CHILDS HILL NEWS AUTUMN 2013

From your local LIBERAL DEMOCRAT TEAM Cllrs Jack Cohen Monroe Palmer Susette Palmer; Jonathan Davis Charlotte Henry PLANNING UPDATES LIB DEMS Cllr Jack Cohen reports: IN GOVERNMENT Basement Development rules tightened. Thanks to your Liberal Democrat Councillors, Barnet will, Cutting Taxes at long last, produce policies to to tighten up basement Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister an- nounced," In April we will hit our target for development. An increasing number of planning applica- a £700 income tax cut for millions of people. tions now involve deep excavations underneath homes. But I want to go further. Neighbouring Camden have had policies which control Before the end of the parliament, I want to cut income tax this for years . We welcome this. Many residents have bills by another £100. complained ,quite rightly, that "deep excavations affect The British people have lived with austerity for three years. the water table, lead to flooding and may damage founda- Your sacrifices are making it possible for us to fix the econ- tions of nearby properties and, of course, cause noise and omy. This is your recovery and you deserve to feel the bene- disruption during construction." Once the policy is fits without delay. brought in the Council will have much more control. The Liberal Democrats want to cut your taxes further Church Walk House Development because you've earned it. When we came into government, our priority was to increase Local residents turned out in force at the September plan- the personal allowance the point at which you start paying tax ning committee to object to the redevelopment of Church on your earnings to £10,000. We've raised it every year and Walk House. Spokespeople for the residents alerted the we'll hit the £10,000 mark in a few months. But, rather than Committee to serious flaws in the planning application. stop there, I’ll be pushing for another fully funded rise, taking The committee voted to defer the decision and subse- it up to £10,500. That's an extra £100 back in your pocket.” quently the developers withdrew their application. How- ever it seems likely that the Developers will come back RECYCLING with another application. PROGRESS? Sadly, the Conservatives recently voted to confirm new We welcome the move to recy- policies that will make it harder for residents to intervene, cle more but the manner Barnet with more and more planning decisions made by Officers went about it left much to be behind closed doors and now that planning has been given desired. Some roads in Child's to Capita some decisions may be taken by officers work- Cllr Jack Cohen & Jonathan Davies Hill were completely left out. ing in Blackburn, Hartlepool and other far-away places. We fielded many complaints “The Tories simply do not understand residents rights to from residents which we took up with Council staff who are doing their best to make it work. speak on planning issues concerning them.” Cllr Jack Many residents do not require a large recycling blue bin . We Cohen said. tried to convince the council that many of our residents were

happy to share bins but they argued this would be too compli- Green Space by B & Q cated instead some areas of the ward are blighted by armies of

Your Liberal Democrat Councillors share local residents wheelie bins and some are still awaiting bins and a definitive concerns about the collection timetable. The Council have now said they will regeneration plans generally but review the recycling service in January . We want to hear in particular the proposals to from you with your views contacts below ). build on the green space outside B and Q. Lib Dem team mem- How to contact your Liberal Democrat Cllrs Home phones: Jack Cohen 020 8446 5390 Monroe and ber, Charlotte Henry, joined pro- Susette Palmer 020 8455 5140 testers outside B and Q. She said Email: [email protected] Charlotte Henry at the demo " Barnet must have a rethink. [email protected] [email protected] for retaining the green. Feelings are running high , Website: www. chld.org.uk or write to us c/o The Town Cricklewood needs more Hall, The Burroughs, NW4 4BG green space not less. Local people not only want to see the Ward surgeries . Childs Hill Library the first Thursday green space protected but enhanced for the future enjoy- of each month from 7.00-8.00p.m. ment of young and old alike." Twitter: @barnetlibdems MORE LOCAL NEWS OVER the PAGE

Printed by Acculith 76 Ltd, Break Shear House, 164 High Street EN5 5XP.Published & promoted by Barnet Liberal Democrats, 31 The Vale, London, NW11 8SE We hold a ward surgery on Council related problems in Childs Hill library on the first Thursday of every month from 7.00-8.00pm at other times you can email us at [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] or phone Jack Cohen on 0208 446 5390 or Monroe or Susette Palmer on 020 8455 5140.

