Reformed Church in Tottenham and is for Priscilla Wakefield (1751-1832), Quaker, author and philanthropist, who founded the Penny Savings Bank in 1798 and lived in Ship Yard, near the site of the church.

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NEWSLETTER: November 2007

Hornsey Hospital gets broadside from meeting

Of the views expressed loudly by the 50 or so mainly elderly people at a crowded meeting at the Muswell Hill Bowling Club on October 17th can be considered an accurate reflection of the views of people across Muswell Hill and Fortis Green, then the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust can be in no doubt of the widespread unpopularity of its decision to close our Fortis Green Clinic and relocate many major services to the new super centre at Hornsey Central Hospital. James Slater, Director of Performance and Primary Care at the Trust, was the speaker at our open meeting that night who in his own words has a passion for front-line public service. He said it was hard to find doctors to work in small practices like the ones to which we had become accustomed. He added that many GP premises were not up to standard and about a third of them could not be improved.

Location was the key word in the arguments from the floor against the Hornsey project. It was not within walking distance for most people in our area and some people said they would have to take two buses to get there. The current arrangements at North Bank and Rutland House, approved by this Association, offer some local services.

First Haringey Green Plaque unveiled

The first Haringey green plaque was unveiled at the beginning of October on the wall of a house at the corner of Muswell Hill Broadway and Hillfield Park. The scheme to mark the houses in which some of Haringey's more famous citizens have lived was the brainchild of our Chairman. The first plague commemorates William Barlow, mineralogist and member of the Royal Society. He lived in this house from around 1880 and died in 1934. The next plaque to be unveiled will mark the fact that Oliver and Adelaide Tambo lived in Alexandra Park Road between 1960 and 1990. Oliver Tambo was President of the African National Congress between 1977 and 1991.

Alexandra Palace judgement

The Appeal at the High Court was successful and found that the consultation on the order to grant a lease of 125 years to developer Firoka, was flawed and consequently that it is on hold. The legal objection to the order was put forward by the Save Ally Pally Campaign led by Jacob O'Callaghan of the Hornsey Historical Society (transcript of the judgement is on our notices page). All but four of the 328 responses to the Charity Commission' s invitation last December to make representations were critical of the lack of information about the terms of the lease, as was this Association. Questions that now need to be answered are: Who will bear all the legal costs? What is the response of the Charity Commission? Will Firoka withdraw or re-submit?

A look at what's happening at Fortismere School by Aydin Onac, Head Teacher (edited)

After much debate and a fair amount of media interest, Fortismere School became a Foundation school on September 1st 2007. As the school moves forward into a new era, this will give us greater flexibility to steer and manage our vision and to employ and retain the very best staff. Most importantly, now that the governors, rather than the Local Authority, have become the owners of the freehold, it will enable them to preserve the site rather than allowing parts of it to be sold off. After many years of being a specialist technology college, Fortismere changed its special status to Maths and Music. Also following an excellent Ofsted report in which the school was described as having many outstanding features, we have been formally identified as a High Performing Specialist School and, as such, have been offered the opportunity to take on a second specialism, which will be Modern Foreign Languages.

Staff are already working with architects to plan for best use of funding from the government's Building Schools for the Future (SF) programme. We hope to address some key priorities: creating better 21st century catering facilities for students and staff; developing new accommodation for music (to replace the current ancient huts); building a new boundary fence, especially along the Twyford field end; reviewing whether we can bring the swimming pool back into use. (Full speech in our newsletter)

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NEWSLETTER: September 2007

Langton Clock will tell the time again

The iconic clock in Muswell Hill Broadway, high above what was Langton the jewellers and is now the Kate Kuba shoe shop, is to come to life again, thanks to this Association and John Hajdu, our Chairman. The restoration is virtually a solo effort by John who, after three years campaigning, has secured a grant of three thousand four hundreds pounds from Haringey's Making the Difference fund to make it possible. There were 500 applications to that fund.

