Emergency services swarm West End Lane, but “chemical smell” is false alarm
High drama around lunchtime today as the police, ambulances and the fire brigade descended on West End Lane after reports of an iffy smell. Full story here:
What have you missed since June 5th?
The big news. You can’t have missed it. Tulip Siddiq was re-elected as MP for H&K.
Commiserations to the other candidates; Claire-Louise Leyland for the Tories, Kirsty Allan for the Lib Dems, John Mansook for the Greens, and independents Hugh Easterbrook and Rainbow George.
A man was arrested following the murder of a woman in Kilburn.
Whampstead sky and station. Image by Eli
Election news (last one… for now)
- Sumatra Road (really, yes really) was mentioned in the Economist in an article on on-line campaigning.
- Apparently, the Conservatives outstripped Labour in their Facebook targetting.
- Cllr Flick Rea took a tumble, and broke her arm. A kind passerby* called an ambulance. Get well soon Flick! *Cllr Lorna Russell!
- One local campaigner is putting away his election placard. But keeping it safe in case he needs it again!
It was the West Hampstead Farmers’ Market’s fifth birthday. Changes afoot (which we told you earlier)!
It was Gabriella’s third birthday. Cake at the Embassy no less, and best wishes from West Hampstead.
OUTDOOR FILM SCREENING alert! Saturday 17th June the Friends of Fortune Green are showing ‘Arrival’ – on the Green, under the stars and cycle-powered. Starts at sundown, but get there early to grab a good spot.
On Sunday 18th there are Big Lunches taking place at Iverson Road (for MILAM residents), Hillfield Road (for Hillfield and Aldred) and Gondar (for Gondar, Agamemnon and neighbouring streets). Any others? Let us know.
The Libraries writer-in-residence Ted Booth is reaching the end of his term. His blog is worth a read. Obvs.
And talking of artists in residence the Camden Arts Centre has a new one. (If you haven’t seen the Geta Bratescue exhibition there. One word – go. Ends on the 18th.)
Tweet of the week
World Wide Knit in Public Day is happening now in West Hampstead Square! #wwkip #westhampstead https://t.co/s2awUjrVwb pic.twitter.com/28VylNYJkp
— Annie (@VHaberdashery) June 10, 2017
Bouquets for Tulip as she surges to comfortable win
Tulip Siddiq MP romped home with a clear victory in Hampstead & Kilburn, getting 34,646 votes and more than half of all votes. That was a margin of 15,560 over her Conservative opponent Claire-Louise Leyland. There was a swing to Labour of 14.6%, which transformed Tulip’s slim margin of 1,138 seats in 2015. Far from being a squeaky tight seat as many predicted, H&K is – for the moment at least – a Labour stronghold.
And the winner is … Tulip Siddiq M.P. Image credit @betterforbritain
Conservatives’ share of the vote fell 10%. Kirsty Allan of one-time challengers the Lib Dems got 4,100 votes (up 1.4%) while John Mansook of the Greens got 742 (down 3.2%). The two independent candidates couldn’t muster 200 votes between them. UKIP had not stood, and it was their voters going to the Conservatives that was Tulip’s biggest fear. In the end, she had no need to worry.
Tulip was clearly helped by the strong Labour boat, captained by Jeremy Corbyn, but H&K voters also seem to have responded to her focus on her local record and no doubt the very high intensity campaign that her local supporters were able to muster at short notice.
Her strong anti-Brexit stance must also have played a role, and may well have been a key driver of the drop in the Tory vote. One theory doing the rounds at the count was that remainer Tories were voting Lib Dem, but if true, then other Lib Dem voters must have switched to Labour perhaps to keep the Tories out rather than due to a change of ideology, as the Lib Dem overall share of votes remained about the same.
Did the drive to sign up young people have an effect in Hampstead & Kilburn. It probably helped. An additional 2,779 voters signed up to vote (though age is unknown), taking the total electorate to just shy of 83,000. Turnout on the day was higher than the national average, rising 3 percentage points to 70.4% (which translated to 4,443 extra votes compared to 2015).
What of our neighbours? In Camden’s other constituency, Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer stormed home with a majority in excess of 30,000. In H&K’s neighbouring Brent seat, Brent Central, Labour’s Dawn Butler was also a convincing winner with a 28,000 majority. Looking south, Karen Buck – also Labour – was in a similar position to Tulip, defending a small majority and with the threat of a strong Tory challenge. She too ended up coming home safely with an 11,500 majority.
All those election leaflets, now we need to recycle them (… or just reuse them for the rumoured next GE?)
Labour’s only local disappointment, and the only glimmer of hope for the Conservatives in our part of the capital was to the north in Finchley and Golders Green, Conservative Mike Freer was re-elected, though his majority was only just over 1,500. It was a similar picture further north still, where local boy Mike Katz – former Labour councillor for Kilburn before his controversial deselection – looked like he was in with a good shot of taking Hendon. In another very tight race, the rising Labour tide wasn’t quite enough for Mike who fell just under 1,000 votes short of unseating Conservative Matthew Offord. One feels Mike’s time will come.
What does any of this mean – well, no great change locally for now, but brace yourselves for another trip to the polling booths before too long in the next round of “Tulip takes on allcomers”.
What have you missed since May 30th?
There was another terrorist attack. Some local Labour activists were at Borough Market, but all safe thank goodness.
It’s election day on Thursday. Our final interview for H&K 2017: Tulip Siddiq.
(And in case you haven’t read them; here are the interviews with Claire-Louise Leyland (Conservative), Kirsty Allan (Lib Dem) and John Mansook (Green)).
If you want a break from politics our historians focused on West Hampstead’s pioneering society photographer (she inspired Cecil Beaton no less).
Local actors and cricket fans Jim Carter and Michael Simkins were on Radio 4 on Saturday telling the story about the Hollywood cricket club.
You know the ‘hood is out of control when the Bridge Cafe starts charging £500 for breakfast! ? says @bkgpeters.
Election news
- The campaign for H&K was profiled in the Evening Standard. In the print edition Claire-Louise Leyland got the bigger picture. Online it’s Tulip.
- The only hustings of the campaign in H&K was held at the Granville Centre in South Kilburn. One of the main issues discussed was how to tackle terrorism.
- Lib Dem silk Phillipe Sands QC endorsed Tulip over her stance on Article 50.
- The election odds have narrowed considerably, with the Conservatives as (slight) favourites.
- But Lord Ashcroft, the Conservative pollster, has a 61% chance of Tulip surviving next week (depending on youth turnout).
- YouGov admittedly in their outlier poll called the seat for …
- Who knew? Cllr @olivercooper is a Tory ‘wet’.
- The Standard thought the improvement in the polls might help local Mike Katz standing for Labour in Hendon.
- Nazanin was denied her right to vote in this election
Local improvements 1. The Black Path is being resurfaced so it is closed (but will be open on election day)
Local improvements 2. The tube station is getting an extra entrance gate.
UCS is moving mountains, literally, in renovating its sports fields.
If you live in or around Fordwych Road, please fill in this survey.
A top London restaurant blogger went to Summers (and he liked it).
Recall our article about 1 Woodchurch Road? Well for £2.5million (for a flat!) you can join them.
Flick Rea is having her portrait painted this week! And you can go along and watch.
An early review of the new Diane Keaton rom-com ‘Hampstead’.
The ENO opera on Broadhurst Gardens was really good. And pretty much sold out, but a few tickets left.
Tweet of the week
(In fact in Paris people leave shoes on the street for others to take. Seriously.)
If u are at home tonight in @WHampstead wondering "where did I leave my shoes?", they are on Crediton Hill. What is wrong with people? pic.twitter.com/xP7SXy92gM
— John Mennis (@JfmJm) June 1, 2017
H&K 2017: The Tulip Siddiq interview
As the incumbent MP, and a very active one at that, Labour’s Tulip Siddiq has a higher profile than the other candidates for Hampstead & Kilburn. It is hard to believe she has only been our MP for two years – she has packed a lot in to that time (including this recent interview with us before the election was called) and had a baby too! In our final interview of this election we look at how this campaign has differed from 2015, and what makes her nervous.
Two years ago, she told us that she had loads of energy and the campaign was really exciting. How is this time? “With Theresa May calling a snap election we only had a day to plan, last time we had a year, so it has been very intense. With the luxury of a lot of time in 2015 we could hold events to boost volunteers. This year, there’s been no time for any of that. And add to that a severe lack of sleep because of the baby!”
She has just done an interview with the BBC about having a baby on the campaign trail. “Normally, you can skip a meal, you can forgo a few hours of sleep; but you can’t do that with a baby – she needs her meals, her sleep, the basic human needs of a child can’t be neglected.”
Tulip Siddiq at the 2015 West Hampstead Life hustings. Photo via Eugene Regis
Hampstead & Kilburn was always going to be a tight seat – such are the demographics here – but predictions have definitely changed over the course of the campaign. How has the campaign gone? “It’s very had to know how people will vote,” says Tulip. “[Pollster] Peter Kellner said that H&K was an odd-ball seat. I hope people are focussing on my personal record. This is the seat I wanted to stand in and the seat I wanted to win. But this year feels a lot more unpredictable. Brexit has changed everything, as has Trump being elected. Although Europe came up in 2015, we didn’t really expect that we would vote leave. The political landscape has changed.”
Tulip of course rebelled against her party on Article 50, voting against and resigning her frontbench position as shadow early years minister in the process. Given that H&K is a strong Remain constituency, this was probably a smart move, but with Labour’s own position rather vague on Brexit some hardcore Remain voters may still be sceptical.
For Tulip personally, being a rebel has been eye-opening. “The level of pressure you get to vote in terms of the party is immense – it’s borderline harassment if you go into the wrong lobby. But I’m a tough cookie and I’ve questioned the PM more times that any other backbencher.”
Tulip certainly continues to fight the EU corner: “I am very worried about the future; about what will happen with trade, about the number of scientific projects in the constituency that are dependent on EU funding, about what will happen with EU citizens in the NHS – a fifth of the doctors and nurses in the Royal Free are from Europe, for example. Bluntly, what is going to happened to the GDP of London?”
She says that, on the doorstep, “People seem to appreciate me voting against Article 50 – they even know the position I held – but it’s a mixed response and you need to win people over”.
Her Tory opponent this time around is Claire-Louise Leyland. A very different character from boxing-academy Simon Marcus in 2015. But is she more challenging? There are, after all, some Tories who feel Simon’s campaign never really picked up momentum. “I don’t really know much about Claire-Louise, and I haven’t met her that many times, whereas I knew Simon a lot better (as we were both Councillors) . I think part of the problem with Simon was that he was saying things he didn’t believe in. In this constituency people are very engaged and very informed and they’ll see through you.”
One of the biggest challenges facing many Labour candidates this year has been the electorate’s apparent disregard for Jeremy Corbyn. And not just the electorate – he’s already survived a vote of no confidence from within his party and Tulip has been a fairly outspoken critic of his, despite the fact that she was the MP to tip him over the line for nominations for the leadership (though she didn’t subsequently vote for him).
Yet in the past couple of weeks, it seems that Corbyn’s popularity has grown and this boost has been behind much of the rise of Labour in the polls. As we enter the final week of campaigning, is he an asset or a liability?
“If you asked me that four weeks ago, when Theresa May called the election I would have definitely said a liability, but I don’t know any more. Maybe his rise in popularity is a reflection that people are craving politicians who are human. I don’t know what to say about Jeremy anymore, because I’m as shocked as everyone!”
There are rumours that a number of Labour MPs are planning on forming a separate parliamentary Labour party after the election. Would Tulip join them? “I’m Labour to the core”, says Tulip. “You don’t make change by shouting from the sidelines, you make changes from within. I was talking to a Labour activist this week and he said he was never a fan of Tony Blair but he carried on campaigning for Labour and for many it is the same with Jeremy. Leaders come and go but we are the Labour Party”.
Labour’s rally in the polls has been reflected also in the bookmakers’ odds for this seat. They are always to be taken with a large pinch of salt, but they certainly suggest that H&K is no longer a clear Tory win, which many predicted at the start of the campaign. Tulip definitely has a good chance of holding her seat, so what is her biggest worry about the vote now. She is unequivocal. “It’s UKIP saying publicly that they have pulled out to support the Tories. They got 1,500 votes last time, which is bigger than my majority, so there is a big chance that we could wake up on June 9th with a Tory MP because of UKIP votes”.
Not that every Labour voter from 2015 can necessarily be relied on. Hampstead may be the clichéd home of the champagne socialists, but the reality is that the wealthier parts of the constituency vote Tory. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of potential Labour voters in the upper income brackets across H&K. Is Tulip concerned that Labour’s proposed tax rises on the very wealthy will hurt her chances given that she’s going to need every vote to overcome the national swing to the Tories?
She is very clear: “If you want public services to improve and you want money to go into the health services and schools, then where do you expect the money to come from? If you earn more than £90,000 you would have to pay £10 week extra. If I earned £90,000 I would pay that extra £10 a week.”
In 2015, the mansion tax was a bugbear on the campaign trail with areas like Hampstead and West Hampstead having plenty of properties that would have fallen into that category thanks to the rocketing prices of property in the area. That idea has been shelved, but Labour has said that it’s interested in consulting on a land value tax to replace council tax, but it is only a consultation. Tulip argues that revaluing council tax bands is long overdue. “If I were writing the manifesto, or ever became Prime Minister I would do that.”
Of course, we have to discuss the rubbish issue, which has been the biggest local topic for discussion since the fortnightly collection was introduced by Tulip’s Labour colleagues in Camden. “I’ve been shocked by the accusation that I haven’t done anything about the rubbish collection,” she says. “I realise how much it has affected people’s lives. I deal with the casework and as a local resident with a baby I’ve also been affected by the problems [Ed: nappy collections have been just one area that has not gone smoothly]. I may not have gone to papers, as I don’t think that is very constructive, but I met with [the responsible Camden cabinet member] Meric Apak about it back in March. We spoke for a long time – I almost never have hour long meetings with Camden Cabinet members!”
Will those who want to give Labour a kicking over the rubbish issue and can’t wait until next year’s local elections to punish the people actually responsible, push Claire-Louise over the line? It’s possible and Tulip has to contemplate life after just two years as an MP. What would she do?
“It’s hard to think beyond Thursday… so I don’t really know. One of the things about being an MP in an area like this has made me realise is that there is real need for someone to do interfaith work. There is a real need for people to come together. There is a big Jewish community here and a big Muslim one and the lack of interaction between them is astonishing. They are only five minutes down the road from each other and they have still never really interacted. You probably need someone like me who is equally comfortable with both communities to do something of the bring together.”
“I feel in the light of what happened in Manchester and in light of that fact there is a real threat of terrorism now, that I’d like to do some work looking into the causes of terrorism [Ed: this interview took place the afternoon before the attack on London Bridge on June 3rd]. What do we do to help people who feel so disenfranchised with the society they live in? The work I have done as an MP has shown me there is a big gap we need to address.”
“Whether I win or lose I’m going have to play some part in lobbying for a softer Brexit. I’m working on a legal case with a local QC, Jessica Simor at Matrix, on some legal aspects of Article 50 and I’d like to do something about scrutinising the government.”
Finally, why should someone vote for Tulip Siddiq?
“I am the local candidate who grew up here, went to school here, been a local councillor here, had my baby here. I’ve always put this interests of the constituency first, and will continue to be a strong independent voice for Hampstead & Kilburn”.
What have you missed since May 22nd?
Due to the tragic incident in Manchester and immediate suspension of all electioneering, our hustings was cancelled. Alas we’ve been unable to organise another one.
There were security measures taken at the O2 carpark.
Football fans were out in force before the FA Cup final. Is this a taste of things to come as Spurs play at Wembley next season?
Photo credit: Matt Stuart/Magnum Photos
Election news
- Once campaigning restarted, the party stalls were out on West End Lane over the weekend; Labour, Lib Dems … the teachers (NUT) and the Conservatives (can report that although their performance in the polls has been a bit wobbly recently, their table is now strong and stable).
- The Greens didn’t have a stall, but we’ve spoken to their candidate, John Mansook.
- (Coming up next week, H&K 2017: The Tulip Siddiq Interview).
- Glenda is not a fan of Jeremy Corbyn, but she is of Tulip.
- Europhile Andrew Marshall, former Conservative, now independent councillor, cast his postal vote for ….
- No surprise who Cllr Phil Rosenberg (Lab) is voting for (unless he’s a shy Tory, which we doubt!)
- Claire-Louise Leyland was out canvassing at … Bobby FitzPatrick’s?
- Local actors made their political endorsements.
- UKIP confirmed that they aren’t running a candidate in H&K to avoid damaging the Brexit cause.
- And get your voting practice in with this; the Kitchen Table needs YOUR vote.
A West Hampstead mum needs to raise £50,000 for operation and physiotherapy for her son Troy. She’s over half way there!
There is a new memorial plaque on West End Lane, for Dave Simcock.
Oh no! The leaks have started again…
The Victorian Society took a stroll round West Hampstead.
Police officers were commended for their bravery.
Like living in West Dumpstead? Dumping on (lower) Fordwych Road, (upper) Fordwych Road, Smyrna Road, Crediton Hill and Mill Lane…
Tweet of the week
My 100 yard walk to DASS the newsagents! What a pleasant way to start the day! Filthy! @WHampstead @MillLaneNW6 @camdentalking @VeoliaUK pic.twitter.com/NWx7iwkoaH
— Mill Lane Barbers (@prodprodromou) May 22, 2017
H&K 2017: The John Mansook Interview
John Mansook, the young chairman of Brent Greens, and the Green Party candidate for H&K was out for a coffee last month with another member of the Brent Green party discussing how to take the local party forward.
The next day Theresa May announced the snap general election, and there swiftly followed an email asking if John wanted to run. He said yes – and less than a month later he’s talking to WHL on a park bench in Queen’s Park.
John is a fitness trainer. He left university and couldn’t find a job so he turned his hobby, kickboxing, into a career as a sports coach. He now works with all age groups from the elderly, people with dementia, the disabled and – his real passion – working with kids and toddlers to get them all exercising.
L to R: Green supporter, Shaka Lish (Brent Central), John Mansook (H&K) and super-activist Poppy.
The Green Party is definitely at the David rather than the Goliath end of the British political system. It has a small team of local activists, including Poppy – its local secret weapon; but despite increasing evidence of climate change, Green issues have slipped down the agenda. Why aren’t younger members getting involved? “The meetings and politics can be “off-putting for young people,” says John.
The most immediate ‘Green’ issue in this local campaign is recycling and rubbish. John, who lives in Brent, feels that there should be a return to weekly collections in H&K as, despite the good intentions, there isn’t the necessary buy-in. In Brent “they no longer chase you down and give you information”. As a sports coach he is aware that engagement is key, but is also aware it isn’t easy.
There was some controversy about the Greens putting up a candidate at all in Hampstead and Kilburn. They got 2,387 votes last time – greater than Labour’s winning margin of 1,132 votes. So how would he feel if Tulip lost by a smaller margin that the Green votes? “Personally, anything but Tory. But I wouldn’t say I’m preventing it happening. We did offer to stand down as part of a progressive alliance, but it is a two-way thing and there was no movement by Labour. Ultimately the members of the Camden and Brent Greens wanted a candidate to represent them. But yes – I’m being asked about that a lot today!”
What has surprised him the most about the campaign? “I have been surprised how supportive and understanding people are. It’s very daunting because this is my first time doing it but for the most part people have been very kind and they recognise you are doing something for your community. It really has taken away a lot of that fear factor about standing”.
Finally, why should we vote for John Mansook? “I’m not your average politician, I’ve been on the receiving end of Conservative and Labour policies; tuition fees, lack of housing. So coming from that perspective I can really empathise with people about how they feel about these issues”.
Plaque installed for Dave Simcock
If you are wandering down West End Lane you might have noticed a new plaque on the bench opposite Cycle Surgery. It is in memory of Dave Simcock. Who was Dave Simcock?
Dave Simcock, who died last year, was a long time committee member of WHAT (West Hampstead Amenity and Transport). On Monday May 22nd, members put up the plaque on the bench in his memory.
Virginia Berridge, former chair of WHAT, remembered Dave’s enthusiasm for anything to do with trains and railways. He was always up with the latest news and keen to attend consultation meetings called by the rail companies. He was a long-term attender of Thameslink meetings and reported on its plans for new stations and rolling stock. He was also an assiduous deliverer of the WHAT newsletter in the days when it was a paper copy.
Who’s who of WHAT remembering Dave Simcock
Dave was ill for some time but never let his illness get in the way of his enthusiasm. During a meeting outside the Overground station with representatives of Tfl talking about plans for the redevelopment of the station, he became ill and an ambulance was called. Dave was attended to by ambulance staff but never lost his interest in the meeting and rejoined when he could.
Gill Becket, Dave’s partner, attended the gathering. KOVE (Kilburn Older Voices Exchange) was also there as the group had worked with WHAT and Camden to have the benches installed. Good wishes were sent by Tulip Siddiq who recalled how Dave had encouraged her to stand in the constituency. Claire-Louise Leyland, the Conservative candidate commented recently that when Camden consults it often has world experts in the field living the borough; Dave was West Hampstead’s resident expert on all matters rail related and helped WHAT punch above its weight when dealing with First Capital Connect (Thameslink) or London Overground.
Hustings postponed in wake of Manchester attack
We have had to cancel tonight’s hustings at the Sherriff Centre.
Following the terrible attack in Manchester last night, which has left 22 people dead and dozens more injured, the political parties have suspended campaigning.
Sadly this sort of disruption of the democratic process is surely one of the aims of terrorism. While calling a temporary halt to the campaign is understandable at the national level, and of course in Manchester, I believe the hustings would have been an opportunity for West Hampstead to come together as a community and pay its respects to the people caught up in this unimaginably awful situation, while acknowledging that sensitive and thoughtful political debate can continue even as we mourn for the victims.
We will try and reschedule the hustings, and keep you informed. Thanks to those of you who had already submitted questions. Hopefully they can still be asked
What have you missed since May 15th?
The big news: Hustings on Tuesday at the Sheriff Centre. Doors open at 7:00, starts at 7:30.
Next up in our election 2017 interviews: the Conservative candidate for H&K, Claire-Louise Leyland.
A man was sentenced for ‘disgusting’ violence on his arrest.
Oh West Hampstead, there are few words… What the duck??? Seen by @rlawrence27
Election news
- If you aren’t registered to vote tomorrow (Monday 22) is your final chance!
- And if you want a postal or proxy vote you need to apply by Tuesday 23rd.
- Gina Miller (of the article 50 case) was in H&K with her new group ‘Best for Britain’ offering support (and funding?) for Tulip Siddiq.
- How will the Conservative manifesto impact housing?
- Chris Philp thinks first time buyers need more help (doh!)
- Richard Cotton was elected mayor of Camden. He’s an ex-housing officer, voted against 156.
Local Schools have been asking parents for extra funds – including Smartie tubes filled with coins at Emmanuel.
Have we found Ms Eckert?
The improvement of the Black Path continues. Watch out! It will be closed for a couple of days for resurfacing, first this week then again in June.
Fordwych RA held a small but successful Spring Fair.
It’s Chelsea week and there is a local(ish) Chelsea Fringe event at Fenton House, always worth a revisit.
A local(ish) exhibition on 2WW German refugee art was Guardian exhibition of the week.
If you haven’t seen‘Holocaust by Bullets’ at JW3 do go. It is very moving. And this week there is a talk by Philippe Sands.
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
H&K 2017: The Claire-Louise Leyland interview
Claire-Louise Leyland is a Camden councillor for Belsize and for three years has been leader of the Conservative opposition on Camden council. She is also the Conservative candidate for Hampstead & Kilburn in the upcoming general election.
Hampstead and Kilburn is one of the Tories’ top target seats – one of the few in London on that list. In both 2010 and 2015, Labour managed to retain the seat by narrow margins. In two short years Tulip Siddiq has established her name and profile among H&K voters but with the Conservatives riding high in the polls nationally, will Claire-Louise Leyland be the candidate to finally take the seat? And if she does, what sort of MP will she be?
Like her fellow candidates she lives locally (Primrose Hill), but was born and grew up in South Africa, although her father hails from Lancashire. She returned to the UK in 1998. Even though her father lived and worked in South Africa as a ex-pat, Claire-Louise says that “he was still very passionate about the Queen, England and Margaret Thatcher – plus he was a strong Liverpool supporter” crediting him with her interest in politics. On her mother’s side her great uncle was an MP (in South Africa).
Claire-Louise Leyland, stood as the ppc in West Tyrone in 2015. Will stand as ppc for H&K in 2017 Image: Ulster Herald.
In the 2015 election, she stood for the Tories in West Tyrone. It’s a Sinn Fein stronghold and the Conservatives don’t traditionally fare well in Northern Ireland. No great surprise then that she came eighth out of nine candidates with less than 200 votes, but it was of course a valuable experience. Claire-Louise also felt it was important the Conservatives stood so voters had a national choice, to help move away from any sectarian mindsets. It’s an unusual rationale, but stems from her experience growing up under apartheid in South Africa and from her work for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).
With the WFD she has worked in Bosnia (seven times), Georgia and Moldova. “They send out people to strengthen democratic organisations, such as women’s groups,” she explains. She has also worked as a voluntary therapist with children in South Africa and on the Syrian borders helping those with PTSD. Her work focuses on art therapy and as well as being a practising therapist she also runs a masters programme training art therapists. It’s an atypical background for a Conservative candidate.
In the referendum, Claire-Louise campaigned for Remain, though has now aligned herself with the Conservative party policy on Brexit, when she could have taken a softer approach. Why?
“It was a very difficult choice in the referendum,” she say. “I knew I was going to vote for Remain which is why I campaigned for them. I respect the fact that everyone across the country had the opportunity to think about the issues and make a choice and we need to respect the democratic institutions… there was an enormous amount of information summing up both sides of the issue in the mainstream press. So people had the information to make the decision… A choice was made, a decision was reached and if there were flaws in the system all we can do at this point is learn from them for the future, but we have to accept the decision that was reached.”
Of course, Hampstead & Kilburn is clearly Remain country, so inevitably not everyone she meets in her campaigning agrees with her. Her ward of Belsize has 1,400 resident EU citizens. “I’m meeting people whose lives are in limbo and who have a sense they are not in control of their future. Having grown up in South Africa in a state of emergency it was something I have experienced”. So her message to EU nationals is that she’s aware of the uncertainty around their future and believes this is an issue that needs to be decided at the start of negotiations.
When asked about how Remain voters will vote in this election, she played the Jeremy Corbyn card; saying that whatever the reason behind their referendum vote – personal, business or European idealism – “they are all concerned about having Jeremy Corbyn leading our country in the Brexit negotiations. We have to make a decision about who will lead our country.”
One positive sign for the future is that Claire-Louise has noticed that people are showing a greater interest in politics since the referendum. She thinks that not everyone is taking on the challenge of how you use your time and energy to engage with the issues. Her experiences in eastern Europe showed how alien the idea of having agency within their community was to some people – she cites an example of people complaining about litter but never picking it up, or even realising they could; which clearly resonates in Camden.
“In this country you think everyone knows they have a voice and can get engaged. When I moved here it never occurred to me that people wouldn’t feel able to shape their country, but I have worked in Hackney and there are kids who don’t recognise this.”
During this short election campaign, Claire-Louise has talked much about her “plan” for Hampstead & Kilburn, but has not elaborated much further. The Conservative manifesto was just being been published when we spoke, and she said that then she would set out a clearer message about what that would look like for the constituency. She does say the usual sort of things about residents having someone who will listen to them, talk with them, hold Camden and Brent councils to account as well as the Mayor of London. She talks about ensuring that education, housing, policing and other services are delivering the right results for our community, transport and infrastructure. To be honest, it’s still not clear what her “plan” is, but now that the manifesto has been published, she will be able to clarify, hopefully at Tuesday’s hustings!
“I believe there should be real scrutiny and evidence-based decision making and that local people’s needs should be at the heart of thinking. What I don’t want to see is the Labour Mayor of London and two Labour councils using our area to rebuild the Labour party. As a community we can’t have our needs put second to a part of the Labour party”.
Claire-Louise Leyland campaigning in (or on the edge of) West Hampstead
She talks extensively about local government, and suggests that while Camden Labour blames local cuts on central government funding cuts, in fact there was “an extraordinary amount of duplication of services and inefficiency, a lack of clear evaluation and lack of accountability,” when she was elected in 2010. “My understanding of what the government was trying to do was to make the system of [local] government more accountable, more efficient and better integrated.” She says that overall, she thinks “local government is a much tighter, much better system. I think it is a pathfinder for the how the NHS can adapt to change.”
Aside from Brexit, what other issues are coming up on the doorstep?
“Waste and recycling, but also schools funding. London schools are now the best across the country. I have been working in schools across London since 2001 so I see that they have high levels of need and that needs sufficient funding.” Notably, Labour controls more than twice as many London boroughs – which are responsible for education provision but not funding – as the Conservatives. The Conservatives have pledged that no school will have its budget cut and the total budget will rise by £4 billion over the next parliament.
In West Hampstead specifically, Claire-Louise cites concern about the level of overcrowding at the Underground and Overground stations, and also says community safety is being raised. “We really need to take care with the Pathfinder model, i.e., the integration of Camden and Islington police forces doesn’t leave the outer edges of the boroughs worse off”.
Overall, she seems to fall fairly squarely behind her leader by adopting a relatively interventionist approach for the state. “The system functions well in many ways but where it does not then it is right for the Government to intervene.” Council tax is a good example – with the rate being based on 1991 property values. “Once Brexit negotiations have put us in a secure position, it will be time to tackle issues such as a revaluation. That will an opportunity to refine the system”.
If, in the early hours of June 9th, Claire-Louise is our next MP, what can we expect from her? “I’m interested in being a constituency MP. I’ve come into this because this is the area I want to serve. You don’t have to be in Government as there are many other ways you can influence outcomes. You can sit on APPGs [All-Party Parliamentary Groups] and do all sorts of work at committee stage. Every layer of the system is just as important – I like to do the bit I’m doing to the best of my ability”.
Of course, had the election come after the proposed boundary commission changes (which could still happen), then Barnet’s Mike Freer would likely have been the candidate. Should Claire-Louise and Mike both win this time around, who then would stand for a new seat? “Honestly? I don’t know”, she said, looking slightly sheepish. “That’s politics!” she agreed.
Finally (and without using the words “strong and stable”), why should someone vote for Claire-Louise Leyland? “Because I am incredibly committed to our area, proven that I can get results for our community and I will work hard on your behalf”.
WHL Hustings 2017: Tuesday 23rd May 7.30pm
The 2015 West Hampstead Life/Sherriff Centre hustings
H&K promises once again to be closely fought battle and West Hampstead is the marginal bit of a marginal constituency.
Given the snap election, hustings have been thin on the ground in 2017 – in fact we don’t know of any large-scale hustings at all. We’re therefore very pleased to announce that we’ve teamed up again with the Sherriff Centre and you’ll have the chance to grill your candidates on Tuesday evening at St James’ Church.
Many of you will remember that we held a successful hustings in 2015, with more than 200 people attending. We appreciate this year’s is short notice, but hopefully lots of you will be able to make it.
To make the evening flow smoothly, we’re encouraging you to send questions in advance – the candidates will not see these beforehand. We will then ask some of the popular submitted questions before handing over to the floor.
To send a question, simply drop me an email before midday on Tuesday. There will also be a question box in St James’ Church over the next few days.
Format:
Each candidate will get a 4-minute slot to pitch themselves, and then we will structure the evening in three parts. First, questions on Brexit, then questions on other national issues (incl. foreign policy), and then questions on local issues. If we have time then there’ll be time for free questions at the end.
Doors open at 7pm, we will start at 7.30pm. We will aim to finish around 9.15pm. The Sherriff Centre café/bar will be open. We’d like to encourage floating voters to sit at the front (but you might need to get there early).
Live streaming
We are planning to livestream the event on Facebook in case you can’t make it. You’ll need to Like the West Hampstead Life FB page and keep your eyes peeled around that time.
We very much hope you can make it. All the predictions are that this will be a tight race – come and hear from the candidates and make an informed choice.
What have you missed since May 8th?
Don’t know who Kirsty Allan is? Hint – she’s the Liberal Democrat candidate for H&K. We interviewed her.
Gabriella, Nazanin’s two-year old daughter, got her passport back. Richard, Gabriella’s father, will be going to visit (he hasn’t seen her for over a year).
Opera – in West Hampstead!
Election news…
- Snakes and ladders in H&K (reminder – Tulip won by margin of 1,138 votes)
- The Greens ARE standing in H&K (got 2,387 votes in 2015) after an ultimatum. Here’s why.
- UKIP is NOT standing in H&K (got 1,532 votes in 2015)
- But will this drive some Tories to the Lib Dems?
- Evening Standard on key battle grounds: H&K too close to call. Bookmakers favour the Tories.
- Henry Newman, unsuccessful Tory candidate for H&K is standing for them in … North Tyneside!
- Brexit means… actually, what DOES Brexit mean? Here’s a quick summary.
- And if that’s not enough, there’s a Brexit talk … at WELbooks this week.
Protestors challenged the Council on plans to close and sell off The Netherwood Day Centre for people with Alzheimers, and transfer service users to another site. Tulip has swung behind the campaign.
More proposed development for West Hampstead. This time at the Taverner’s site on Iverson Road. Exhibition on Thursday 18th.
A ‘new’ estate agent arrives in West Hampstead. Not so new, as just taking over an existing one.
Tulip has concerns about the new rubbish contract. She is not alone.
Fortune Green 1. New ‘immersive’ gym opening (another one? parking?) – ‘be part of the hype‘.
Fortune Green 2. A helicopter landed, after an accident a nearby building site.
Live over Fordwych way? or interested in a ‘green gym’? Find out more.
Are the Ballymore cranes finally coming down?
Publication of ‘scores on the doors’ hygiene ratings by Camden, not everyone is 5*.
Tweet of the week
I'm pretty sure Swedens entry into #Eurovision2017 is a letting agent in @WHampstead
— Phillip Ingamells (@ingamells) May 13, 2017
Opera Up Close and Personal at ENO on Broadhurst Gardens
Over on Broadhurst Gardens the English National Opera (ENO) has launched its ENO Studio Live programme. This involves performances in the former Decca studios, made famous by recordings by the likes of David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones and others. For a reminder of what the building is like from the inside we went back stage last year.
But now you get a chance to go backstage too as part of the ENO Studio Live programme, which will be showcasing rising talent in the British opera scene. The productions are performed in English and are fully staged. The idea was conceived by Daniel Kramer, the ENO’s Artistic Director, who felt that the opportunity to open up the famous studios for audiences to see the work of up-and-coming directors was just too good to be missed.
The Day After rehearsal
These days the studios are primarily used as rehearsal rooms and business administration offices by the ENO. It is relatively rare for the building to be open to the public so this new programme offers the chance to attend intimate opera performances in a place of historical importance to the music industry. With a capacity of just 200 the audience will be much closer to the performers than they would most likely be at a more traditional opera venue.
The directors of the two productions are both in their 20s. Matthew Monaghan, director of Trial by Jury, told West Hampstead Life that ENO Studio Live is a great way to support the next generation of directors by giving them the opportunity to have their own shows, working with full choruses and celebrated performers. He also stated that the shows will be performed in a very special space where operas are rehearsed and where talent is developed.
The Day After rehersal (Richard Peirson, James Henshaw, and Nicholas Ansdell- Evans)
The first production is the UK premier of The Day After, a new opera by Jonathan Dove which based on the Greek mythological story of Phaeton. The opera is directed by Jamie Manton and is conducted by James Henshaw with a full chorus and stage productions. This is showing on 26, 27, 30 and 31 May at 7.30pm
This is followed by Trial by Jury on 3, 6 June at 7pm, 5 June at 7pm and 8.30pm. This production is a comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan satirising the pomposity of the law. This opera originally ran in the 1870s but has been updated for modern times including a satirical take on celebrity culture. Trial by Jury is directed by Matthew Monaghan and is conducted by Martin Fitzpatrick.
Tickets for ENO Studio Live are £25, with a buy-both discount of 20% available online and from the box office. For further details visit the ENO website at https://www.eno.org/ or call the box office on 020 78459300.
H&K 2017: The Kirsty Allan interview
Kirsty Allan, Liberal Democrat candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn
If you don’t know who Kirsty Allan is… well, you should. She is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn (H&K). She’s a bona fide local too; she lives over in Queen’s Park, right on the constituency border between H&K and Westminster North.
She actually stood for Westminster North in 2015 but after the Brexit vote, the Lib Dems moved swiftly to put candidates in place in case of a snap election. Kirsty was delighted to have been asked if she would stand.
Her 2015 Westminster North campaign was clearly a struggle. The result was disappointing with the Lib Dems beaten into fourth place by UKIP with just 1,457 votes (that was a 3.7% share, down from 13.9% in 2010). The constituency was always an unlikely win for the Liberal Democrats and Kirsty said it was great to get the experience and understanding of what it takes to run in an election. She also got a large taste of what is involved from helping Lynn Featherstone in the election. Featherstong was MP for Hornsey & Wood Green from 2005 to 2015.
Kirsty points out that being a Liberal Democrat – especially these days – means there are no such thing as safe seats. She argues that they really have to fight for every vote, attend every hustings, knock on every door. “We have to put the work in to become an MP.”
She claims that she is Lib-Dem bred, rather than having moved into the party. Both she and her sister learned their Lib Demery at the knee of her father, who has always voted for the party since its inception in the late 1980s. This interest in politics and Lib Dem politics in particular led Kirsty to apply to work in Lynn Featherstone’s constituency office, which she did for three years. Kirsty said that having dealt with Lynn’s constituency and parliamentary casework she has a real sense of what it takes to be an MP.