TRAFFIC SUCCESS in THE VALE Parking Refunds Cllr Monroe Palmer is pleased to report that We have been pressing Barnet to speed up refunds for overcharged residents permits the small stretch of The Vale between and visitors vouchers. This fiasco has cost Barnet over two million Wayside and Way is almost cer- pounds plus tens of thousands of pounds in court costs ." Another exam- tainly going to be included in a Controlled ple" says Council Cohen "of the Conservatives not listening and try- Parking Zone . Plans are being drawn up and ing to pull a fast one ." If you have not yet applied for a refund you subject to a final Consultation this should be should email [email protected] or write to; Parking in place by January. This will include park- Team, CPZ Parking Refunds, , Building 4, ing restrictions at the bus stop. This Jonathan Davies in North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South, London N11 The Ridgeway should reduce traffic jams. Also Barnet has been pressed to consider whether The Vale between Hendon Way and Childs Hill Team at work on Mizvah Day. Claremont Road should be a controlled park- Your Councillors and the Childs Hill News Team took ing zone and residents will be consulted be- part in the community activities organised on Mizvah fore plans are drawn up. No final decision day. Monroe helped peel vegtables in the kitchen where yet made. However we are still pursuing a a meal for a local homeless people’s project was pre- heavy vehicle ban on this stretch of road pared. Jack, Charlotte and Monroe all planted bulbs as with the hope that it will cease to be a short- part of the scheme by the Friends of Childs Hill Park to cut for skip lorries. improve the park. Charlotte said, “It is fantastic to have Thanks to all the residents involved in such an enthusiastic turn out by local people to improve the petitions which have helped their park. The Chair of the Friends and her achieve these results committee are doing a GREAT job.” Meanwhile Councillor Susette Palmer, seen here wearing one of GRANVILLE RD PARKING the resulting scarves, was organising a ‘Knitathon’ where volun- Plans were announced for some loading bay teers knitted blankets, scarves and gloves for hospitals, homeless parking in Granville Road at the suggestion centres & other needy people. of the Conservative Administration. Ward Councillors objected strongly to the reduc- tion of parking for local residents. The ill- PRESERVING VALUED PARK TREES advised scheme has been put on ‘hold’. Tree preservation orders have been made to secure a number of horse chest- nut & cherry trees in Elm Park ( behind the former Castle Pub.) Cllr Jack Cohen voted for this to ensure that these important trees are protected from The Millennium Green any future development on the site of the former pub. The Millennium Green Trust (CMGT). which owns the Millennium Green located at SCHOOL PERMITTED TO USE PARK ! Claremont Road & The Vale, London NW2 would like to thank Carillion plc, one of the In the last edition of CHN Cllr Susette Palmer reported on her efforts to get UK's leading support services and construc- the Conservative Cabinet member to reverse his outrageous charges to tion companies for their tremendous helping Rimon school to use the park for PE lessons. She is glad to say she con- hand to our local Cricklewood charity with vinced him to change his mind. several staff on our site to give a very good Your Councillors are very impressed by the plans for this park being made autumn maintenance to the green and also to by the newly formed Friends of Childs Hill Park. (see the Mizvah day article donate 3 tables & benches which were dearly above). More info. Friends facebook page friends of childs hill park, NW2. needed on the Green. To join email the Chair Ingrid Posen at [email protected] Company Secretary Rabia Lingemann says, “Our charity is very thankful for this dona- tion and hope our local community will en- BARNET WEEDS ARE TOUGH! joy the real improvements provided by Caril- The efforts of Barnet’s Conservative Administration to kill street lion.” weeds have been remarkably unsuccessful this year . You may To find out more about the Green email recollect Cllr Susette Palmer’s hopes in the last letter that they were [email protected] being killed off! However as you can see, the frosts seem to be doing the job the Council could not.

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Printed by Acculith 76 Ltd, Break Shear House, 164 High Street EN5 5XP.Published & promoted by Barnet Liberal Democrats, 31 The Vale, London NW11 8SE