This handsome decorative clock has been a famous local landmark since the beginning of the 20th century. It was put up in 1899 by E.W.Langton's shortly after they established a branch of their watch and clock-making shop at 3 Princes Parade; which was itself laid out and built in 1898 by the Edmondson family. Initially the mechanism had to be wound by hand, but in the 1950s it was changed to electrical operation. When Langton's left the premises more than ten years ago, the clock stopped working and has been still since then. To repair and restore the clock to its original condition, it will be taken down and transported to Number Four, a local clock maker in Fortis Green.

Vulnerable local shops

It has become only too obvious that the reason behind the closures of some of our best-known shops in the Broadway, is swingeing rent increases beyond the ability of the traders to pay. At the last committee meeting this Association recognised that independent retailers were highly vulnerable in a rising property market and that local residents should be encouraged to use their shops if they don't want them to disappear. The absence of a retailers' orgnisation looking after the interests of traders in the wards we cover means that it is impossible for shops to put up a united front.

Our community initiative wins a Better Haringey Award

This Association was presented with the prize for the best community initiative in the Better Haringey Awards 2007. This prize was one of many awarded in Haringey council's top priority programme, with twenty million pounds invested to make real and visible improvements in the environment, working with residents, businesses and community for a cleaner, greener and safer borough.

Planning White Paper: CAAC submissions

Following publication of the government's White Paper on planning for a sustainable future, the Muswell Hill conservation area advisory committee (CAAC) made a submission to the effect that it welcomed the idea that permitted development rights for householders should be based on impact rather than a volume allowance. This would be beneficial in conservation areas. CAAC however, was not convinced by the suggestion that householder applications should be dealt with by agreement between neighbours.

John Crompton, Chairman of CAAC, responded to the section dealing with climate change, saying it would not support the general use of wind generators on houses, but thought there was more scope for solar panels to be installed on new builds. The opportunity was taken to refer to statements made by several Ministers at the time of the recent floods about the effects of concreting over front gardens to point out that local councils had very little power to control this and to suggest ways in which it might be controlled - and indeed the trend reversed by offering incentives for householders to revert back to gardens.

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NEWSLETTER: July 2007

Worrying loss of shops on the Broadway - and planning applications

The recent rash of shop closures on Muswell Hill Broadway - some as yet only rumoured and some already fact - has made our committee even more determined to continue to oppose all changes in our admired shopping centre from retail to other uses, says John Hajdu, our Chairman. He said: "It is not known of course whether the latest shop closures will result in a change of use, but the moves could pose a real threat to the character of the Broadway. The suggestion that some of the closures are due to swingeing rent increases means only that the sites can be attractive to multiples or other operations like restaurants, coffee bars or estate agents at the expense of the independent traders. It is a nationwide problem which is only now beginning to make a significant impact on Muswell Hill. It started a little while ago when we lost a number of outlets like the sports shop, the cycle shop and the photographic business, all of which were important independents."

There has been considerable shock in recent weeks about the possible closure of Bond and White near the Odeon. Following news of the Oddbins closure at 376 the Broadway, Costa Coffee Shops have made an application for changes to the fascia and signage. The Woolwich Building Society has merged with Barclays Bank and their Broadway outlet is moving into the Barclays branch on the roundabout. Developers are understood to be interested in the run of single-storey shops opposite Sainsbury's, which includes a highly popular florists. A block of nine flats in a modernist manner could take their place. Not on the Broadway, but another familiar local landmark, the Clissold Arms on Fortis Green is also the subject of controversy over plans to extend their dining arrangements into the car park.

MHFGA signs up to sustainable Haringey

Our Association committee, at its last meting, decided that it would be right for the MHFGA to sign up to the Founding Statement on Sustainability as outlined at the Haringey Federation of Resident Associations' conference at the end of March. The statement reads: "Our lives, our communities and our society should be sustainable for generations to come. We agreed to support the development of a Sustainable Haringey network." Our Association was represented at, and participated fully in, the conference where the statement was approved unanimously. Several councillors attended the conference. They claim that Haringey already implements "sustainability" policies to the full, but there is plenty of room for improvement and part of the network strategy is to engage with councillors and Haringey on a plan of action. They would like to have the support in this task not only of bodies such as Friends of the Earth and the Tottenham Civic Society but also of large and influential residents' associations like our own, where climate change is an environmental issue in which our members are engaged.