Despite her family Liberal Democrat roots, it was only a year after working for Lynn that she joined as a member.
Kirsty, unsurprisingly, is keen to look back to 2010 in H&K, when the constituency was a true three-way battle. Indeed, Lib Dem candidate Ed Fordham was many people’s favourite to win, though eventually he came a very close third. However, she says there is no denying what happened in 2015, “We really did get swept out with the tide then. But the world changed for us after the Brexit vote. Nick Clegg was the only leader to take on Nigel Farage in the debates. It is obvious to us that is our fight, we want to represent the 48% – indeed in this constituency the 76% who voted for Remain.”
Kirsty’s Labour rival, incumbent MP Tulip Siddiq, has also been vocally anti Brexit. Kirsty respects Tulip’s individual position, but points out that the Labour party’s position is unclear and therefore Tulip is at odds with her party.
In 2015, the Lib Dem’s high profile H&K candidate Maajid Nawaz got just 6% of the votes (down from 31.2% for Ed Fordham in 2010). Does Kirsty accept that she might get relatively few votes if some Lib Dem voters decide Labour has a better chance of keeping the Tories out? Kirsty points out that there is a lot of support for the Lib Dems around here (though of course they lost five out of six council seats in 2015). “At the moment we have a message that resonates. It is important that voters have someone they agree with to put a tick against. That’s what democracy is about.” She accepts that if people want to vote tactically then they will, but does not believe there is much sign of that happening.
Kirsty and Lib Dem activists out on the campaign trail
The Gospel Oak council by-election on May 4th could give Kirsty and the party some succour. Labour retained the seat with 1,485 votes, but the Lib Dems came second with 587 votes, more than doubling their share from 2014. She suggests that it’s evidence that in Camden, “the Lib Dems are on the rise!”
Despite the battering the party took in the 2015 election, Kirsty believes that the momentum is swinging back to them. “The party had a huge swell across London after the Brexit vote, with more than 1,000 members in the Camden Lib Dems. There’s a 17-year-old girl who helps me every time I’m handing out leaflets – she is very energised. The new influx of members is young, the largest number is in the 18-24 age group”.
“After two years of a ‘pure’ Tory Government after the coalition, a lot of people are feeling warmer towards the Liberal Democrats,” she suggests. National polls would suggest this is true, but not yet as warm as the days of ‘I agree with Nick’ in 2010. Then they took 23% of the national vote, but that slumped to just 7.9% in 2015. Today’s polls put support at around 10%.
Does the influx of young people to the party mean they see it as best-placed to tackle the broad challenges we face today? It is notable that for a party that preaches inclusivity, the few MPs it has are traditional ‘men in suits’, bar the recent addition of one woman. Yet the party strives to “reflect its diverse membership”.
When questioned further on this, specifically about Tim Farron’s recent poor handling of the issue of whether he thinks homosexuality is a sin, Kirsty does indeed become uncomfortable trying to explain his stance (he initially refused to answer the question, several times, before deciding to positively assert that he did not – perhaps trapped by trying to adhere to a philosophically robust “liberal” position, without realising that the electorate generally isn’t that nuanced). Kirsty herself is far more unequivocal. “One of the main reasons I applied to work for Lynn [Featherstone] was that I was so impressed with her work on the same-sex marriage initiative”.
Given that no party reflects an individual’s personal beliefs perfectly, what Lib Dem policies does Kirsty struggle with? “I was never a massive fan of the mansion tax, but I am in favour of reassessing the council tax bands. At the moment it is ridiculous that a house worth £7 million pays an amount calculated from 1991 data and values. ”
Warming to the housing theme, “the problem in this constituency,” she argues, “is that the average wage is £33,000, while the average property price is over £700,000. So owning a home is becoming a pipe dream. Increasingly, I see people priced out of the market, and even ‘affordable’ rents are extremely high. I do feel we should be doing more to make sure London is affordable. First of all you stop selling council houses and if you do, use that money to reinvest and build more council homes. It’s logic.”
She say is “seems bizarre” that the Conservatives don’t get more flak for failing to act on the housing crisis. “We are living in a city that will exclude those earning under £130,000 from buying anything in this area of London, and that’s absurd.”
From national, to London, to local issues. Kirsty is running into some familiar grumbles on the doorsteps of H&K. “On the Camden side, there are a lot of problems with the rubbish collection. We are in favour of people doing more recycling but the introduction of the new bins and system does not seem to be working yet. Everybody is concerned that foxes get into their rubbish. When I was helping in our Gospel Oak campaign, rubbish was second only to Brexit as the main issue.” Though of course it didn’t stop Labour from holding the council seat.
“The NHS is also worrying people, and education, and to some extent crime.” In a cruel twist of fate, at the very moment we were discussing crime my wallet was being pinched from my rucksack in Costa.
“But Brexit comes up in every conversation. The first thing people say is that they’re very upset about it.” Presumably about 25% are not, but Kirsty doesn’t mention that. “A lot of people are also worried that all the other issues will be drowned out by the Brexit chorus. If we end up on WTO rules that’s not good for the economy and if the economy is weak it puts further pressure on funding for services.”
If she was to be elected on June 8th, her priorities are health and education – she has friends who are teachers and they don’t have enough money to do the things they want to do in schools. “I don’t think there can ever be an over-funding of education – we have to make sure that children get the best possible start. I’m very much about defending those social liberal values and believe feverently in equality.”
As for being a constituency MP, “I think I learned quite well at Lynn’s knee – she was always out meeting people, attending events and as a Lib Dem MP you need to be visible and have an open door, always being responsive, holding surgeries, talking to people face-to-face.” Some would argue that Tulip has done a good job of this in her brief tenure as our MP. “I respect Tulip – I think she been a good local MP – but I’m standing so that people have a chance to vote for a Liberal Democrat candidate.”
What has surprised her most about her second tilt at Westminster? “The reception on the doorstep,” she says emphatically. “I campaigned in 2015 and it wasn’t an easy time to be a Liberal Democrat. It’s very different this time around. I knew that we had a message that resonated on Brexit but I didn’t realise quite the level of support.”
The final question: Why should I vote for Kirsty Allan? “This is a constituency that really, really wants a voice that is going to resonate with them and I am entirely pro-European and will respect the will of the 76% of people that voted for Remain. And it is not just about Brexit, I want to be an MP that will work hard for Hampstead & Kilburn.”
Fordwych Residents and Green Gym improve the area, and you can join them.
One of the many things that make West Hampstead a great place to live is the number of local groups and associations that take an interest in the area and give people the chance to volunteer – as well as play their part in improving the community. Such groups are always looking for new members to help out and to replace those who move on. This coming Saturday, 20th May, three local groups are putting on an event that gives people the chance to go along, find out more – and get involved.
Fordwych RA and Garden Friends NW2
For a number of years, the Fordwych Residents Association (FRA) has, as part of its work to represent the area, organised social events to bring residents together. Following on from the success of its Green Fair last year, it is again working with the Garden Friends NW2 group to put on the Fordwych Spring Fair – on Saturday 20th May, 10am-1pm at St Cuthbert’s Church and gardens, 59 Fordwych Road.
All are welcome to come along – for tea and cake; to buy plants; and to find out more about our groups and how you can get involved.
A little further up the road the West Hampstead Green Gym is also holding an event at the same time at the recently created Minster Road Nature Reserve. There will be information about its work and how people can volunteer. Previously this was part of the Camden Green Gym but West Hampstead Green Gym is splitting off and setting up on its own. The group will be working weekly, on a rotating basis, in the Minster Road Natural Reserve, the Westbere Copse and the Mill Lane Open Space. The Camden Green Gym will continue its monthly visits to Hampstead Cemetery.
Email: gg-westhampstead@tcv.org.uk
Green gym – we are ready for lift off!
The Fordwych RA has a track record over the past 40 years in representing people living on Fordwych Road and adjoining streets. It takes up issues such as traffic, planning, rubbish, crime, the environment and local developments – and works with our councillors, Camden Council and others to make this part of the West Hampstead area a better place. We have regular meetings and are active online. We’re looking for new members and people willing to contribute a small amount of time to assist in the running of the group. You can get in touch and find out more:
Twitter: @FordwychRA
Website: fordwychra.wordpress.com
Email: fordwychra@gmail.com
The Garden Friends NW2 group has done amazing work to plant the tree pits on Fordwych Road, which have had an incredibly positive affect on our local area. Where once people dumped mattresses and other household waste, beautiful flowers now bloom! Volunteers working with the group have also created a community garden in the grounds of St Cuthbert’s Church. The group has regular weekly sessions and is keen for more people to be involved:
Twitter: @GFriendsNW2
Email: gardenfriendsnw2@gmail.com
So do come along on Saturday 20th for a cup of tea, to meet your neighbours – and to find out more…
James Earl is (outgoing) chair of the Fordwych Residents Association
What have you missed since May 1st?
We spoke to Father Andrew to get more detail on his resignation, and how he will miss West Hampstead.
Will West Hampstead like Rosa’s Thai Cafe?
The Thameslink bus stop just disappeared. Without any notice. Cue much huffing and puffing on Twitter. But HUGE sigh of relief, TFL assure us it will be replaced.
Processionary Oak Moth discovered in Hampstead Cemetery. Who ya gonna call? Mothbusters.
Election news …
- Roll on the National press. This time the Financial Times popped into H&K in their #GE2017 election road trip.
- According to the bookies The Tories are favorites to win H&K. But their odds fell, and those for Tulip improved this week.
- Labour held Gospel Oak by-election by a good margin. The Lib Dems came second.
- Camden for Europe endorsed Tulip.
- At Sadiq Khan’s Labour rally in Swiss Cottage, Azmina – Tulip Siddiq’s sister – acted as conductor.
- And overheard in Kilburn…
- Kemi Badenoch one of the three conservative candidates for H&K has been selected for the Tory safe seat of Saffron Walden. Beating Stephen Parkinson (Theresa May’s political secretary).
- Siobhan Baillie, Frognal Councillor who missed out on the Tory shortlist for H&K, has been selected for Bermondsey and Southwark South.
- One for the Kremlinologists among us. Camden Labour selected their new cabinet. Alas Phil Rosenberg didn’t make the cut, but Fortune Green Councillor Richard Olszewski did.
- Sarah Hayward, their former Camden Labour leader, was frank about the leader of the Labour party.
- The Tories got heckled at their stall on West End Lane. Same guy with loudhailer had apparently had also a go at the drinkers at the Black Lion, and outside the Butchers too.
A man was jailed for the stabbing of Huseyin Gulbudak, the popular Kilburn cafe owner last summer. The loss of any life is tragic, but in this case it is even more so as the man jailed was Huseyin’s son, Baran, who was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
A number of burglaries in the area. Goldhurst Terrace and the Greek Streets. But a burglar was caught red-handed on Fordwych Road.
The planning application for 11 Blackburn Road – in the Growth Area – which went quiet for months. Was suddenly approved.
After the Alice House was caught out, BananaTree has put in a retrospective application for their enclosed outside decking…
There was a planning application for redevelopment of Holy Trinity church on the Finchley Road. It’s quite eye-catching.
Remember Mario’s the Greek restaurant on Broadhurst Gardens? In the building that was due to be redeveloped. Redevelopment must be on hold as the restaurant is being refurbish.
Meanwhile up on Mill Lane, the long empty Mill Lane Bistro won’t be empty for much longer. Will be re-opening as Slimmy Choos – a(nother) cocktail bar, with Asian bites.
Grumpie old local luvvie, Michael Simkins, was lamenting the acting youth of today.
Friends of West Hampstead Library held a successful talk on WW1 spies in West Hampstead. There were quite a few, but they weren’t very good apparently!
A Ginger Cat was missing on Goldhurst Terrace. But thanks to the vigilance of neighbours, he was found! Hurrah.
The real reason Father Andrew resigned
Last Sunday Father Andrew announced that he was retiring as priest of St. Mary’s with All Souls, Kilburn and St. James, West Hampstead. The story was picked up by the Sunday Times, Independent and Guardian.
You can even hear it in his own words on Radio 4’s Sunday programme (skip to 7:23).
Father Andrew and his husband Stephen
As Stephen, Father Andrew’s husband tweeted, although they gave fair accounts of the situation, they didn’t quite capture the exact reason.
Father Andrew arrived at St. James nearly 20 years ago in November 2017, became priest in charge in April 1998 and was appointed vicar in 2001. For any of us this quite a long time to be one place. At around this time he first met his partner, Stephen.
Since his arrival in NW6 the law relating to same sex partnerships has changed with, first civil partnerships in December 2005, and same-sex marriage in Mar 2014. He married Stephen in June 2014.
Last year, post-Brexit, Stephen lost his job but luckily found a new one as head of digital for the Co-op, however, based in Manchester. For any couple juggling two careers living apart for a short period is manageable, but not sustainable long term. Time had come to make a decision.
“In the normal course of things I would look for a job in the (Manchester) area,” Father Andew said. “But I am on a blacklist. I can’t carry on being a priest because the institutional homophobia of the church makes it impossible”.
In a letter to parishioners, he explained: “When we married I was told that if I left here then an active ministry officially in the Church of England would be over, and that is likely to be the case.” He said the current leadership, “whilst willing to allow me to continue here, is unwilling to license me to a ministry elsewhere”.
Father Andrew Cain and Sherriff Centre project manager Jane Edwards (photo via @churchnw6)
For most of us in West Hampstead Father Andrew is best known for his work converting St. James Church into the Sheriff Centre. This encompasses the Post office, Hullabaloo soft play for kids and the Sanctuary Cafe (which was again listed on TimeOut’s list of top coffee shops in North London). And it is still a Church on Sundays. Little known fact; as well as being vicar he is also the official postmaster.
Although he will leave as priest in July, it could take from six months to a year to appoint a new vicar. So Father Andrew will continue to be involved with centre, which is set up independent from the church, at least until the new vicar is settled in.
Father Andrew said that he will miss living in West Hampstead, which has been his home for such a long time, plus he will miss it being a couple of degrees warmer here down South. Being a priest informs every aspect of his job and life so leaving West Hampstead will meaning carving out a whole new role for himself in a new community. But he is looking forward to getting his weekends back, being able to enjoy a good brunch and having a lie-in on Sundays.
Will West Hampstead have a rosy view of Rosa’s Thai Café?
It was Bank Holiday Monday, we were on the way back from a swim at Swiss Cottage, and feeling a bit peckish. Time to try West Hampstead’s newest kid in town – Rosa’s Thai Cafe. We were not alone. The place was pretty full when we arrived past 1pm and got even fuller over lunch.
Au revoir Ladudu, hello Rosa’s Thai Cafe.
The team has done a quick and efficient job at refurbishing the old Ladudu, but it did feel a little corporate. The decor is a mix of industrial and Scandi-chic (Scandustrial?) with little reference to Asia, unlike Ladudu. I had to stop myself from getting up to scuff the perfect walls a bit. In the background a gentle Ibiza soundtrack. All nice enough but could have been anywhere.
The staff were nice and friendly and coping well with a busy dining room. In fact the manager later confessed that they have been busier than expected since it opened last week. Still having teething troubles though – their phone number doesn’t work, yet.
Rosa’s offers both an evening and (cheaper and simpler) weekday lunch menu, although as it was a bank holiday we were offered the main dinner menu with dishes priced slightly above that other West Hampstead stalwart, BananaTree.
Despite being busy we didn’t have to wait too long to order, or for our food to arrive. As it was a self-imposed meat-free Monday I stuck to the vegetarian options – there were plenty – ordering the chilli and Thai basil stir-fry while my dining companion ordered crispy salmon in curry sauce plus a green papaya salad and coconut rice to share. For drinks we had raw coconut water and lemongrass tea, both good and exactly what I feel like drinking when eating Asian food – different options that nearby Pham House doesn’t alas offer.
Bank holiday lunch.
The menu has a good selection of dishes – some favourites (its website says that across its other eight branches Rosa’s has served over 400,000 pad thais) plus other regional dishes. The salmon was the best dish we ordered, while the stir-fry was OK but the salad lacked a bit of bite. However, the mix of flavours got better as the meal went on and we finished it all off. The bill, including service, came to just under £50 (£25 a head), which felt about right.
It’s thumbs up for Rosa’s.
Thanks to Teresa for passing on the baton to Rosa’s. It was her choice of restaurant to replace Ladudu. Part of me is a little sad that chain (albeit a mini-chain) Rosa’s is able to do better what she was doing. But Rosa’s is also about the personality and both by the door and on the website you can pick up recipes from founder Saiphin so you can cook some of the dishes yourself.
The future for Rosa’s Thai Cafe in West Hampstead looks rosy.
What have you missed since April 24th?
The Conservatives chose their candidate, setting up all female fight for H&K. (More election news below).
Father Andrew is stepping down as vicar of St. James Church citing the Church of England as being ’institutional homophobic”.
There was a ‘clock up’ at West Hampstead Square. Some liked it , while others thought it looked like a guillotine or or didn’t like the patination (i.e. it’s rusty).
And the clock is up. As seen by @VHaberdashery
Election news …
- The Greens have chosen John Mansook as their candidate for H&K. There is talk of collaboration with other parties (ie, Labour).
- Unsurprisingly, given the tight battle ahead, both Tories and Labour fear “leakage to the Lib Dems” [paywall].
- Andy Burnham said there was “too much Hampstead and not enough Hull” in today’s Labour Party. Tulip’s just hoping there is still enough Labour Party in Hampstead & Kilburn.
- Former local Labour councillor Mike Katz is seeking selection as Labour’s PPC in Hendon.
- There’s a straw in the wind this week with the Gospel Oak by-election.
- It’s all getting a bit Game of Thrones.
West Hampstead’s favourite stall at the farmers’ market is officially Brinkworth Dairy. We got the lowdown on its success.
Our historian uncovered the strange story of a local diamond broker. And he will be at the Library on Tuesday with tales of WW1 spies in Camden.
Nazanin’s appeal to the Iranian High court was turned down – and reported from the Wall Street Journal to the China Daily.
Fire fighter Dave Allen left West Hampstead after 30 years of service. Good bye!
But what’s 30 years? A Broadhurst Gardens couple celebrated 71 years of marriage.
Police are looking for a man who exposed himself on the Thameslink. And are also asking for any information after a man exposed himself on the Black Path (back in December).
So – glad to see that progress is being made of clearing up the Black Path.
Camden’s new garden waste contract is still causing confusion. You can sign up on Camden’s website (and see who in your postcode has signed up). You can club together with a neighbour informally to share a collection – rather than just dumping your waste in their bags, not just dump in their waste in your bags as some are doing.
Time Out reported 14 things to do West End Lane, and its annual round up of top coffee shops included the Sanctuary Café in the Sherriff Centre and Loft (at the top of Greencroft Gardens) but missed Wired. Pah!
Rosa’s Thai opened to a good start.
A husband and wife team opened a new Osteopathy/Psychology practice at 322 West End Lane.
The Londonist took a nostalgic look at Kilburn, no longer Ireland’s 33rd County.
Local artist Zoe Grace, who has an up and down life, is taking part in an exhibition in Fitzrovia.
Tweet of the week
@JfmJm @NickGriersonWH @WHampstead I have now written to Camden to see if the foxes can be trained to collect the bags and deliver them to Veolia. No reply. Typical!
— Phil Ryan (@philryanmusic) April 25, 2017
An Insight into: Brinkworth Dairy
London Farmers’ Market, which runs the West Hampstead market, has an annual competition to find customers favourite stall at each market. In West Hampstead, the winner (again) was Brinkworth Dairy. So who better for WHL’s next Insight.
Brinkworth Dairy is run by Ceri and Chad Cryer (helped by their young three boys and other family members) from Hill End Farm, which has been in the family for five generations since 1910. It’s a small 180-acre farm in North Wiltshire, with 100 grass-fed pedigree British Friesians dairy cows. Future plans include offering camping on the farm (and updating the website to include the award of West Hampstead’s farmers market favourite stall).
Every morning Chad gets up at 4.30 to bring in the cows for milking and at the weekend he then gets ready to set off for farmers markets in West Hampstead (Saturday) and Queen’s Park (Sundays). He’s helped out here sometimes by a local friend, although this weekend he brought along two of his boys, who were selling jars of Chad’s honey – and sold it all.
Brinkworth Dairy, favourite stall at West Hampstead Market
Chad, what brought you West Hampstead?
London Farmers’ Market brought me here. Originally I had a stall with them at Queen’s Park as well as Marylebone, they were finding new venues and about four years ago they asked if I wanted to try their new market at West Hampstead. It was a good market from the start – some other markets start off well but then tail-off – but here things started well and continued to grow. I like to do the work myself so decided to stick to West Hampstead and Queen’s Park and leave Marylebone.
What is your favourite memory of the area?
It was actually when I needed to go Sainsburys to buy some sugar for the stall and I kept on being greeted by customers. It was strange that here I was walking through London, but it felt like being back in my own village. Nice memory.
What was your first impression of West Hampstead?
I set up at the first market with my friend Seb, who had grown up here and so have mainly seen it through his eyes. He was amazed how much it had changed, and rather regretted his parents had sold their house here.
The first customers were really pleased that the space outside the station was being used. I knew a few of them from Queen’s Park market, they were also pleased they didn’t have go so far for their coffee, cheese and yogurt.
Cheese, glorious cheese, milk, yogurt and butter. Blue cheese highly recommended by @thewetfishcafe
What has surprised you about the way West Hampstead has changed?
Even in the short space of time I have been coming I have seen the skyline change. When I chat to someone new, often a couple, buying a coffee I’ll discover that they are looking at property in the area.
What’s for lunch?
A pizza from Napoli, the new pizza stall – usually with a samosa from Mumbai Mix (they have the stall next to mine at Queen’s Park). Otherwise it might be a burger from James, or a sausage roll. But pizza is the new thing.
Conversely, when I’m setting up my stall at 8.45 all the other stallholders are polite enough but what they are really saying is ‘hurry up, please, I want my coffee!”
West Hampstead in three(ish) words?
Nice sense of community.
Farmers’ market update
For those of you that have read this far – changes to the farmers’ market are on the cards. There is talk of extending to Sunday and even running it some weekday evenings.
Claire-Louise Leyland chosen as Tory candidate for Hampstead & Kilburn
The local Conservative party held its constituency selection meeting last night in the Dennington Park Road synagogue hall – a special general meeting called at short notice after Theresa May’s surprise election announcement. Hampstead & Kilburn is a key target seat for them.
The local party had sent a shortlist to Central Office which initially included local party leader Claire-Louise Leyland, rising star Henry Newman – a wannabe Highgate councillor – and existing Camden councillor Siobhan Baillie. However, it seems that Siobhan either declined to stand or was dropped and when the list returned from Conservative central office it included a new name: London Assembly member Kemi Badenoch.
Tory selection meeting about to start. Image: @richardosley
During the meeting, each candidate made a five minute personal statment, then answered the same four questions; on Brexit, the constituency being a marginal, changes to education funding and HS2. This was followed by 20 minutes of questions from the floor. Of the 700 local members, 142 turned out.
Kemi Badenoch was up first. She is the deputy-leader of the GLA Conservatives and on the GLA since 2015; her Tory credentials extend to having a husband who is a Conservative councillor. She had only found out she was on the shortlist at 11.30 yesterday morning and hadn’t even had time to go home to Wimbledon and change. Given the short notice and lack of “home advantage”, she put up a creditable performance.
Next came Claire-Louise Leyland, a familiar face to the audience as leader, since 2014, of the Camden Conservative group. She grew up in South Africa (but says her dad is as Lancashire as stick of Blackpool rock). She works as a professional art therapist and counsellor, and has spent seven years as a Conservative councillor. She campaigned for Remain last year. She had the advantage of knowing many people in the room – indeed even the room itself – as her first venture into politics was as a council candidate for the ward of West Hampstead.
The final candidate was rising bin-selfie star Henry Newman. Henry is director of Open Europe, having been a special advisor at the Justice Department for Michael Gove and at the Cabinet office. He’s only had limited media experience but was a polished performer.
As well as the four standard questions other issues that came up were the pensions triple lock, Brexit (again), the rights of EU residents, the “yellow peril” posed by the Lib Dems, Tulip, housing and inter-generational fairness.
After the first count no candidate had got a clear majority – apparently the vote was fairly evenly spread but third placed candidate Kemi dropped out.
Claire-Louise Leyland, stood as the ppc in West Tyrone in 2015. Will be ppc for H&K in 2017. Image: Ulster Herald.
In the second round of voting, Claire-Louise Leyland won to become the prospective parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn. In her short winners speech she said it was a privilege to have been selected.
Will she be the candidate to see Hampstead & Kilburn turn Conservative on June 9th? Labour’s Tulip Siddiq and the Lib Dems’ Kirsty Allan will be hoping not
What have you missed since April 17th?
Theresa May announced a snap general election. Election fever hit West Hampstead, again (includes summary of the state of play).
However, ironically, the Tories have been caught on the hop has they don’t have a candidate, yet. They are deciding this week. A Brexiteer or not a Brexiteer, that is the question.
Bins continued to be a hot topic. And the reason that some of you haven’t got your new bins or orange bags yet? is that Veolia has ‘run out’. At least a week until they get new supplies. This is ‘98% normal’ service.
In an apparently politically motivated attack someone cut down the Nazanin freedom ribbons and cards.
Flying Scotsman in West Hampstead! (train)spotted by @superfast72
We love leafy West Hampstead – find out how to keep it that way (and more about West Hampstead’s trees including our plane trees).
Been rather dry recently – you bet. So far 0.4mm of rain this month, normally we get about 50mm in April.
West Hampstead in 2017: butcher, baker and… computer games maker.
Ever wondered about life behind the scenes at the Wet Fish Cafe? Wonder no more…
Work continues at Lena’s Cafe 2. Due to reopen soon.
And Lola’s cupcakes was due to open (at the end of April)? Looks like Rosa’s Thai should beat them too it.
Vigorous campaigning on West End Lane this weekend – by the Friends of West Hampstead Library party.
Camden Council is voting on adopting a new definition of anti-Semitism at full Council on Monday. Cllr Phil Rosenberg wrote why it is important they adopt it.
That Council meeting will be Sarah Hayward’s last full one as leader since she is stepping down as leader of Camden Labour.
Great book talk and reading at West End Lane books last week by Philippe Sands on East West Street.
Recommend a visit to Camden Arts Centre to see the Geta Bratescu exhibition, runs until 18 June.
And ‘Mill Lane FC’… catchy chant! Click on it to get the full effect.
Tweet of the week
More from that ding-dong at the QP Farmers Market: Labour's Tulip Siddiq v Tory supporter, arguing over how much work she has done as an MP. pic.twitter.com/pBTNekmcOE
— Richard Osley (@RichardOsley) April 23, 2017
Election fever hits West Hampstead, again.
West Hampstead library at 8.30am on polling day 2015 via Rita Tudela
For the third year running, voting fever is upon us. Hampstead & Kilburn looks like being a key battleground once again as Brexit clashes with broader political and party-political issues to muddy the waters for many voters.
To be honest, like Brenda, I’m not sure I can take much more. We love West Hampstead because it’s a nice place to live, but it’s the marginal bit of a marginal seat – and therefore politically interesting. Indeed, Channel 4 News has already been vox-popping Kilburnites (Labour activists may want to look away).
So far, only two of the three main parties here have candidates. Labour’s Tulip Siddiq will be trying to hold the seat and her job as MP, while the Lib Dems were well ahead of the game selecting Kirsty Allan some months ago. The Conservatives will choose their candidate on Tuesday.
Campaigning won’t begin in earnest until after Parliament is dissolved on May 2, and the deadline for candidates isn’t until 11 May – so plenty of time for the Greens, UKIP and whoever else fancies a tilt to come out of the woodwork.
The 2015 West Hampstead Life hustings (yes, that is PJ O’Rourke in the front row)
The not-to-be-missed West Hampstead Life hustings (I think the largest in the constituency in 2015), will be sometime at the end of May – the precise date is t.b.d. Election day itself is June 8.
Setting the stage
If you’re new to West Hampstead, then here’s a quick primer on the constituency’s recent electoral history.
Back in 2010, it was a three horse race with Glenda Jackson (MP for the area since 1992) unexpectedly holding the seat with the slimmest of majorities – just 42 votes separated her and Conservative Chris Philp (now an MP in Croydon). Lib Dem Ed Fordham was very close behind – just another 800 votes behind Chris – making H&K the tightest three-way in the country.
Five years later, that Lib Dem support collapsed from 31% to just 6% and H&K was a straight Tory/Labour dogfight. Yet again, the Conservatives were pipped at the post when Tulip Siddiq took 44.4% of the vote to Simon Marcus’s 42.3%: a margin of victory of less than 2% and less than 1,200 votes.
In 2017, the national political landscape looks very different. Depending which polls you read, the Conservatives are on about 48%, Labour on 24%, Lib Dems 12% and UKIP 7% (Times/YouGov – April 19).
Hampstead and Kilburn is in the top 25 Conservative target seats so if the national swing of ~7% to the Tories was replicated locally, they would win comfortably. They only need a 1% swing from Labour to take the seat.
But Brexit complicates matters. Theresa May has put Brexit front and centre of this election, but Camden was one of the 10 most pro-Remain areas in the country, with 74.9% voting Remain last year. In addition, Labour’s Tulip Siddiq has been a prominent Brexit rebel within Labour, voting against the party on Article 50. Nevertheless, Labour has clearly stated already that it will not seek a second referendum should it get elected in June.
The 2017 candidates
Just to show how much of a surprise the election announcement was, the Conservatives are in the embarrassing position of not having a candidate yet. This is because of plans to change constituency boundaries, which would have led to Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer becoming the candidate for a new Hampstead and Golders Green seat. These boundary changes might still happen, but not until after this election.
The Conservatives will not be holding another ‘open primary’ to pick their candidate, as they did in 2010. Instead a members’ meeting on Tuesday will choose someone from Central Office’s pre-approved list, which includes current leader Cllr Claire-Louise Leyland and Cllr Siobhan Baillie (both of whom were in favour of Remain). Central Office could parachute in a candidate, even a Brexiteer, but this would more likely damage rather than enhance their chances in the seat. One prominent former Tory has already announced how he will vote, and it won’t be Conservative. Indeed, he will be helping too.
For Labour, Tulip has announced (albeit in rather vague terms on social media) that she will stand for the constituency.
Tulip campaigning in 2015. Photo by Eugene Regis
It seems the snap election will prevent the re-selection (deselection in some cases!) process for many Labour MPs, but the divisions in the Labour party won’t help their chances. Dan Hodges, Glenda Jackson’s son, former member of the Labour party and Corbyn critic, has already announced who he is voting for – the Tories. It seems he is not alone in his doubts as many Labour supporters, including this prominent one, have expressed concerns over Corbyn’s leadership.
The Lib Dems chose their candidate last autumn. She is Kirsty Allan, she works in PR and has worked for MPs Lynn Featherstone and Norman Lamb. The Lib Dems have the obvious advantage of having a clear Remain stance – but with only one councillor left on Camden – Fortune Green’s own Flick Rea – the Lib Dem central office seems to be focusing resources elsewhere. In 2015, Kirsty ran in neighbouring Westminster North, where she come in fourth with 3.7% of the vote, just behind UKIP with 3.8%.
Kirsty Allan, Lib Dem candidate. Image @kirstyrallan
Expect to see street stalls on West End Lane and outside Finchley Road Waitrose in the coming weeks as all the parties ratchet up their election machines. There are still local elections for much of the country to deal with first on May 4th (and a council by-election in Gospel Oak to divert attention locally), but then it should be all guns blazing.
We love leafy West Hampstead, let’s keep it that way.
Recently the Mayor’s office published this map of all the street trees in London – colour coded. This dendrophile’s wet dream covers all of London but if you put your postcode in the top-right corner then you can zoom in on West Hampstead.
From City Hall’s tree map of London
By unclicking certain dots you can see what West Hampstead would look like without, for example, its Plane trees. This could really happen as all London’s magnificent Plane trees (e.g along the Embankment) are coming to the end of their lives.
Leafy West Hampstead
To find out more about trees in West Hampstead WHL spoke to Riccardo Arnone, Camden’s tree officer for this part of the borough (area 2 to be exact). For each area the Tree Department has a three-year programme of inspection and replacement; our next one is due in 2018/19. He deals with trees on streets, on council estates and in parks, but not those on private land.
Did you know that if you see a diseased, dying or dead tree you can report it to Camden via the trees section website. And if you really care about trees, you can help water the newly planted ones. We are having another very dry spell but the watering contract hasn’t started yet so any young trees around are getting very thirsty. It costs about £100 to plant each tree, but for Riccardo it’s not just about the money but also about the loss of something living. “It’s a shame to lose a tree”.
It’s a bit too early to be 100% sure of the underlying reason, but Camden’s Tree Department is having to adjust its tree stock due to the impact of changes in the climate. There are new pests and diseases, such as the Oak Processionary moth as monitored on Fortune Green back in 2015, and longer dry periods such as we are experiencing now. That, plus managing subsidence risk, means Camden is planting smaller varieties such as Amalanchier. Although this is a fine tree (with delicious berries) it isn’t a true replacement for the trees we are losing as it doesn’t provide much shade on a hot summer’s day.
They look fine now, but these Plane trees are too close together.
West Hampstead has also lost a number of established trees to recent redevelopments, and despite promises at the time they don’t seem to have been replaced. Yes, there new trees outside the Ballymore development in West Hampstead Square, indeed they are Plane trees. Great, given the prospect of many of the older ones reaching the end of their lives, except… they are planted too close to each other. Sigh.
If you like our trees, and they are what makes makes West Hampstead nice and green, then look out for the tree walk the Friends of Fortune Green have lined up for the autumn. The last one they organised was a few years ago and more than 60 residents joined – the highest number Camden had ever had for a tree walk. In the meantime here’s a reminder of one of the area’s greatest trees.
Image via Louise O’Keefe
What have you missed since April 10th?
The new recycling contract is still causing problems, but Camden and Veolia say it is ’98% sorted’. Seems a rather high assessment.
There is a new Love Camden app to report fly-tipping. Seems to be working, although ‘bin problems’ is not one of the options. With support from an unexpected quarter.
A minor political earthquake this week as two West Hampstead Councillors, Phil Rosenberg and James Yarde, announced they will not be standing in 2018 as councillors.
However, Phil still plans to put himself forward for a cabinet post in his remaining year. As does Fortune Green councillor Richard Olszwecki.
A trip down memory lane thanks to the Railway.
The tree of freedom on Fortune Green for Nazanin was apparently vandalised in a politically motivated attack. Someone removed most of the ribbons and cards, but some remained.
WHL went to try Summer’s dining, the new restaurant upstairs at the Sir Colin Campbell on Kilburn High Road. Did we like?
Thanks if you filled out the West Hampstead ‘Home’ sociolology survey – good response so far, but it’s still open.
We will miss Cllr Phil Rosenberg – he’s been plugging away locally to sort out two issues; the Black Path and Billy Fury Way. Progress made on both.
But as one issue gets resolved another one surfaces. Free Parking? Camden seen to have given up ticketing cars parked on the double yellow lines at the bottom of Blackburn road.
Pavements on Crediton Hill were resurfaced, but in tarmac, not pavers. #ugly.
Someone stole the Marie Curie collecting tin from the counter at West End Lane books. Bad Karma. But locals rallied round to make good.
Building is underway to improve a rather ugly building at the bottom of West End Lane (by Priory Road) and funded in a novel way – by building a penthouse on top.
There was a cheese crisis at the Wet Fish Cafe. Actually, the ‘missing stall’ was voted your favourite stall at the farmer’s market – expect an insight into them in the near future.
And Rosa’s is arriving.
Did the Kilburn sun shine on Summers dining?
There been a ‘pop-up’ take-over of our usual food reviewer’s spot, Tom’s Diner, as WHL pulled rank to review Summer’s dining.
As we reported a couple of weeks ago, three young guys have taken over the Sir Colin Campbell on Kilburn High Road and are collaborating with Ruairidh Summers, an ex-St. John’s chef on his first solo venture. Perhaps we were too enthusiastic in promoting it because when we tried to book a table in the restaurant there was only room downstairs in the bar, but by time we arrived a table had become available upstairs.
WHL had some friends over from Neukolln in Berlin (it’s where people from Hackney move now that Hackney has been come too gentrified and expensive). How did they find Summers?
They certainly felt at home with the decor which had East End/Berlin/Williamsburg distressed paintwork furnished with simple chairs and tables plus an extensive gin menu and choice of beer and cider. No Hoxton cider though, as it was out of stock.
Kilburn via Hackney/Williamsburg/Berlin
When it came to ordering food, the suggestion is that dishes are ordered ‘for sharing’. Ruairidh is Irish, so appropriately – for a pub in Kilburn – there is an Irish flavour to the menu, with crubeens (deep fried pigs trotters) as one of the starters. We also ordered asparagus (nice and seasonal) with whipped cod’s roe, which had a slight flavour of bacon, and rabbit terrine with pickles. Oh and the spouting broccoli too. Plus home baked sourdough bread. Monika wasn’t a great fan of the cod’s roe but I loved it. And we polished off the lot.
For mains it was pork belly with carrots, brill with samphire and clams, plus a side of colcannon. I meant to order the pearl barley, wild garlic and goats curd as well but though we were told we had ordered it, it turned out we hadn’t.
Mains are always the most difficult part of the menu to get right, you don’t want to be kept waiting too long after the starters have been cleared away, but not rushed either and they are the most complex dishes to cook. Summers was still in the soft opening period and could harden this aspect up a little for the next visit. Also on the menu was a beef shin and Guinness pie, which looked really good – and I don’t eat beef – and as it comes for two is truly a dish for sharing.
Haven’t had a carrot this good since Noma.
