|
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.
|