Alexandra Palace legal challenge

There have been reports in the press about a legal challenge to the Charity Commission's agreement to the lease of Alexandra Palace to Firoka. An application to the High Court for a judicial review can be made within three months of the date of the decision made on April 27th to grant the lease. Our APP correspondent Monica Myers said: "We await the outcome with interest."

Walk on the wild side in Alexandra Park

A return walk in June for our members around Alexandra Park to see the all-but-completed Heritage Lottery Fund scheme was led by Dominic Cole of Land Use Consultants who was responsible for designing the landscaping scheme on the basis of the original Victorian plan and negotiating and agreeing it with English Heritage and the Fund. Land Use have also been responsible for the construction work on the ground. Dominic himself has been involved for 12 years. Everyone also met and welcomed Mark Evison, the new Park Manager, in post for only four weeks.

The walk involved a look at the boating lake, a trip into the conservation area via grassland and hoggin paths which took us past a 300 year old oak tree. On past the fenced-in pond, surrounded by tall reeds, rushes and yellow flag irises, we looked at the reservoir and waterfowl from one of three viewing platforms. The treatment centre in construction at the far end of the reservoir posed a threat to views from the park, but following objections its planned elevation has been reduced and Thames Water is paying for tree screening. The walk continued across the lower slopes in lovely sunshine and ended in the Grove, where the cafe was being fitted out.

Mark Evison welcomes any volunteers to man the information kiosk, lead walks etc.

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NEWSLETTER: May 2007

Plaques remember the Haringey famous

After three years of planning with the local authority and local historians, an imaginative scheme to commemorate famous people who have lived and worked in Haringey with a plaque on their place of abode is finally coming to fruition. The plaques, brainchild of our Chairman John Hajdu, arose out of a discussion in 2004 with Professor Alan Mackay, one of our members. He had been trying to arrange for a plaque to be put up to William Barlow, a crystallographer, mineralogist and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He lived from 1845 to 1934 and occupied a house on the corner of Muswell Hill Broadway and Hillfield Park. The plaques will be produced by Paul Jones, a local maker, in the Haringey green and with the borough logo and financed by Haringey Council. The first plaque will commemorate William Barlow and a ceremony to inaugurate the scheme will be held at the site of his home late in June. A plate beneath it will mark the occasion. Other plaques will be put up and will be reported in our newsletters.

Aid from an old covenant saves backland site from development

When more than 80 Hornsey residents attended a meeting to learn about the history of their Edwardian estate they heard how the discovery of an 1898 covenant helped to prevent a back site development on a small plot of land behind Linzee Road, Clovelly Road, Priory Avenue and Priory Road. The site, originally a tennis court, was used to store cars. A campaign to oppose the development was set up. Resident Matthew Walker remembered mention of a covenant in his title deeds. It restricted the number of houses and their location. He started to investigate how the covenant could be enforced to stop the proposed development and discovered The Covenant Movement based in Ealing, which told him to tell the developers of the covenant. The plan to which the covenant referred was eventually found in dusty archives. It set out the building lines along which the original houses had to be built. After four years of planning battles, fundraising and negotiation with the landowners, the residents succeeded in buying the site, which is to become a communal garden.

Stop and Shop review rejected by Haringey Council

Despite considerable opposition to Haringey Council's controversial pay and display parking schemes for Muswell Hill and Crouch End called Stop and Shop, an attempt in April to have the decision reviewed by the scrutiny committee was rejected. The committee did not refer the case back to the Executive or full Council. That stage was reached after several phases of consultation, during which our Association criticised some details of the scheme but generally held a neutral position as there seemed no overall majority among our members for or against. The proposals now go for formal approval at a meeting on May 21st. Cllr. Brian Haley, executive member for environment and conservation, agreed to review the scheme after six months, it was reported.