Service was from two young waitresses who were a little nervous and still getting to grips with menu and space. However, they needn’t have worried quite so much, they were charming and did a fine job. When a restaurant has certain buzz it adds to the enjoyment the meal, and Summers had it. The room was full of 20-30somethings enjoying their meals, with a gentle backdrop of 80s Indie music, shared with the pub downstairs.
Mmmm. Desserts went down rather well.
After mains it was into the home stretch of desserts – we shared an apple crumble and rice pudding with rhubarb. Not being a huge fan of rice pudding I took a cautious bite, and then another one and another one – I might not have been a huge fan before, but I am now.
There are subtle changes to the menu each night, so you might not get the same starters or desserts we had, but I’m pretty sure they will be just as good. And how did our Berlin friends like it? Sehr, sehr gut.
What have you missed since April 3rd?
West Hampstead made the (inter)national news in a report on Nazanin’s year in prison.
Camden’s new waste contract started. In West Hampstead it wasn’t exactly smooth.
Alice House decking was given the OK by the Planning Inspector.
Ooops – car on Mill Lane. Pic thanks to FoFGNW6
This week saw a successful Whampsocial at Bobby F’s. The first organised by Adrian and Emily – (thank you).
Gomaa opens this week, selling mink upholstered furniture.
Oddbins had – another – attempted break in.
Two weeks ago Westminster, last week Stockholm, what would you do if something like that happened locally? The Safer Neighbourhoods Team recommend downloading CitizenAID app, which explains what you could in the aftermath.
Sarah Hayward, leader of Camden Labour, announced her surprise departure. She’s stepping down on 2 May.
West Hampstead Labour councillors, and a former councillor, were on TV being unimpressed with near-neighbour Ken Livingston (Phil – you are looking quite at home on Palace Green…)
Property madness 1: “You can never be too rich or too thin” the Duchess of Windsor once said. If you are both then West Hampstead has the house for you; it’s sideways only into the bathroom though. And all for only £1.6 million! But hang on ” in the area infamously known as West Hampstead”…?
Property madness 2. If that isn’t big enough then how about nearby Kidderpore Hall? only £17m (but includes a £10 million renovation budget.
Coming back down to earth. What does home (specifically in West Hampstead) mean to you? A local sociologist is asking – please help him by answering the survey. He’d like at least 100 participants, let’s help him get there.
Sniff. It was the final tweet from James Earl as chair of the NDF. Goodbye James West Hampstead will miss you. Even Stop the Blocks.
Fancy some table tennis? Maygrove Park got two new table-tennis tables.
Spring Singfest at Emmanuel Church was lovely. A good turnout, good singing and an good chance to catch up with neighbours. And raised nearly £1,500 for the local Marie Curie hospice.
Have you been watching ‘Decline and Fall’ on the BBC? You know It’s by Evelyn Waugh, but did you know he grew up on Hillfield Road?
The London Improv Theatre is in … West Hampstead (sort of)!? Well it’s on the Finchley Road. And there is a new Improv comedy show this Friday.
M&S is offering a huge hamper in a charity raffle and guess the number of Easter eggs for the benefit of St James And St. Mary’s with All Souls hardship funds.
But Easter isn’t just about Easter Eggs, details of Emmanuel, St. Lukes and St. James and All Souls Easter services.
Tweet of the week
Sent in by a dismayed and horrified Greencroft Gardens resident. @CamdenTories want weekly collections back to avoid this on our streets. pic.twitter.com/fTaRFWFUX9
— Swiss Cottage Tories (@SwissCottTories) April 5, 2017
Tree of freedom marks one year of Nazanin’s imprisonment
One year ago, today, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was just a hassled mum trying to get to the airport with a toddler. It was the end of a two week trip to Tehran to visit her parents for Nowruz (Persian New Year). However, instead of returning to her normal life back here in West Hampstead, she was arrested at the airport by the Revolutionary Guard, had her passport seized and has spent the past year in prison separated from Gabriella, her daughter in Tehran and Richard, her husband in London.
After she was detained at the airport she was held in a prison in Kerman province, 1000 miles south of Tehran, including at least 46 days in solitary confinement. On 14 August she faced a secret trial and was convicted of being “one of the chief members of networks of adversary institutions, who — with the direction and support of foreign media and espionage services — has committed her criminal acts over the past few years”. She was sentenced for five years in prison and transferred to Tehran’s Evin jail. She appealed, but her sentence was confirmed in January.
At the time of her appeal the Kerman branch of the Revolutionary guard apparently added two extra charges; that her husband was spy (he isn’t, he is an accountant) and that she acted as head of recruitment for the BBC Farsi service. In fact she worked as a project assistant for BBC Media Action. She now works for the charitable arm of the Thompson-Reuters Foundation, which doesn’t operate in Iran (good interview with Monique Ville, the head on of the Thompson-Reuters Foundation on Radio 4 Today programme – link below).
Richard Ratcliffe adding another card for his wife to the tree on Fortune Green Photograph: Gareth Fuller PA
To mark one year since the arrest, Richard, family and supporters organised an event in Fortune Green, her local park. On a beautiful Spring day. As well as marking one year imprisonment, this weekend had special resonance in Iran. Saturday was the 12th day after Nowruz when prisoners can have their sentences commuted. One prisoner was released on bail on Saturday, but sadly not Nazanin.
The event involved tying ribbons round a tree on the Green with cards attached. On each card was the answer to the question – what would you do if you had one extra day of freedom? Some of the cards were read out; from Nazanin herself, from the families of other prisoners, from former prisoners, from family and others. It was very moving. You can’t miss the tree as it is festooned with ribbons and cards, which will stay up until Easter.
Reading out some of the answers to the question ‘What would you do with a day of freedom?’
Nazanin’s wish reads “My fondest dream has always been to arrive at our home. You ask me if I want to have a cup of tea, then make me one. I just sit back and watch you two play. This is the image I had most when in solitary confinement. How I wish I could watch you both dance in the middle of our sitting room to the Michael Jackson music – like when Gabriella was only tiny.”
One local, Maria Feeney, spoke of how she as been moved to start a ‘bale of peace’, some cloth she was given to her by the Village Haberdashery, with the idea that she will place it in local businesses for people to write or sew on “to raise our voices and bring the story back”. It is a apt artistic project as Nazinin loved finding fabrics for her daughter Gabriella. Expect to see it around West Hampstead, and when finished she hopes to exhibit it in Tehran.
After the readings some of the younger supporters went off with Richard to help the Friends of Fortune Green plant some day lillies for Nazanin, ready for her and Gabriella’s return. The event ended with Father Jonathan from Emmanuel Church, who came up after the Sunday service, to add a few words.
The event garnered good press coverage, it was on BBC London news last night, as well as Sky news and on the Radio 4 Today programme (scroll to 2:36). Richard also appeared this morning on Good Morning Britain and the Victoria Derbyshire show. It appeared in the Guardian, the Times, the Telegraph and is in the solidly supportively Ham & High this week. Watch out also for something on CNN, as chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, fellow British-Iranian, is doing a story on it.
When asked how he felt it went, Richard replied “I was really touched by the support. The longer we go on campaigning the more difficult it is to make it real, but what could be more real than being in our local park, where Nazanin came with Gabriella. It is what she wants to come back to”.
Tulip as been active in her support of the cause, joining Richard last year in handing in a 50,000 signature petition to Downing Street. She and the family have been in contact with junior Foreign office minister, Tobias Ellwood, but so far Boris Johnson has refused to meet them. The Telegraph reported Amnesty International was criticising Boris for lack of action on the case.
If you haven’t already done so, you can sign the petition – it is just shy of 900,000 signatures. This is also a good way to follow the campaign as Richard posts updates there, or for the twitterate among you, follow the campaign @freenazanin.
What have you missed since March 27th?
Sunday saw ribbons and messages being tied to a tree on Fortune Green, to mark a year since Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was first arrested in Tehran. It was a moving event with local support and a big press turnout.
Tulip has been trying her best to support Nazanin, but couldn’t make it on Sunday. Still, we had a chat with her about her life as an MP, partisan politics and being a busy working mother.
And sticking to the politics theme, could Donald Trump have ended up a #whamper?
The new recycling regime started this Saturday, 1 April. It’s probably too late for the petition stage as it is happening but who will end up looking foolish? It doesn’t seem popular and with West Hampstead being ’true marginal’ territory, will it contribute to Labour losing control of the council?
Richard Ratcliffe adding another card for his wife to the tree on Fortune Green. Photograph: Gareth Fuller PA
Whose clock is it anyway? We told you last week that West Hampstead Square was getting a clock and tower. But what should it say in the middle? Don’t hold your breath that Ballymore will take this on board.
This weekend the new bus routes for the 82/13 and 139 started. One local tried the new 13 bus, but then found it rather hot. And the 139 no longer ends here, but now in Golders Green.
One swallow does not make a Summer, but what about two? Two new restaurants have opened up on the Kilburn High Road.
The previously charming but rather quiet Sir Colin Campbell, has been taken over by three young guys (it’s their third pub). They were casting round for what to do for food when a young Irish chef, Ruairidh Summers (pronounced Rory and is ex-St. Johns) was looking to open his own restaurant. “Summers” opens properly this Friday.
Also opening is Quartieri. The main branch is Pizzeria Trianon Vomero and hails from Naples no less.
But just in case you were worried that was too much gentification for Kilburn, armed police were out on the KHR this week … called for what turned out to be a false alarm on a kidnapping.
And staying on the KHR, Brent side, Labour Councillor John Duffy was deselected even thought (or because?) he had called the council to account on its waste contract. He was replaced by a Corbynista.
Camden are reintroducing play streets across the borough, including West Hampstead’s Asmara Road.
Artist Suzie Malin, whose studio was next to the new Emmanuel School is trying to recover her paintings stolen from her Maida Vale studio. She is offering a £10,000 reward and someone has contacted her, but recovery is not simple.
There’s a quiz night coming up at West End Lane books.
Oooh, talking of local events, we hear that FoWHL has a good one lined up for the Autumn.
Tweet of the week
Not actually a tweet but a Facebook post.
Don’t trust an MP who says they’re a “regular person”, says Tulip
Where’s the NHS money Boris? Image credit: Tulip Siddiq/BBC
Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead & Kilburn, is a busy working mother and her baby daughter Azalea is going through a naughty, determined, stage at the moment. After her mother’s recent haranguing of “smirking” foreign secretary Boris Johnson in the House of Commons, perhaps we know where Azalea gets it from. We sat down with Tulip to talk politics, Brexit, spin and, of course, West Hampstead.*
Juggling political life
At the moment, Tulip and husband Chris both have full-on jobs, and a baby to bring up. She laments that they are often like ships passing in the night and sometimes don’t get to see each other much. When they do, it’s a multilingual affair. Tulip talks to Azalea in Bengali, while Chris talks to her in Mandarin (he is a fluent speaker) to give her a good grounding before she starts learning English. Interestingly, if Chris talks in Bengali, Azalea refuses to answer him. Poor kid is probably baffled!
Juggling home and work life sounds pretty standard for most people, but Tulip is not impressed by those politicians who profess to be just ‘normal regular people’. To become an MP is quite a struggle – in her case with what she describes as a gruelling selection process (particularly bitter as “you are up against your friends”), followed by contesting a tight marginal seat, which can be a vicious experience. It is an unusual existence, and Tulip suggests you shouldn’t trust anyone who suggests they are just a regular woman, or man, who just ended up there by accident.
Tulip revealed that it was a Conservative who gave Tulip her first break in politics. Andrew Marshall, now an independent councillor for Swiss Cottage, is the man responsible, according to Tulip. Back in 2007 there was a council by-election in Fortune Green, following the death of councillor Jane Schopflin. At an informal hustings for candidates, Tulip says that Andrew was impressed enough to email Anna Stewart, then the leader of the Camden Labour, saying very complimentary things about Tulip. This, she says, is what got her noticed and she was then selected for Regent’s Park ward, made a Camden cabinet member, selected as parliamentary candidate and is now our MP. Andrew himself has no recollection of the hustings or the email.
Unity and division
It may sound strange to outside ears for a member of one party to openly praise a member of another. But the reality is that parliament is not always as partisan as it appears. Tulip has worked with Conservative MP Maria Miller on a cross-party bill on sex and relationship education, and also actively supports Harrow MP Bob Blackman’s private member’s Homeless Reduction Bill. She even shares a corridor (and long chats) with Chris Philp, who many readers will remember as the Tory candidate who came just 42 votes short of toppling Glenda Jackson in Hampstead & Kilburn in 2010.
Tulip is also working on another cross-party bill with Conservative MP Oliver Dowden who, like Tulip, has a constituent imprisoned in Iran. West Hampstead resident Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has spent almost a year now in prison in Iran and Tulip say she is trying hard to get a meeting with the government to discuss her case, but claims Boris is stalling.
Lest we should think that all is sweetness and light across the house, Brexit of course remains divisive. Tulip was one of the Labour rebels who opposed the bill (and stepped down from the shadow cabinet as a result), and she is disappointed with the Tory response. She suggests that some Conservative MPs talked a good game but when push came to shove only Kenneth Clarke voted against the bill.
There are 17,000 EU nationals in Hampstead & Kilburn, one of the highest number in any constituency. Of course they don’t get to vote in a general election, but Tulip argued that “I’m not here to get votes, I’m here to help people. I am your MP. If you live here I will represent you”. Of course in an area that voted some 3-to-1 in favour of Remain, far in excess of her victory margin, voting against the bill hardly seems like political suicide. Tulip does point out that it is becoming harder not to be very guarded when making public statements given the volume of nasty attacks that ensue if you say something even mildly controversial (that’s you Twitter trolls). A recent Guardian interview with her and anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller, gives some insight into the intensity of vitriol women in particular can face, and the lengths public figures like Tulip have to go to to keep themselves safe.
Brexit has predictably led to a big jump in EU casework – for example she is trying to help a Spanish constituent who has custody of her child whose father is British. Will she be allowed to stay? None of these implications were discussed by the Leave campaign at the time of the referendum, and as Brexit minister David Davis frankly admitted, there has been a complete lack of preparation.
Even this week, Tulip voiced her Brexit ire in the House of Commons, criticising Boris Johnson for “smirking at the British public” over the claim that £350m would go to the NHS.
MP Tulip Siddiq accuses Boris Johnson of "smirking at the British public" as she asks about his pledge of 350 mn extra per week for the NHS. pic.twitter.com/CiV6n2Ag18
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) March 29, 2017
Thankfully, Tulip is generally amused by Speaker John Bercow cutting MPs down to size in the chamber. “His comments are so funny,” she says (the clip includes a good example).
If proposed boundary changes go ahead, which would on paper suit the Conservatives, then perhaps her rebel stance will help her. Even if there is no change, the national polls don’t look good for Labour under its current leadership. Of course, she is fighting the proposals anyway – which would see Kilburn drop out of the constituency and leafier suburbs to the north and east come in.
Tulip’s main concern is splitting the Kilburn High Road across two constituencies. It is, she points out, already under-represented, particularly since it straddles two boroughs – four if you go far enough north and south. She became particularly aware of the problems Kilburn faces when her constituency office was there and she became involved in all sorts of local issues: HS2’s ventilation shaft in South Kilburn, payday lenders and loan sharks targeting the area and even parking for Eid prayers.
What about West Hampstead?
Whatever boundary changes, West Hampstead will remain in the constituency, and so the conversation turns to our own neighbourhood. Tulip says that she was sorry to see long-standing Lib Dem councillor Keith Moffitt go, but that Labour’s Phil Rosenberg has carried on the tradition of working hard for the community. As a former local councillor, she is well aware of the problems local councils face at the moment: “The government doesn’t care about local councils, if you haven’t been a local councillor you don’t know the full impact of the decisions they are making.”
On the thorny issues of fortnightly waste collections in the area, Tulip politely demurs that she doesn’t know the full details, although she says that she understands the concerns and lots of people are coming to her surgeries about the issue. She does point out that councils have to make difficult choices and not everyone is aware of the level of services the council provides in other areas – much of which is statutory and cannot be cut.
As the conversation draws to a close, a school bus passed by, which Tulip said she had used as a 16-year-old – yes, she’s lived here that long. Of course, she still finds out new things about the area in West Hampstead Life, which she kindly says plays an important role in keeping locals informed (whether or not we say nice things about her personally). “I always read things where I think ‘I didn’t know that.'”
*this interview took place before the tragic events around Westminster last week
What have you missed since March 20th?
Tulip spoke about the response to the Westminster incident last week in Parliament, the Prime Minister was grateful for her comments.
Telly historian Lucy Worsley dropped into West Hampstead to talk to 300 local kids about history. And they loved it!
What did you get your mother (or your kid’s mum) for mother’s day? One option was Cocoa Bijoux, which we visited for another local Insight.
Those famous Whampstead sunsets were back…
As spotted by @filleboheme
Sunday 2nd April will be one year since Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was first imprisoned. At midday family and supporters will commemorate this on Fortune Green, her local park. They will be planting some perennials and tying yellow ribbons round a tree on the Green. Attached to the ribbons will be cards with thoughts of what one would do if one had a day of freedom? What would you do? Come along and take part.
The coroner concluded that if the Royal Free had not twice discharged young Michael Uriely he might have survived.
Ladudu is closing, but for one final flourish it is offering pay-what-you-want for lunch and dinner on Monday 27th. See you there. And it is even selling the art from the walls.
Bobby Fitzpatrick’s got another good review, this time from the Evening Standard. But they felt it belonged in Soho. Just jealous.
Hampstead Butcher and Providore has expanded to Muswell Hill, but One Bourbon closed in Crouch End.
Renovation work underway at Lena’s Cafe (Two) will re-open soon, apparently.
Clock this! West Hampstead Square will be getting a clock (and a tower).
And here’s some footage of what a flat looks like from inside. Not bad.
A bit different from this cupboard, sorry bijou studio flat, in Kilburn (on the High Road). Only fits one (small) person. Here’s the listing.
Analysis of Royal Mail redirections of north London postcodes has shown that NW6 has the highest number of arrivals and departures across North London. One consequence? Some departing leave unwanted items behind and new arrivals need the recycling system explained to them.
The Library’s new(ish) writer in residence wrote his latest blog post. Worth a read. Expect more insights in the near future.
An Insight into: Cocoa Bijoux
Cocoa Bijoux is an, erm, bijou, little chocolate shop down on Broadhurst Gardens. Except it isn’t just a chocolate shop. Stuart Daniel, the owner, wanted it be more interesting than a pure chocolate shop. It’s a good source if you are looking for a special present to take friends who’ve invited you for dinner. Or want to satisfy your own chocolate craving.
Stuart outside his bijou chocolate shop.
What brought you to West Hampstead?
Pizza. I was having a pizza at Sarracino, where we had been coming for years, then one day I saw this beautiful little shop, right next door to this great cigar shop (another of West Hampstead’s hidden gems) and said to my wife “I’m going to open up a shop” she replied, “you are crazy”.
I’d been in the confectionary distribution business for over 25 years and the bit I liked best about it was visiting the shops as well as the sourcing and discovering. So I thought the time had come to try something different and open my own shop.
I never wanted to open a pure chocolate shop though, I find them a bit boring. I’m a foodie and like other indulgent products too; biscuits, olive oil, jams, cakes (Ed – and even biltong, Stuart hails from South Africa). I wanted the shop to allow customer to “explore and discover a world of indulgence”.
First or fondest memory of West Hampstead?
Those pizzas at Sarracino!
Aow, wouldn’t it be loverly? Lots of choco’lates for me to eat.
What’s surprised you most about how West Hampstead has changed?
I haven’t been here that long, opening the shop in 2011, so it is difficult to know. Even in that short space of time though I’ve notice that the young couples that came in when I first opened have moved away and been replaced more and more by wealthy ex-pats. But West Hampstead is still perceived as a young person’s area, it has a young vibe.
Talking of change, I’d like to move into one of the new units when Mario’s further up Broadhurst Gardens gets redeveloped. It would be good to have more space, with somewhere for the customers to properly sit down and have one of our hot chocolate drinks.
When I look back at pictures of the shop, which at the time I thought was great, I now think it was terrible! The shop has matured, you have to respond to people’s wants and everything evolves.
What’s for lunch?
Mostly a beigel from Roni’s to go with soup I bring with me.
West Hampstead in three words?
Young, well-located and eclectic
What have you missed since March 13th?
Ladudu closes its doors for the final time this week.
After Ballymore had to take its enormous sign down last week, this week M&S had its application for an illuminated sign at West Hampstead Square turned down by Camden. Meanwhile, Ballymore marketing material seems to think West End Lane has shifted over to the Finchley Road (and apparently we lie between Hampstead, Primrose Hill and St. John’s Wood).
Next Sunday is Mothers Day – we rounded up a dozen gifts you can buy locally.
No reason for thinking Cresta House scaffolding is in any way insecure, but certainly looks vertiginous. via Andrew Marshall
One mother who will not be at home on Mother’s day is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was imprisoned in Iran almost a year ago. She is being denied medical treatment for what appears to be a slipped disk.
A local boy tragically died of an extreme asthma attack after being released from the Royal Free.
West Hampstead tube station is apparently on a TfL short list of some 50 stations that need funding for step-free access.
West Hampstead and Fortune Green Safer Neighbourhood teams are being joined by the Kilburn team in a larger more flexible pool, when needed. Commercial burglaries are down this month after a spike in Jan/Feb, but car crime is up so don’t leave any valuables in your car overnight.
Toomai got tagged.
Miss Bake-a-boo herself wrote about the proposed redevelopment of her former premises. It’s well worth reading.
At the community consultation on the redevelopment of Gondar Gardens, it was suggested somehow that two previous applications for 16 units + 28 units now add up to the 108 units being proposed. Um?
Maeve McCormack, Labour councillor for Gospel Oak but resident of Broadhurst Gardens, is standing down as she has been priced out of Camden. In 1999, an employee paid 9.6x their salary for an average Camden property, last year that had risen to 19.6x.
Jim Carter is in conversation with Danny Boyle in a fundraiser at the Tricycle on Sunday 26th. Take your mother for a rather different (but still local!) mother’s day present?
Talking of the Tricycle, it’s the annual takeover in April though performances are in other venues as work continues on the theatre
Coming up this week
Beckett and Jazz at Locally Sourced on Monday and a barn dance at Emmanuel on Saturday. West Hampstead is nothing if not eclectic.
The book group at Swiss Cottage Library is looking at “Reading Lolita in Tehran”. While Phillips Sands is making an author’s visit to West End Lane books.
Tweet of the week
Lots of photos and comments on the arrival (onslaught?) of the new wheelie bins.
@WHampsteadLife @WHampstead I'm thinking of renting mine out to tenants. It's bigger than my bedroom.
— Danielle Blanchard (@dannyblanny) March 17, 2017
Shop local: 12 Presents for Mother’s Day
Mother’s day or Mothering Sunday, is the 26th March. Which is soon. If you haven’t got something for yours, or for younger mums something ‘from’ the kids – what to buy? WHL scooted round the shops in the ‘hood – and this is what caught our eye.
Next decision, which colour…?
Season’s Cookshop said “well it depends how pleased you want to make your mum!” and suggested a Le Creuset casserole dish (priced from £99 to £219). Or for the perfect coffee with the right crema a Bialetta coffee maker (£36.30 with 20% off at the moment). Otherwise, although your mum might take this the wrong way I quite liked the ‘avocado shark’ – a kitchen tool for avocados.
My heart belongs to … cocoa-dusted walnuts, or possibly chocolate salami.
Sticking to the food theme, down at Cocoa Bijoux on Broadhurst Gardens they recommended their cocoa-dusted Perigord walnuts at £15 or a selection of home made truffles. Otherwise Selma who was running the shop that day (Stuart the owner’s mum and from South Africa), would like some of their Biltong, but not sure my mum would be that chuffed.
Can’t decide? Get all four.
If wine is more her thing then Avie at Tannin & Oak suggests maybe some vintage prosecco by Nino Franco at £25 a bottle, or a white frizzante Moscate D’Asti at £16.00. For something with a bit of a wow factor he also has magnums, recommending a rose – Rosado 2015 by Ramon Bilbao at £19.99 or red for £30.00 from Camille Cayron. Andrea at Vini Vici on Mill Lane was a bit more cynical about Mother’s Day, but happy to make a recommendation if you pop by.
Buddha or angel?
North West 6, the gift shop by the tube station offers jewellery – recommending this blue topaz set for £240. It also has range of semi-precious stones (their healing powers are all the rage in L.A. at the moment) so maybe a rose quartz buddha or angel (depending on her religious viewpoint)? They also have a good range of oh-so important mother’s day cards.
Is she a cat or a dog person?
Something for the younger artier mum? Try Monsters of Art on Mill Lane. Is she a cat or a dog person? Two pictures that caught my eye are these. The cat (£175) is by a local (well, Cricklewood) artist. The photo doesn’t really do justice to the dog picture (£300) – I really liked it, as did a well-known (and cool) DJ who’s already got a couple.
Nice frame at Joy
Two other options for the younger mum (or young at heart) is Joy which offered this nice picture frame (£12.00) and La Boutique Secret. Both had lots of fashion options but it’s a tricky one, not only does the piece and colour have to be right but the size too. Easier for woman to choose than a man methinks.
Perhaps a pampering present would be perfect? On West End Lane, Healthtown are offering a Mothering Sunday massage voucher for £50 (normally £60). Nearly opposite Nailsuite UK are offering a mani/pedi voucher for £40 (normally £55). As does Beauty Blossom on Mill Lane also £40 (that’s their normal price).
Best Mother’s day card in West Hampstead (in our judgement)
Still looking for a card? The Sherriff Centre is another good source, and probably had the best card I saw (in the picture). As for presents it has some reasonably priced clutch bags by Holy Chic at £9.00 – or natural candle sets for £15.95. Ever popular are their individual letters at £1.75 each; so you can spell it out.
From the sublime to the ridiculous
Literally, another option is West End Lane Books. Danny had several excellent recommendations; something from the display of gardening books in the window? Shelves full of Persephone and Virago books or ‘Mothering Sunday’ by Graham Swift? A little lower down the literary scale they offer ‘The Mum – how it works’, or ‘Adrian Mole – The Collected Poems’.
Say it with flowers, paper flowers!
The Village Haberdashery has plenty to offer, suggesting cute crochet and knitting kits (£25 to £39). They also offer vouchers for their in-house workshops (£60) or paper flower making kits (starting from £5).
Another handmade option on West End Lane is to take the kids (or just yourself) and paint a mug (£18) or a plate (£18 to £30) at Art for Fun. But better get your skates on as it has be done this weekend since it takes a week to fire, so ready for collection next Saturday evening. In time for Mothering Sunday, just.
Achillea – bloomin’ marvellous.
If it is real flowers you are looking for then for my money, or should that be for my mummy, you can’t go wrong with a bouquet from Achillea flowers (from £20 upwards).
So there you are – at least twelve suggestions for a mother’s day present on your doorstep. If she doesn’t get anything, can’t say it was because you couldn’t find anything locally.
Out with a bành: Pay what you want on Ladudu’s last day
This month West Hampstead says farewell to Ladudu, the rather good Vietnamese restaurant by the stations. We will be sad to see it go but, as you will find out, when one door closes another one opens (in fact two).
Teresa considers herself a West Hampstead local as she lives in the area – it’s her ‘hood’ as she put it. But she got here in a rather roundabout way. Born in Vietnam she fled as child with her family in the war, and they ended up as refugees in Sydney, Australia. After university she worked in IT and decided to take advantage of a one-year visa for a working visit to the UK. That one-year trip has now stretched to twelve as she met and married her husband here.
Having lived elsewhere in London, she ended up living in West Hampstead, which she describes as “a great combination of transport links to central London but also all the quaint local shops, a local and cosy feel”.
Aurevoir West Hampstead!
What’s in a name
Teresa was always passionate about food and cooking but was not a professional chef. In 2009, she was made redundant and thought it was time to follow her dreams. She started off offering Vietnamese cooking lessons with a view to opening her own restaurant. On her way to work she had walked past Glo on West End Lane. The pan-Asian restaurant closed after about a year, but the prominent site – directly opposite the Iverson Road junction was clearly good. The site became vacant, Teresa had some culinary experience under her belt and she had always wanted to open her own business. Hello Ladudu.
About that name. It has featured in some unflattering lists of London restaurant names, so where did it come from? In Vietnamese, la means leaf and dudu means papaya. Put the two together and you get papaya leaf! It is also has a family resonance as Teresa’s grandfather was a herbalist and used to drink papaya leaf tea for its health benefits.
Ladudu passed the crucial three-year stage but, like all businesses, had to face some bumps in the road. Last year there were two: Brexit caused a jump in the cost of imported ingredients, but not a jump in the prices she they could charge and a broken water main (in West Hampstead, who’d have thought) damaged the basement kitchen. Although the damage was covered by insurance it still meant the restaurant was out of action over the busy Christmas period.
Ladudu’s logo and branding may make it look like a chain, which it isn’t. Teresa had hoped to open another branch, but says that that would have made the business “too commercial”, so instead she took the decision to close the restaurant and focus on other opportunities in order to preserve a lifestyle that still gave her some flexibility.
Teresa and her saucy new business.
Sauce of enjoyment
Teresa says she has learned a huge amount in her five years running Ladudu, and saw other opportunities opening up. First, she has started marketing the sauces she was making from scratch for the restaurant and she wants to go back to teaching others how to cook Vietnamese food, but probably this time over the internet. Ladudu sauces will be available at Wing Yip and other Asian grocers around London, plus at the grocers on West End Lane and hopefully Cook too. Don’t be surprised if you see a familiar face on Dragon’s Den in the not too distant future.
With her background in IT she has also set up systems at the restaurant both for cooking but also for the all important stock and cost control. So she and her husband have set up a company, Insolution software, to sell that too! Plus she is writing a cook book.
However, there is one last surprise for West Hampstead. Ladudu closes at the end of the month, but on the last day, Monday 27th, for lunch and dinner (and in between) it will be pay-what-you-want. Head along, enjoy the food one last time – top tip: it’s the best ice cream in West Hampstead – and buy a jar of sauce (or two) so you can take some Ladudu home with you.
What of the restaurant? Teresa had interest in the site from Pret and bakery chain Paul. A burger chain was also interested. However, in the end Teresa preferred Rosa’s Thai Café. If you’re not familiar with this small chain, then expect Thai food with a modern twist. It started in Spitalfields and has opened several branches since, the latest one in Brixton. West Hampstead will be the first branch outside Zone 1.
Adieu to Ladudu, all the best to Teresa and thank you for introducing us to some Vietnamese favourites. Who’s going to make WHL’s banh-mi now?
What have you missed since March 6th?
This week Ballymore agreed to take down the huge sign it had put up without planning permission. ‘Ballynomore’, as we quipped.
Staying with Ballymore, West Hampstead Square (a.k.a. Heritage Square) opened proper. Maybe it’s the weather, but it looks a bit bleak, non? plus the three London plane trees are planted too close together. And the new benches round them didn’t quite attract the ambience hoped for…
Finally – looking to move? There is a penthouse at West Hampstead Square available for only £2.1 million. Maybe cut your offer price though as prices are edging down for flats in the new local developments.
Indiana Jones’ connection to West Hampstead. Who knew!? Our local historians that’s who.
Graffiti 1 – tag on Billy Fury way can’t be removed without damaging the mural. Sad. Does someone know the perpetrator? Hint- he’s called Kevin
Graffiti 2 – some rather odd graffiti appeared on the Barclays cash machines. Apparently, airplane contrails are part of some conspiracy to control the weather…
Changes at the helm of the Neighbourhood Development Forum. James Earl is to be replaced by new co-chairs Nick Jackson and former Cllr Keith Moffitt.
Groan. More development in West Hampstead? Consultation on plans to turn Gondar Gardens reservoir into luxury retirement homes with chauffeur-driver. More details in calendar.
Application in to turn basement and back part of Bake-a-Boo into a flat. Basement OK but back part too makes retail unit too small? Save Mill Lane!
Expect some partial closure of West End Lane for Overground redevelopment. Closer inspection of this table is rather confusing but jist is partial closures coming up.
Another theft by someone on a moped locally. Don’t flash your mobile (or headphones).
With all the fuss about the Tories breaking their manifesto pledge on no National Insurance increase, a reminder that in the last Camden Labour manifesto: no charges for rubbish collection and continue weekly collections…
The new bins have started arriving and they are huge. Quite how people are supposed to store them plus recycling wheelie bins hasn’t really been thought through.
Community Association quiz was a success, part of their ‘Go West’ Hampstead initiative to bring West Hampstead together – next time will be in Emmanuel Church as they will need a bigger venue. Next event second barn dance – yee haw!
The London Quilters are back for the 8th year at Swiss Cottage Library. One local recommended the exhibition – and she’s right – they are stunning. Worth a detour.
Thank you and farewell to Charlotte Green who ran the Whampsocials for us over the past year. But welcome our new social mavens; Adrian and Emily. Watch out for the next Whampsocial coming up soon.
Cat stuck! but the police came to the rescue – cat saved! Phew.
A peek behind the shutter of the excellent mykilburnhighroad instagram account. And here’s an why we like it.
New captains take the helm of local planning group
The NDF has a new head – or rather heads. After five years of steering the Neighbourhood Development Forum, chairman James Earl stepped down at last night’s AGM.
A memory of West Hampstead to take away!
James is leaving West Hampstead for pastures new. His replacement(s): NDF treasurer Nick Jackson and former Lib Dem local councillor Keith Moffitt.
In the end, the whole handover process was remarkably smooth. When James asked for nominations, Lib Dem cllr Flick Rea nominated Nick Jackson, Nick nominated Keith Moffitt and at this point Keith confessed that they has discussed it in advance and had agreed to share the role. The rest of the committee agreed to stand again, with Nick retaining his treasurer role. All rather uncontroversial. Nick has been a core member of the NDF ever since it was established, and Keith knows his way round the corridors of Camden better than anyone as former leader of the council.
Nick Jackson (L) and Keith Moffitt (R) – the new co-chairs of the NDF
In James’ final report as chair he said that in the five years since the NDF was set up it has reached 500 members, written an Neighbourhood Development Plan that will last until 2031! and is making traction with its priorities.
In his new role as co-chair Keith thanked James for the huge amount of work he has done for West Hampstead and Nick presented him with a couple of memories of the area.
Ever since the Neighbourhood Development Plan was approved by referendum, the role of the NDF has been a little hazy. Is it there to ensure the plan is adhered to? Should it take a more proactive role in continuing to shape the development of the area? How should membership be defined? These are all questions that Keith and Nick will need to answer in the coming months.
Nick’s first thoughts were that “the role of the NDF now is to ensure that the Neighbourhood Plan is applied and enforced on all significant schemes in the Fortune Green and West Hampstead wards. We are also looking at the future of the designated Growth Area around the stations and we need to continue to press for master-planning for all the significant potential sites in the Growth Area to avoid uncoordinated development, and to maximise the value to the community of any development there”.
He added, “The immediate big challenge is to maintain the high standard of evaluation and comment on proposed schemes in the area, a process which has been very effectively led by James over the past five years, and that has won some substantial improvements to the proposals. There are likely to be several big developments coming forward soon that will need close scrutiny and robust comment. For instance, the developers of the very large and dense scheme for upmarket retirement housing on the Gondar Gardens reservoir green space say an application will be submitted this year. We will be supporting the local community in seeking a satisfactory outcome”.
James’s parting advice for the NDF going forward? “The main lesson is you do have to sit down and discuss with developers, you have to be involved. Make sure you have a seat at the table.”
What have you missed since February 27th?
UXB NW6. A bomb was discovered on a building site in NW6. It was made safe, taken away and exploded by the army.
After last week’s announcement by Camden Council that it is raising Council tax by 4.99% , with 3% ring-fenced to fund social care. An insight into what social care pressures local doctors are facing, with some pensioners in de-facto ‘solitary confinement’.
At WHATs recent AGM we learned more about the new recycling regime – it will be starting in less than a month!
Pic of the week
shows the perils of street drinking…
Oddly disturbing sight on our high street! As seen by @julietrix1
Tulip raised the issue, in Parliament, of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s use of language at a fundraising dinner for the Hampstead Conservatives referring to the ‘pygmy-nature’ of the opposition. In the constituency of the shortest member of parliament she pointed out. (You might have caught this on the Radio 4 Today show too).
Finchley and Golder’s Green MP Mike Freer, whose constituency will be split in the boundary changes, has been tipped to stand as the Tory MP for new Hampstead & Golders Green constituency.
Among the 750 comments on boundary changes to the constituency, the highest in the country, was one by Chris Percy (aka Mr Tulip Siddiq). He raised the prospect of a legal challenge under the equalities act.
There was break-in at Oddbins – thieves got away with a bottle of bourbon – but most of the bottles and boxes were empty.
Camden Council refuses to allow utility companies access for meter readings. Apparently due to ‘health and safety’. Some residents haven’t had a reading for seven years.
It’s the West Hampstead NDF AGM. Chair James Earl is stepping down, but who will replace him?
Also on Monday the Hampstead NDF is having a meeting – so they are pressing ahead.
The Tricycle’s refurb is continuing and their auditorium is heading off to a school in Kent.
Some graffiti was subverted at JW3. They are running a GayW3 festival over the next week.
There is a Taste of Syria pop-up stall at JW3.
Tweet of the week
10 minutes of Tidying in @WHampstead #GBSpringClean #LitterHeroes pic.twitter.com/aXNWJQA6dg
— zoe de (@zmdih) March 4, 2017
WHAT about the new recycling regime?
At local amenity group WHAT’s AGM last week, the thorny topic of rubbish was the theme. Following the departure of WHAT’s founder and long-time chair, Virigina Berridge, this was the first blooding of new co-chairs John Saynor and Mary Tucker.
