Local Election 2014: The Big Issues

Everyone has different issues that concern or directly affect them. Here’s a short list of  some of the major topics that seem relevant in this area at the moment (in no particular order).

HS2 – the impact of building HS2 is likely to be huge on Camden overall. While the effect on Fortune Green might be limited, Swiss Cottage and Kilburn wards would be heavily effected by construction and West Hampstead would likely see knock-on effects in traffic.

Schools – The debate about school places has been running for some time now. There’s an active campaign group pushing for a free school (primary and secondary) in West Hampstead, while the council is planning to open an extension of Kingsgate primary school in Liddell Road. Getting to grips with the statistics – especially on the demand for secondary school plcaes – is not for the faint hearted.

Planning & Development – The area around West Hampstead stations is already marked as an area for intensification and that’s not going to change. However, the council has significant influence over the type of development and in how the money that developers give back to the community is spent. There are also other implications on development such as the demand for social services, health care, schooling etc.

Streets & Environment – We’re all aware of the rubbish problem that peaked towards the end of last year. Although the situation has improved following a clampdown by Camden, it doesn’t feel as if it’s been cracked.

There are myriad other issues of course, and you’ll have the chance to air them at our hustings on May 12th. Or speak to the candidates at their street stalls or when they knock on your door (if they knock on your door).

Who are your candidates? Check out which ward you’re in, or go straight to the candidate list for West Hampstead, Fortune Green, Kilburn or Swiss Cottage.

Local elections 2018: The candidates

The local elections are on May 3rd. This is when you get the chance (and “you” includes EU citizens) to vote for three councillors for the ward you live in. All the ward councillors who are elected form Camden council (or Brent council for those of you the other side of the Kilburn High Road). […]

Luxury retirement development ‘can’t afford’ to pay for affordable housing

West Hampstead is facing yet another large-scale property development. It’s the third proposal to redevelop the site at the former Gondar Gardens reservoir. The history of the previous proposals have been well documented on these pages, but what really caught our eye about this one was that it offers no affordable housing either on-site or as […]

Bringing West Hampstead insight to national property statistics

Sponsored post Every week newspaper headlines vary between ‘house prices rise’ or ‘house prices fall’ – but which headline is accurate? We thought we’d delve behind the headlines for this month’s West Hampstead Life column; we’ll be sharing some interesting stats and sprinkling them with some local insight to bring them to life. First-time buyers […]

No step closer to step-free access for West Hampstead tube station

Many local organisations have been pushing for step-free access to West Hampstead tube station over the past few years – even if opinion diverges on what the solution should be. It was therefore disappointing, as local residents association WHGARA pointed out recently, that West Hampstead was not included in the recent batch of stations to […]

Liddell Road school to open with spare capacity

Liddell Road has a new name. After much careful thought and consideration it has been renamed, wait for it…, “Liddell Place”. Someone suggested an alternative, but for some reason Camden didn’t like it. Where’s Liddell Road? It’s the former council-owned light industrial estate just off Maygrove Road that’s being redeveloped to house an infants school […]

Residents concerned over Beckford School road closure plan

Camden Council has announced plans to implement a temporary road closure near a primary school in West Hampstead, angering many local residents. There are public meetings to discuss the proposals this Thursday. The affected area is around Beckford School on Dornfell Street. Camden’s proposal is to close Broomsleigh Street at the Mill Lane end at […]