Muswell Hill's Architectural heritage

Over the past year our Treasurer John Crompton has been patiently standing in Muswell Hill Broadway and Fortis Green waiting for gaps in the traffic to take photographs of all the shopfronts. The study is now complete, although give the rapidly changing nature of our vibrant shopping centre, it will soon be time to start again, he says. The two typical reactions from those who have seen the photographs is that they show the tremendous architectural heritage which has been bequeathed to us and secondly how sad it is when retailers choose to ignore this and disfigure the buildings, with nasty internally illuminated fascias, cheap and inappropriate off-the-peg shopfronts and external shutters. A selection of the photographs will be available for viewing at the AGM and on the website. The full album can be viewed by appointment with our Chairman. We hope to have the full album on display on our stand at this year's Muswell Hill Festival

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NEWSLETTER: March 2007

A New Constitution for our Association

The new Constitution contains much which for many years has formed the basis for our existence, our aims and objectives, all designed to promote a spirit of community within our area. It covers conditions of membership and subscriptions and outlines the formal framework within which our Association operates. After much deliberation within committee, it is now believed that the contemporary document, which takes full account of current circumstances and the likely needs of the foreseeable future - it is hoped well into the 21st century - is comprehensive enough to take us safely into that era. It is expected that our range of activities will get even wider and the involvement of our officers and committee in community affairs extended and with greater impact. The New Constitution will be formally accepted at our AGM on May 23rd.

Haringey Council review crossovers and front garden car parking

(This article has been contributed by Colin Marr of Methuen Park, an expert on the implications for our environment of the paving over of front gardens.)

The January issue of the Newsletter included an article on how Haringey Council, in response to concerns expressed by residents, was carrying out a review of crossovers (the term used to describe the kerb lowering which allows vehicles to cross into front gardens.) The report, which is strong on environmental concerns, goes a long way to meet residents' demands to tighten up on the conditions that have to be met before a crossover/footway agreement can be granted. At the meeting, further assurances were given about strengthening the conditions in conservation areas, although no timescale was set. It is not legally possible for Haringey Council to withdraw all permitted development rights and inevitably there will be some new crossover agreements and new gardens to be lost, but if the new policy and rules are enforced the benefits will be significant.

In particular the new rules will only permit parking in gardens which are at least 4.8 metres deep so that cars can park at 90 degrees to the road - the days of new concessions for parking parallel to the footway in shallow gardens have gone. There will also be a requirement to retain a maximum of green space.

If these new rules had been in force over the past year or so, the effects would have been significant. In the roads that I am familiar with, five out of six crossovers in Methuen Park would have been refused, all four in Muswell Road would have been refused as would all three or four in Woodberry Crescent, Curzon Road and others in Leaside, Coniston and Muswell Avenues. Similarly, the paved-over areas in gardens in Wellfield, Elms and Dukes Avenues would have been reduced by about 5 per cent. Sadly, there can be no turning back of the clock. The new policy will be reviewed again in six months time and residents are again to be given the opportunity to have an input into this.

Fight to retain clinic services in Muswell Hill

Despite fierce opposition from local residents' bodies - our own 600-strong Association highly prominent among them - the Haringey Teaching and Primary Care Trust finally announced the sale and closure of the Fortis Green Clinic and the transfer of services it provides to other centres in the area. Our Chairman, John Hajdu said: We shall continue to fight for the retention of the clinic's services in Muswell Hill and oppose a move down the hill to the rebuilt Hornsey Central Hospital, whenever that might be.

Following a letter written by John on behalf of our Association and of patients and local residents, to local MP Lynne Featherstone, she confirmed that she had taken up the matter on our behalf with the Secretary of State for Health. Right up to the official news of closure, talks were going on between the Trust and our Association. Two delegates - the Chairman and committee member Peter Thompson - appeared before the Haringey Overview and Scrutiny Committee on January 10th where our case was presented in full. It was at that meeting that John had a discussion with a director of the PCT, which led to three delegates attending a meeting on January 23rd to express the concerns of our members.