John opened the presentation by saying that most attendees were keen recyclers (hopefully true). Therefore, is Camden’s main challenge to persuade those who don’t or won’t recycle to do a better job? Particularly in West Hampstead with a high turnover of renters.
Richard Bradbury, Camden’s head of recycling, gave a fast, well-rehearsed presentation with many slides. He emphasised that 85% of the contents of a Camden bin could be recycled, yet residents only manage 25%, which is pretty feeble whatever your political persuasion.
Richard proposed a outcome-focused plan to make the new rubbish contract a success: increased recycling, less fly-tipping, less contamination of recycling bins/better technology, educating the public, and flexible responses to specific problems. He handed out an update on what can be recycled.
Camden’s latest recycling info
Then came a lively and productive Q&A session. From which we found out some of the details. We’ll get a leaflet telling us our fortnightly area dates for a whole year. People with babies need to pre-book extra nappy collections. We can now recycle black food trays. Shredded paper is acceptable, even though its fibres have been broken down. And there will be one-off collections for textiles and batteries (as well as large items), to be ordered via the website.
You can recycle so much that it goes onto two pages!
Technology to the rescue! There’ll be an app from which you can take photos of any problems and send to them to Veolia, the contractor. Vans will also have CCTV to check accuracy of collections with the footage saved for 3 months and to spot fly-tipping hotspots. The fly tipping penalty will be a fixed charge of £200 if Camden can actually get the right evidence. The whole thing sounded a bit “shop your neighbour”, though everyone at the meeting was too polite to say so – and maybe some neighbours deserve to be shopped?
The representatives from Veolia were surprised by all the exceptions residents raised. For instance, they could only say they’d ‘look at ways to contain the waste’ in response to Solent Road’s bag-ripping foxes. If you can’t get your recycling – or any – bin on or next to your pavement you’ll have to ring up and ask for an ‘assisted service’. This will presumably mean Veolia would exeed its allotted 15.6 seconds per property – which translates as “one step in”. If you currently have green or brown wheelie bins you’ll have to get stickers if you want to use your bins.
Green/garden waste will be collected weekly, but it’s £75 for a year or £60 for the nine months from spring to autumn. These collections (three sacks a week) can be shared with neighbours, but only if you pre-register. Pensioners will get a discount, though the details are still being decided.
Still ‘no’ to soft plastics like dry cleaners’ coverings and junk mail wrappers. Caddy liners? ‘They don’t last a fortnight. Change them weekly.’ Light bulbs won’t be collected. Rats? ’Keep your receptacle clean.’ (And ‘No comment’ to query about new commercial rubbish collectors springing up across Camden.)
It’s strange to think that it was only a few years ago that we were getting bi-weekly rubbish collections, and soon we will have only fortnightly. West Hampstead already has a rubbish problem, with regular fly tipping, although time banded collections on West End have improved things. We will have to see how things change with the new contract from – and you couldn’t make this up – 1st April.
What have you missed since February 20th?
Storm Doris hit West Hampstead hard with trees and even a brick wall blown over.
M&S opened in West Hampstead Square on Wednesday, but just two days later a fire broke out in one of the other tower blocks with five fire engines attending. A ninth-floor balcony was damaged but thankfully no-one was hurt. Presumably this means more delays for people moving in.
Preliminary plans weer announced to turn Gondar Gardens reservoir and wildlife site into luxury retirement homes with chauffeurs!
Spring is already springing on West End Green. Photo via @bubela
Teenager Morgan Williams has gone missing. Although from High Wycombe, she is believed to have links to the West Hampstead area. She also went missing last month, but was found safe and well.
Tom went to One Bourbon to see what it offered the non-meat eater – his verdict here!
Local vicar, Father Andrew Foreshew-Cain has been nominated for a British LGBT award in the “Top 10 Outstanding Contributions to LGBT+ Life” category.
The rapist who carved his name into a schoolgirl’s arm in Hampstead Cemetery and then left her for dead was jailed for 17 years.
Council tax is set to rise by 4.99% (a rise of 5% would require a referendum) as Camden attempts to cover some of the cuts from central goverment.
Very sad news for those customers of Andy’s eponymous barber shop in Fairhazel Gardens. Andy has passed away after an illness. He was the epitome of a classy gentleman and had been cutting hair there for more than 50 years.
Lola’s cupcakes is due to open at the end of April in the old Colour Division site.
Maygrove Road residents took their parking concerns to Camden, but still need a lot more signatures on their petition before the council will actually consider taking any action.
The Financial Times went behind the scenes at Kilburn’s very own School of Rock – the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance.
Tweet of the Week
@WHampstead met a lovely couple on my way to the station looking for the new M&S. They go to all the openings . Not sure if paid or for fun!
— Mila Griebel (@MilaGriebel) February 22, 2017
M&S opens and West Hampstead speaks
There’s always a bit of excitement when a major new shop or restaurant opens in the area. Some scoff at the fervour with which chains are welcomed. Others just scoff the food they sell.
Marks & Spencer’s food hall in West Hampstead Square will undoubtedly be a boon not just for those eventually living in the new development, but for everyone living that end of West Hampstead where there are only convenience stores (whether all three of those can survive remains to be seen.)
Followng our behind-the-scenes peek a couple of weeks ago, the shop opened on Wednesday at 10am – how did locals react?
Good news for West Hampstead! Today the @marksandspencer opens! pic.twitter.com/ovpTB10GDQ
— Mark Amies (@Superfast72) February 22, 2017
@WHampstead met a lovely couple on my way to the station looking for the new M&S. They go to all the openings . Not sure if paid or for fun!
— Mila Griebel (@MilaGriebel) February 22, 2017
@WHampstead @MilaGriebel these are not just ANY weird obsessed grocery fans …
— Neil Fisher (@nfmusic) February 22, 2017
The unofficial “we’re open” photo
And …. we're open M&S @WHampstead pic.twitter.com/602dcMUNAk
— andy sarner (@bubela) February 22, 2017
And the official one
M&S West #Hampstead is now open for business! After a 6 week fit-out creating a brand new store by Wates Smartspace @MandSnews @WHampstead pic.twitter.com/Gh06GoKPqZ
— Wates Group (@WatesGroup) February 22, 2017
In case you’re wondering, the woman cutting the ribbon is Judith Parry who, according to the press release, is celebrating her 32nd anniversary working at M&S this year. “I’m at a point in my life now where I’ve settled into my current role as a sales advisor and look forward to the years to come at M&S Foodhall West Hampstead until I retire!”, she said.
New M&S open. Seems to be quite popular! @WHampstead @WHampsteadLife @NW6FOFG pic.twitter.com/az0wt4qhM3
— West Hampstead NDF (@WHampsteadNDF) February 22, 2017
@WHampsteadNDF @WHampstead @WHampsteadLife @NW6FOFG But inside…(self-checkouts only) pic.twitter.com/CaYFF8qLY0
— andy sarner (@bubela) February 22, 2017
@bubela @WHampsteadNDF @WHampstead @WHampsteadLife @NW6FOFG Has everyone been given a strict dress code?
— Adam Morris (@adammorris101) February 22, 2017
The view of @WHampstead from a resident of Balham. I'd point out we've had a Waitrose for years…. pic.twitter.com/4WIu75k50z
— Joe (@TheJoeBoulton) February 22, 2017
@mermayden @WHampstead With Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local, Little Waitrose and now, M&S Food, Mini Harrods is surely overdue here!!
— Joe (@TheJoeBoulton) February 22, 2017
First M&S opening up yesterday and now a power cut today.Little Waitrose in @WHampstead ain't having the best week… pic.twitter.com/5CXWqjFOEW
— Ko (@WH_guy) February 23, 2017
Of course, the honeymoon was quickly over…
Why does @marksandspencer #westhampted open at 8am? Surely 7am at V latest!
— KingsgateNW6 (@KingsgateNW6) February 25, 2017
Tom tackles a taco at One Bourbon
Strange things have been happening in the world of tomato ketchup. First, upon requesting some whilst enjoying a magnificent fish & chips in The Beehive, Crawford Street, the waitress apologised that they didn’t have any ketchup, “however we do have this…”, she said, before disappearing for a moment and returning with several sachets of sauce instead of a bottle. Absolutely fine, false alarm!
Second, what is this nonsense whereby ketchup is suddenly on the sugar-police watch list? Facebook is annoying enough without that sort of rubbish. As if you sit there drinking three bottles of the stuff, for goodness’ sake?
Anyway… musing these condiment-related anomalies, I dived into One Bourbon for a spot of lunch after challenging myself as to whether salmon tacos could possibly be any good? The idea sounded odd, but given there were a couple of side dishes I liked the sound of, I steeled myself and took up residence near the window with a reassuring wine list.
Salmon tacos
I was curious as to how slabs of salmon and crunchy cabbage would work, however the former was scrambled into morsels and the latter pickled and shredded; things were starting to make sense. Watercress was present, but a little more of the coriander and onion would have boosted the salsa’s flavour. Generally, these tacos seemed a fresh and healthy way to accompany a couple of reds (probably not the best match, but who cares?), and aside from the slight weirdness of the dish being partly warm, partly cold, I was all too pleased to scoff everything.
A side of chips added to the fun, with, would you believe it, Heinz tomato ketchup! I’d half expected it to be banned by that point after the “very serious health-scare”. Just in case, One Bourbon also provides other punchy ketchups, such as the sweet and mellow Smoggy Hog Smoked Chilli.
Ketchup as it was meant to be served
I’ve no idea if desserts were an option, as none were apparent on the menu – a pity, as although three tacos proved a relatively satisfying meal, a toffee pudding or something would have been suitable as a sort of mobile central heating solution for the walk home.
Being serious for five seconds, it does appear One Bourbon is trying to offer some variation on the menu, which is a positive thing; I’d like to try their huevos rancheros, and the smoked tofu & quinoa main (thankfully fleshed-out with butternut squash, peppers, and kidney beans) might be decent for vegetarians or those planning on a curry later (ooh that’s got me thinking…)
For now though I’m off to stock-up on tomato sauce before it’s too late!
Council listens to Maygrove parking problems
Photo via Colin Bridgewater
If you’re following the Maygrove Road parking story, then you’ll be interested in this update from MILAM (the local residents association) chair Monica Regli.
Monica presented the MILAM deputation on parking and traffic issues to Camden’s environment and cultural scrutiny meeting at the town hall. She says that councillors were largely sympathetic to the problems but there was still a feeling that they need to see 800 signatures from CA-Q residents before they engage in any more formal consultation or discussion with residents.
MILAM argued that 800 was too high a barrier for such a small and very defined area. The petition currently has 200 signatures, and it is possible apparently for the council to use their discretion in terms of enforcing the 800 level.
Camden built its position heavily on the car-free developments, pointing out that while residents of these developments shouldn’t have cars this should not prevent relatives and visitors with cars visiting them. Restricting parking at weekends therefore, would mean these residents would have to buy visitor permits for relatives or friends.
The idea of creating a subzone was not dismissed out-of-hand, but it would require further consultation given the inevitable knock-on effect to other roads. MILAM argues that its streets are more or less boxed in by the railway tracks and thus realistically there aren’t so many roads for cars to spill over into, without then requiring a long walk to a front door.
Gondar Gardens: Chauffeur-driven retirees vs the slowworm
Gondar Gardens – the old reservoir site in the northern reaches of West Hampstead – has had more than its fair share of development proposals over the past few years. Some have been rejected – even on appeal – and some have been accepted. Yet nothing has actually been built.
The most recent decision was in 2014, when a scheme by developer Linden Wates to build 28 homes along the street side of the open space was approved on appeal.
The “frontage” scheme, approved in 2014
Last year, LifeCare Residences bought the site from LindenWates. LifeCare Residences builds luxury retirement homes.
Late Sunday night, the local residents association, GARA, sent an email with more details on what was happening:
- LifeCare wants to build 108 luxury flats on Gondar Gardens reservoir, together with a restaurant, swimming pool, nursing facilities and various offices to service their ‘retirement community’ – 108? Not a joke? And nursing facilities too?
- They would make their scheme “car free” by providing a chauffeur service to their residents – hardly a model of sustainable transport or encouraging integration with the rest of us!
- They would pay Camden a large sum in lieu of providing any affordable housing
- LifeCare and their professional advisers appeared surprised to learn that the Open Space and Site of Nature Conservation Importance cover the whole site except for a small strip on the street frontage – we sent them away to look at the plans!
We already knew that LifeCare builds luxury retirement homes – hardly an amenity for local residents as we are simply not in their target market. Compare that to the currently approved frontage-only scheme for 28 homes that delivers both affordable housing and protection of the Open Space, with 93% of the land gifted to the London Wildlife Trust in perpetuity. Click here for a brief summary of previous schemes.
In case you’re wondering what creatures inhabit this space to justify its importance as a wildlife sanctuary – the answer is slow worms. Before you mock, this is one of the few habitats for them in urban areas, and the species is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Does West Hampstead need to sacrifice a green space for some chauffeur-driven wealthy retirees?
What have you missed since February 13th?
West Hampstead is an “area of intensification” – how far are we to meeting the 2031 housing target? (Spoiler: Very).
In Valentine’s week, what better than an Insight into one of our local florists?
Swiss Cottage councillor Andrew Marshall, who has already said he will not seek reelection next year, left the Conservative party over Brexit, and will sit out his remaining term as an independent.
Never realised how colourful the stained glass is at Hampstead Synagogue. Quite beautiful. via Chris Simpson
The Friends of West Hampstead Library held a very successful evening with Jim Carter.
The Alliance was up for auction, but bidding stopped at £3.9 million, short of the £4.1 million reserve. The developer paid £2.7 million for it only a year ago, so it seems a £1 million profit in a year wasn’t enough.
From one baker to another: Wenzels has opened where Dylan’s used to be.
*Do like West Hampstead Life on Facebook, if that’s your sort of thing*
From one south-east Asian restaurant to another: Ladudu, which closes at the end of March, is set to become a Rosa’s Thai.
West Hampstead Square has opened up… for deliveries!
What is happening at Lena’s Cafe after the Porsche accident? Nothing it appears. Turns out a new owner bought the café only a month earlier. How’s that for bad luck.
Londis on Mill Lane was broken into last week.
A 16-year-old was arrested and charged with the shooting of Yasir Beshira in Kilburn earlier this year. A 17-year-old was released on bail and two other men are in custody.
A West Hampstead woman returning home from a funeral was killed after being hit by a lorry near Euston.
The planning application to install a large mobile phone mast on Blackburn Road was refused.
It’s a long read, but if you care about Camden’s budget then this piece by finance chief Theo Blackwell is interesting.
Minkies ran into all sorts of trouble on Twitter over dumping rubbish on West End Lane. Public pressure (and possibly a letter to the boss) seems to have paid off and at least the rubbish is now correctly bagged.
Talking of rubbish, It’s the WHAT AGM at the library this Monday and the public discussion will be on rubbish. Come along, quiz Camden and have your say.
Tweet of the week
!
?#WestHampstead #NW6 pic.twitter.com/nG7y5moWF3— Robert Timothy (@RTJourno) February 19, 2017
Full house for Downton star’s romp through an illustrious career
Jim Carter. Photo by Eugene Regis
Local actor Jim Carter, best known for playing Carson the butler in Downton Abbey, broke all records at West Hampstead Library on Wednesday night by drawing the biggest crowd for a Friends of West Hampstead Library event since Stephen Fry in 2001. The “house full” notice went up at 7.30pm, just as the event started.
The evening, hosted by FoWHL Chair Simon Inglis, began with Jim playing a guessing game with the audience based on key elements of his acting career. With typical generosity he handed a bottle of champagne to the winner.
With Simon as a foil, the two of them made a fine comedy turn as Jim embarked on a riot of anecdotes, starting with his story of how he abandoned a university degree in English for a career in street theatre in Brighton. One early performance for kids, he recalled, was interrupted by an invasion of Mods and Rockers. Punch and Judy ended up in the sea while Jim, dressed head-to-toe as a thistle, ended up being chased along the beach by a psychopath in a leather jacket. An unusual seaside memory.
He then took us on a tour of America. His first visit was to enrol with a circus school. He then returned with the legendary Ken Campbell and his surreal roadshow. All he needed at that time, he said, was a rucksack and a pub. Then it was back for the National Theatre’s triumphant run of Guys and Dolls and a meeting with fellow actor, Imelda Staunton. They married a year or so later.
Clearly Jim is a proud resident of West Hampstead, with a long record of community and charitable work. He spoke with particular pride of his six years as president of Hampstead Cricket Club in Lymington Road – especially the setting up of a women’s team – also of the fundraising evenings he is putting on at, and for, the Tricycle Theatre. (Note, Jim’s event with Maggie Smith and Judi Dench is sold out, but there are still tickets available for Danny Boyle on March 26).
A packed house. Photo by Eugene Regis
Finally, as no doubt many in the packed audience were hoping for (one fan had reportedly come over from Germany especially for the evening), the conversation arrived at Downton Abbey. Jim entertained us all with stories of life upstairs and downstairs (for the actors as much as the characters), and a recollection of George Clooney’s visit to the set. Apparently after he kissed Maggie Smith’s outstretched hand she affected a theatrical swoon and fell off her settee. Asked if a Downton movie is on the cards, he revealed that the actors were all in favour – they had all enjoyed working together – but that the script would have to be good.
The evening was an hour of theatre, full of nostalgic generosity and Falstaffian humour. It’s a long way from his roots in Harrogate to West Hampstead, but Jim Carter took us with him every step of the way. And to cap it all, Simon was able to announce at the conclusion that Jim had kindly consented to follow in Stephen Fry’s footsteps by becoming a patron of the Friends group.
The author is FoWHL writer in residence
Housing targets 90 percent fulfilled with 14 years to go!
Last week we looked at job creation in West Hampstead. This week, we turn our attention to housing.
In the London Plan 2016, West Hampstead is glamorously referred to as “Area for intensification, number 45”. The original designation dates back to the time Ken Livingstone used to commute to City Hall via West Hampstead and no doubt saw all this space around the railway tracks. The “intensification” was to increase housing by 800 new homes and jobs by 100 in the Growth Area, mapped below.
In 2015, Camden confirmed these numbers in its own plan for the West Hampstead Interchange over the following 16 years, though this is substantially lower than the number outlined in its 2010 Core Strategy document, which was 2,000 new homes but was then scaled back to 1,000. The “Interchange” is almost exactly the same as the growth area.
It is not clear who originally drew the outline of the Growth Area, and why, for example, it didn’t include the council-owned light industrial site Liddell Road.
In early 2017, how is West Hampstead progressing towards this housing target?
Nido. The student housing on Blackburn Road immediately presents a challenge. It has 347 beds but unless you really stretch the definition of a “home”, that does not really equate to 347 new homes. A better measure, though not perfect, is to look at it as 39 shared-flats and 52 studios = 91 units.
Asher House. Next door to the student housing is the former Accurist offices, which was fairly quietly converted to residential under a government scheme to speed up planning that improved the valuation of the building without including any affordable housing. It was converted into 25 units, however, it is possible that it may be fully redeveloped in the future, which would be likely to add a couple of stories.
West Hampstead Square. If anyone ever actually moves in, then its seven blocks contain 198 units (145 market, 33 affordable rented, 20 shared ownership).
156 West Lane. The Travis Perkins building that’s just been given the go-ahead for redevelopment will have 164 units (85 market, 44 affordable rent, 35 shared ownership).
And 198 new flats at West Hampstead Square
That’s 478 units so far within the Growth Area, but there are a number of large developments that fall just outside the Growth Area, but at the same sort of density. Should they be included in the targets? We are talking about large-scale dense developments on the fringes of the growth area and whose residents will certainly be gravitating to West Hampstead for their transport needs in particular.
Liddell Road. The largest of these developments, Liddell Road includes 106 units of housing to sit alongside the school (indeed, paying for the school). Just four of these units will be at affordable rents.
The Residence. Next door at 65-67 Maygrove Road, this scheme includes 91 units (79 market, 4 shared ownership, 3 social rented and 5 affordable rented).
The Ivery & The Central. The old Iverson Tyres site has 19 units (15 market, 2 shared ownership, 2 social rented) while the former garden centre site next door has 33 units (23 market, 7 socially rented, 3 shared ownership).
Adding these additional 249 to the 478 gives us 727 housing units – 90% of the housing target for 2031!
There are at least three other sites in the planning pipeline, although progress is slow and final numbers speculative.
11 Blackburn Road. This attractive but run-down Victorian warehouse had a planning application for six 2-bed houses and the conversion of the main warehouse into B1 employment space downstairs with a couple of flats upstairs. Nothing seems to be happening with this at the moment, but there’s a potential 8 units.
14 Blackburn Road. Way back in 2004, permission was granted to redevelop the Builders Depot. This was for two 4-storey blocks, one with employment space and one with 8 houses and 6 flats, plus underground parking. This permission has now lapsed so would have to be renegotiated, but these 14 units, would likely be the minimum of any new proposal.
Finally, Midland Crescent. That’s next to the O2 centre on the Finchley Road – which still counts as the West Hampstead Growth Area. This has been refused planning permission three times. The latest proposal included student housing, private housing, a shop and employment space. Again any estimate of potential is speculative, but the latest application would have delivered 40 units.
That’s a potential extra 62 new units within the growth area, but on top of that there are other sites that could be – and in some cases will be – redeveloped for housing: The Taveners Yard on Iverson Road, the Paramount carpark and – the big one – the O2 carpark.
At the workshop on the 02 carpark, there was talk of 300 new homes as well as employment and retail space. In one fell swoop West Hampstead could soar past the 1,000 new homes target. Maybe then, the tube station would finally be decreed worthy of an upgrade. Maybe.
An Insight into: Achillea Flowers
Our last Insight focused on one man with two businesses. This time we’re talking to two women who run one business: Kate Rader and Clare Emburey who run Achillea, the florist on Mill Lane.
What brought you to West Hampstead?
Clare: We actually met at the tomato stall at Queen’s Park market. Kate, who has known me since I was a child, asked me if I loved my job (as a florist), I did but was ready for a change. “Great”, said Kate, “That’s the answer I was looking for. Let’s open a business and we’ll just have fun; if we feel like it one day we can dress up like geishas!”
The next step was to meet for a coffee on Mill Lane; we looked at a couple of sites, but none was quite right. Walking back, we passed this corner shop which I said looked ‘sick’. Kate had no idea I meant cool.
The builder saw us and asked if we were looking for a shop. He invited us in to take a look and when we said we wanted to open a florist he told us his wife was one! He gave us the number of the landlord, who we called immediately and we agreed on the spot to rent the shop.
Within one week it had gone from concept to actually renting a shop for the business.
Kate: People said Mill Lane is a difficult street and it won’t last. I had no idea what I was doing, but it was all very serendipitous.
Clare: It’s a good idea we didn’t have time to stop and and think, but I’m really glad we did it. Never did the dressing up as a geisha, although we did do halloween costumes one year.
Clare and Kate outside their serendipitous shop, Achillea.
What is your first/fondest memory of the area?
Kate: The glass shop opposite us, run by Derek. I’ve been using it for 35 years, plus the framers next door.
Clare: I just loved that I could be myself – and of course the first time I met my fiancé at the Kitchen Table. Now we are getting married – a Mill Lane marriage, that’s a first!
At this time of year some eye-popping colour to brighten your day. Perfect.
What’s surprised you most about how West Hampstead had changed?
Kate: It used to have really useful things, but that’s gone, although I don’t really use West End Lane much. Here on Mill Lane you can still get useful things: your keys cut, physiotherapy if you need it, or yoga at Curled Leaf.
Clare: I don’t feel it has changed that much – West Hampstead is a great place that is quite settled, rather than a cool place full of egos.
What’s for lunch?
Either the Kitchen Table or Curled Leaf, although we have had some quite enjoyable nights at the Alliance for our Christmas dinners.
Describe West Hampstead in three words?
Better than Hampstead
What have you missed since February 6th?
The new M&S opened its doors for a sneak preview.
Has West Hampstead met its London Plan job creation targets yet? We did the sums.
Lola’s cupcakes is taking over the old Colour Division site, it won’t just be cupcakes though – Lola’s is applying for an alcohol licence.
Photo by mykilburnhighroad
Seems to be a blue theme this week: Sunday saw the unveiling in Agamemnon Road of a blue plaque for Burt Kwouk who died earlier this year.
New seating has arrived at West Hampstead Square and a new bus shelter at West End Green. Woo hoo.
Soul Store West is taking over the old Love & Liquor site at the bottom of the Kilburn High Road (definitely not in Maida Vale). It promises live music and food by Chicago Rib Shack.
The Ham & High gave the thumbs up to Bobby F’s.
A West Hampstead mum is seeking to raise £50,000 for an operation for her son Troy who has cerebral palsy and a big smile.
And welcome to Twitter Friends of West Hampstead Library!
Coming up this week
Can’t be in two places at once, alas. On the 15th, Jim Carter is giving a talk in the library for Friends of West Hampstead Library while next door at West End Books, ace spy writer Mick Herron will be promoting his latest book.
Tweet of the week
After daily tweets about litter being left by Minkies every morning on the narrow, busy pavement, several people suggested someone just spoke to them nicely. We will see if that has any effect.
@camdentalking Good Morning & here's your daily report on the trade refuse on West End Lane. Are you speaking to the offender? @WHampstead pic.twitter.com/ySp3R2LYwM
— Mark Amies (@Superfast72) February 8, 2017
Is anyone counting West Hampstead’s job growth?
The reason West Hampstead seems inundated with new developments is that it was designated a “Growth Area” by City Hall. The Growth Area is specifically the part of West Hamsptead around the railway lines. Targets were set for 800 new homes and 100 new jobs between 2010 and 2031. Yes, 2031.
Growth Area is outlined in black
Seven years in, we are far ahead of that job target, but there seems to be little joined up thinking about the implications. The whole issue is far more complex than it should be.
For a start, Camden seems to have changed the employment target from 100 jobs to 500 jobs (or 7, 000m2 of business space) in its Core Strategy 2010-2025 document. Yet Camden’s soon-to-be-adopted Local Plan 2016-2031 still talks about the Mayor’s targets of 100 jobs, which is also the current London plan target.
Inside Ink at Blackburn House – Image: Ink Global/Sidetrade
Nido student housing. The first development built in the growth area was the student housing on Blackburn Road that replaced the Mercedes Benz garage. It contains 2,100m2 of office employment space, which at 12m2 of floor space per job should have created 175 jobs. It took a while to let the space out, but now, the magazine publisher Ink Global operates out of the space (if you have ever read the Easyjet Magazine that’s one of theirs), and they sublet some, but in total there are 150 full time jobs on site, and the student housing itself accounts for nearly 20 full-time jobs on site. So at ~170 full-time jobs, this space has delivered as predicted but not quite as planned. And indeed that is the entire London Plan job target met in one fell swoop.
But of course it doesn’t stop there,
West Hampstead Square. Alongside the 198 flats, there’s the M&S (583 m2), which will have ~35 full-time equivalent staff. There is another 300m2 of retail space, which has been taken by the Village Haberdashery, Provenance butcher, and Johns & Co. (Ballymore’s in-house estate agent). There’s also a further five units of 100m2 each for business or healthcare still to be let. There has been early stage interest from a doctor and a dentist for possibly one unit apiece, and other businesses for the remaining units. All told that should result in another 40 full time employees. This would give a total of ~90 new full-time jobs.
156 West End Lane. Employment was a hot topic for this redevelopment given that Travis Perkins would be removed. And of course the 2,400m2 of empty council offices had employees. The new retail space (763m2 divided up into three units, provisionally two retail and one restaurant) should create ~45 jobs, with another ~70 jobs coming from the regular office (593m2) and affordable small business workspace (500m2).
Liddell Road. Liddell Road actually falls outside the Growth Area, but does that mean that its impact should be completely ignored when thinking about local infrastructure? We would argue not.
Yellow = school, blue = housing and red = offices, workshops
Alongside the residential units to be built there is 3,700m2 of employment space. According to the planning officers report this will create ~280-295 full-time jobs when fully let. And the new school should eventually account for ~50 jobs.
Iverson Tyres. Also outside the Growth Area – just, as part of its planning permission the developer was required to keep 150m2 of light industrial space, however, it has since applied to convert it to B1 office or D1. This should create a further ~10 jobs.
If we add up all the jobs we know about, then we get to just over 700 new jobs in ~8,700m2 of space (including Liddell Road outside the growth area). Even if you deduct the jobs that have been lost from these sites (a hotly contested number especially on Liddell Road), there is no question that net new jobs in West Hampstead will far far exceed both the London Plan target of 100, and Camden’s revised target of ~500.
And there are still more growth area sites to be developed, such as Midland Crescent, which will add another 100 or so, and of course the O2 car park, which has the potential to dwarf every other site.
But will all the developments deliver the total jobs predicted? Is there demand for office space in West Hampstead? Only a couple of years ago, 65 & 67 Maygrove Road were predominantly office space but agents struggled to let the space and it has since been turned into 91 flats after the developer successfully argued that there was no demand for office space in the area.
Another piece of the puzzle is that much of the new employment space is labelled ‘start-up’ and ‘incubator’ space, both at 156 West End Lane and Liddell Road. Although this sounds trendy, there is no sign of anyone offering, for example, co-working space in the area. If Camden was serious about this approach, it could have tested the waters at 156 West End Lane (the upper floors of which have been empty for years now) as a ‘meanwhile’ space for start ups and creative businesses. It feels a bit like Dad dancing at a family wedding, faintly embarrassing jumping on a bandwagon.
David Matthews of local agents Dutch and Dutch, which is letting the 500m2 flexible commercial space in West Hampstead Square, is unsurprisingly upbeat about the situation. The space hasn’t officially started to be marketed yet because construction isn’t finished yet (no surprise), but he says there has been strong demand.
West Hampstead is changing, and all these new jobs around the stations will change it even more, hopefully bringing more activity during the day though also more commuters using the stations. We looked at the issue of growth area sustainability back in 2013, but nearly four years later it feels that there has been little progress in tackling the inevitable outcomes of increased employment and residential density.
Researching this article has shown how difficult it is to understand exactly how many jobs are being created. There is no record in the planning applications of how many jobs were lost at the Ballymore site, the Mercedes Garage or even the old Council offices, so it difficult to know the net increase. Is anyone keeping track of this? Things are not helped by confusion on what the actual targets are – with different numbers in the Camden Core Strategy, and the Camden and London plans for the West Hampstead Growth area. The same plans talk about street improvements and better environment, but when it comes to action there is similar confusion.
Peek behind the scenes at West Hampstead’s newest supermarket
Yes, it’s not just any store opening, it’s an M&S Foodhall opening. Sorry.
No doubt some West Hampstead residents (especially those living south of the railway) are counting down the days until the shop opens on February 22nd at West Hampstead Square.
As part of its customer engagement, M&S and its contractors Wates offered a sneak preview of the new store to any interested parties.
Although the store was still in the final stages of construction, the equipment and fittings were already in place giving a good idea of what to expect. From what we could see it has a familiar M&S Foodhall look. No great surprise. The ceiling pipework and lighting is exposed, which fits in with the contemporary look of West Hampstead Square.
Wafting bread smells as you enter.
As you enter, to your left will be an in-store bakery next to a large flower and plant display. Straight ahead are metres and metres of chiller cabinets for all those M&S fresh food and ready meals. Yes, including Chicken Kiev. Down at the end is fruit and veg.
Spot the Chicken Kiev.
Turning to the right at the end, coming back along the parallel aisle is a large wine section with dry goods opposite.
Past the wine and dry goods is be a paper and card section but – two surprises at the checkout – only SCOTs. No M&S has not got some strange new employment policy, it stands for Self-Check Out Tills.
There is an M&S collection point for online purchases, with a couple of tills for the less technical among us. The other surprise was the absence of a coffee counter at the moment. Nor is there the promised hot-food take away unit. That would have required an on site toilet, which proved too complicated to arrange. Not too complicated, apparently, is customer WiFi.
Great S.C.O.T.!
Given West Hampstead’s very poor experience of supermarket delivery vehicles (yes, we’re looking at you Tesco), everyone took a keen interest in the back of the unit, and we were surprised to see quite a small warehouse space, which suggests deliveries will need to be frequent.
Then a quick tour downstairs to see the space for the 55 new staff (20 of whom have been recruited locally). They will be led by the store manager, Kate Thomas.
It’s a fridge Jim, but not as you know it
The store was due to open six months ago in August last year. Although those of us with long memories might recall that there was talk of M&S opening on this site twenty years ago. It’s been a long wait.
No caption necessary!
What have you missed since January 30th?
As expected 156 WEL was approved by planning committee, after two and half hour of discussion the vote took 10 seconds and was 10-2 in favour of approval. Half the floorspace will be ‘affordable housing’, but you need to be quite rich to buy any.
As not expected, there was a robbery near Fortune Green. It wasn’t actually on the Green but in nearby Burrard Road, sketchy details but there were several arrests made.
As expected, after having stood down from the shadow cabinet Tulip voted against Brexit.
We’re quite enjoying our new lake feature… not really. Photo via @juliaehudson (leak by @thameswater)
Following consultation last autumn there will be changes coming to the 13, 82, 113 and 139 bus routes.
Trouble parking? Probably, if you live on or around Maygrove and Iverson Road. And it is set to get worse. Will Camden do anything about it?
Members of the House of Lords stepped in to help Nazanin, calling her imprisonment cruel and manipulative. The family received a cynical offer to arrange her release for a payment to a “fixer” of £125,000, but this was rejected.
We thought we had seen peak estate agent before Christmas, but not only didn’t Alexanders close after all, we are getting another one!
Watch out Roni’s! Dylan’s on West End Green is set to become a Wenzel’s. They have been expanding across NW London over the past few years.
Chelsea, Notting Hill… West Hampstead? A banner in West Hampstead Square announcing the arrival of Provenance, the butcher that seems to like posh addresses.
The Alliance on Mill Lane is up for auction, but the pub isn’t under threat. Having got planning permission to convert the upper floors, the developer is looking to sell the site. But didn’t tell Camden, against the rules for an asset of community value, such as The Alliance. Whatever happens, the landlord’s lease has many years left to run.
And a new feature : Leak of the week
This week’s water main leak was on Mill Lane. Repairing earlier leaks, Fortune Green Road was closed for much of the first part of the week, and West End had traffic lights for the second half.
Tweet of the week
With apologies to Tulip
#Matt! pic.twitter.com/jZKkCMCjh2
— Claire-LouiseLeyland (@ClaireLLeyland) February 3, 2017
And Sarah Hayward did not laugh at this. Honest.
156 West End Lane proposal gets green light
156 West End Lane latest plans. Image via Design and Access Statement
After a lengthy debate in the council chamber on Thursday, the Labour-dominated planning committee voted 11-2 in favour of the proposed development of 156 West End Lane – the Travis Perkins building. The plan is for 164 residential units along with some retail, office and community space.
Four of our local councillors sit on the committee: Labour’s Phil Rosenberg and James Yarde from West Hampstead, and Richard Olszewski (Lab) and Flick Rea (LibDem) from Fortune Green. Flick had already stood down from the committee for this decision so that she could speak against it. The other three stated before the meeting that they were going in with “an open mind”. In the end, Phil voted against, the other two in favour.
Camden’s planning department and the planning committee clearly have difficult decisions to make. However, when Camden is both judge and jury for applications on its own sites, as in this case, it is always hard to shake the belief that more transparency, more frankness and less spin would help get better outcomes. The full planning officer’s report is here (PDF, 15Mb download). The recommendation was to accept the proposal.
The meeting began with statements for and against the development and in a rare development, the three opposing speakers were given two minutes each rather than the five minutes collectively that is usually allowed. Yes, a whole extra minute to fight their corner!
First was Joseph Black of does-what-it-says-on-the-tin ‘Stop the Blocks’ campaign. Unfortunately, he ran out of time partly due to a technical problem with his presentation. Their objections covered a wide range of issues, from the height and mass of the buildings and resulting overshadowing, to the segregation of the development, to potential danger from the new access road. He was followed by Larry Trachtenberg, chair of the Crediton Hill residents association, who talked about the negative impact on the conservation area. Finally there was an employee from Travis Perkins who saw her job in jeopardy.
Cllr Flick Rea went next – as a councillor she is exempt from the two minute rule. She has extensive planning experience and knows West Hampstead very well. In a passionate speech she pointed out that there were more than 600 written objections to the plans, which is exceptionally high for any application. She objected to the proposed development’s impact on the conservation area, to its blockiness, to the possible danger from the access road and to the detrimental impact on the village atmosphere of West Hampstead. Finally, she got one of the few laughs of the evening by saying it ‘looks like one of the worst excesses of East Croydon town centre’. Commitee chair, Cllr Heather Johnson tried to cut off but, being made of sterner stuff, Flick managed to get her conclusion in.
These statements were followed by questions from councillors on different aspects of the proposal;
- Jobs: The development will include 1093m2 of employment space (half affordable for start-up units and half normal office space) and 793m2 of retail space. Planning officers argued this would create 108 new jobs overall.
- Design: Cllr Andrew Marshall raised concerns on the brick colour (and he’s right to worry). Cllr Sue Vincent asked why the building height didn’t fall in line with the sloping land.
- Density: Cllr Richard Cotton asked how this proposal compared to the London guidelines, and was told that at 788 habitable rooms/hectare it exceeded the 700/ha. guidelines, although this is commonly the case.
- Overshadowing: Yes, councillors were told, the outdoor games area will be in shadow on summer afternoons, but not enough to breach any guidelines.
- Vehicle access: The planning and transport officers argued there would be fewer entrances/exits than there are with the current builders’ yard and that it would be safe.