All this to no avail. The services previously offered at Fortis Green are now to be transferred to the large, modernised GP surgery in Rutland House at 40 Colney Hatch Lane and to North Bank in Pages Lane. The Dukes Avenue GP practice at no.1 will also be involved.

At the Scrutiny Meeting in January the PCT gave assurances that the services in question will NOT be moved out of Muswell Hill if local residents would be better served by keeping them in N10. On this issue they have promised full consultation of residents including this Association

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NEWSLETTER: January 2007

Don't Close Fortis Green Clinic

There were no fewer than 125 signatures collected outside the Fortis Green Clinic on Friday December 15th 2006, as part of a borough-wide campaign to stop health cuts in Haringey. This Association masterminded the Fortis Green protest, supported by members of the local Pensioners' Action Group. The petition was submitted to the Haringey Primary Care Trust. Our high-profile protest was one of four held in Haringey on the day. The others being St. Ann's Hospital, Crouch End Health Clinic and the Hornsey Central Hospital. The Haringey Primary Care Trust decided to put Fortis Green Clinic up for sale without any warning and without consultation. Alternative plans for local services have not been announced.

Environmental activities

As usual, there has been much ongoing Association activity on the local environment front, led by our Vice-Chair, Dawn Miles. A meeting has been held with Haringey officials to discuss improvements to pocket parks and flower and shrub beds. Replacement shrubs have been ordered and remedial work is scheduled for this month. At Grove Lodge Gardens on Muswell Hill, the path has been swept and money for woodland planting has been approved under Haringey's Making The Difference scheme.

Green Ways Link

Haringey Council are currently investigating and consulting on the possibility of a Green Ways Link from Highgate Station to Alexandra Palace. Green Ways are intended as recreational routes to link public open spaces providing safer access for users. This involves encouraging their use for cyclists but local groups were concerned that this may conflict with the current status of our green spaces. An initial plan detailed a cycle path crossing Queen's Wood and the possible widening of Parkland Walk. Strong representations were made to the cycle route inspection meeting from both the Friends of Queens Wood and our Vice Chair. It was unfortunate that local environmental groups and councillors had not been involved in the initial consultation.

We have now been assured that no cycle route will cross Queen's Wood due to its status as a Local Nature Reserve, its unsuitable gradient and due to a bye-law which prohibits cycles. Parkland Walk will also not now be widened. The Link may possibly provide moneys for some welcome improvements such as better security on the Muswell Hill underpass and improved railings on St. James's viaduct.

Protecting our rights of way

Haringey Council are due to embark on the production of a definitive map of rights of way early this year (pedestrian ways not accessible to four-wheeled vehicles). There appears to be no official record of local rights of way so it is important that all ways which are regularly used by pedestrians are recorded. The Council will be consulting with various people in the compilation of the map but it would be useful if we had some idea in advance of ways to be included. Chris Barker, who is Footpaths Officer for the Ramblers' Association for Haringey as well as our Transport Officer, is beginning to compile a map of ways which people feel should be included. Contact him if you would like to help.

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NEWSLETTER: November 2006

More parking consultations for CPZ and Stop and Shop

As a result of the first round of consultation, a smaller area nearer East Finchley station is now being proposed for the Fortis Green CPZ. Residents in both the new proposed area and the area not now included should have received a letter inviting them to join the consultation which ended on October 30th. The second round of consultation on the proposed Muswell Hill Stop and Shop scheme is to take place between November 23rd and December 14th and everyone who might be affected, including residents of surrounding streets who fear that parking in their area will become more difficult, is invited to respond.

How to get street trees planted

An enquiry from a member to the Chairman about the likelihood of trees being replaced in Ringwood Avenue brought forth a reply from Alex Fraser, Haringey's principal arboricultural officer on a much wider front. It seems there is no borough-wide budget for tree planting and only areas covered by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, in the east of the borough, have any funding at all. However residents can apply for new tree planting in their street by attending their local Area Assembly meetings or by contacting the Area Assembly Co-ordinator, Sharon Annafi, by calling 020 8489 4928 or email assembly@haringey.gov.uk. Funding is available for a range of projects requested by residents to improve their local environment and requests for tree planting through this method have been successful. This autumn 12 trees were scheduled for Greenfield Road and Hillfield Park. If the application is successful, new trees may be planted the following planting season. Mr Fraser can be contacted on 8489 5657 or email him at alex.fraser@haringey.gov.uk.

Alexandra Palace Lease and CUFOS

Negotiations have at last finished between the Alexandra Palace and Park Trustees and Firoka, and the board meeting on October 25th agreed to seek the Charity Commission's consent to grant a 125-year lease to Firoka to develop the Palace. The Commission will then seek representations from the public. The Commission will advertise the proposal on its website at www.charitycommission.org.uk and require the Palace to advertise locally. One issue that has arisen is the inclusion within the lease of the old Palace railway station building, now called CUFOS, which is a popular volunteer-run community centre. Should this building remain with the Trustees is the question we are asking.

Gaudi adjournment

Planning permission has been given for the redesign submitted for the Gaudi-type shopfront in Muswell Hill Broadway. But Haringey Council is nevertheless still taking Chris Ostwald, the shop owner, to court for allegedly disregarding planning regulations. Following an appearance at Highgate Magistrates' Court on October 17th 2006, the case has now been adjourned until January 2007.

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NEWSLETTER: September 2006

Muswell Hill Festival

Local businesses and shops, local charities and craftspeople, local talent and many local community organisations contributed largely to enable the predicted success for this year's Muswell Hill Festival, to be held in Cherry Tree Wood, East Finchley, on Sunday September 17th. Local supporters have amassed 700 prizes for the tombola and more than 70 stallholders will be there, largely from North London. Transport for London and Haringey Council are sponsoring the Corporate Donkey races for one thousand pounds and have donated a fold-up bicycle for auction.

North Bank refurbishment

After some years of fundraising, work is now in progress to North Bank, the lovely Victorian villa on Pages Lane, and the Muswell Hill Methodist Church hopes to move back into the building in late spring 2007. The Oak Room, formerly the billiard room, the second largest space in the house with views over the garden, is one of the areas being made accessible in the current refurbishment. This serves as the church hall for the Muswell Hill Methodist Church. Gill Simpson, a community worker at the church, says they are seeking ideas for their activities in the house. You can contact her on bandgsimpson@aol.com.

Community Notice Board

A community notice board, obtained a t the request of this Association, has finally been moved to a more desirable place, in a prime spot on the edge of the Odeon roundabout, outside Rymans. Dawn Miles told the committee recently her first job was to get the keys and plan what notices will be permissible.

We seek postponement of Stop and Shop scheme

Because of concerns expressed about the Council's Stop and Shop scheme in Muswell Hill, our Transport Officer Chris Barker, following intensive consultation with members, told Haringey Council on our behalf that we should like to see this scheme postponed. He agreed that there may be an issue about present parking arrangements but there is a need for more short-term parking facilities. Present car parking facilities are poorly signed and not fully used. Our association is unhappy about the way this consultation has been conducted and it would have been helpful if notices had been more prominently displayed. The consultation document was not readily available, the website version was inadequate, and the development plan gave the impression that this scheme was already being implemented. There is also a problem with displacement, which has not been addressed.

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NEWSLETTER: July 2006

Chairman reports on a year of achievements

A well-attended annual meeting on May 17th saw Chairman John Hajdu make his fifth annual report showing how the Association had gone from strength to strength, with several notable achievements and closer involvement with local issues. The Newsletter has increased to six pages and photographs have been introduced. There were more than 30 mentions about our Association in the press. The website has been improved and extended and now attracts around 30,000 hits a year, many from abroad. Under the leadership of Vice-Chair, Dawn Miles, we had another outstanding year dealing with green sites, graffiti and litter and have persuaded Haringey Council to restore three dilapidated green spaces to their former glory. The Association has also been active all year in dealing with Transport and Planning matters. At the end of the meeting Jack Whitehead gave a talk on our voluntary team's efforts to remove graffiti in Muswell Hill.