- Impact on local transport: Cllr Rosenberg asked about the impact of additional users of local transport. The officer said that the effect would be small, and they couldn’t allocate any money directly from the development to help.
- Community space: The development will have a 63m2 room available to the community, “because there is a shortage in West Hampstead.” As our recent article showed there are nearly 30 other community spaces for hire in the area. The new room could work well but, the costs will have to be covered and these have not been specified.
Perhaps the most contentious issue is that of affordable housing. This was discussed, though some councillors seemed to have a shaky grasp of this key but undoubtedly complicated topic. Since April last year, Camden’s strategy has been for so-called “affordable housing” to be affordable-rented and not shared-ownership. Yet this application still includes ‘shared ownership’ units in order to meet the 50% affordable housing target that the council had set itself. How rich must you be to afford shared ownership? We explore this more in this related article.
After so much discussion – two hours, your slightly stiff-necked correspondent can confirm – the vote came and went in a matter of seconds. The result was not a surprise. Ten councillors in favour, including Yarde and Olszewski, and two against – Rosenberg and Cotton. Although local Tory activists were noisily opposed to the scheme, the two Conservative councillors on the committee, Cllr Marshall and Cllr Roger Freeman voted to approve the scheme. You can watch the whole glorious event unfold here or in the video embedded at the end of this article.
Vote on 156 West End Lane. Cllrs Rosenberg, bottom left, and Cotton (2nd row right) voted against. Chair Heather Johnson (not pictured) voted in favour.
Despite the lengthy debate, there was little mention of how to spend the community infrastructure levy (CIL) that the developers will pay in order to help West Hampstead cope with the impact of the development. There is a curious disconnect between the political push to impose yet another another development on West Hampstead, and the lack of any similar push to ensure there is masterplanning and spending of CIL to make day-to-day improvements so these developments can be absorbed successfully.
There was also little mention of the NDF, despite this being the first major development to be tested since the neighbourhood plan was approved. And the NDF was behind much of the push to improve the development, though the group still opposed the final version of the plan. Perhaps, the council could turn to the NDF to help with a significant role in masterplanning and that CIL spending.
Now we wait for the timetable for demolition and building, and yet more works traffic on West End Lane.
How rich must you be to afford “affordable” housing?
After many people – including West Hampstead Life – made a fuss about the lack of affordable housing provision in the Liddell Road scheme, Camden promised that the 156 West End Lane scheme would meet the 50% affordable housing quota by floorspace.
The development, which was given the go-ahead by the planning committee on Thursday, ended up with 79 affordable flats, or 49.8% of floorspace. Except, you could argue it’s not even that.
Take a deep breath as we dive into the murky waters of what is and isn’t affordable housing – and quite how much money you need to get some for yourself.
First, the good news.
Of those 79 affordable flats, 44 are “affordable rented” (and equate to 30% of total floorspace). According to the planning officer’s report, the rents have been set at Camden’s target social rented rate. In 2014/15, the average cost of Camden council’s housing rent was £475 per month. To give you an idea of how that relates to the local private rental market, one-bed flats in the area on Rightmove start from about £1,250 per month.
You can therefore argue that these rented properties are indeed affordable.
Now the bad news.
The remaining 35 units (20% of total floorspace) are ‘shared ownership’ properties. This still nominally falls under so-called “intermediate” affordable housing. Intermediate includes both affordable rented and shared-ownership but excludes social housing (aka “council houses”), which is a separate category. There is no social housing planned for 156 West End Lane.
How affordable is shared ownership? We looked at the nearby Central development on Iverson Road where a one-bed shared-ownership flat is being marketed.
If you’re not familiar with the concept of shared ownership – as at least a couple of councillors on Thursday night were clearly not – then here’s the primer:
Shared ownership means you take a stake (often 25%) in the property and any mortgage you need is based on that value. You then pay rent on the remaining share (say, 75%) to the housing association that manages the property. There are also service charges. Over time, most people try to increase their stake. The scheme is supposed to be a way to get ownership with much lower financial requirements. Typically a deposit of only 5% is required.
Let’s go back to this Iverson Road property to see what it would cost.
The full market price of the flat is £550,000. A 25% share is £137,500. There’s a required 5% deposit of £6,875.
An “affordable” shared ownership flat on Iverson Road.
Critically, the details specify a minimum household income of £65,000. Shared ownership schemes in London are available to anyone with a household income below £90,000. For this one, you must also be a Camden resident and almost certainly a first-time buyer (the rules here are not black & white).
The median gross income in Camden is £39,610 (higher than the London average of £33,203) [Source].
Therefore, a Camden couple who both earned the average income would have a combined gross income of £79,220, and would be eligible to buy this property. Note that the average London-wide income would only just make them eligible.
They have got their deposit together and need to borrow £130,625. Shared ownership mortgages are a specific product. We have used the Leeds Building Society shared ownership mortgages to calculate the costs.
At current rates, a 3-yr fixed over a 25-year period, reverting to the standard-variable rate after 3 years and with no fees, works out at an overall rate of 5.3%. According to the Moneysavingexpert site, this leads to an average monthly payment of £787.
But remember, that’s just on the 25% you own. Our average Camden couple have then got to pay rent on the remaining 75% and Origin tells us that this is £688/month, plus a £150 monthly service charge.
Total monthly payment: £1,625.
That’s a high monthly payment for a quarter of a flat. There are standard 25-year mortgages available at the moment with representative APRs of 1.5% (they require 20% deposits). Take one of those and you could borrow £400,000 and end up with the same monthly payment of ~£1,600. The cheapest 1-bed flat (not studio) in the area is on for £279,950, but if you wanted that nice Iverson Road flat at market value you’d still need to find a £150,000 deposit on top of your £400k mortgage. The system works therefore at one level – it makes property affordable for people who otherwise couldn’t possibly afford it.
Nevertheless, to get that “affordable” flat in Iverson Road under the shared-ownership scheme, you still need to have a household income equal to two median Camden incomes, and pay out £1,625 a month. For 25% of it. And if you’re wondering, a joint income of £65,000 (assuming you both earned £32,500 each and had no dependents) would place your household in the top 11% of household incomes in the country according to the IFS. Our average Camden couple would be in the top 7%.
The red bar on the right shows a gross household income of £65,000 (net £50,000) relative to national household incomes (based on two adults each earning £32,500).
Is there a solution?
Camden seems to already recognise that affordable renting is far more affordable than shared ownership. According to the 156 report, in April 2016, the council’s cabinet stated that it would “seek to secure affordable intermediate housing… by encouraging all developers and housing associations to provide intermediate rent rather than shared ownership units as the intermediate housing element of their affordable housing contribution to developments’ [our emphasis].
This development was a test of this new strategy but clearly it’s not working.
Indeed, the report for 156 West End Lane suggests that our calculations above could wildly underestimate what a shared ownership flat might cost: “[The] increase in property values has meant that it is no longer possible to deliver shared ownership at a price that is affordable to the council’s target income groups earning £30,000 to £40,000 per year.”
Back to 156 West End Lane. On the basis of what is called “affordable housing”, yes, Camden has delivered 50%. In terms of what a reasonable person might consider to be affordable – perhaps not.
We welcome comments from council officers, or housing associations to correct any assumptions we’ve made here.
Developments pile pressure on street parking
Some residents of Maygrove and Iverson Roads are fed up with the increasingly difficult parking situation they face in light of all the new developments on these roads.
The local residents association, MILAM, wants to see a review of parking hours and is suggesting a sub-zone that has different rules to the CA-Q zone in which these streets sit. Specifically, it would like to see controls extending past 6.30pm.
CA-Q is a large zone that runs along Kilburn High Road from Quex Road all the way up to Cricklewood. It has controlled parking between 8.30am and 6.30pm. Camden is reluctant to sub-divide the zone although subdivisions are not unusual – there are already two within CA-Q. However, any change to zone rules inevitably has knock-on effects and therefore not everyone is automatically in favour of change.
CA-Q parking zone runs from Cricklewood to Kilburn
Camden has said that for any review of parking it needs a petition signed by 800 residents of the affected parking zone. As it happens, a petition has already been set up by a resident of Maygrove Road. She was fed up of not being able to park as she used to before the recent developments opened. If you want to sign it (and you live or work in the CA-Q area) click here.
What’s the problem?
The new developments on Iverson and Maygrove – The Residence (91 units, Maygrove Rd), The Central (33 units, Iverson) and The Ivery (19 units, Iverson) – are designated “car free”, like every other new development in Camden. This creates a ‘carparteid’ between residents of new developments and existing residents.
“Car free” means no parking spaces for residents (although The Residence does offer some underground parking for disabled drivers) and in theory, these residents are also not allowed parking permits for street parking. However, as MILAM residents are finding, theory and reality are two different things. Some new residents appear able to get round controls; of course they can legally park outside the controlled hours, some can get hold of a blue badge for disabled drivers, it’s possible to get a local friend to register the car to get a permit, or to hire a local garage space, displacing another car onto the road that can legally obtain a permit, or use visitors’ permits.
Anecdotal evidence from longer-term residents such as Monica Regli, chair of MILAM, suggests that while there used to be spare parking spaces, these have filled up and people have started to park on single yellow lines.
@NW6_residents: Once again no parking for residents! Instead more arguments as not one-way!
Now the single yellow lines are filling up, which creates additional problems. Cars parking on the single yellow lines mean that traffic can no longer pull over on Maygrove Road to allow oncoming cars to pass. The result: cars getting stuck head-to-head and road rage incidents. According to Monica, there are now calls for Maygrove to become a one-way street.
@NW6_residents “Another horrendous morning in Maygrove Road! Screaming arguments, reversing full length of road!”
Will it get worse?
Yes. Almost certainly. The new school on Liddell Road opens this September. At first it will be year one pupils only; but each year a new class will join. The head teacher won’t have to worry though, she gets her own parking space.
The problem is set to get worse still with phase two of Liddell Road (the flats and business space) as Camden seems to have ignored the GLA guidelines on parking. This development will have 106 residential units and 3700m2 of business space, which is approximately enough for 40-50 people. All served by two and a half disabled parking spaces.
Let’s not forget that West Hampstead Square is about to open with 196 new flats, and some employment space, and Camden will decide shortly on 156 West End Lane with most likely another 164 units and 1,800m2 of employment space. It’s true that many residents won’t have cars – car ownership in this part of London is very low, but it isn’t zero. The excellent transport links mean that employees can probably get to and from work on tube, train or bus, but firms have clients, deliveries and disabled employees.
It also seems unrealistic to think that none of these residents will have cars already, or may need a car for work (doctors, midwives, plumbers, etc.). Are more car club spaces the answer? Possibly, though demand is lower than you might think – West Hamsptead Square actually removed some car club spaces.
What are the objections to parking changes?
James Earl, chair of the Fordwych Road residents association (and of the Neighbourhood Development Forum) is not in favour of wholesale changes to the parking zone rules because of the possible knock on impact to other streets outside any sub-zone. A new resident of the Residence on Maygrove Road has also objected to any changes. She said that she was aware of the existing hours of parking control when she moved in, and that was fine, but any changes to hours now would be very problematic as her husband could no longer park!
MILAM is getting support from local councillors, Phil Rosenberg and James Yarde. Monica had hoped to put the issue as a deputation to the council, but was instead offered a chance to put the issue to a scrutiny committee.
‘West Hampstead’ to disappear from northbound 139 bus signs
Proposed changes to bus routes will mean ‘West Hampstead’ may fall out of London’s collective consciousness as the words will no longer appear on the 139 bus as it heads north from Waterloo.
Having pulled an earlier consultation on changes to the bus routes that run north on the Baker Street corridor (funnily enough right before the Mayoral elections). TfL consulted again on the same proposals in August, and this time the outcome is to push through the proposed changes, which are due to be implemented from the late spring. A former councillor once explained this approach as being ‘consult and ignore’.
The TfL report reveals that only 32% of respondents supported or partially supported the changes to route 13, even fewer (26%) the changes to the 82 and 25% supported changes to the 189. Changes to the 113 were more popular with 48% support or partial support and there was actually a majority in favour of one change: 52% supported the changes to the 139.
Soon to vanish? destination – West Hampstead
Disappearing signage aside, the changes are probably overall good news for West Hampstead (hence the majority support for the 139 changes). The 139 will now run all the way to Golders Green, which will mean the end of ‘ghost’ buses that run empty along Mill Lane as they return to the Cricklewood depot, and that have been such a bugbear. It will also increase the frequency of buses between Golders Green and West Hampstead.
Proposed changes to 13, 82 , 113, 139 and 189 bus routes. Image: TFL
The other change that affects West Hampstead less directly is to remove route 82, but increase the frequency of the 13. Not that the 13 will be the bus it once was – it effectively becomes the new 82 (still with me?). The 13, which currently terminates at Golders Green, would continue to North Finchley (where the 82 currently ends). Southbound, it would no longer terminate at Aldwych, but instead finish at Victoria (where the 82 currently terminates). To recap: new 13=old 82.
For occasional users of the buses up and down the Finchley Road, the overall loss of frequency during the morning rush hour is likely to be the biggest negative change. More regular users might notice a bigger difference.
The other (minor) proposed change is that the 189 would end at Marble Arch instead of Oxford Circus. This means that neither the 13 nor 189 would run down Oxford Street, helping to reduce the excessive number of buses along there. If you want to come back to West Hampstead from Oxford Street, you either take a bus to Marble Arch and change, or wait for a 113 or 139. The new one-hour hopper fare (or transfer) means anyone using an Oystercard or contactless card does not have to pay again for a second journey taken within one hour of joining the first bus. So no extra cost, but more waiting around potentially.
Meanwhile, we shall mourn the loss of that small sense of pride of standing by Piccadilly Circus as the 139 to West Hampstead hoves into view. And no more will Emma Hignett, the voice of the bus announcments, chime out with, “This is the 139. To. West Hampstead”. End of an era.
What have you missed since January 23rd?
This past week West Hampstead has been hit by one water mains leak after another. The first was in Fawley Road where one man fought a valiant fight to get it sorted.
Others appeared in Achilles Road, Fortune Green Road and West End Lane. They were particularly treacherous when it was icy. Thames Water is sorting them out – eventually. Doesn’t the council have some responsibility to notify Thames?
Tulip’s Brexit Exit: our MP, Tulip Siddiq stood down from the opposition front bench so she can vote against the government’s Brexit bill this week. Jeremy Corbyn confirmed on the radio that shadow ministers couldn’t defy the three-line whip (but oh-the-irony that he voted against his party 535 times in the last twenty years).
Renewals work on the Jubilee line. Image via @jubileeline
WHL got another Insight into a local business; this time Rock Men’s Salon and Wired Co. coffee on Broadhurst Gardens. Why two businesses? They are run by the same guy.
The Village Haberdashery finally opened in West Hampstead Square. Yay!
156 West End Lane (aka Travis Perkins) is going to planning committee this week. The officer recommends approval. If you want to refresh yourself about the development, A2Dominion’s website has a summary.
Camden says 50% of residential floorspace at 156 is defined as affordable; yet 35 of the 79 ‘affordable’ flats are shared ownership. Last week we discovered that to buy a one-bed shared-ownership flat in nearby Iverson Road would require an income of over £65,000 (putting purchasers in the top 10% of taxpayers). Affordable?
There is a planning application for a 15 metre mobile phone mast on Blackburn Road.
SALT (formerly Lower Ground Bar) was back before Camden’s Licensing Panel as the police are still concerned about (alleged) drug-taking and violence at the venue.
West Hampstead politics is hotting up…
The Conservatives have announced their candidates for next year’s local elections. Several old hands standing down and lots of new faces.
And the candidate for Kilburn is that ‘ordinary member of the public’ who made a deputation to the council about waste on West End Lane (but err who works as a Tory parliamentary researcher).
There was a very interesting internal Labour Party report about its prospects for those elections; West Hampstead and Fortune Green are ‘true marginals’ and Kilburn a ‘firewall’. Labour is concerned that the introduction of fortnightly waste removal will be a key issue.
Nothing from the Lib Dems yet though. They have been rather quiet of late.
He’s an accountant, not a spy. Although her appeal was turned down, it appears that one of the charges against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the West Hampstead mother being held in Tehran’s Evin prison is that she is married to a British spy. He isn’t, he’s an accountant.
The shape of things to come 1. If you aren’t feeling well over the next three months and call NHS 111 you will be diagnosed by an app! Camden and Islington NHS Trust is trialling ‘Babylon’, a medical diagnosis app. Claims to be more accurate than a real-life doctor.
The shape of things to come 2. The new Camden and Islington Police Chief revealed at a meeting on Thursday that Camden may trial drones to help policing.
The Jester Festival is under threat. It needs new committee members to keep it going. If you’re ready to step up to the plate for West Hampstead contact JesterFestival@gmail.com
Tweet of the Week
I am first and foremost a constituency MP. Here's why I'll vote against Article 50: https://t.co/bep46wOzvB
— Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) January 27, 2017
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An Insight into: Rock Men’s Salon and Wired Co.
John Padalino runs not one but two local businesses – and they are next door to each other. Rock Men’s Salon and Wired Coffee on Broadhurst Gardens. If you don’t know them already, they are a couple of the ‘hipper’ businesses here, but with a mix of typical West Hampstead customers.
What brought you West Hampstead?
The C11 bus from Brent Cross.
It was literally by accident. I had moved up to London from Devon, and was searching for a while for somewhere to set up a men’s salon. I trained at my dad’s salon in Devon, which has just celebrated it’s 55th anniversary. I ran it for a while but the pull of London was too strong.
Back in 2010 I was shopping in Brent Cross, and I randomly got on a bus to explore. The bus was a C11, and I got off at this place that had a nice vibe and looked interesting; West End Green. I wandered down West End Lane and at the bottom saw a salon called Matrix, which was empty in a parade of shops opposite the tube station. I thought that it was a pretty good site next to three stations.
Then I went in to Café Bon next door and checked online for leases available in West Hampstead. The first lease that came up was … Matrix!
I immediately called Network Rail, which was offering a three-year lease with a six-month break clause. I could see there was the potential for redevelopment but the other local shopkeepers said there had been talk of it for 15 years and nothing had happened. So I took the risk and signed the lease.
What happened next?
Business got off to a good start but just three months later a letter arrived giving me my notice! West Hampstead Square was going to be built and our little parade of shops was going to be knocked down. It was pretty stressful having only just got the business off the ground but one of my clients, a surveyor, said, “Face it, London is evolving, it’s going to change, don’t fight it.”
By the time we moved, 18 months later, I had already found a new place round the corner for rock, in what had been the Millennium café. However, my old place was going to be empty for three months so I negotiated with Network Rail to open a pop-up coffee shop there.
John sitting between Rock and a Wired place
What’s your fondest memory of the area?
Getting up at 5.30am and opening the door on that pop-up coffee shop. It opened from December 2011 until February 2012. We decided to focus on the coffee – pure and true – so we decided to work with a great roaster. Tom, my business partner’s dad, made all the furniture but you could still tell it had been a barbers; there were still mirrors on the wall.
Tom and I would start off serving coffee in the morning then pop round to Rock to cut hair! From day one people responded really positively and we got so much encouragement. So when the shop next to Rock became available, my landlady asked if wanted to take it on and the pop-up coffee shop suddenly had a permanent home. I was amazed at how things turned around from just two years earlier.
It is not just Tom and his Dad that helped, but our partners too. It was a team effort. Likewise now I couldn’t do it without the baristas at Wired and the other stylists at Rock. I’m proud of them all. Also, having a very local website like West Hampstead Life really helped too.
Wired Co. – they really know their coffee.
What has surprised you most about how West Hampstead has changed?
What has surprised me was the nice mix of customers. With the connections to the City and Canary Wharf we have customers who work in the city, but we also have guys who work in TV and sportsmen. From conservative to cutting edge – a nice mix of everyone.
Broadhurst Gardens has changed even since we arrived but the businesses offer something a bit different, from a pizza cooked in a wood burning stove, bespoke chocolates, violins, and great coffee and food in Wired.
The regulars really encourage us to improve and change; we’ve introduced V60 and aeropress [Ed – new ways of making of coffee]. Currently, we are seeing demand for plant-based foods and are jointly developing those with our food producers.
What’s for lunch?
Normally I have a smoked turkey, avocado and harrissa sandwich and one of our chia pots for dessert. But this month being VEGANuary, I’m going more vegetarian with our carrot, courguette and hommous on rye with a flat white with cashew milk.
If I go out, I like Pham just a couple of doors down, the food is excellent. Or popping in for a drink at the Gallery.
Describe West Hampstead in three words?
Evolving, supportive and responsive.
Keep your kids safe from dental damage during sport
Kids are in their element when playing sport. Running around with their teammates, safety is often an afterthought in the excitement of a live game. Parents have to be especially vigilant when their kids are playing contact sports, and though children’s orthodontics may not be at the front of many parents’ minds, thinking about it before it’s too late could save you a lot of stress and money in the long run!
Research into children’s orthodontics and contact sports has shown that orthodontic protection from a young age in budding sports stars can prevent much bigger, and much more expensive problems as they get older.
Common problems
Sports-related oral injuries can vary from the not-so-serious to the run-to-the-dentist-now sort of serious, and when it comes to contact sports, the odds of the latter increase dramatically if the appropriate protection hasn’t been taken.
Broken teeth, dislocated teeth, tears and punctures inside the mouth are the most common injuries dentists and orthodontists see in children who play contact sports. These are all relatively simple to remedy but if left unseen they can cause long-term problems for your little ones.
The Irish Health Repository conducted extensive research into the use of mouthguards and dental injuries in sports across school children, and delivered some interesting data: 10% of parents had children who had experienced a sports-related injury in the previous year, and 52% of those injuries were teeth-related. Of all the children who took part in the survey, only 22% actively made sure to wear mouth protection while playing their given sport.
Not only does this show a lax approach to safety in children’s sport, but it has more serious ramifications: if children’s oral injuries are left unchecked, they can develop into speech impediments and cosmetic problems that create body-image and confidence problems later on in life.
The solution to these problems is incredibly simple. Mouthguards are a sports person’s best friend, keeping his or her teeth unbroken and smile bright throughout their time on the field. We’ve all seen the famous boxers, rugby and hockey players with their wonky teeth and gappy smiles, and while these features may endear them to us even more than their sporting prowess, you can bet it has given them some confidence problems in the past.
Mouthguards seem simple, but they need to be expertly measured and designed to fit your mouth; this is especially important in children, since their mouths are still developing. By visiting a reputable orthodontist, you will be able to get world-class advice on oral safety in your given sport, and would be measured and examined for your mouthguard fitting.
Mouthguards are made from a rubber-like material which is designed to fit your exact mouth shape and bite. It serves to protect your teeth from impact, exterior damage and stops your teeth from puncturing your tongue or cheeks when active. All in all, it is a simple piece of kit that prevents serious problems later in life, and is incredibly important for young budding sports stars.
Conclusion
If mouthguards are so important, why do only 22% of children wear them when active? Ultimately it’s down to you, the parent, to make sure your child is as protected as possible when out on the sports field. If kids don’t put their safety first then it leaves the parent to make sure the shin pads are on, headgear is tight and the mouthguard is in.
The older you get, the more expensive orthodontic treatment becomes, so it is paramount to educate your children on the benefits of sports safety and oral health. And with mouthguards coming in a range of fun and colourful designs, there is sure to be one that catches your kid’s eye and allows them to leave their orthodontic worries out of the game.
Are your kids budding sports stars? Drop into Hampstead Orthodontic Practice in North London for a mouthguard fitting and more professional information on how to keep your child’s oral health on top form during sports season.
Sponsored post
Will the Fawley Road leak ever be stopped?
If you live on, or walk or drive down Fawley Road then you won’t have failed to notice the leak that’s been spewing water down the street for the past week. It’s not the only one – Achilles Road and West End Lane also have leaks – harking back to the time a few years ago when West Hampstead leaks seemed to be a weekly occurrence.
One man has been on a personal crusade with Thames Water to try and get this one fixed. Here is his story.
Warning: contains a lot of images of water flowing over tarmac.
What have you missed since January 16th?
A vintage Porsche crashed into Lena’s cafe on West End Lane, injuring two women. WHL has the exclusive story from one of them + some dramatic photos of the scene.
Not good news from Tehran. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s appeal against her five year sentence in Iran was turned down.
Bobby F. opened – it’s a timewarp. One review said it was in ‘sleepy West Hampstead’. The cheek of it. We have vintage Porsches crashing just a few doors down.
A weekend of tube closures: TfL engineers line up
As reported last week, the council wants to close Netherwood Day Centre, due to cuts to adult social care, and shift patients to the Kingsgate Resource centre. This is the third time Netherwood has faced closure. Here is the petition against closure.
The NDF monitored pollution along West Hampstead’s main streets. It found levels were at least 50% over the maximum legal limit – and over four times up by the the junction with the Finchley Road.
Oh la la. La du du is reopening on Monday at 5pm after a refurbish (closure was due to damage from a burst water main).
If you fancy an early peek at the new M&S on 10th Feb, there are a few spaces available. Scheduled opening is 10am Wednesday 22nd Feb.
Vote for your favourite farmer’s market stall. Apparently there are small changes coming to the market (good ones).
Jim Carter spoke about his upcoming fundraising Q&As at the Tricycle.
They’re ‘aving a laugh along the KHR: comedy nights springing up – Abigail’s Party (last Sunday of the month) at the NLT hosted by local Abigail Burdess, Comedy at the Tricycle (fourth? Thursday of month) and of course The Good Ship (every Monday). It’s January, it’s gloomy, why not try something different?
Out of the area but relevant here, estate agents in South London face £100 fines for leaving their boards up longer than two weeks after a sale or rental. Apparently Camden introduced the same fines last year (really?). Why isn’t it enforced?
There was a warning about a burglary scam from our SNT team.
Which is a reminder that Paul Fairman from Camden spoke at the last Area Action meeting on dealing with anti-social behavoir. Worth noting his name in case you have to deal with it at some stage.
Significant track upgrade to Jubilee line tracks so station will be closed next weekend (28/29 Jan). Plus West End Lane will be reduced to a single lane next by the tube station as well.
Tweet of the week:
A good week for those famous West Hampstead sunsets, but this one made the weather report.
Nice #whampsunset on BBC London weather report just now. And I *so* hope that's the photographer's real name… pic.twitter.com/F9HNqFtkyS
— Penny Liechti (@PennyLiechti) January 17, 2017
Vintage Porsche crashes into Lena’s cafe: Two injured
Shortly before 3pm on Friday afternoon, a vintage Porsche veered off West End Lane, mounted the pavement and crashed into Lena’s cafe trapping a female customer. The customer, Abigail Cinnamon, was sitting outside with a friend, Jessica Klein. The two 20-year-olds don’t live in the area but had decided to meet up for a ‘quiet coffee’ and chose West Hampstead.
They were sitting outside the cafe when all of sudden Jess, who was sitting facing down West End Lane saw a Green Porsche racing towards them and screamed. Abi, who was facing away from the on-coming car had a split second to register before it crashed into her, throwing her though the plate glass window.
“The next thing I knew I was underneath the glass, in a foetal position. It took a while for the firemen to arrive to get the glass off me. I didn’t feel any pain, however, as the adrenalin had kicked in”. The police and fireman arrived quite quickly but it took time for them to work out how to remove the sheet of glass and release Abi.
Once she was released she was taken to St. Mary’s hospital, as the hospital has a specialised trauma unit and a crew of 11 or 12 were waiting for her. She has two broken bones in her leg, which require an operation. Her friend, Jess, was less seriously injured suffering three fractured ribs and some scratches.
Police and ambulance on the scene of the accident. Photo: Cllr Phil Rosenberg
The driver was shaken by the accident but was unscathed. It is not entirely clear how the accident happened with some witness reports saying the car swerved to avoid a pedestrian. Violet Ceniceros, who had been sitting in Lena’s just five minutes earlier, was waiting by the bus stop by Sainsbury’s when the accident happened. She reported, that “the car turned left [from Dennington Park Road] on West End Lane from the junction and started speeding then went out of control and crashed into the café”.
A policeman on site explained that the 1967 Porsche was rear-wheel driven and probably ‘kangarooed’ (juddered) on acceleration causing the driver to lose control and for the car to veer across the road.
Photo: Tony Morgan
Councillor Phil Rosenberg who was holding a surgery next door in the Library was one of the first on the scene. A nearby business owner who heard the crash thought it was a terrorist attack and sought cover at the back of the shop.
West End Lane was initially closed, but after an hour was reopened to traffic. The crash scene was still cordoned off with a lone policeman on the scene. He was waiting for the owner to arrange for his insurers to tow the car away.
The dramatic pictures and the novelty of the vintage Porsche have led to the story making both the BBC news and Saturday’s Times.
Bobby F’s timewarp bar opens on West End Lane
Photo: Jane Lucken (model: unknown)
It’s been a long-time coming. La Brocca closed its doors in June 2015, but its replacement – Bobby Fitzpatrick’s – opens tonight. Bobby’s owners, ULG (who also run The Gallery and The Alice House), have opted for a louche 70s theme for the new bar.
West Hampstead Life was – of course – at the launch party last Friday and the first day of the soft launch on Monday. But what did our various correspondents make of the makeover?
Shalini:
Wow, there’s nothing quite like this in West Hampstead! A throwback bar where you feel like you’re at a party in That 70s show, or in the fully functional underground house-cum-fallout shelter like in Blast From the Past, that film where they thought the world had ended and they lived frozen time, gaudy décor and all.
Photo: Shalini Rawlley
The devil is in the details from old-fashioned hand dryers, amber soap and classic books by Fleming and Tolkien and that’s just in the loos! Clunky speakers and fuzzy, chunky TVs; there’s nothing chic about this shabby place, which all adds to the charm.
The only modern hints were the gorgeous cocktails, with twists and classics and all new Bobby creations, served in old fashioned drinking glasses of course! But they serve beers and shooters too, and unpretentious comfort food and the friendliest staff to make your evening a winner.
I would definitely bring my friends back to this groovy bar, it will certainly leave an impression and have you holding back on all the Austin Power’s quotes!
Photo: Shalini Rawlley
Mark:
I liked it. I was concerned it was going to be over the top and too faddy but actually it went to the edge but not over it. It’s been very well done. I hope for West Hampstead that it does work, ULG has a good track record. It’s doing something different from the prevalent Brooklyn industrial chic, zagging while the others are zigging. As for the food – the burger was good but I’m not sure recreating 1980s deep dish pizzas is such a good idea – they weren’t that good to begin with. And a mention for the staff were friendly and professional and helped create a good atmosphere.
Jane:
I have many happy memories of La Brocca, so my first ten minutes was spent gasping at how much it has changed. But I’m up for evolution and soon started smiling at how they have brought Bobby’s home to life. I’d have loved the job of sourcing all the crazy bits and bobs – where did they find that hand dryer?! I applaud the owners for moving beyond the too-common industrial luxe aesthetic and creating somewhere genuinely fun and different. The cocktails are excellent, if crazy, just like the whole place really!
Photo: Tom Vanheems
Tom:
I can see Bobby Fitzpatrick being a hit with the locals. A huge amount of work has gone into the crazy, amusing and even atmospheric 70s design, so that it feels welcoming rather than just a novelty. I sense this will create a good vibe and an inviting place to hang out; the sense of fun and originality is tangible.
Food is well-priced, with fresh, flavoursome American-style pizzas (think soft-base like Franco Manca rather than the old Italian style of La Brocca) – perhaps would be good to see some sides of fresh greens or something, to balance things out a little? Hopefully the wine list will expand beyond the two reds and two whites currently available, though I can confirm that both are very drinkable!
What have you missed since Jan 9th?
Don’t adjust your computer. West Hampstead Life’s fortnightly update has gone back to weekly just as we hear that rubbish collections are going to be fortnightly. Apparently 85% of our waste can be recycled (and recycling collections remain weekly), but many locals are unhappy about the changes.
A West Hampstead teen has been found guilty of attempted murder and rape in the cemetery.
Netherwood Day Care centre is under threat again. As an alternative the Council is proposing an older people’s hub at the Kingsgate centre.
Dramatic skies over West Hampstead. Image from Instagram user Cyberdonkey
Last Monday’s tube strike created predictable crowding at Thameslink.
Work started on the Overground station.
The path to the O2 was half blocked off – but it’s not clear why? Is it for a crane for the Overground works?
Bobby Fitzpatrick’s – the old La Brocca – opens Wednesday. New wineshop Tannin and Oak also holds evening tastings ; Dylan’s lease is up for sale (premium free!) but has already gone – another bakery/café we hear. And things are stirring at defunct Rouge Lounge – a new ‘design’ store?
Down at West Hampstead Square the Village Haberdashery is moving from Mill Lane as soon as Ballymore has finished the lobby. And also, M&S has started the fit out. Of course, no-one has actually moved into the flats yet!
Some empty shops on Mill Lane are coming back to life: a bookkeeper/accountant is taking over the old post office; and a(nother) beauty parlour is opening at 74 (near the opticians). That leaves the former Mill Lane Bistro. Any takers?
So you want to start a group, throw a kid’s party or hold at meeting? But where? We did a round-up of the local options – there are more than you might think.
Richard Osley celebrated 15 years at the CNJ with this post.
156 WEL aka Travis Perkins looks like it’s going to the planning committee in early February. We will know for sure at the end of January.
It’s the NDF meeting this week. Chairman James Earl has announced his departure, come along to find out what is happening.
‘Affordable’/shared income flats are for sale on Iverson Road. There’s an open day on Friday 20th Jan, with a 25% share on offer. The one-bedder requires an minimum income of £61,000 (i.e. within top 10% of UK taxpayers). Seriously?
Pressure is building for a review of parking controls around Iverson/Maygrove Road in light of the new developments there and the Liddell Road school/residential scheme. Camden has said it would consider a review, but needs 800 signatures of residents from the CA-Q zone to sign a petition. Not everyone of course is in favour.
Zadie Smith recounted her memories of Hampstead School. Happy days.
Want to grow your own veg? Mill Lane Growing Together project (160 Mill Lane) will be allocating beds on Sunday 5th Feb at 11:00. Come along an express an interest.
Tweet of the week
It's so windy @WHampstead I've just seen a young woman lose her wig on West End Lane. From under her hood. Looked like an escaped marmoset
— Andy Storrar (@AndyStorrar) January 13, 2017
Venue hire options in West Hampstead (more than you think)
Got a kids’ party to host? Want to run a kindergarten, teach a yoga class or hold a meeting? These all require venues – but where are the rooms and halls to hire in West Hampstead?
Emmanuel Church and the Sheriff Centre are particularly keen to hear from those wanting to start a regular community oriented group. The Hub is also looking to work with partners.
Prices given are indicative – many venues reduce the price for community and regular users.
How big a room do you need? If square metres don’t mean a lot to you, then here’s a guide: a 35m2 room at Emmanuel Church will fit 15-16 for a meeting round a table, or ~25 in rows of seats (“theatre style”) for an AGM or presentation. For a yoga class, the 65m2 hall at Lymington Road can fit 15 (comfortably) to 24 (bit tight). For larger meetings, a rule of thumb is 1m2 per person sitting and 0.5m2 standing, so Kingsgate’s 87m2 main hall can roughly fit 100 seated and 200 standing.
Emmanuel Church
The newest kid on the block is one of the older buildings! As we reported last July, the newly refurbed Emmanuel Church has five spaces on offer: a small meeting room (16m2), three larger rooms (30-35m2 each) and rear nave space (not a near-rave space) that’s 100m2. And it has a small kitchen too.
Cost: £10 per hour for the smaller room; £20-£25 for the larger ones; £35ph for the rear nave space and £40ph to hire the whole church.
Contact: 020 7435 1911
St. Cuthbert’s Church
In a bit of empire building St. Cuthbert’s now falls under the aegis of Emmanuel and has a room for hire. It’s a hall that holds about 40 people, only really available on Saturday afternoons but that’s OK as it is mainly used for kid’s parties. It has access to a kitchen and toilets.
Cost: £50 per hour
Contact: hughstcuthberts@gmail.com
The Sherriff Centre
This trendy venue with a nice atmosphere has a couple of options: the Lady Chapel, which is used for classes and meetings during the day, is £15 per hour and £25 in the evening, though it can be a bit noisy at certain times of day.
For children’s parties (ages 1-8), there’s the popular Hullabaloo play area. Exclusive use is possible on Saturdays 10-12pm, 12.30-2.30pm, and 3-5pm. You can also hire the whole space in the evenings for bigger/bespoke events. The cost will depend on the precise details.
Cost: Non-exclusive use is £275 and exclusive £360. Sundays is £385 for exclusive use only as the building is closed to the public.
Contact: hello@thesherriffcentre.co.uk / 020 7625 1184
St. James’s Church hall, Sherriff Road
Right next door to the Sherriff Centre is St. James Church. The hall is 90m2 plus a stage space and it has not one, but two kitchens. A small niche one and a full-sized one too. And outdoor space, useful in summer.
Cost: £40 per hour, but negotiable for regular/community users.
Contact: 020 7372 6441 (Beryl)
St. James Church Hall – they pretty much all look the same!
St. Luke’ Church hall, Kidderpore Avenue
It’s the other side of the Finchley Road so not technically West Hampstead, although its parish extends across to Fortune Green. Anyway it has a church hall available for hire that can hold 60 people
Cost: £20 per hour or £150 for children’s parties (3 hours), plus the bonus of a bouncy castle for hire.
St. Andrew’s United Reform Church Hall
Also on the other side of the Finchley Road, but at the bottom of Frognal at the junction with the Finchley Road, so practically West Hampstead. It has a larger hall and two smaller rooms available for hire at limited times during weekdays. The larger one is available for children’s parties on Saturday afternoons.
Cost: £30 an hour for children’s parties
Contact: Sara Meadows on 020 7794 9516
02 Centre
Part of the O2 centre’s obligations under planning consent is that it has community rooms available for hire. It has two spaces, The Art Gallery and The Venue.
The Art Gallery is 40m2 and suitable for small meetings and events.
Cost: £35+vat per hour or £140+vat per day.
The Venue is 200m2 (and has a mirror down one wall) and is suitable for larger events and training sessions. Alas, The Venue no longer accepts bookings for parties (wonder what happened there…)
Cost: £65+vat per hour Mon to Thurs, and £80+vat at weekends. (set up time is charged at £24+vat per hour). Regular events (classes) pay about half the hourly charge.
Contact: 020 7794 7716
JW3
JW3 has a wide range of options, although they are a little pricier than others. The facilities are still very new though, and there’s a great café on site. There are “breakout rooms”, a demonstration kitchen, a 60-seat cinema, a dance studio, the piazza and a hall that can seat up to 270 theatre style, or 180 banqueting style. The rate for all rooms varies according to whether it’s a charity, corporate or private event
Cost: the charity rate starts at £36 per hour for room hire – full and half-day rates are also available.
Contact: More details here.
Hampstead Synagogue, Dennington Park Road
Familiar to some as the venue for the Area Forums, the upper hall is a large space that can seat up to 220 people. The Synagogue can also provide tea and coffee, tables and a projector and screen etc. for an additional fee. There’s also a smaller lower hall that seats 60.
The rooms are less glossy than some of the others, though there are plans for redevelopment (these are at a very early stage though!)
Cost: £60 per hour during the week and £70 Friday and Saturday irrespective of which room you choose.
Contact: admin@hampsteadshul.org.uk / 020 7435 1518
West Hampstead Library
Often used for public meetings and talks, the library can seat up to 70 people, and allows some standing room in a flexible 90m2 space.
Cost: £25 per hour for community use and a rather pricey £100/hour for commercial use. AV facilities are available for an additional cost.
Contact: Camden’s events service events@camden.gov.uk or 020 7974 5633
Emmanuel School
The recently built school hall is a biggish modern space (about 180m2) suitable for public meetings (such as the council hustings we held there in 2014!) and children’s parties.
Cost: £40 per hour (£50 per hour including kitchenette). AV equipment is extra.
Contact: admin@emmanuel.camden.sch.uk
Fortune Green Playcentre
The playcentre is a popular, if slightly shabby, venue for younger children’s parties with the advantage of outdoor space for play (in summer).
Cost: £40 per hour with a three-hour minimum booking.
Contact: iola@paceforall.com
The Hub
If you are looking for something in South Hampstead, there is the Hub on Fairhazel Gardens It’s run as a mental health well-being centre, with a very helpful and clear website, and offer six tree-named rooms for rent. Like Emmanuel and The Sherriff Centre, The Hub is keen to work with other local groups.
Cost: Oak £35ph for 30-50 seated/60-70 standing; Beech and Elm £25ph for 10-15; Willow – a specialist computer room at £25pn for 5-10; Ash and Maple £15ph for 2-3, suitable as a therapy rooms.
Contact: 0207 278 4437
The Curled Leaf
The increasingly popular vegetarian Curled Leaf Cafe on Mill Lane has a basement room. If you are planning a giant’s convention then the ceiling is a bit low (but not that low) so as a venue for kids parties it’s fine. It even has direct access to a small garden. For parties they can obviously help with the catering – another bonus.
It is not just a party venue, it can also be used for yoga classes. And if you are looking for a massage/treatment room they have one of those upstairs that they occasionally let out.
Cost: The basement room is a reasonable £25/hour
Contact: 020 7794 6296
Healthtown
As the name suggests the rooms they offer are health oriented. There is a large (60m2) exercise space complete with mirror down one side (used by ballet classes)
The Rooms Above
(How I missed this one in the original listing I don’t know). The Rooms Above have six rooms – three larger and three smaller ones. In their own words “the rooms are used for rehearsal groups, personal trainers, life coaches, healing arts therapists (pilates and yoga), singing, dance, music and much much more!”
Cost: The larger rooms are £20 to £25 per hour and the smaller ones £15 to £18.
Contact: via their very comprehensive website
The Community Centres
Lymington Road Residents Association Hall
This is a fairly simple 65m2 room with a small kitchen. It gets quite booked up, especially at evenings and weekends. It’s used in the evenings for yoga and karate
Cost: £20 per hour.
Contact: lrrahall@gmail.com
Sidings Hall
Sidings (off Maygrove Road) has a number of rooms and halls (and a kitchen) for rent, although they are fairly busy so availablity is limited
Contact: 020 7625 6260, info@sidings.org.uk
West Hampstead Community Centre
There’s a small hall (about 50m2) for rent that has just been renovated but is fairly booked up (especially in the evenings) as it is used for a wide range of classes.
Cost: £20 for classes, more for one-off events.
Contact info@cawh.org.uk, 020 7794 3729
Kingsgate Community Centre
Kingsgate has a number of rooms to hire, including a large hall with stage (£60 per hour for 200 seated/100 standing), a small hall with kitchen (£29 for 100/50), an art room (£30 for 15) and two meeting rooms (£23 for 12). After a big rent increase by the Council, Kingsgate has reviewed hire rates – the rates quoted are for private hire, though it has a sliding schedule for community/regular users.
….And finally, there is possibly one more room on the way as plans for 156 West End Lane include a 65m2 community room. So there you are – updated – it’s now twenty possible venues in West Hampstead, with more than – updated – 50 separate possible rooms for hire.
That’s it!
If I’ve missed any – and I’m sure I have – please let me know. We haven’t covered party venues – i.e., pubs – in this post. We’ll be looking at that next.
Overground redevelopment starts in earnest
Just as West Hampstead Square is entering the home stretch to completion, building work is starting on the redevelopment of the Overground station right next door. Expect some noisy work during the days, and the occasional bit of nighttime work when they need access to the track.
Work has indeed started on redevelopment of the Overground
The reason for the works is that, as you are aware, the Overground has seen a dramatic rise in passenger numbers. Last year nearly 5 million passengers used West Hampstead Overground, compared to 1.5 million in 2008/09.
The station will be kept operational during construction, so the work is being done in phases. Buckingham Group, the contractors, started on-site works in November 2016. For the first half of this year, it will build foundations, and conduct ground and drainage works. In the second half of the year, it will install the new footbridge, which should open by the end of 2017.
In 2018, lifts will be installed (making the station fully accessible, like the Thameslink), and the planned* opening of the the new station building in August 2018. Then the old station will be dismantled (and a new retail space built in its place) and – hallelujah – the footway will be widened. Finally landscaping will be completed by the end of 2018. Some way to go then.
Buckingham is trying to keep inevitable disruption to a minimum and the line will not be closed during the work. Working hours are expected to be Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays when necessary. There will be some work outside these hours. Last Sunday in the early hours, for example, the surveyor did some track inspection works and this coming Sunday morning (15th) there will be hoarding adjustment works again in the early hours, though Buckingham claims this will not be noisy. No-one’s moved into West Hampstead Square yet, so there should not be too many people affected anyway yet.
When the work is all completed the new station should look like this.
New Overground station, view from platform. Image via TfL
And like this on West End Lane:
Overground station new entrance. Image via TfL
*already works are running a couple of months behind schedule.
Fortnightly waste collections for West Hampstead
At last night’s public Area Action Group meeting in West Hampstead, the council gave plenty of stats on Camden’s waste and recycling. But the numbers that will have stuck in most people’s minds were “once” and “every two weeks”, as councillor Meric Apak confirmed what we reported in August; namely that much (though not all) of West Hampstead will move to fortnightly residual waste collections from April 1st. No joke.
Recycling and food waste will still be collected weekly, and this is a clear attempt by Camden to both save money and boost dwindling recycling rates. On top of that, residents who want green waste collection will have to pay £75/year.
Although the turnout last night was down on previous meetings (perhaps due to the tube strike), there was still a useful and lively discussion though there seemed little chance of the council and unenthused residents – at least those present – finding common ground.
The facts are stark: Camden deals with 46,000 tonnes of domestic residual waste a year but only 26% of waste is recycled – a proportion that’s actually fallen over time. Yet Camden’s estimate is that 85% of household waste is recyclable.
To prove a point, earlier in the day, Richard Bradbury, head of Camden’s Environmental Services, had collected 17 bags of domestic waste from West Hampstead properties. He didn’t go so far as to bring them with him to the meeting, but he had sorted these 17 bags into 5 bags of recyclable material, 4 bags of food waste and just 3 of residual waste. Five bags fewer in total, and only three of the 17 should have been heading to landfill (an 82% recycling rate).
In 2011/12, Camden residents recycled 33% of their waste, so why has this fallen to just 26% today (about the same level as in 2004), especially after the new green wheelie bin regime was introduced in 2012 to make recycling easier? Camden’s target for 2020 is 40%, but to reach this, the council is relying on an awful lot of stick and not much carrot. Camden is not alone – just over half of London boroughs have seen a decline in recycling rates over recent years.
The hope is that fortnightly collections will encourage people to recycle more as recycling will still be collected once a week. We shall see if that happens. Importantly, not all streets will move to fortnightly collections – only existing kerbside collections are affected. The maps below will help most people, but for precise details, contractor Veolia has a very useful and clear search function so you can see how you’ll be affected.
In West Hampstead and Fortune Green, some streets will still keep weekly collections. This is usually related to housing density and availability of space for bins. On the commercial strip of West End Lane, rubbish will still be collected daily, with residents being given enough bags for up to two collections a week.
All the streets in South Hampstead will move to fortnightly collections.
Commercial rubbish is collected daily on West End Lane – though it’s not always left correctly. Photo @Superfast72
Alongside the change to fortnighly collections, there will be (yet another) crackdown on fly-tipping with more investigation. The council clears 2,000 tonnes of fly-tipped waste a year (of which surely at least 1,990 tonnes comes from West Hampstead). The bin men won’t take black bags that don’t fit into your bin (in fact they’ll photograph them for evidence so when you ring up to complain they’ll tell you you exceeded your allowance), and apparently there’ll be a lot of ‘education’.
Fortune Green councillor Flick Rea wondered what will happen when Christmas comes around, or a birthday party, or someone moving, all of which generate extra waste. Residents will also receive new black bins.
There are a tonne of caveats and other minor changes. For example, there’ll be a free weekly nappy collection service available to households with children under the age of 2 1/2 who wear nappies. Read all about them on Camden’s website.
Egregious fly tipping on Mill Lane from August 2016. Photo @damawa42
Questions from the public included whether Camden would be checking our waste (Camden wearily said “no” several times) and under what legislation we are required to recycle, the answer appeared to be none, though frankly – economics aside – it shouldn’t take legislation to get people to want to help minimize landfill. Some residents also pointed out that if Camden wanted to increase recycling it would help if it made it easier. There is also a contradiction between Camden’s policy of reducing car ownership and car use and the regular refrain of ‘you can take it to the Regis Road recycling centre’, when anyone enquires about recycling something slightly out of the ordinary… like a toaster.
What are your thoughts on this? Good incentive? Unworkable? Open to abuse? Time for people to take some responsibility for the environment? Let us know in the comments.
What have you missed since December 19th?
Welcome back West Hampstead and Happy New Year! After the extended break, there is much news.
Expect the trains and buses to be VERY busy on Monday as many Underground stations are closed because of a strike through to the end of the day. Here is TFL’s advice.
There is a trial at the old Bailey over an alleged stabbing and rape that took place in the cemetery in July last year.
Not sure if it was the sixth day of Christmas or not but there was a swan a-swanning in West Hampstead. Locals rallied round to protect it, and the Swan Sanctury in Shepperton came to the rescue. The swan was released the next day. In time for Christmas.
Photo of the week
A pine forest on Fortune Green at the Christmas tree recycling point. As spotted by @JfmJm.
A timely reminder that you can recycle your Christmas trees at Fortune Green or Kilburn Grange (Messina Avenue). NOT West End Green, or just dumped on the street.
If like WHL you’ve added a few pounds (Ed – kilos) over the holidays then you’ll want our round up of the local exercise options.
Is West Hampstead set to lose two loos?
156 West End Lane is not scheduled for the January planning committee. Maybe February? There was some extra time for comments over Christmas due to new information about sunlight and shadows. We shed some light on the matter.
As a unexpected Christmas surprise, Network Rail came to West Hampstead to discuss the overgrown Black Path, here’s a report from our Black Path correspondent. And as an extra bonus Network Rail also brought along two guys to cut back the worst bits.
Camden’s local area forum is this Monday (9th). It’s a public meeting open to all, and a chance to meet your councillors. Camden is set to announce new waste collection arrangements (fortnightly black bin collections and charging for collecting green waste)
Work is starting in earnest on West Hampstead Overground. Apart from building work during the days there will Sunday overnight work; track survey works tonight and hoardings next Sunday. The contractors promise both will not be noisy. WHL will be doing more on the works to remind you exactly what is happening and when.
Nazarin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, held in an Iranian prison for spying, appealed against her sentence last week. Her friends and family are awaiting the judgement.
West Hampstead appeared (again) in Location, Location, Location (WH starts at 28 mins). This time a couple looking for a two bed flat. One on Hillfield road (where a previous programme found a flat) and another on Maygrove Road. Without giving the ending away, welcome to West Hampstead Hiren and Priyanka!
Did you know West Hampstead’s link to the Cambridge spies? Philby, Burgess, Maclean and Blunt all had local connections
In other historical news, the great-great niece of the Short Brothers has started fundraising to repair the graves of these pioneer aircraft manufacturers. Their grave is in the cemetery (although it’s not clear if they lived in Ranulf Road, but their mother probably did).
In case you missed it, before Christmas we got an Insight into the Sherriff Centre.
Kilburn Station is getting a pop-up Library.
Local Stephanie Dawson is trying raise money for her mother who after being diagnosed with cancer and had to sell her caravan.
There is fundraising effort to repatriate the body of the Ecuadorian man who died in the Willesden car crash last month.
More change on Mill Lane as The Village Haberdashery moves from Mill Lane to West Hampstead Square. Alas, it’s not opening as planned, because (now here’s a surprise) Ballymore isn’t ready.
Meanwhile, Mill Lane welcomes The Wag Club, and a vape store. Not so sure about the last one.
Dallas Cowboy Jack Crawford, born in NW6 no less, is in the NFL play-offs.
We’re upping our Instagram game… do follow us
Tweet of the Week
A timely reminder for all you heading to the gym
Note to guy at @TheGymGroup in @WHampstead in full, skin tight, desert camouflage, boots & silver choker. Unfortunately we can still see you
— Phillip Ingamells (@ingamells) January 6, 2017
Get fit in 2017: The West Hampstead gym guide
It’s that time of year again; time to start thinking about undoing some of the damage from treating ourselves a little too much over the festive season. For all those times we said, ‘Oh go on then, it’s Christmas after all!’ Now your clothes are a little uncomfortable and you seem to have grown a couple of extra chins in those family photos.
But it’s a new year and you’re ready to get back into shape. There will be times it will hurt and you’ll wondering why you’re doing this to yourself. I’ve already been there and reminded myself, “Because mince pies.”
Where to go and what to do? Here’s our guide to the area’s best options for getting fit and healthy this year.
Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre (http://www.better.org.uk/)
At around £55 a month, the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre is a really great value-for-money choice. It boasts a huge pool that’s sectioned into lanes for different abilities, plenty of equipment and a great choice of classes, which actually run at convenient times. It’s also set beautifully, with huge floor to ceiling windows, plenty of natural light, trees and a huge water fountain, which I find helps to really motivate me. You can also see down over the pool from one of the studios and most of the equipment has built-in TVs so you can watch your favorite shows at the same time.
The downside is that actually getting onto a class it really difficult as they are so popular! Despite being able to book easily on the app or website, you need to be ready to book your place within the first hour of the slots becoming available each week or you’ll lose out! Occasionally you can manage to get a last-minute class if there are cancellations, and beware, you are charged if you don’t show up!
Being a public leisure centre, Swiss Cottage can get extremely busy with large groups of kids clubs, but that does mean it offers so much more if you have children or big groups, with choices including a climbing wall, basketball court, squash rooms and more (at additional costs.)
It also offers a flexible, monthly rolling contract, so it’s worth trying out before deciding whether to commit. For all you New Years Resolutioners, Swiss Cottage is offering a January deal of no joining fee and two months free if you pay for 10 months up front.
The Gym (https://www.thegymgroup.com/find-a-gym/gym/the-gym-west-hampstead/)
If you’re looking for great value, all the machines you need, and you can motivate yourself to go to the gym without needing an inspiring setting then this is the gym for you. At £21.99 a month (plus a £20 joining fee) this no-frills gym may be the right compromise. It’s also open 24 hours with automated signing in systems, which is great for all you night owls and extremely early birds! It also offers a few limited classes.
HIIT Gym (http://www.hiitgyms.com/)
These unique classes mean business! Perfect if you feel like you’ve plateaued going to the gym on your own or if you need extra motivation to see results. And with these classes you will see results. They are pricey (though we’ve got a WHL-exclusive offer below) but effective.
The HIIT gym is a group class-based workout. The instructors are great, and with varied workouts that can work on strength, fat burning and stamina it never gets boring. HIIT stands for high intensity interval training, which is designed to help you keep burning fat even after the workout.
There is a downside to it not being a traditional gym in that there is not really the option if you ever did just fancy a workout at your own pace. However, if you arrive a little earlier to a class you could jump on the treadmill if you really wanted to.
A word of warning: personally I have to be at full energy to be able to take part in these classes. They are very high impact, no matter what your fitness level. So working out here can be a little ‘all or nothing.’ However, you won’t be bullied into doing that final burpie or shamed for not increasing the incline to 15 on the treadmill. It’s really important to listen to your own body if you feel it is too much.
The classes can also get extremely crowded at the most popular times (which gets a little worrying when people are swinging weights around). Some people might also feel that the showering facilities are quite limited given the cost, and often I feel I’d rather freshen up at home.
Prices vary according to membership, but if you want the most flexibility then classes are around £20 for pay-as-you-go. However, HIIT is offering a 10% pay-as-you-go discount for West Hampstead Life readers with the discount code: 10january. It’s valid until January 31st. HIIT also offers a one-week free trial, so you can try before you buy.
Virgin Active (https://www.virginactive.co.uk/clubs/swiss-cottage)
Virgin Active at the O2 Centre is one of the pricier options, but boasts a jacuzzi by the pool, decent equipment and great classes. It also offers spa treatments, which are very good. I’m not sure the price difference vs the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre just up the road is worth it, considering you get almost the same facilities and services. However you do get to avoid the children’s clubs and the service and quality is always great with Virgin. It does offer corporate discounts for many employers so be sure to check at work, as some of the discounts are quite substantial. For this month only it is offering a 12-month contract with no joining fee and a personal training package that works out to £99 a month. It is also offering a flexible rolling month-by-month membership at £106 a month with a £30 joining fee.
You don’t have to go to a gym
Primrose Hill offers exercise without the sweaty floors!
ParkRun (http://www.parkrun.org.uk/hampsteadheath/)
Every Saturday, this 5k run across the beautiful Hampstead Heath is a completely free, fun and friendly social project. What could be better than getting some fresh air with with your neighbors and volunteers in this national heritage site we are lucky to have on our doorsteps.
The run starts at 9am – what a way to start your weekend! You do have to register and bring a printed copy of the barcode you’re given, which lets you keep track of your progress and time. However you are encouraged to go at your own pace.
ruNW6 (http://twitter.com/ruNW6)
An even more social running group that sprung up from West Hampstead Life readers also meets every Saturday. Starting from West End Green, the group tends to head out for a 30-45 minute run with a variety of routes, including the stunning Golder’s Hill park before returning to West End Lane. No runner is left behind! There’s more about this group here.
Public fitness parks: Primrose Hill, Kilburn Grange and Swiss Cottage
Another way to keep fit is to run over to the beautiful nearby Primrose Hill, where there is a substantial outdoor fitness park. The ‘trim trail’ consists of pull-up bars, parallel bars, rings, low bars, sit-up benches and more. Once you’ve had a good work out you could even reward yourself with a very short stroll over to London Zoo where you can often catch a cheeky glimpse of a giraffe!
There are also free outdoor fitness equipment facilities at Kilburn Grange Park and outside Swiss Cottage Library. These are great if you love the outdoors and don’t want to get caught up in gym membership commitments. Personal trainers also use these with clients.
With all these options you should be in tip-top shape for next year’s mince pie blowout!
Network Rail brings clarity to Black Path
Industrial strength machinery brought in to tackle Black Path. Photo via Richard Olszewski
Months of recent community work and lobbying came to some fruition on Tuesday 20th with a site visit to the Black Path and meeting with local residents by representatives from Network Rail, the British Transport Police, Camden Council and the West Hampstead Safer Neighbourhood Team.
They were joined by two very welcome maintenance workers from Network Rail, who were armed with machinery more suited to the task of cutting back years’ worth of overgrown vegetation than that with which we came to the WHL-organised community clean-up day back in September. As a result regular users of the path will notice a huge improvement in some of the most obstructed stretches.
David Rose, from Network Rail’s East Midlands team and Tim Ramskill, who works on crime prevention for the BTP, came to discuss safety and maintenance issues on the path. In the wake of a small number of attacks on the path in the last few weeks, Jim Craig and Simon Bishop from the SNT were on hand, as was Fortune Green councillor Richard Olszewski – who himself uses the path regularly.
Personal security and the vexed question of overhanging vegetation were top of the agenda of course, but discussion points also included safety issues around the tarmac surface, walls and lighting, as well as ownership and responsibility for the path itself.
L-R, Network Rail’s David Rose, local resident Julia Deakin, Cllr Richard Olszweski, Simon Bishop and Jim Craig from West Hampstead SNT discuss safety and maintenance on the Black Path.
Mr Rose was able to confirm that Network Rail owns all the land from the railway line up to – but not including – the walls and fences that border the backs of gardens along Sumatra Road, which belong to the respective property freeholders. However the path itself (not including fences on either side) is leased to Camden, so the council is responsible for the surface, lighting and security. He also raised the question of what might happen if or when government policy forces Network Rail to sell off the land in the future; an unknown quantity obviously, but a potential concern if the path were to fall into private hands and be taken out of public ownership.
The SNT told us that it is currently advising people not to use the path for the time being whilst their investigation into the recent attacks is is ongoing. If you do choose to continue using it, the police recommend carrying a personal alarm. All at the meeting agreed that installation of CCTV would be hugely helpful, but cost and logistical issues may make this unfeasible: the path is 500 meters long and would have to be cabled all the way, even before accounting for the expense of upkeep.
Whilst some of the worst of the overhanging tree growth was cleared by the Network Rail team and their chainsaws, many of the most obtrusive plants are impossible to deal with effectively from the path and would need to be tackled by their owners from within Sumatra Road gardens. By coincidence, later that same day, detective work on the part of a particularly diligent local campaigner revealed that the freeholder of one of the worst-offending gardens is a West Hampstead businessman. Residents are now urging Camden to issue an enforcement notice to the freeholder in order to oblige him to maintain his garden and repair its damaged fence, which intrudes onto the pathway.
It was a productive meeting that ended with a real sense that all the stakeholders were engaged with the problems faced on the path as well as other local Network Rail-owned properties, such as Billy Fury Way, and that solutions could be found for some of the most pressing issues. With vegetation cleared, sightlines would be improved along the whole length of the Black Path, giving better visibility both to pedestrians and cyclists – and fewer places in which to hide. There will be further challenges along the way, as budgets continue to be slashed both at Network Rail and Camden, but the willingness at least is clearly there.
Meanwhile, if you live on that side of Sumatra Road: please, find some time over the holidays to get down the end of your garden with a large pair of shears
New light is shone on 156 West End Lane’s shadows
Camden has received new daylight and light impact studies for 156 West End Lane. ‘Hang on’, you’re thinking – didn’t it already have them?
Well, yes. But, no. But, yes. Daylight studies were originally submitted with the planning application last November for the building itself and another set on its impact on neighbouring properties, plus another set in December 2015. After the design was revised slightly in June there was yet another set. These were produced by the imaginatively named ‘Right to Light consultants’ on behalf of John Rowan and partners, advisors to A2Dominion.
The reports concluded that impact on daylighyt of the development was acceptable. However, local campaign group Stop the Blocks pointed out discrepancies in the light studies and the impact on buildings/windows that could affect the ‘right to light’ of neighbouring residents. The group asked Camden to request independent advisors to report and check. Another firm – Anstey Horne was commissioned to review the figures.
Anstey Horne made a few observations, including that the existing site is underdeveloped and has higher light levels than one would expect for an urban site; that the western side matches surrounding developments so its impact should be accepted ‘flexibly’ but this holds less true for the impact of the eastern building. Despite also wondering why there was no 3D study, which would have helped explain the impact, the conclusion was that the impact of the proposed development was acceptable.
People who work in the field say that Anstey Horne has a good reputation and has to provide unbiased and factually correct information – otherwise it would be liable to a lawsuit.
Want to know more about right to light? Read on…
In effect, the owner of a building with windows that have had natural daylight for 20 years or more is entitled to object to any building that would deprive him or her of that illumination. To objectively measure any loss of light, developers use two measures from BRE (Buildings Research Establishment) guidelines: the vertical sky component (VSC) and, as a backup, the average daylight factor (ADF).
“If the VSC with the new development in place, is both less than 27% and less than 0.8 times its former value, the occupants of the existing building will notice the reduction in the amount of skylight”.
Likewise, the ADF “should be 5% for a well-lit daylight space but at a minimum 2% for a partly-lit daylight space”.
According to Right to Light, who did the original studies for 156, 93% of the 391 windows studied passed the VSC test. Of the 29 windows that failed, 11 were secondary windows (i.e. there was another window in the same room, so overall there was enough light. Of the 18 windows that were the sole windows to rooms facing the development, it depends what the room is used for as to how critical it is. Bedrooms have lower light requirements than living rooms or kitchens. Having guessed at the use of most rooms, where it was not clear, Right to Light maintains that most of these will meet the ADF requirement.
From a ‘right to light’ perspective, although there will be an impact, “It is therefore considered, that when applying the BRE Guidelines the proposed development will not have a material impact to the light amenity of this property”.
Stop the Blocks also raised concerns about the impact on the MUGA (sports pitch). The reports accept that there would be an impact but “we […] remain of the opinion that the proposed development creates an acceptable level of overshadowing on the adjacent MUGA space”.
Shadow analysis of the MUGA between 156 WEL and Crown Close play area
West Hampstead set to lose two loos?
Camden Council is looking to save £260,000 on public toilets. To do this it proposed closing toilet facilities at West End Green in West Hampstead, as well as those at Pond Square, Highgate and South End Green. As people protested that they might be caught short, the council asked local businesses if they would be prepared to allow the public to use their toilets.
Across Camden, 12 businesses have stepped forward, including Nando’s in West Hampstead, the Tricycle Theatre on Kilburn High Road, Streets Coffee (a new café on the Finchley Road) and the Abbey Community Centre.
Alan Hindson, manager of West Hampstead’s Nando’s confirmed the branch’s participation. He was aware of the scheme from his time managing the Kilburn restaurant, so was prepared when Camden asked about West Hampstead. He knows how inconvenient it can be when you are caught short when out shopping and said that people are already coming in with no problems, although the restaurant will monitor uptake over the next few months.
Camden is paying businesses £750 a year, which Alan felt will cover the costs. To indicate which businesses are taking part, Camden will also be supplying stickers, but there is nothing up at the moment.
West End Green’s pay as you go and underground toilets – set to close?
The closure of the loos at West End Lane would be a particular problem for the 139 bus drivers who wait there. Although Nando’s does offer an alternative, it is not open 24 hours, so what bus drivers are supposed to do outside those hours is not clear.
Camden’s press office said that the council is “working on keeping all currently attended toilets open” but given that it is also trying to save £260,000 it looks like closure of the West End Lane toilets is one step closer.
What have you missed since December 12th?
The new school on Liddell Road (an extension to Kingsgate School) is opening with spare capacity, three not four form entry. The site for the second phase of Liddell Road will be sold in the new year – but how much for?
Latest school SATS tables were released with Kingsgate performing well, but Emmanuel and Beckford were surprisingly far down the list. Makes the spare capacity at Kingsgate even harder to understand.
It seems the the farmers’ market will be brought forward to Thursday 22nd, although if you have ordered a turkey from Fosse Meadows they will be there on Christmas Eve from 10am to noon only for collection of orders.
We visited the Sherriff Centre for another insight. If you haven’t been yet, go.
The Friends of West Hampstead Library held a successful evening of seasonal readings. Local actor, Sophie Thompson was supposed to be starring in Hook at the National but a serious injury during rehearsal put pay to that. The National’s loss was West Hampstead’s gain.
Thanks to everyone who came to Christmas Whampdrinks on Wednesday. That’s of course our last event of the year, but we’re already lining up some more dinners and drinks for 2017.
The saga of 156 West End Lane drags on. A more detailed review of the sunlight received by neighbouring properties concludes that the impact of the proposed building will not be sufficiently great for the building to be rejected on those grounds. Affected residents will likely disagree.
Following their march to Downing Street last week calling for the release from Iranian jail of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a group of Hampstead Mums will be back there to sing carols on December 19th.
Tulip voted in the commons for the Istanbul Convention (on violence against women and domestic violence), taking baby Azalea in with her to the Commons to make sure she could vote.
TFL has apparently approved CS11 – the cycle superhighway that will involve a radical rethink of the Swiss Cottage roundabout. The knock-on impact on West Hampstead is unclear. However, Andrew Gilligan says TfL has agreed only to redesign the Swiss Cottage gyratory but not implement other key parts of the scheme.
West Hampstead tube station experienced a further bout of overcrowding this week. In the new year, we’ll be looking into local tube and train station passenger numbers in more detail.
Tweet of the week
Carols by candlelight in the chapel at Hampstead Cemetery with dogs, followed by mulled wine and lots of bottom sniffing I love @WHampstead pic.twitter.com/89ElyhyqSj
— Natasha Back (@NBSportsMassage) December 14, 2016
An Insight into: The Sherriff Centre
The Sherriff Centre, which opened in 2014, has settled in well and is now one of the most popular features of the area – especially with parents. It was, and still is, a church, but after some extensive internal modernisation it now offers a host of community facilities: a post office and shop, a café with lots of comfortable seating and Hullabaloo (the kids soft play area, and the reason why it is so popular with parents – and perhaps less popular with people looking for a quiet coffee!).
As I waited to talk to Jane Edwards, the manager, it was particularly busy with long queues for the post office counter, the café was full and kids were enjoying the soft play. Plus lots of Christmas lights. All in all a great atmosphere.
Jane, the sheriff (i.e the manager) of the Sherriff Centre
What brought you to West Hampstead?
I first came to West Hampstead in the mid-90s and rented a flat with my then boyfriend (now husband). We loved the flat and area so much that we begged the landlady to stay and offered to decorate the flat and look after the garden to keep the rent affordable! Eventually, we moved to West London but we always said if we could ever afford it we would move back to the area.
And we did move back, about 12 years ago; first to Sumatra Road, and then up to Gondar Gardens, where we are now. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
What is your first memory of the area?
I loved the feel of West End Lane. Especially the area round West End Green and the fire station, which my parents call ‘Trumpton’! Even though you are in London it doesn’t feel like you are in London.
What has surprised you most about how West Hampstead has changed?
It has fewer independent shops, although that is perhaps inevitable. I loved the record shop and Dizar the gift shop. And instead of Atlanta we now have all the supermarkets and soon an M&S food shop. But nothing has surprised me, everything changes.
One of the things we try to do at the Sherriff Centre is strike the right balance between keeping it community-oriented and being commercial; we are a social enterprise/business. We innovate with things like the quiz and would like to try supper clubs as well as other ideas for events, especially as the building really comes into its own at night.
The shop stock – a good source of presents and cards.
People still come in and pray and light a candle outside of ‘church’ hours and others notice when the colour of the cloth on the altar changes and ask why. So we still have the link to it being a church. Yes it has changed but it is still an inspiring place, quite calming with a history.
What’s for lunch?
Something from the café, most probably their daily dish (lasagne is a particular favorite), unless they have sold out that is.
And I do go out too! As I live locally I go out to local places at the weekend. So for a weekend lunch? I miss La Brocca, we always used to go there for weekend brunch. Currently, I like the Black Lion and also the Alliance for their Sunday roasts but I like to try new places too.
Describe West Hampstead in three words?
Unique, vibrant and community
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 that will be part of Kilburn’s Kingsgate School, alongside a large residential tower block, some modern mansion blocks and some office space that will be privately developed. Was big news. You should have been there.
Anyway, work is underway on site, so time for an update.
The whole reason a new school… sorry, a new building for Kingsgate School, was needed was because of a projected dramatic shortage in primary places in this part of the borough. The new school was planned to opened in September 2016 with four-form entry. That’s 120 places.
Strange then that just a year later (clearing the site had taken much longer than expected), the school is now to be a three-form entry with 90 kids starting instead of 120. Where did those 30 kids go?
Camden’s cabinet member for schools, Angela Mason, explained in a written response, “The proposed change is in response to our latest school place-planning data, which now suggests a slower growth in demand. If we left the admissions number at 120, the school would have to employ enough staff to cover these extra places. As school funding is linked to the actual number of pupils on roll, it would be a strain on the school’s budget if the places were not filled. This is why we’ve applied to the Schools Adjudicator to vary the arrangements for the September 2017 intake, though we expect demand to rise again in future years.”
Too few kids, too much money?
The development is taking place in two phases; first the school and second the housing and workspace. The school is on track to be finished in July 2017, ready for the new school year next September. The deadline for applying for reception and nursery places is 15th January.
Yellow = school, blue = housing and red = offices, workshops
However, Camden has been taking a long time to market the site for phase two. It is now due to be marketed next year.
It will be interesting to see what the asking price is. Camden refused to disclose the viability figures at the time of the planning application in 2014/15, but what we know is that Camden wanted to cover the £13.4 million cost of the new school and make a surplus of £1.9 million. Therefore if the site is sold for anything more than £15.3 million, Camden will receive more money than planned. Chances of the value of the land having gone up over two to three years?
Any additional surplus could have helped increase the amount of affordable housing in 156 West End Lane (the council justified the lack of affordable housing at Liddell Road by saying that 156 would get 50%, which it has). But Liddell Road won’t be put up for sale until after the 156 West End Lane planning decision is decided. So will additional surplus flow out of West Hampstead again?
Classrooms and construction
It may be simpler to build the school first and the residential units afterwards, but it does mean the entire construction period will be very long, and there’ll be enormous disruption for local residents, and of course for the schoolchildren on site. Construction of the second phase is anticipated to take 18 months.
Recent view of Liddell Rd. Image: West Hampstead NDF
Maygrove Road residents are very concerned about the impact the new school, flats and offices will have on parking in the area. They have already been affected by the adjacent Regal Homes development, called ‘The Residence’, which is now complete and occupied. Although that development is nominally ‘car-free’ , Monica Regli, chair of MILAM, the local residents association says, “We have noticed that parking has become significantly worse now that the new flats are built despite it being a “carless” development. We assume it’s because new residents are using cars to commute and parking on Maygrove outside of restricted hours. In fact, parking is becoming such an issue that a petition has been started”.
Finally, five of the nine trees with preservation orders on the Liddell Road site were fatally damaged in Storm Katie last year. This may be because they no longer had the shelter provided by the old buildings. Local residents have pressed Camden to replace them, after having been unclear, they have now said they will be replaced as part of the landscaping for the school playground.
We’ll keep you updated on Liddell Road’s progress and especially on how much the development rights are sold for next year.
Doggie day care: The Wag Club comes to West Hampstead
Sponsored post
Most people get that ‘back-to-work dread’ as all the fun and festivities of the holiday season draw to a close. So at the risk of sounding like the goody-two-shoes of the family, at The Wag Club we can’t wait to get back!
And 2017 brings with it something particularly exciting for us: the launch of The Wag Club West Hampstead.
Who are we? The Wag Club is an urban doggie day care centre that provides the very best of care for your four-legged friends. Essentially we’re a nursery for dogs. And yes, we know how lucky we are.
We’re the home from home and the peace of mind that owners need when they leave their pups behind and head out for work. And trust us, there really is no better place to leave your little ones than with us. All the fun and frolicking they could ever wish for all in one place, all supervised, with plenty of treats, walks and cuddles all thrown in for good measure. At The Wag Club your pup will not just be cared for, it will be loved like one of our own.
Research has shown that socialising with other dogs is an important stage in any dog’s development. At The Wag Club we have all the amenities your pup could ever wish for:
- Separate day rooms for ‘big dogs’ and ‘small dogs’
- Morning and afternoon walks
- Hours of play, all supervised by our doggie-mad and professionally trained carers.
Pretty soon work will start at 75 Mill Lane as we look to settle into our new home and ensure we offer a safe, friendly (and cage-free) environment for your dog. From the moment your pooch takes its first steps through our doors they will be given all the love and care they need by our trained professionals.
We are all set to open in January 2017, so if you need us to look after Rover while you’re off earning the big bucks (or off spending them!), we’ve got you covered. Just need a walk to break up their day? We’ve got you. Perhaps you want to pick up some of the most drool worthy, healthy and organic treats London has to offer? We’ve got you covered with our Wag Club Treat Deli.
We really hope you’ll come along for a mooch with your pooch when we open. We’re all so excited about our move to the area, many of our staff have grown up here and know what a wonderful community NW6 boasts. We simply can’t wait to be a part of it.
Opening January 2017 at:
75 Mill Lane, London, NW6 1NB
www.wag-club.co.uk
westhampstead@wag-club.co.uk
www.instagram.com/thewagclub
www.twitter.com/thewagclub1
What have you missed since November 28th?