Parkland Walk working girls

The first Parkland Walk working party was held on June 10th; spearheaded by our Vice-Chair Dawn Miles, ably assisted by committee member Peter Thompson together with some of his neighbours in Hillfield Park. Other helpers included Gail Engert and Sheila Rainger (Muswell Hill ward councillors). Catherine Price of the Haringey British Trust for Conservation Volunteers was present and is actively involved in this scheme. They attacked an outbreak of Japanese knotweed, cut back trees, cleared rubbish and planted what is hoped to be the first of many woodland plants. The cost is to be met by the MHFGA.

Record turn out for Alexandra Park walk

The weather was perfect for the first June walk in Alexandra Park with Matt Baker, the park's Development Manager. He told us about the Heritage Lottery Fund scheme as we toured the areas being improved like the boating lake and skateboard park. All paths are now accessible to wheelchair users and car parking has been extended. Planning approval has delayed some of the buildings planned like the Grove Cafe but they are due to be completed this autumn. The HLF funding ends in January 2007 and there has to be a managerial plan in place to ensure the Park is appropriately managed over the next ten years. This walk is planned to run again in June 2007.

New Members generosity and thanks

Several members who have paid their subscriptions have been generous either in extra donations or praise for the work of the committee or both. We thank them for their comments and their support.

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NEWSLETTER: May 2006

We are rewarded for recycling effort

Recycling our waste brings in its own rewards, but for 22 organisations and individuals in Haringey, including our own association, it also brought cash awards for achieving the coveted status of Recyclers of the Year.

At a Better Haringey Awards Recyclers event in March attended by Ben Bradshaw MP, Environment Minister and Penny Poyzer, BBC Presenter and author, there were 22 finalists including our own association, all of whom received one hundred and fifty pounds in recognition of individual efforts. We also received an extra two hundred and fifty pound for being one of three runners-up. The top prizewinners were the Garden Residents Association. Our award came because of the ongoing publication in both our Newsletters and on our website of recycling matters and our constant encouragement to members to recycle, coupled with a close liaison built up between us and Haringey's recycling department.

Updating plans for Muswell Hill Library

Following questions from our Chairman, John Hajdu, at the Muswell Hill Assembly on March 6th, Councillor Charles Adje, Leader of the Council, has pledged development plans to upgrade and improve Muswell Hill Library. We made the point that money for repairs was promised in this financial year and that nothing had happened so far, although the library was in need of urgent repair.

Councillor Adje said: The Muswell Hill Library is a vital community resource and now needs a major upgrade so that we can develop our services and make it fit for the 21st century. It is a Grade 2 listed building in the heart of Muswell Hill. More and more people are using the library and we want to give them a facility to be proud of. Options are now being finalised and public consultations will start in the early summer. Councillor Adje also said that visitor numbers at this library had increased by 270 per cent since 2001/2 and lending was up by 40 per cent over the same period.

Alexandra Park Friends are on the case

The new Friends of Alexandra Park group was inaugurated on March 23rd at a very well attended public meeting and already has 118 members from all sides of the Park. Its aims are to maintain the Park as a community asset, a green space, a wildlife habitat and a place of recreation, to help protect it from the pressures that greater commercialisation of the Palace may bring and to keep the Park as the direct responsibility of the trustees. The Board of Trustees for the Park and Palace has agreed to its representation on the Consultative Committee. If you are interested in the future of the Park and wish to join, please contact their website at www.friendsofalexandrapark.org.

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NEWSLETTER: March 2006

We seek public meeting with Alexandra Palace developer

Preliminary contact has been made between this Association and Firoka, the successful bidders for the 125-year lease of Alexandra Palace, which it is hoped will lead to Firoz Kassam, the head of Firoka, agreeing to receive an MHFGA delegation.
Our initial approach was received by John Angus, Mr Kassam's right hand man, who pointed out that they were busy with legal terms of the lease and that March or April would be more appropriate for a meeting. It had been hoped that a meeting between the developer and the community might have been held earlier than that. Ongoing concerns are whether the interests of local people and their environment will be safeguarded in the plans for the Palace.