A man was shot and killed on Kilburn High Road on Friday. The man, in his 20s, was Yasir Beshira (also known as Loopy), who lived in a hostel in West Hampstead. A 22-year-old man has been arrested for the murder, but the police are still appealing for witnesses.
Brexit rumbles on and last week there were two motions in Parliament, one from the Government and one from Labour. Both were won by large majorities, although Tulip was one of a number of Labour MPS who voted against the Labour motion.
Richard Ratcliffe is continuing his desperate campaign for the return of his imprisoned wife Nazarin and their two year old daughter trapped in Tehran. At the beginning of last week hundreds marched to Downing Street in support of Nazanin. Bring Nazarin home.
Scrabble anyone? pic from @bubela
Back to matters Christmas. Last week we did a twelve things to do in West Hampstead before Christmas. This week it was our ever-so-useful Christmas survival guide.
If you are still looking for that elusive Christmas present here are some options on your doorstep; the twelve gifts of West Hampstead.
And there is a Whampsocial for Christmas drinks at the Gallery this week. Join us!
Last Saturday a man fell on the tracks at the Thameslink station. Emergency services arrived, including by helicopter (which landed in Travis Perkins yard). The man’s injuries are not life-threating.
Don’t believe everything you read in the Evening Standard. It reheated a story about 156 West End Lane; showing alternative plans, saying that Jim Carter was opposing it and that it was going to planning on December 15th. The plans weren’t new, Jim Carter wasn’t asked and it won’t be going to planning until January at the earliest.
More West End Lane news. Movers and Shapers is, erm, moving.
And almost opposite M&S popped up on Twitter to announce the opening of its new West Hampstead store (in early Feb).
Talk of peak estate agent on West End Lane was alas too early. In an about turn, Alexanders is not closing its office after all. Instead it will draft in more staff. And the new mystery tenant at West Hampstead Square will be … an estate agent; Johns & Co (Ballymore’s in-house agency).
What will be the impact of the changes in rental fees? Renters will probably benefit.
As the photo of the week showed, things are happening with Bobby’s House. Finally. It will be opening in the new year. But who is Bobby?
Tom dived into to Nautilus and here’s what he thought.
Our historians reported on a true story about the downfall of a doctor that seems more like a tragic TV soap opera.
Liddell Road is being erased from history and being renamed as … Liddell Place. We’ll be doing an update on what’s going on this week.
And finally, the Marie Curie hospice is one of the participating hospices in the London hospices choir. It is putting out a Christmas single this week. Here’s a link to the video, but be warned. It will bring a tear to your eye.
Tweet of the week
Overheard at an Xmas market this morning (one stall-holder to another) 'Hey Janet, you're creative – can you have a go at untying this knot?
— Anthony McGowan (@anthony_mcgowan) December 10, 2016
West Hampstead Christmas survival guide
With just over two weeks to go, it’s beginning to look a LOT like Christmas in West Hampstead. Here’s our seasonal guide to what’s going on around the neighbourhood in the next couple of weeks, including December 25th, and information about practical stuff too.
It’s beginning to look, well a bit, like Christmas
Still need to get a Christmas tree? They’re on sale outside The Sherriff Centre, on the corner of Sherriff Road and West End Lane, and if you’re at the other end of town, you can find a good selection of trees at The Mill Lane Garden Centre.
This Saturday it’s the West Hampstead Christmas market with a good selection of stalls with gift ideas as well as food and drink. There are also a range of activities to keep the kids amused and as if that wasn’t enough there will be carol singers at 2pm.
There are of course a number of local shopping options for the perfect Christmas present – see our gift guide for ideas.
Ho, ho, ho – it’s the Christmas market (image: WH Christmas market)
If your party schedule isn’t busy enough already, here are a few local invites. Top of the list – obvs – the West Hampstead Life Christmas drinks will be on December 14th at the Gallery, details in separate email. Or if you fancy a bit of a bop, there will be a festive Mod & Soul party at the Railway on the 17th (live music and DJ), a Christmas party at The Black Lion on the 23rd (DJ from 9pm) and an ‘Old Year’s Party’ on Friday 30th also at The Black Lion.
If it’s comedy you are after as well regular Monday nights at The Good Ship, there is a new comedy evening on Sunday 18th organised by local resident Abigail Burdess, at the North London Tavern (normally last Sunday of the month). Promising a Christmas cracker of comedy cabaret (click to book tickets).
Santa is taking time out of his busy schedule to make a visit to West Hampstead. He is finding time to drop in to The Village Haberdashery on Friday 16th. There are a few spots left and it’s free, but please book ahead. They are also organising a couple of kids activities; on Monday 19th it’s making Christmas ornaments and on Tuesday 20th it’s a gift wrapping workshop (both cost £5).
Got your turkey yet? If not, you can get it at the Hampstead Butcher and Providore on West End Lane, last orders by Tuesday 20th, but if you want a posh bronze turkey the earlier the better (i.e. early next week). Or you could order it from the Fosse Meadows Farm at the farmers market, they have geese too if you want to go traditional English, again advice is to order early.
As for Christmas Day itself, is anywhere going to be open? There will of course be church services: Emmanuel, St Luke’s, St. James and St. Mary’s are all holding Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve as well as services on the 25th.
What are the eating out options? There has been a bit of change on the Christmas day options as Guglee and Toomai, which have been open in the past are closed. However, for a more traditional offering The Black Lion , The Alice House and The Railway are all open with Christmas day lunches on offer, but must be pre-booked.
The Black Lion dressed up for Christmas
Likewise the Christmas Day drinking scene has more options than in the past as the The Railway, The Alice House and The Black Lion will all be open from midday to late afternoon.
Or if you are looking for something more active – apart from a walk on the Heath – there is the outdoor icerink at JW3 which is open on Christmas day.
Onto more prosaic, but just as essential things. Rubbish collections will, if I understand Camden’s site correctly be one day later than normal – see Camden’s revised collection schedule here.
What about parking? Christmas falls on Sunday, so there is substitute holiday on Tuesday 27th, plus Boxing day on Monday 26th. New Year’s Eve also falls on a Sunday and New Year’s day on a Monday, which is a public holiday. Parking restrictions don’t apply on public holidays.
The main supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose – are all closed on Christmas Day, and both Waitrose branches (West End Lane and Finchley Road) are also closed on Boxing Day.
If you need an emergency item on the 25th, Nisa Local (on the corner of West End Lane and Broadhurst Gardens) will be open, as will Western Food & Wine opposite. Or up on Mill Lane Londis will be open in the morning, closed for lunch and then open again late afternoon. None of these convenience stores stock whole turkeys though.
For medical matters if it’s a pharmacy you need, IPSA the newish pharmacy on the Finchley Road has late opening hours and is open on Boxing day and New Years day, 11:30 to 20:00. It also has a private doctor’s service. Local GP practices are closed on the 25th and 26th, but if you need urgent medical help you can dial the NHS 111 service, or of course 999 in an emergency.
If you need to travel during the festive period, be aware that tube and train services tend to wind down earlier than normal on Christmas Eve. There is no public transport on Christmas Day, and there will be a limited service and engineering works to contend with during the rest of the period – see here for TfL’s festive travel updates from December 21st to January 4th. Thameslink services will also not run on the 25th or 26th, but otherwise over holiday period are running services, albeit somewhat reduced.
Tom dives in to Nautilus
After a few drinks with locals in the splendid glow of the Green Room, two things occurred to me in a flash of uncharacteristic inspiration. First, that I was extremely hungry, and second, that I’d (shamefully) never eaten in Nautilus, Fortune Green’s acclaimed fish restaurant and takeaway. I’d heard interesting things and was rather intrigued by its apparent bare-bones approach to pretty much everything.
The first thing to point out is that Nautilus does not deep-fry their fish in batter; rather, they favour a matzo breadcrumb coating. My thoughts on this to follow, but there were other quirks I discovered which added to the experience.
Service was delivered by two charmingly polite older ladies, and the interior is certainly traditional café or diner style – very casual, very unpretentious. Further bonus points for having tomato sauce in bottles – none of those stupid little mini-bowls which last for only about 3 or 4 dips-worth of chips!
The menu is as simple as one can imagine; you can have a glass of wine – red or white, no further choice. I chose the latter, which was fine, and spent a few moments deciding what to order. I absolutely love salmon, and decided this would be an interesting test of the cooking technique.
Dinner duly arrived, and my first thought was “goodness me, that’s a large portion, even for me!” but I soon discovered that the matzo coating was deliciously and deceptively light, and so crisp, too – an absolute joy in combination with the salmon. Enthusiastically tucking-in, I found the fish to be nicely gauged; not overcooked, still fleshy and supple. Really, a revelation; I felt a little silly for not having previously eaten fish fried in this manner, and honestly I was already thinking about what to have on my next visit.
A side salad of tomato, cucumber and onion included some added olives (always a positive thing), but my portion of chips was the only minus point of the visit (I shall hereby rename them ‘blips’). Previously when I’ve grabbed chips from Nautilus as a post-pub refuel, they’ve been fresh and sizzling hot, whereas these were noticeably flabby and insipid and far from piping hot. A bit of an oversight given the nature of the establishment, so hoping this won’t be the case next time.
Less chip, more blip
In summary, enjoyable. Somewhere fun and relaxing where you can relish the simplicity of very fresh fish cooked in a style Nautilus have really mastered (pending better chips next time).
As I’m always saying, I only choose the best for the captain’s table… All aboard!
The Twelve Christmas gifts of West Hampstead
Our Christmas gift guide is back! If you’re looking for gift ideas this year then don’t just head straight to Amazon, check out the shops on your doorstep. It’s likely you’ll get more inspiration and it’s definitely a more relaxing experience than Westfield or Regent Street. We went shopping to see what’s on offer. Don’t forget there’s also the West Hampstead Christmas Market on Saturday, and when you’re tired of shopping, there’s loads else to do in the neighbourhood this Christmas.
1. Copper and Slate Serving Plate, £34.99
Season Cookshop, 166 West End Lane
This hand-beaten copper bowl is made in Scotland and provides an on-trend variation to the classic slate tray. You’ll also find Orla Kiely oven mitts, coloured kilner jars, glassware and everything else you’d expect in a kitchen shop.
2. Faux Fur Collar, £18
La Boutique Secret, 132 West End Lane
You can clip this glamorous collar to a coat, jacket or accessorise a dress and it comes in a range of colours. Chokers (from £9) are also a popular gift this year. This little shop by the tube is bigger than it looks, with more clothes and jewellery downstairs.
3. Dolfin Chocolate Squares, £8
Cocoa Bijoux, Broadhurst Gardens
Twenty-four individually-wrapped chocolates with flavours like Noir Poivre Rose and Noir Cardamome. Cocoa Bijoux has an enormous range of sugary treats that will make great stocking fillers or larger presents. The Chocolate & Fig Pannetone baked at the Padua Prison Bakery is delicious!
4. Dinosaur Sandwich Box, £5
Sherriff Centre, St James Church
Dinosaurs, unicorns or fairies? Take your pick of these eco-friendly sandwich boxes and flasks; perfect for little ones with environmentally conscious parents. The Sheriff Centre has all sorts of other present ideas including candles, evening bags and puzzles.
5. A History of Pictures, David Hockney & Martin Gayford, £29.95
West End Lane Books, 277 West End Lane
In this beautifully produced hardback, the authors examine why humans have made and enjoyed art throughout history. Not the right gift? Ask the bookshop staff for present ideas for the tricky people in your life. You might consider Zadie Frost’s new book, a screenplay of Fantastic Beasts, the Private Eye Annual or a signed copy of Alan Bennett’s new diaries.
6. Bottle of Tridentum Sparkling Wine, £22
Vini Vivi, 35 Mill Lane
This full-bodied, very dry and clear sparkling wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes in the Trentino region of Italy using the champagne method. A bottle usually costs £28 but is on offer for Christmas. Vini Vivi has a wide selection of fine and everyday wines. It also imports Italian and Spanish delicacies such as high-quality pasta, pane carasau and sun-dried tomatoes.
7. Solid Silver Bracelet, £60
North West 6, 122 West End Lane
If you’re looking for special, wearable jewellery then take a look at North West 6’s wide selection of bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Did you know that many of North West 6’s customers come in for crystals and tarot cards?
8. Minions Framed Print, £50
Monsters of Art, 112 Mill Lane
Know a Minions fan? These popular prints feature minions in all sorts of characters. Pop into the shop to find your favourite or have a look at the other street-art inspired prints on offer.
9. Cohiba Cigar, from £14.99
Robert Graham Whisky and Cigars, 4 Broadhurst Parade
Think of Fidel and visit our local humidor. Cigar prices vary substantially by brand and age. Did you know that cigars are purchased as investments? A limited edition cigar bought by the shop in 2011 for £34 is today worth £105. The shop stocks gift sets and, true to its name, an interesting variety of whiskys.
10. Chocolate Cherry Figs, £10.20
The Hampstead Butcher & Providore, 244 West End Lane
The butcher offers plenty of christmas treats beyond turkeys, like these delicious chocolate cherry figs. Dig around and you’ll also find chestnut panettone, Prestat chocolates and unusual wines.
11. Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Face Mask, £23.29
Peppercorns, 260 West End Lane
Who wouldn’t want a cleansing facemask with manuka honey, avocado oil, pohutukawa [Ed: what?!] bloom and vanilla pod from New Zealand? It ticks the fair trade, organic and recyclable boxes, as does the rest of the beauty range available in Peppercorns.
12. Christmas wreath, £55
Achillea Flowers, 92 Mill Lane
The Achillea team create stunning Christmas wreaths that would please that impossible person who has already bought themselves everything they’d ever need. If that’s a step of luxury too far you’ll also find Christmassy candles in decked-out pots for £25.
Twelve things to do in West Hampstead before Christmas
With Christmas less than a month away (eeek!), time to let you know about twelve events in West Hampstead in the first half of December, to get you into that Christmas mood. To be followed by a Christmas survival guide as we get closer to the day.
1. Kingsgate Studio’s Winter Show 2016 (Thu, 1st Dec to Sun 4th – see below for times)
If you like artists or designer-makers and you haven’t been to Kingsgate, you’re in for a treat. Even if you have been it’s worth a return visit.
The Winter Show is a chance to pick up some interesting artwork or ceramics which will make a very special Christmas present. Where is it, you ask? Down on Kingsgate Road.
Image: Kingsgate centre
2. Christmas Art Workshop @ the Sherriff Centre – Fri 2nd Dec 3.30pm
Sherriff Centre will be holding a kid’s Christmas Art workshop (4 years and up). Tickets £4.50 in advance from Hullabaloo.
3. West Hampstead Fire Station open day – Sat 3rd Dec 12-6pm
OK, not that Christmassy (except it is red like Father Christmas). The open day is a must for all those kids who want to follow in Fireman Sam footsteps, plus an appearance from a life-sized playmobil fireman. Celebrating 150 years of the London Fire Brigade, don’t you know.
4. Beckford School Christmas Fair Sat 3rd 2-4pm
On the same afternoon along Mill Lane it’s the Beckford School Christmas fair. Come and support your local school.
Three floors of fun for all the family, including lots of games, Santa’s storytelling, live auction, food and drink stalls. Plus Street Dance Stars, the junior and senior choirs and the Beckford African Drummers.
The school has been tweeting furiously about all the donations from local business for its raffle (think we will need to win a prize from Insight Opticians to read the tiny print on this flyer). Basically, it says lots of great prizes from local businesses.
5. JW3 open air skating rink (opening on Sat 3rd Dec )
Almost the Rockefeller Centre… Image: JW3
West Hampstead has its own ice rink! And as an added bonus it’s also open on Christmas day. A novel way to work off the Christmas lunch calories.
It’s also a good opportunity to explore JW3 if you haven’t been. It has a great café, Zest, and a cinema too.
The ice rink is even recommended by Londonist as the best value peak time (i.e. evening and weekends) skating rink in London.
6. West End Lane Books – One day Winter Sale Thu 8th Dec (9am-9pm)
Harrods? Forget it? Hamleys? Meh! The real harbinger of the festive season is the advent of West End Lane Books’ one-day Winter Sale. The shop will be offering its customary exemplary range of books, new and classic, plus seasonal stationery, diaries, calendars etc at 20% off…and this includes an extensive selection of signed books! There will be seasonal nibbles throughout the day and the hard stuff will be coming out after 6pm. All free. Gratis gift wrap available on all purchases over £30 and tonnes of Whamp bonhomie and literary banter to boot.
7. The West Hampstead Christmas market – Sat, 10th Dec 10am-4pm
Ho ho ho – it’s nearly that time of year again. Image: Xmas Market
It’s the 7th Annual Christmas market, held on West End Green. There will be a range of stalls selling Christmas gifts and decorations, including local businesses such as Monsters of Art, Achillea Flowers and the Camden Society. The organisers have upped the craft element; we are intrigued by leather goods from the Friday club and Japanese knitwear from Fukushima knit. Edible treats will also be available – The Kitchen Table and Welsh teacakes are among the cake stalls.
It’s not all about shopping however – there are fun, free activities for kids in the neighbouring Emmanuel Church. There will be music, dance and storytelling as well as plenty of Christmas crafts including flower making and ‘up-cycled’ Christmas baubles.
Not forgetting carol singing on the Green at 2pm!
8. Emmanuel School Christmas fair – Sat, 10th Dec 2-5pm
Come and support another local school. On the afternoon of the West Hampstead Christmas fair on West End Green, and practically next door, Emmanuel School is holding its own fair (inside the warm school)!
As if there is isn’t enough sweet stuff at this time of year, Emmanuel is having a bake-off. As well as the usual tombola, raffles and mulled wine.
Top draw looks like Santa’s grotto – kids you can let him know what you want for Christmas (but you better have been good).
9. Fortune Green Choir Christmas charity concert – Mon, 12th Dec 7.30-9pm
A relaxed concert with a Christmas touch held in the newly refurbished Emmanuel Church. The choir is singing Broadway tunes, traditional choral pieces and of course carols. Cantereas, the choir within the choir, will be singing a couple of pieces and there will also be carols for the audience too.
Mince pies and mulled wine after the concert. Festive spirit guaranteed.
Suggested donation £4, as they are raising money for the De Capo foundation, a local charity that encourages music education from toddlers to teens.
Hark! the herald angels sing …
10. Wishing you a FoWHL Christmas – Monday, 12th Dec 7.30-9pm
It’s the Friends of West Hampstead Library (FoWHL) AGM, but to lighten the doom and gloom of staff and budget cuts there will be some festive readings by the FoWHL players – how many other libraries friends group have their own acting troupe?
11. Panto at the Sherriff Centre – 16th Dec.
A first this year – panto in West Hampstead, but a travelling not local production – so no chance to see the Linda Snell or Eddie Grundy of West Hampstead. Alas, it has proved extremely popular and it sold out already. Bah humbug!
12. Festive Mod and Soul Party at the Railway– 17th Dec 8pm-midnight
Live band Serious Chord Squad playing The Who, The Jam, The Small Faces plus classic Mod & Soul tunes. Soul DJ set to party til late. Free entry.
And finally, looking for a Christmas tree?
They’re on sale outside the Sherriff Centre on the corner of Sherriff Road and West End Lane, and if you’re at the other end of town, you can find a good selection of trees at the Mill Lane Garden Centre.
What have you missed since November 14th?
Although there is visible progress at West Hampstead Square, it won’t be opening until January, with some flats not ready until March. Buyers waiting to move in are understandably frustrated. And in the rush to finish, work is taking place on Saturday afternoon, in breach of the construction management plan.
Camden has refused permission for the decking at The Alice House. There is some confusion about the facts, but it does not appear to be a popular decision. The Alice House will appeal.
Feng Sushi was burgled on Saturday night, thieves apparently took the safe. There was also a report of a stabbing outside The Gallery.
Sunset from Netherhall Gardens. Taken by Dominic Brett
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, West Hampstead wife and mother, is apparently at breaking point and on hunger strike in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. Her worried husband Richard appeared on Channel Four News, the Times ran an editorial calling for her release. and the Ham & High reported fears she is suicidal.
A recent non-fatal stabbing of a medical student on Billy Fury Way has promoted calls for CCTV. Camden and Network Rail are starting work on widening the steps from West End Lane in the New Year, which may help (or may be waste of money).
Some clarity on the rubbish situation on West End Lane: waste is supposed to be put out only between 10am and midday or 10pm and midnight. Clearly this is not happening. The matter was discussed at full Council on Monday with talk of tougher penalties (e.g. £200 fines)
To lose two estate agents, etc. etc. ….The already closed Portico at 322 West End Lane (which bought West End Estates’ rental business) is set to become an osteopath and treatment rooms, and Alexanders’ lease is available as manager Reuben moves on to pastures new (of course it might be replaced by another agents, and Ballymore’s own estate agent is moving into West Hampstead Square.
Meanwhile, estate agents from Paramount were found sleeping on the streets this week – but for a good cause as they were raising money for homeless charity Centrepoint. They are just shy of their £3,600 target if you want to donate.
If you didn’t catch Zadie’s Smith’s NW on the BBC it is well worth watching. Lots of familiar views in and around Kilburn (and a good story). The opening panning shot includes brief view of the Ballymore blocks. It’s only on iPlayer for two more weeks though.
Time Out listed 14 reasons to visited Kilburn High Road – but curiously missed some popular KHR features; no Ariana II, no Black Lion.
However, top of the list was a visit to the Good Ship, the music/comedy venue, which faced a hearing about losing its late night licence on Thursday. Thankfully, the hearing went in the Ship’s favour and it will keep its 3am licence.
Were you in Kilburn in the 1950s? Two appeals are seeking more information – firstly from anyone with information about Mr Huckstepp, the butcher of Dyne Road, who saved two lives. Secondly, from locals who might recall the coronation street party in Douglas Road.
1 Woodchurch Road has had more than its fair share of artistic residents, including a Victorian painter, the actor who played Dick Barton and Irish playwright Brendan Behan (a drinker with a writing problem). A reader who lives there told us that even today a musician from a well known band lives in the building.
Author Meg Carter wrote about how authors use place in their work and reminisced about her life in West Hampstead, including the Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rendell) thriller set here.
Talking of thriller writers, in the past fortnight local author Susie Steiner not only interviewed Jenni Murray for the talk on ‘A History of Britain in 21 Women’ arranged by West End Lane Books, but she also sold the 100,000th copy of her book ‘Missing Presumed’.
Radio 4 broadcast an interview with Josafine Speyer who organises a monthly ‘Death Cafe’ at La Brioche. It’s to discuss death. The next one is on the 12th December.
Tweet of the week
Siriously?
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Frustrated buyers face more delays at Ballymore
West Hampstead Square still isn’t finished. As you will have noticed.
Progress is being made as recent tweets show but it’s well overdue, and while it’s annoying for locals as the roads clog up with lorries delivering materials, for those who’ve bought apartments (some of whom are existing West Hampstead residents), the delays are going from frustrating to potentially financially damaging.
West Hampstead Square – when will it be finished?
The original completion date was June 2015. But, in June this year, with development already a year behind, Ballymore ditched the original construction company, O’Hare McGovern, and took over itself. After taking stock of the situation, it predicted completion by the end of this year. However, since then the company has ‘encountered further obstacles’, according to a letter sent to anxious buyers, which have now set the completion date back another three months. The latest is that no-one will move in until the start of next year and some flats won’t be ready until March. Anger is starting to bubble up.
“Ballymore has taken me and other buyers for granted,” says one local buyer who wants to remain anonymous. “The delay is frustrating, but what’s unacceptable is the manner with which they have drip-fed delays this year, rather than giving a realistic estimate from the start.”
Another buyer felt “it has been very poorly dealt with and has been very stressful” but now he just “wants to get it done to stop spending unnecessary money”.
The problem buyers face is that as soon as the actual completion date is announced, they have just 10 days to provide the balance of the money. Anyone tempted by a premature completion date announcement might find themselves having given notice or sold their existing property only to end up being told to hold on – again.
One buyer, for example, was initially told he could move in by June, but was then told that completion was expected in September, then October, then late October, then early November, then late November. By the end of October it was going to be completing in early December, but just a few days later that was pushed back to the end of January.
Aside from the practicalities of knowing when to move out, these flats were sold pre-Brexit and the uncertainty in the run-up to that vote and in the aftermath has dampened the property market somewhat. Private buyers are probably OK, according to Jon Hughes at local estate agent Benham & Reeves. Overall, the market has softened though underlying prices remain stable, but transaction volume is down.
Buy-to-let investors, who will surely make up a significant percentage of West Hampstead Square owners, will find things a little more difficult. Before construction started, the predicted rental price for a two-bed at West Hampstead Square was £650-£700 per week according to one local agent. In today’s market, he suggested sub-£600 seems more realistic. In addition, mortgage criteria have tightened (though rates are still low) and there is additional 3% stamp duty to pay on second homes.
Any off-plan purchase comes with an element of risk – economic circumstances and personal finances can change unexpectedly over the course of 12 to 18 months – but when a build is running more than 18 months late that risk is exacerbated. We know of some buyers who are have had issues with the sale of their previous properties, others who have sold to release the funds and now need to ask landlords to extend their leases. For anyone not in the super-rich or professional property investor category, these delays are both expensive and upsetting.
It is not just residents who have been affected. Businesses had been hoping to move in before the bouyant Christmas trading period. The latest news is that they will be able to start their shop fit-outs in December, but they won’t be able to open until January at the earliest. Apparently, Marks & Spencer may not open until February.
It seems that buyers have no legal recourse to compensation for the delays despite being strung along for months and possibly well over a year. In fact, in the small print of the contract, Ballymore can complete as late as 2018! All in all it is stressful situation for the buyers, several of whom have expressed their frustration to WHL. If you have experienced these problems or others, drop us a line. We asked Ballymore for a comment, but no-one has returned our calls.
Alice House decked by planning decision
Popular West Hampstead bar, The Alice House, has fallen foul of Camden’s planners who have refused retrospective planning permission for its outside decking. The Alice House bookends a run of outside seating spaces along that stretch of West End Lane, which includes One Bourbon and The Black Lion. Together, many locals feel they make an attractive ‘active frontage’ that brings life to West End Lane.
Decking in question, it appears to be within the frontage.
Cllr Flick Rea, who has long experience of planning issues in the area, was surprised at the decision, particularly when there have been so many other blatant breaches of planning policy elsewhere in our area. However, many other similiar decking areas have been in place for more than four years, which means they become automatically approved.
For example, The Petit Corée at 98 West End Lane has a raised platform that is more than four years old (pre-dating the existing business) and is therefore immune from prosecution. It also has a boundary fence that was lowered to below 1 metre, which is the maximum height allowed before permission is required. At the other end of West End Lane, Schnitzel has also had decking in place for more than four years and again no enforcement action was taken. Its fence is marginally higher than 1 metre, but it was not deemed expedient to pursue the matter. GBK, The Black Lion and Thunderbird (when it was La Smorfia) all applied for permission to retain or alter their outside decking areas and all were granted.
Hang on, you may be saying, the decking at The Alice House has been there for more than four years. True. There has been a decked space outside the building for many years, certainly before ULG, the current owners, took over the site back in 2008. However, it is the improvements made over the past couple of years that have caused the problem.
Alice and her problematic timber perimeter!
Originally, the decking was separated from the pavement by just a rope barrier. Then, when the decking needed some repair work, the company though it would be a good opportunity to replace the rope barrier with something more fixed and incorporate some built-in seating. This has proved popular with customers, but not with Camden. The Alice House saw these as minor changes to existing decking so it didn’t occur to the owners to seek planning permission.
However, when a local resident alerted Camden to a string of planning breaches on West End Lane, including The Alice House, the planners suggested that the bar submit a retrospective planning application, which it did. Only one person objected during the consultation, arguing that the decking made the pavement too narrow – specifically for two buggies to pass each other. It is true that the pavement is narrow at this spot, though no narrower than elsewhere along this stretch.
In fact, the precise boundaries of the public highway are not clear: the planning officer’s report states that the decking is on the public highway according to the Land Registry, but it actually seems to be within the line of the pavement along that stretch of West End Lane (as the photo below, taken from the application, shows), and ULG has a map from 1999 that implies the forecourt area is part of the property.
The decking appears to follow the line of the forecourt of the residential block to the north
Camden’s objections to the decked area are that “by virtue of their siting on the public highway, [it] reduces the width and function of the pavement” and that “by reason of their size, siting and design, create a dominant and incongruous feature in a prominent corner location resulting in harm to the character and appearance of the host building”.
Camden has described the distinctive corner building as “an important site, identified as a positive contributor in the West End Lane Conservation Area”. In its more detailed report, it is the timber walls that appear to be the major issue:
“The [surrounding perimeter timber enclosures] form a solid boundary which, in terms of overall bulk, extent and materials, are considered to overwhelm the host property and streetscene and are not sympathetic to the general character of the Conservation Area. At 4.8 metres at its deepest point, it protrudes well beyond the front elevation and is perceived as an obtrusive, out of scale addition to the property. It is accepted that the decking in itself is similar to many others in the locality, it extends no further than adjoining boundary walls, and it adjoins to the north a series of front gardens enclosed by low walls and retail forecourts with decking. However the combination of both the raised decking and the surrounding wall-like enclosures form a bulky and overbearing structure and cumulatively cause harm to the streetscene, particularly at this prominent corner location.”
Camden proposed that the bar remove the planters (which are more than 1 metre high), and reduce both the height and depth of the decking, though offered no guarantees that this would result in permission being granted. Camden also wants to charge The Alice House a substantial sum, believed to run to thousands of pounds, as a table and chair fee, again claiming the decking is on the public highway. The Alice House in turn has proposed turning the clock back and reinstating the rope-barrier arrangement, which would have been automatically allowed under the four-year rule.
Should ULG have been aware of the planning regulations on this? Camden’s planning website lists common issues for which businesses need planning permission, which include change of use, shop fronts and canopies but nothing about decking.
The Alice House is at pains to point out that it is trying to work with Camden to resolve this, and as a long-standing business in the area it wants to do the best for West Hampstead. Its advisors have suggested that it appeals the decision, which it intends to do. It would seem that much hinges on whether the space is or is not part of the public highway.
And on Twitter, people have been voicing their support for The Alice House.
@WHampstead I quite liked it. I never found it difficult to walk past it. Do we know the reasons cited in the refusal?
— Philip Hewlett (@PhilipHewlett) November 19, 2016
@WHampstead its a great feature how stupid
— Darren Weston (@DarrenWeston82) November 19, 2016
What do you think? Is The Alice House being made an example of compared to some other less popular and possibly more egregious flouting of planning guidelines? Or is it right that planners try and uphold their own policies wherever possible?
The Good Ship late licence at risk
The late license of Kilburn’s popular music/comedy venue, The Good Ship, will be reviewed this Thursday. At the moment, it opens until 3am, but if the licensing committee rules follows the wishes of the police, it will be required to close at 2am – crucially with the last entry at midnight.
You could be barred from entry after midnight
Owner John McCooke says that a very significant percentage of the venue’s revenue is generated between midnight and 3am so the suggested measures would “effectively closes the venue at midnight, making the business unviable”.
If you don’t know The Good Ship, it’s a bar with a friendly stage that hosts an astounding number of bands, comedians, DJs, charity and community nights. Music ranges across all the genres from math rock to REM cover bands to jazz funk. It provides a valuable opportunity for new acts to get exposure and more established acts to practice new material – it’s pretty common to turn up for the comedy on a Monday night and see a household name added to the bill.
This decision is happening in the same month that a London night tsar has been appointed to champion late-night culture. Amy Lamé, who is the first person to fill the role, told the BBC ‘We need to stem the flow of those closures [of clubs and venues across London]. Long-time locals may remember the sad closure of Kilburn’s The Luminaire in 2010. This was a huge loss to the west London music scene, which began its inexorable march east.
There is inevitably some dispute about whether the Ship’s opening hours are contributing to antsocial behaviour. In the Kilburn Times, McCooke says reports of bad behaviour are exaggerated. My personal experience, and that of local friends, has always been that The Good Ship offers a fun night out and it’s certainly an important, vibrant contributor to London’s arts culture. How many more pubs and venues will be turned into coffee shops, bakeries and luxury flats? We wish John and team all the best of luck on Thursday.
Kilburn butcher who saved two lives
West Hampstead Life is less local than you might think. One of our Australian readers, Barry York has been in touch to ask if we could help find any descendants of George Ross Huckstepp.
Apart from having a great surname, Mr Huckstepp was a butcher in Kilburn in the 1940s and 50s. He lived at 2e Dyne Road. He also saved Barry’s life.
Barry’s mother Olive did not have a happy marriage. She married in 1947 but by 1952, when Barry was just a baby, she had reached a depth of depression that made her suicidal.
Mother and son. Image credit: B. York
Forty years later, Olive told Barry how, when he was a baby, she took him with her to a bus stop opposite the local butcher’s shop (in Dyne Road/the Kilburn High Road) and stood there waiting for the bus; not to catch the bus, but to jump under it. With him. What saved her life, and Barry’s, was the kindness of the butcher, Mr. Huckstepp, who knew her as a customer. On seeing her standing there in a distressed state, he read the situation, and quickly came out of the shop.
As his mother recalled “He saved me from killing you and suiciding myself. He came out and said ‘What is the matter?’ and he said ‘You go for a walk, a short walk. Then come back and I’ll give you two ounces of liver’. The thought of that was in my mind and I thought ‘Oh, liver, how lovely, two ounces off my ration book’. I went back and he gave me a good talking to and he said ‘You go back home and you cook that liver’.”
She returned home, cooked the liver as instructed and shortly afterwards emigrated with her family to Australia. “It’s funny how life can turn out” pondered Barry. He’s trying to track down more information about the kind butcher. All he knows is that George Huckstepp was born in Kilburn in September 1900 and died in 1967 at ‘Plovers’, Sandhurst, Hawkhurst, Kent. He and his wife, Kathleen, retired from the butcher’s shop around 1960.
Does anyone remember him? Are any of his descendants out there? Apparently George Huckstepp had a son and a daughter. Barry would like to thank them for saving his life. If you do have any information please email Barry.
What have you missed since October 31st?
It was Remembrance Sunday, so we looked back at some local West Hampstead soldiers who died in WW1.
The newly refurbished Emmanuel Church is offering a warm welcome to some of Camden’s homeless once a week.
We were really excited about this tiny art exhibition on Mill Lane, but it was case of blink and you missed it. And you had to look really closely to find it at all.
Staying on Mill Lane for the latest of our Insights into local businesses. We met up with Jennie from the Kitchen Table. Find out how love blossomed (alcohol is involved)
Photo of the week
Autumn in the cemetery. Image @julierrix1
But maybe she stayed too long admiring the ‘fading autumn light’ because her next tweet was this! Don’t worry she made it out.
Bonfire night saw a serious fire on the Rowley Way estate. Sixty firefighters tackled it and the next day things looked bleak.
Our friends at West End Lane Books were the victims of a reach-over and grab from the till robbery.
There was an NDF/Camden workshop on possible redevelopment/ masterplanning of the O2 centre carpark. Good turnout and some interesting thoughts. Early days though.
More NDF news. James Earl, the chair, is stepping down as he is moving away from West Hampstead. We’re not sure if planning policy allows that.
The deadline for commenting on 156 West End Lane closed this week on Camden’s website, but can still be sent in.
STB blocks has arranged a meeting about it, although sources tell us top-billed Tulip Siddiq MP probably won’t make it there until late, if at all, as she has her day job to attend to.
Tulip was only offered an out-of-date vaccine for her daughter despite living in a high-risk area for TB. Lots of other West Hampstead mums couldn’t even get that due to a vaccine shortage.
A dodgy temporary wall outside Iverson Road cottages seems to break pretty much every health and safety rule.
The air quality in West Hampstead is being measured over the next few weeks. Cough, cough.
Remember the shisha bar near Fortune Green? After being empty for months the building contractors next door are moving their office, to the relief of local residents.
Brooksby the wine merchant closed and will be replaced by … Tannin and Oak, another wine merchant, which will offer wine tastings and courses.
Someone is moving in to the old Colour Division premises, a totally different type of business. More details when we get confirmation.
If we say so ourselves there was a good Whampdinner at Sarracino. The evening started at The Railway Tavern and ended up, past midnight in the Gallery (on a week night)!
Tweet of the Week
@WHampstead Blocking WEL in middle of rush hour. What a bright idea? pic.twitter.com/9VWf2a0jbg
— Robert Daniels (@sloanie2000) November 10, 2016
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What will the redeveloped O2 carpark look like in ten years?
Anwer: “No idea”. But a Neighbourhood Development Forum/Camden Council growth area workshop held on Saturday began to think about it. A masterplan for this was one of the recommendations of the Neighbourhood Plan.
If you asked the 30 or so residents, councillors, Camden planners and others who turned out on a dull Saturday afternoon if the workshop was worth it, the answer would most likely be yes. It is easy to be cynical and it is clear that the process should have started earlier, but like it or not much of planning is governed by policies and ‘site allocations’, so having an input into those can pay dividends.
The first question to deal with is whether the growth area should have a masterplanning ‘strategy’, a ‘framework’ or ‘guidance’? Less a question of semantics, and more of pragmatism: there is a trade-off between them in terms of their degree of influence versus time taken to prepare. A strategy takes time but has more influence, guidance is quicker but has less weight.
David Morrissey from Camden’s urban regeneration and place team gave a really useful presentation of background information. The growth area is, according to the London plan, due to provide 800 new homes and 100 jobs; the Camden plan has similar but slightly higher targets of 1,000 homes and 7,000 m2 of business space (which would be more than 100 jobs). Development at Ballymore (198 units) and potentially 156 West End ( 164 units), plus the student housing on Blackburn Road already takes us a long way towards meeting these targets.
Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of West End Lane by the stations and down towards Blackburn Road
Camden’s population is forecast to grow from 241,000 to 261,000 from 2010 to 2030 (an 8% increase) which will need 16,000+ new homes. There five growth in Camden, the largest is round Kings Cross, within the five Camden need to develop at least 7,200 homes by 2030, although they project they estimate they will develop slightly more than that, at around 8,000.
More than 5,000 of the 16,000 homes are supposed to be ‘affordable’ and there was a good discussion on what this actually means. Apparently Barrett has stopped work on its nearby Kidderpore Green scheme because it isn’t making sales, so even expensive private housing doesn’t seem to be affordable!
As for other parameters, David talked about how transport was a key factor, but was convincing that Camden was at least considering this. The much debated school capacity is predicted to be broadly ok, although a crunch for secondary places could hit in the early 2020s. Health facility provision seems to be more uncertain due to changes in the NHS, which takes a less strategic approach than it did.
We then looked at the issue of density and the London plan matrix (link). Developments close to the tube station are ‘supposed’ to be up to 700 habitable rooms per hectare. Ballymore, Liddell Road and 156 West End Lane are all just above that, but the recently approved 317 Finchley Road (ten storeys) is over 900!
Within the growth area, there is scope for development along Blackburn Road (the Builders Depot site and the Accurist building) but the most significant remaining development site in the growth is the O2 centre car park. Between the two are the Audi and VW showrooms, sites not currently ‘allocated’ but within the growth area.
Groups around four tables then looked at options for the sites; improvements that could happen even if nothing was developed, development of ‘allocated sites’, development of those plus the car showrooms and finally the previous option with additional decking over the railway lines.
Let’s be clear – it will not be an easy site to develop, the O2 carpark will have to remain open for customers of Sainsbury’s and other users of the O2 centre and there are at least three landowners involved. But, development is not impossible either.
Discussing options
Each group came up with interesting suggestions and perspectives. The “zero development” group suggested that a landscape architect/urban designer could be commissioned to develop a plan for between the West Hampstead stations, incorporating both big and small improvements, e.g., better planting on the platforms would be a small difference but one that affects the day-to-day experience of local residents. Improved access to the tube station(s) was a consistent theme, as was improving the pedestrian experience to the O2 as it was uninviting by Homebase and peters out into the O2 carpark.
The next group noted that the O2 offers only a “backdoor entrance” to West Hampstead, and suggested the whole site could be ‘greened’ up. The third group suggested that including the car showrooms in the development would allow the path/open spaces to come down the middle. The final group was not convinced that the over-track decking would be viable.
Thoughtful discussions
Assuming development was to happen, the groups then discussed how it could be laid out, what density it might be, what facilities and open space it might have, etc. The groups came up with three options which could be explored/combined in future workshops: one central open space, a series of smaller linear open spaces, or raising the open space on a platform (with parking underneath). The development would probably be higher on the north side and lower on the south to allow more light and to relate better to the existing surrounding buildings. Back-of-the-envelope calculations estimated it at about 4 hectares in total, with ‘mid-rise’ development giving plenty of scope for new housing and development.
There was huge amount to cover and in some ways the workshop only scratched the surface. Yet it was a start, the comments were thoughtful, and having contact with Camden planners was also helpful (for them and us). There is also quite a lot of useful knowledge that came out in discussions. Getting people together and first explaining the parameters before allowing them to explore options does allow good ideas (and maybe some not so good ones) to float to the surface. There were no developers at this stage, but when they do get involved at least there will be some embryonic ideas and suggestions to show, rather than a blank slate. The next step is to summarise the ideas and comments. The NDF will send out copies of all the presentations and a summary, which will be publicly available.
To find out how effective the session really was? Ask again in ten years.
Remembering West Hampstead soldiers who died in WW1
Earlier this year, on the anniversairy of the battle of the Somme, our local historians alerted us to the London War Memorial. This is an online database of the thousands of Londoners who died in WW1. On Armistice Day, we thought it would be a good opportunity to remember the 1,000 men of Kilburn and West Hampstead who died in WW1.
War Memorial in Hampstead Cemetery
Of those listed online, only 81 had identifiable local addresses, many in Kilburn. You can find out a bit more about them by going onto the database and searching using name or location. We thought it would help bring it closer to home to see the street, name and age of the soldiers when they died.
The amount of information on each soldier varies considerably, but for those who were known to have died in specific batttles, more detail is given. For example, Victor Hough who lived at 74 (or 4) Linstead Street (or Road) was a private in the 2nd East Surrry (2nd batallaion, East Surrey regiment) died on 27th April 1915 in the battle for St. Julien.
“Spurred on by the success of their gas attack on 22nd April, the Germans struck again, two days later on the northern sector of the Ypres salient at St. Julien. Once more they used chlorine gas and despite a resolute defence the British and Canadians were pushed back and St Julien was lost.”
“On 25th April the main German attack fell on the spur between the main Ypres ridge and a stream called the Strombeek, where 2nd East Surrey and 3rd Royal Fusiliers were in the line. It started at 5am with an artillery bombardment. Shrapnel swept the bare slopes for 4 hours after which came gas and high explosive. At 1pm, from trenches only 70 yards away the German attacked the right of 2nd East Surrey, on a ¼ mile stretch between the top of the ridge and the railway cutting. They broke in at several places but elsewhere they were either captured or driven off. In the centre of the line a company of 8th Middlesex moved up in support but the Germans remained in occupation of 60 yards of breastworks on the left where all the officers had been killed. Two attempts to dislodge them (at midnight and at 8.30am on the 26th April) failed despite the help of two companies of 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry. To prevent further German progress a trench was dug round three sides of the captured line. 2nd East Surrey suffered over 200 casualties on these two days. On 27th April 2nd East Surrey again tried to expel the enemy from the positions they had captured two days earlier but to no avail other than the deaths of another 14 men”. Victor Hough, of West Hampstead, was one of the 14 who died.
For nearly 2 weeks the fighting continued on this front. The Germans persisted with their attacks, the British fought desperate rear guard actions and launched many counter attacks but gradually they were pushed further and further back. Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres”.
He is remembered at St. James Church here in West Hampstead and also at the Menin Gate in Ypres. He was 24 years old.
The full list of soldiers with identifiable addresses is below:
Around Mill Lane
Arthur HARRIS (33), 93 Broomsleigh St
Charles KING (20), 85 Broomsleigh St.
Harry OTTAWAY (34), 13 Sumatra Road
Gustave REESEG (31), 47 Solent Road
Harold BARNES (20), 1 Midland Cottages, Mill Lane
Alfred BALLAM (37), 4 Lithos Road
Towards Kilburn
Thomas CAHILL (19), 2 Dynham Road
Herbert PEACH (20), 47 Dynham Road
Oswald HYDE (27), 33 Gascony Ave
Victor HOUGH (24), 4 Linstead Road * (died at battle of Ypres)
John DUCKETT (19), 44 Messina Ave * (died at battle of Loos)
Henry DICKERSON (24), 17 Iverson Road
Richard WINTLE (40), 113 Iverson Road
Thomas INCE (-), 8 Loveridge Mews
Arthur CORNELL (40), 11 Lowfield Road
Henry SELF (26), 6 Lowfield Road
Albert FELTON (31), 17 Lowfield Road
Arthur GREEN (19), 24 Lowfield Road
Alexander HARROLD (21), 8 Medley Road *(died at battle of the Somme)
William MORLEY (19), 101 Priory Park Road
James COUGHTREY (19), 6 West End Lane
South Hampstead
Robert MONTIER (19), 5 Fairhazel Gardens
Alfred PRUCKEL (25), 119 Belsize Road
John ROWE (20), 106 Belsize Road
Refurbished Emmanuel Church gives homeless a warm welcome
Just in time for the cold weather, the refurbished Emmanuel Church is helping some of Camden’s homeless. It has joined a project offering overnight accommodation and a warm meal, once a week.
From the outside it doesn’t look like much has changed at Emmanuel, but inside the refurbishment is pretty much finished. It now has four new rooms available for the community and larger space for events and projects.
One of the new projects offered by the church is overnight accommodation, a hot meal and a shower to up to 16 homeless people from Camden on Tuesday nights from now until Christmas. It is being run by Camden Churches winter night shelter , which offers it over the coldest winter months from November to March. Each night, one of fourteen churches across the borough offer the service. The project also offers support and advice to help get its users off the streets and into permanent accommodation.
Church offers shelter for the night. Bedding is stored away between sessions.
The project started in winter 2005 and, thanks to its refurbishment (which includes a kitchen and shower), this year Emmanuel has been able to join. The first session was on Tuesday and the meal was cooked by West Hampstead’s very own generous chef, Jennie Vincent from the Kitchen Table. She cooked a vegetarian curry, which was very nice according to Father Jonathan! Jennie even managed to persuade her suppliers to donate ingredients.
New kitchen at Emmanuel Church
Father Jonathan said that “it went really well. We’ve spent all this money doing up the church, and really want to make sure we give back to the community”. The project is organised by full time caseworkers, together with the support of local volunteers. It you would like to help just contact Emmanuel Church.
To officially open the new rooms, Emmanuel is holding a ceremony on Thursday 17th November at 2pm. The Bishop of London will be there, along with the Mayor of Camden and our local MP, Tulip Siddiq. You are welcome to attend (but it would be helpful if you could let Emmanuel Church know).
An Insight into: The Kitchen Table on Mill Lane
It’s been ten years since the Kitchen Table opened, yes ten years, and since then it’s become a firm favourite for many a local. Almost all the business is from regulars, some that move abroad but still pop by on their visits home. Having done it for ten years, Jennie Vincent and Tom Leslie are perhaps thinking about a change (anyone want to buy a thriving, well-established business?), but for the moment it’s business as usual.
What brought you to West Hampstead?
First alcohol, then love. In 1999 I was learning about wines and working in the Grog Blossom (a wine merchant on West End Lane where Nail Suite is now). Tom, my now husband, came in to sell his bike to the owner of the shop and that’s how I got to know him. He sold a bike and gained a girlfriend. Tom was brought up here and after we married in 2003, we stayed in the area. In 2006,we took over a café in Mill Lane and had a vision of cooking and selling the food I like.
It’s Jennie from the Block (Mill Lane that is)
What is your first memory of the area?
Years ago I used to live in Hampstead with my parents. My Dad was an inveterate walker and at weekends we would explore the area. Sometimes he would bring us down over this way and I particularly remember coming to Cotleigh and Dynham Roads, which were weird and hilly. It was all a bit run-down, but it intrigued me.
Oh yes and how can I forget – there was a burger place near West End Green called Jenny’s Burgers!
What has surprised you most about the way West Hampstead has changed?
I’m a little sad that West Hampstead feels like it is losing its individual identity and becoming more corporate. It used to be full of independents and was an interesting area with interesting things like a record shop and a jewellery shop. It’s still got some of that – a very good bike shop, the best bookshop in the world, but I’m worried that with the addition of West Hampstead Square and yet another supermarket it is losing its identity.
Mill Lane still has some of this interest. Yes, in the past 18 months a few business have closed down but each for their own good reason. Independent businesses can still afford to be here and there is a still a good selection.
Food glorious food
What’s for lunch?
I never stop for lunch! For me, if I’m lucky, a cup of tea and piece of cake. In the café it’s our peak time with lots of regulars, many of whom work round here so we have a changing selection for lunch, plus there are the diehard soup fans. Also popular are breakfasts, BLTs and brownies and of course cakes are best sellers – new customers love the fact that the cakes are all home made.
Of other places I’d go, if we are going out in the evening I’ve heard good things about The Petite Corée and on Saturday it was Lily, my daughter’s, birthday so we went to Franco Manca on the Kilburn High Road.
West Hampstead in three words?
Community, ever-changing and… gossipy
Tiny art exhibition on Mill Lane
You are going to have to look very closely, but there is still one ‘statue’ left of a tiny temporary art exhibition on (and around) Mill Lane. It has been organised by the the gallery/tattooists Monsters of Art, who gave us an insight last month, together with artist Roy’s People.
Last month they said that a good chunk of their business is selling original art. One of the artists they follow on Instagram is Roy’s People, and out of the blue he messaged to say would they like to stock his work. Of course they replied. As well as stocking his work, Dan persuaded Roy to come up to West Hampstead and set up some work in the area.
Roy came up to West Hampstead this week and installed ten figures along Mill Lane. WHL had hoped that they would stay in situ for people to enjoy but Roy said “fat chance, they always get taken”. However, each of them had a little tag attached asking for the finder to photograph the figures at the home of their new owners (or wherever). The photo can then be emailed to Monsters of Art or posted on Instagram.
This disco diva is still be found
So far there has been nothing posted or emailed. If you found one of the figures, Rachel from Monsters of Art asks please post an image!
Where did this little blighter end up?
Roy’s People is a urban artist who paints tiny figures and put them in scenes on the street, often with a touch of humour, and then photographs these miniature installations. You know the ones you’ve seen them. Clink on the link to see some.
What started out as a hobby for Roy has become a full time business. He’s inspired by the urban art scene and the dirty streets of London. (Ed – What? Even leafy Mill Lane). He creates the figures himself and then install and photographs them.
Who gave a home to this granny?
And for those of you that didn’t snaffle one of the Mill Lane installations there are still some Royspeople pieces available at Monsters of Art.
What have you missed since October 17th?
The plans for 156 West End Lane (Travis Perkins building) have finally been resubmitted. More than 400 documents later, we’ve summarized the main points. Sunlight (or lack of it) is a major issue, but three consultants agree the impact is acceptable. You can submit your comments, and the decision is expected towards the end of the year.
There was a sexual assault on the Black Path. Apparently there have been two incidents recently and the police issued this safety advice.
TfL announced plans to close the pavement near the Overground station for two weeks. MP Tulip Siddiq leapt in to help, but what do the three ward councillors have to say?
Photo of the Week
Early bonfire on West End Lane. Photo via @DenisseZavala
Ballymore aims to have the first West Hampstead Square residents into the first couple of blocks before Christmas. The penthouse in Block A is available for £1,975,000. M&S has applied for permission for signage. And here’s what the development currently looks like from the Chiltern Line railway.
Our local historians took a trip down West End Lane, 100 years ago and compared it to today.
Tom went to try Fiddies – the Italian place high in the Trip Advisor rankings. Rankings taken with a pinch of salt but food was flavourful.
On November 12th, the NDF is organising a workshop on master-planning of the Growth Area (development round the tube stations). Don’t just vent your spleen at 156, do something! Put the date in your diary and come along.
How can fishmonger La Mer on Broadhurst Gardens survive, when it’s barely ever open?
Staying on Broadhurst Gardens, we went backstage at the ENO.
West Hampstead Library hosted a very enjoyable poetry evening this week.
Salt, formerly Lower Ground Bar, (re)opened; but does it have a licence?
Local filmmaker Anna Bowman released a couple of short films, one on the changes at West Hampstead and the other on the businesses at Liddell Road, which reminds us – time from an update on Liddell Road very soon.
There are plans afoot (at a very early stage) to redevelop the synagogue community rooms?
Do you remember the tragic car crash on West End Lane in 2012? Amy Werner, the American student who was extremely badly injured, was back in London this week.
There are several good events in the run up to Christmas. A few highlights:
- Jenni Murray is doing a book talk in Emmanuel church on Nov 18th.
- On 1-3rd December JW3 is hosting a Jewish Comedy festival.
- Also on the 3rd, the fire station is hosting an open day to celebrate 150 years of the London fire brigade – including a life-size Playmobil fireman!
- It’s the seventh West Hampstead Christmas market on 10th December- stalls are booking fast.
A little further afield, plans were revealed to double the size of Brent Cross (and remove free parking).
And there are inspiring plans to turn an empty pub, the Corrib, in Queens Park into a community hub.
Tweet of the week
It’s from a regular West Hampstead tweeter, but timely…
It's time of year that I fondly recall time when my then 3y o kid was thinking about #Halloween outfits & said 'Mum you'd make a great hag'
— West End Lane Books (@WELBooks) October 29, 2016
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Have your say on the future of West Hampstead
You can’t have failed to notice that a large amount of development is going on in the area of West Hampstead around the three stations.
Since it was set up in early 2012, the Fortune Green & West Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Forum (NDF) has been lobbying for a ‘masterplan’ to be drawn up for the area – to set out how the area could be developed in future and how the needs of the area (particularly the increasing pressure on local infrastructure) are taken into account.
Camden Council has now agreed to work with the NDF to begin this work.
Good masterplanning creates better places and requires expertise in urban design, strategic planning, architecture, landscape architecture and community engagement.
The first step is a workshop (organised jointly by the NDF & Camden Council) on Saturday 12th November from 10am-4pm at Emmanuel School Hall on Mill Lane (includes a free lunch and tea/coffee). Everyone is welcome, so come and have your say.
What is your opinion? Have your say.
We will be joined by Camden Council officers, local councillors, and planning professionals to assist in our work. Local residents with knowledge of planning/architectural issues are particularly welcome to advise and give their input on these issues.
The area has been classified as a ‘Growth Area’ by the Mayor of London – and while lots of development has already happened, more will come. The London Plan sets a target of a minimum of 800 new homes and 100 jobs between 2010 and 2031.
The area contains three main sites for development. The first (West Hampstead Square aka Ballymore) is due to be completed by the end of this year with 198 new homes. The second (156 West End Lane aka Travis Perkins site) is being sold by Camden Council to a developer and a re-consultation on the planning application is currently underway for a scheme with 164 new homes. The third remaining site is the 02 Centre car park, which is owned by the large property and development company, Land Securities.
While there are no plans for the third site at the moment, it’s clear something will happen here in the future and it won’t be a small development. There’s also the suggestion that the car park site could encompass Homebase and the neighbouring car showrooms. Such a development would also have an impact on Blackburn Road, which has a number of smaller development sites.
The Neighbourhood Plan (which was approved in a local referendum last year) sets out policy for the West Hampstead Growth Area (Policy 4) and also includes Recommendation C, which calls on Camden Council to draw up a masterplan for this area.
If you would like to know more (and/or be added to the NDF mailing list), please contact: ndpwesthampstead@gmail.com
You can find out more about the NDF on our website and follow our work on Twitter
Rejoicing in Amy Werner’s rehabilitation
Almost exactly four years ago there was a tragic accident on West End Lane. A Mercedes driver in his 80s careered off the road and onto the pavement near Dynham Road. Desreen Brooks was killed as her husband managed to push their toddler son out of the way. American student Amy Werner, off to meet friends in Camden, was extremely seriously injured.
The incident shook everyone in West Hampstead. It happened on a Saturday evening, there were lots of people around. The random nature of who was affected, and the severity of the crash led to a heartfelt outpouring of support for those involved.
Amy was taken to St Mary’s and her parents – Rich and Regina – flew out from their small town of Dover in Vermont to be with her. They would spend a month by her bed as Amy underwent major operations. Lots of West Hampstead Life readers wanted to know how they could help and as a result I was in regular contact with Rich. Nicky and I went to visit them and Amy. Even knowing what her condition was, it was a shock to see her in the ward, lying there in an induced coma. I couldn’t really comprehend what it must be like for her parents.
Amy eventually flew home to the US, where her extensive treatment and rehabilitation has continued. We wrote a follow-up article. I stayed in touch with Regina via Facebook for a couple of years, actively at first, then more just checking in once in a while and eventually glancing at posts. I could see Amy was doing ok. After what seemed an age – in fact two years after the incident – the driver was sentenced to 18 months in prison (later reduced to 12) for killing Desreen Brooks, though acquitted of GBH against Amy due to a lack of concrete evidence.
Then last week Regina popped up on Facebook, saying that she and Amy were going to be in London this week for a slew of medical appointments, and that Amy would love to meet me properly.
“You look a lot better than when I last saw you”, was my predictable opening gambit as this lively and articulate 27-year-old came down the steps of their Bayswater accommodation.
Amy, Regina, Amy’s aunt Cathy and I spent a very pleasant evening in Notting Hill. I didn’t know what to expect from Amy. I knew that she’d lost the sight in one eye, but wasn’t sure whether any other effects would still be visible. They were not. She’s clearly itching to get back to the life she had planned when she first moved here – just a matter of weeks before the accident. I’m not sure her mother is so keen to let her daughter quite so far out of her sight again, but Amy’s irrepressible personality would be hard to contain for long I suspect.
Four years on, both Amy and her parents remain very grateful for the warmth, support and generosity that the whole West Hampstead community showed them. I’m sure you will all want to send Amy the very best wishes …. and maybe we’ll see her again in London before too long.
Amy and I finally get to meet properly
Judgement day approaches for 156 West End Lane
The proposals for 156 West End Lane (aka Travis Perkins) roll on. Two(?), three(?) years after it was first announced, are we into the final stretch? The latest planning application has opened for comments and the deadline is 10th November.
To recap
The development is for 164 flats of which 79 are affordable (44 social rented and 35 shared ownership) and 85 are for private sale. Although less than half the flats are “affordable”, they are on average larger and thus 50% of the floorspace is deemed “affordable” (which is how the quota works). The proposal also includes 1,919m2 of employment space; 763m2 retail space, 500m2 of ‘start-up space, 63m2 of community space and 593m2 of office space.
156 West End Lane latest plans. Image via Design and Access Statement
There are copies of the latest summary of the proposals on Camden’s planning website and at the library, though the easiest way to read it is on developer’s A2Dominion website. Unfortunately, this latest summary focuses on the changes made to previous proposals, but doesn’t recap some basic issues. To understand the last round of plans, our July article may help.
Why a new proposal? The original application was submitted last November, but was put on hold because both Camden’s planning officer and the GLA (Greater London Authority) had concerns. Developer A2D has since tweaked (‘improved’) the plans and thus submitted a new application for consultation.
Three local groups have studied the application in depth. The Neighbourhood Development Forum and Stop the Blocks both oppose the proposal (click the links to read their submissions, although these relate to the original proposal. Doubtless they will comment again). WHAT, the third local amenity group, is becoming less active and has focussed its efforts on ensuring that affordable rents really are affordable (it seems they will be set at 40% of market rents). As you have may have read in the CNJ’s letter pages and on its own website, Stop the Blocks is critical of the other two groups’ approach to the scheme.
More background information, as if wasn’t complicated enough already, is that the site is part of the West Hampstead ‘Growth Area’. This means that it is deemed capable of large scale development, primarily housing. However, the site is also adjacent to a conservation area, which any development is supposed to take into account.
How big is too big?
The single biggest issue with the proposed development is its scale. The original sales brochure for the site sums it up neatly: “The site offers the greatest potential for higher scaled development to the western frontage [West End Lane] and to the south towards the railway lines, with a transition in scale towards the more sensitive residential interface to the north [Lymington Road]”.
In other words, it’s a big plot of land that the agents felt could take a large building. It’s worth remembering that in a local survey a few years ago, the existing building was the second most unpopular in West Hampstead – a failed attempt by Camden in the 1970s to build an iconic building.
As it stands, the proposed building occupies the full frontage along West End Lane at six storeys (but the top one set back), reducing in height as it moves back from West End Lane along the railway tracks. Following the initial consultation, A2D has reduced the visual impact on West End Lane, arguing that the new design fits better with the adjacent Canterbury Mansions, although the corner tower in the final proposal looks a bit odd and is visually jarring.
A 3D view from a slightly earlier scheme as A2D hasn’t supplied a new one. Main difference is that east building is now one storey lower.
In the latest proposal, the developers have lowered the height of the east building by one storey to help reduce the impact from Crediton Hill and the conservation area. These are slight improvements from the first proposal, but at least one person with local experience of assessing these applications still feels the development is too ‘blocky’ along the railway tracks. Will the reduction by one floor be enough to appease the critics?
The new proposals (left) show the far eastern end is one-storey lower than the original plans (right)
One way to judge whether the proposals are too dense is to benchmark the scheme against the London Plan’s guidelines. This considers the type of neighbourhood (West Hampstead qualifies as ‘urban’) and level of public transport (‘very good’). These criteria suggest a maximum density of 700 habitable rooms per hectare and up to 260 units per hectare. The current plans for 156 West End Lane have 786 habitable rooms and 288 units per hectare, suggesting that the development may be too dense.
Where did the sun go?
There is a “right to light” in planning law that often comes into play when tall buildings are being planned. In the earlier application, Stop the Blocks picked up on some discrepencies in the sunlight reports and were concerned that the outdoor games area would be overshadowed. Camden asked A2D to clarify: A2D’s consultants, John Rowan and Partners, maintain that sufficient light would still reach the buildings on Lymington Road after redevelopment. Different consultants ‘Right to Light’ Surveyors, asked specifically about the multi-use games area (MUGA), agree that although there would be increased shadows, the impact would be acceptable.
There is also an independent assessment by Anstey Horne which states both that “we consider that the overall level of adherence is good and where there are reductions beyond the BRE guidelines, the retained levels of daylight and sunlight are in-keeping for an urban setting“. And for the MUGA that “although there is some overshadowing in the afternoon by the proposed development, the MUGA area will meet/exceed the BRE guideline recommendations for sunlight availability“.
The jobs equation
Camden’s policies appear ambiguous on the issue of employment space. On the one hand the council wants to protect employment space and developments need to provide an equivalent amount of employment space to any that would be lost. On the other hand, the council wants to prioritise housing. As happened at Liddell Road, where the industrial estate was wiped out for a new school, flats and some office space, the idea of “equivalence” is vague. Camden does generally seem to be stricter with private developers (e.g., forcing the Iverson Tyres site to keep light industrial space, which has only now just been reclassified as office space after no tenants appeared), but more flexible when redeveloping its own sites.
Currently there is 4,019m2 of employment space on site; the former council office space of 2,401m2 and retail showroom/builders merchants of 1,618m2. This will be replaced by 1,919m2 of employment space; 763m2 retail space, 500m2 of ‘start-up space, 63m2 community space and 593m2 office space.
Travis Perkins (TP), the existing employer on site, is arguing strongly that it should be allowed to remain. However, it is only a leaseholder from Camden, which has now given it notice, so it’s not clear on what legal grounds TP could insist on staying. TP also had the option to purchase the site and redevelop it themselves, but chose not to.
There’s also some disagreement about what constitutes employment space. Camden argues that the Wickes showroom, the TP shop, and the old council offices all constitute employment space; TP wants to include the whole yard area, which would mean the current proposal falls short of maintaining the same employment space.
TP has pointed out that when it redeveloped its yard at Euston (which now has student housing on top) Camden insisted TP retained the same amount of employment space; but now Camden is redeveloping its own site it is allowing/arguing for more flexibility. Funny that.
The thorny affordable housing question
Camden required A2Dominion to ensure that 50% of the housing area was for ‘affordable’ units. We have discussed the issue of what “affordable” means before. From a developer’s perspective, A2D has to make the numbers add up. It has to pay Camden a reported £25 million for the site, build 50% affordable housing that is less profitable, and still make a normal development profit.
Overall, 79 of the 164 units are designated “affordable”: 44 social rented (at a to-be-confirmed 40% of market rent) and 35 shared ownership. Whether shared ownership truly constitutes affordable housing is another debate.
Different types of ownership proposed for 156 West End Lane. Source: Design and Access Statement
What does it mean for West End Lane?
Sometimes, a focus on design and other issues can be at the expense of practicalities, for example the Sager building (Alfred Court) by Fortune Green was approved with an internal courtyard for commercial deliveries— but the entrance is too low for delivery trucks to enter. Yes really!
Deliveries could be an issue for 156 West End Lane too. The original plans claimed that the proposal met Department of Transport delivery criteria and would allow refuse collection and ‘small’ articulated lorries to back into the internal loading bay, but it seems tight. If, as with Alfred Court, it turns out to be impossible, then lorries would park on West End Lane and we’d have an escalation of the problems caused by Tesco lorries and more traffic chaos on West End Lane. No thank you.
As we discovered with Tesco, once deliveries start, it is nigh impossible to change them, so it is really important that this addressed at the planning approval stage and not left to be finalised later. There is also the practicalities of vehicles crossing the pavement onto West End Lane.
A serious issue hanging over 156 West End Lane is the size of the retail units. The focus on TP and employment space has led to less scrutiny of what the new commercial space will actually be. One reason the current building is so unpopular is that it is ‘dead’ frontage on West End Lane. To be successful it needs to be ‘active’ frontage, but another large unit on the scale of Wickes would not be much better.
Dull frontage on West End Lane – new development can, and must – do better than this.
Of course, planning has little control over this; it can specify only that the space should be retail, it cannot dictate the size of the units. The latest plans propose a flexible retail space potentially up to 678m2. That’s supermarket size. Yet would replacing the current frontage, which is rather dull compared to the variety on the rest of West End Lane, with another uniform frontage be any improvement? Even the option of three retail units would still see three sizeable units, but this is perhaps the least worse option.
A2D has promised that as site owners, it will be a good neighbour. Yet it is probably in its financial interest to lease the retail space as one site. With three —soon to be four—supermarkets on West End Lane, does West Hampstead really need another one?
What is the impact on local amenity?
What even is “amenity”? In this case it’s both the useful facilities of a building and the impact on the “pleasantness” of an area. The proposed development will affect amenity in both good and bad ways.
Firstly, your personal taste will dictate whether you think the building itself will enhance the area. Few would argue that it is replacing an unloved building. But as we’ve seen, the impact on views and sunlight is more contentious.
The development will create a new public open space and improve the rundown Potteries path, both positive impacts. A2D is also building a new community room, though it is not clear who will bear the cost of managing it.
Finally, A2D will be required to pay CIL (the community infrastructure levy that replaces the old Section 106 money) although it is not clear exactly how much it will have to pay but the most likely scenario is that it will have to pay £250 per m2 on the 7,657m2 of market housing, which comes to £1.9 million (25% of which stays in the area) plus £25 per m2 of the commercial space. This would allow improvements to other local facilities though tracking how this money is spent is a whole other issue.
Conclusion
The plans for 156 West End Lane show, yet again, that the planning system doesn’t work effectively. London is desperately short of housing and this scheme provides both private and social housing. It is being put forward by a housing association (which is using private development profits to build more social housing). And all that seems to have got lost.
No wonder; go to Camden’s planning portal and there are now more than 400 relevant documents online for this one plan. It’s overwhelming and nigh on impossible to get a handle on them all. This is not to say that the proposals are bad, just that it’s extremely difficult to judge them in an objective way. In fact, the latest plans are an improvement on the original versions – the design is better and they are quite a bit lower. A cynic might wonder whether A2D chose to start off with the worst-case scenario and then be seen to reflect local feedback to end up with what it had in mind all along.
The situation is complicated further by the fact that the fate of this Camden-owned site will be judged by… Camden councillors. Camden’s planners do seem to have influence on the proposal – their reservations (along with those of the GLA), were why the scheme was put on ice last year. Nevertheless, there is an annoying – if understandable – lack of transparency on their discussions so we don’t know exactly what issues concerned them. Once the planning officer reaches his decision – which will be a recommendation to approve or not approve, the decision goes to a vote. Given Labour’s dominance in Camden, and this redevelopment helping fund the new council offices at Kings Cross, there seems little doubt that if the recommendation is to approve, the same verdict will follow.
There is one significant issue that could derail it. The issue of employment space that we set out above is being challenged by deep-pocketed Travis Perkins. It’s a technical planning issue, and not top of the list of local concerns, but it could still have an influence as a legal technicality.
West Hampstead is having to cope with a lot of new development, and 156 will add to that; but are we getting our fair share of the benefits? Camden’s other growth areas – which it needs to meet its housing targets – have had money spent on masterplanning, but West Hampstead has not. This means that there are a series of disjointed developments that lack coherence.
An Insight into: La Mer on Broadhurst Gardens
La Mer, the fishmongers on Broadhurst Gardens is open only two half days a week (10am to 2.30pm Friday and Saturday), because 95% of Karim Thobani’s business is wholesaling to restaurants in central London (and some local restaurants too). This involves a 2am start to get supplies from Billingsgate market, although some supplies are delivered, which causes great excitement for the local seagulls.
What brought you to West Hampstead?
My parents. They brought me to West Hampstead as a two-year-old in the 1960s when they moved from Tehran to England, more specifically West Hampstead and a flat on West End Lane. Later, they bought a take-away fish shop called Saffron, which was a bit further up West End Lane (where Paya is now). They sold it when they retired in the ’70s.
By 1988, I’d been to uni, worked in a hotel and by fluke started the business wholesaling fish. At the time I was selling frozen spinach and my customers were asking for fish as well; so I set up the business with my then girlfriend (now wife).
I lived back in the area at the time too but sold that flat and moved – not that far away – to Willesden Green.
What is your first/fondest memory of the area?
I can remember Broadhurst Gardens as a child – it was not as lively as it is now. There was a chemist here and a Nat West Bank round the corner by the tube station. I can also remember the Railway in its musical heyday.
Growing up I remember enjoying playing in my local park, Kilburn Grange, where I played tennis.
What has surprised you most about how West Hampstead has changed?
Over the years it has changed a lot and will change even more with the opening of the new (Ballymore) flats.
One change that has surprised me a lot is how much property prices have risen. My parents bought the flat on West End Lane in 1974 for £8,000. It’s now apparently worth 100 times that. Crazy.
But change is good, people are always moving in and out. My customers often move away from the area because it is becomes too expensive, but they still come back to get their fresh fish from here.
What’s for lunch?
I miss La Brocca and their pizzas! Otherwise, sometimes I pop up to the Alice House (it is one of the local restaurants he supplies, La Petit Corée is another).
Describe West Hampstead in three words?
Very busy and changing.
What have you missed since Oct 3rd?
Fittingly during ‘National Hate Crimes Awareness week’, the LGBTI rainbow flag flew again over West Hampstead, thanks to the help of the fire brigade. The story was featured on Channel 4 news and BBC local news.
WHL guest writer Shalini gave us her take on West End Lane’s brunch options. And apparently new-kid-on-the-block One Bourbon offers another one – with pulled pork!
Firezza pizza delivery is set to open on Monday but some lucky West Hampstead residents got free delivery of pizza on Saturday as a trial run.
What with all this pulled pork and pizza we thought the newsletter needed some balance, so…
Photo of the week
Good to be reminded of the farmer’s market thanks to @filleboheme
Keeping up the healthy theme, WHL popped in to chat with Peppercorns about Manuka honey and gentrification.
Popular local live music (and comedy) venue The Good Ship in Kilburn is under threat as police are questioning its licence hours. John, the owner, says that problems have been exaggerated and will be making a strong case to Brent’s licensing board. It does seem ironic that just as we get the late tube venues are being made to close earlier.
Watch out – very closely – for some very small artworks appearing around West Hampstead.
Lots of activity on West End Lane over the past weekend. On Friday Salt (formerly Lower Ground Bar) reopened. And on the same night just up West End Lane, after a very rapid refit, OneSixty became One Bourbon .
There was a successful Whampsocial at the Green Room on Fortune Green, which is apparently doing good Sunday roasts.
Still nothing on 156 West End Lane (aka Travis Perkins), but expect something very soon.
Over on the Finchley Road – at 317, Camden’s planning officer has recommended approval- of ten, count ‘em, ten stories.
Care about the future of West Hampstead (part 1)? The NDF is organising a workshop on the Growth Area next month (see diary), it will be discussing masterplanning issues. If you want to have your say, put the date in your diary.
Care about West Hampstead (part 2)? There are still estate agent’s boards on West End Lane despite the ban and a number of banners too. Plus A-boards on the pavement. Time for a crackdown?
Care about West Hampstead (part 3)? And what about the terrible state of paths by the railways? Time to put pressure on Camden and Network Rail?
Last weekend Pro- and anti-CS11 (cycle superhighway) protestors demonstrated outside the Hampstead Theatre, pros outnumbering the antis. It’s on the edge of West Hampstead but could still affect us. Heavy traffic on the Finchley Road Sunday afternoon swiftly bunged up West End Lane.
Building continues apace on the extension to Kingsgate School in Liddell Road as shown in this video. It should be opened by Sept 2017 and for all you parents looking for a school place, applications have opened via Camden Council.
Is it just me, or do there seem to be a lot of burst water pipes in the area? After none for ages, there are now several. I’m wondering if Thames Water has increased the pressure? Or is it do with the arrival of autumn? Or just chance?
Keeping up the pressure for the release of Nazanin Zaghair-Ratcliffe, this week a UN working group found her detention was arbitrary and that she was denied a fair trial.
Local MP Tulip accepted the role of shadow early years minister – and posed her first parliamentary question in that role the next day. The proposed Boundary Commission constituency changes don’t seem to have created much fuss, although there was talk that the Labour Party were proposing a ‘West Hampstead and Kilburn’ constituency option to tilt the balance back in favour of Tulip. The right sort of gerry-mandering…
In another guest article, Tom Bullock gave us an insight into West Hampstead Hockey Club, right on our door step, with a report on the 1st team’s recent match at Blackheath.
Congratulations to local author Susie Steiner who is bouncing around the Sunday Times top ten fiction chart for her thriller ‘Missing Presumed’. (Following in the footsteps of another local author Renee Knight who was there earlier in the year for her thriller ‘Disclaimer’). Copies of both are available at West End Lane books.
Rainbow reappears over West Hampstead
Thanks to the help of the fire brigade St James Sherriff Road once again had it’s LGBT rainbow and trans flags fluttering in the West Hampstead breeze this afternoon. Although it was a brigade from Wembley not West Hampstead that lend a ladder.
The flags had been stolen a couple of weeks ago by two young men seen on CCTV footage. However, Father Andrew wasn’t going to be bullied and was determined to get them back up. As he posted on Facebook ‘No surrender’.
Flags flying again
Tulip was there to show her support, as were a number of local councillors. But only Tulip fulfilled her childhood fantasy of being fireman – something for Azalea’s bedtime story.
Fireman Tulip