Coldfall Wood receives Heritage Lottery Funding

Coldfall Wood is the last remaining piece of the ancient woodland, which once covered the Fortis Green area. Plans to reverse years of neglect at Coldfall Wood received a boost when it was announced in January that the Heritage Lottery Fund had awarded a grant of sixty thousand pounds over three years for improvements - this is one of many other woods benefiting from an overall million pounds grant to London's woodlands.

Friends of Muswell Hill Playing Fields and Coldfall Wood organised a consultation meeting to allow local residents a voice in how the grant should be spent. A major feature of the plan is the creation of a reed bed to help treat the problem of pollution in the stream feeding the wood. Other improvements include replacement of the bridges, new benches, signs, wheel-chair access and railing repairs. Some coppicing will be done for the benefit of wildlife and for a new nature trail. These works start in April 2006. Concerns were raised about safety and destructive anti-social behaviour (eg torching of stolen vehicles) which could harm improvements.
Question were asked about a potential 500 thousand pounds in Section 106 funding coming from the development of a new estate next to Muswell Hill Playing Fields (the former Lynx depot), which could supplement the HLF grant, but Friends of Coldfall Wood have been unable to get a clear answer from Haringey Council about the allocation of these funds. (see Sept 2005 newsletter for past news on this.)

Objections to banners on lamp posts

This Association and others are objecting to the rash of advertising banners on lamp posts, which have recently appeared around Muswell Hill and across the borough. They are considered to be distracting to motorists and contrary to the Council's stated intention of reducing street clutter. A Council spokesperson said old signs were rusting and falling down and have been replaced with the new banners, the idea of which was to allow the Council opportunity for its own messages on one side and advertising opportunity for local businesses on the other, and to stop unauthorised advertising. It is understood the decision to go ahead was taken by the Leader of the Council with the Chief Executive. No consultation took place.

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NEWSLETTER: January 2006

Green sites success in Fortis Green

A schedule of work has been agreed with Tony Healey, Haringey's Neighbourhood Manager, Parks, West, covering Midhurst Green, Eastern Green and Twyford Green. Midhurst Green will receive a number of new rose bushes and shrubs, with existing plants cut back and bark spread on the beds, stone walls repaired and all rubbish (including a TV set and a snooker table!) taken away. At Eastern Green, six new shrubs and two rose bushes will be planted, bark spread on the beds and the benches will be repaired and painted. At Twyford Green the bench at the corner will be repaired and painted, bushes cut back, 20 shrubs and two rose trees planted. stone slabs will be dug up and the dangerous railings will be dismantled and taken away.

In addition to these works, we were granted extra funds from Haringey's Making a Difference programme to pay for our requests for two benches at Twyford Green costing one thousand five hundred pounds and repointing and making good the retaining stone wall along the Muswell Hill Path that was recently rescued from years of neglect.

Campaign to bring back Park Keepers and for friends to guard our green spaces

A campaign to bring back park wardens and keepers to Haringey has been launched by the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations and the Haringey Friends of Parks Forum. This local move follows what is said to be a national surge of public opinion in favour of bringing back the park keeper. It is understood that Haringey Council is prepared to agree the policy but not to fund it. Additionally the Parks Forum has issued a Let's be Friends leaflet to encourage new groups to be formed for every green space in Haringey. Currently there are 27 friends groups working through the Forum, which meets bi-monthly. Our association works tirelessly to protect and maintain pocket parks in Muswell Hill and Fortis Green but if you would like to launch a group for a park near you, which does not have any representation, you can email jcurtis@brownreference.com.

Alexandra Palace licensing and noise monitoring

The council licensing sub-committee has granted licenses at Alexandra Palace for public entertainment and sale of liquor, but with conditions. The license is for all events that end by 2am. For an extension up tot 24 hours, the event must be pre-booked and 14 day's notice given to council and police. There are also noise conditions and acoustic engineers must be present to monitor sound levels. Advance warnings must be given for large events, with a telephone number for the public to contact the palace during events.

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