ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 24 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SEPT 2020 NEWS Incinerator legal challenge launched by local activist P . 3 COMMENT How we can build better housing in Enfield P . 8 SPORT Invitation to join Enfield Town Ladies Football Club P . 14 A M E E Become a M M member of Enfield Dispatch and get O the paper delivered to B your door each month E C – find out more R E on Page 15 B A MURAL CELEBRATING the “cultural diversity and artistic vibrancy” of Edmonton was unveiled at Millfield Theatre last month. Featuring students from Platinum Dance, the artwork was created by Japanese artist Sonoko Obuchi. It was unveiled during a fortnight of outdoor arts and cultural events dubbed ‘Enjoy Enfield Summer’, run by Enfield Council. Pictured are council leader The Dispatch is free but, as a Nesil Caliskan, left; artist Sonoko Obuchi, centre; and the council’s head of culture, sports and arts, Paul Everitt. not-for-profit, we need your support to stay that way. To make a one-off donation to our publisher Social Spider CIC, scan this QR code with your More councillors quit PayPal app: Labour over leadership row Other resignations could follow in backlash against Nesil Caliskan BY JAMES CRACKNELL they were better able to serve “You are not allowed to hold on it. We all know why she [Cllr residents as independents. They a contrary viewpoint without it Caliskan] is doing it.” wo more Enfield coun- were followed by former deputy being taken personally by the Cllr Caliskan has yet to make cillors have quit the leader Daniel Anderson, who council leader. As far as I am any comment to the Dispatch in The Dispatch is supported Labour Party to join described the legal team at Labour concerned, democracy should response either to the decision of by Chamberlains Estates a new independent Party head office as “hypocritical” be a robust and open process.” Cllr Lemonides to leave Labour – turn to page 5 Tgroup, amid growing unrest over for disciplining him over a code Cllr Lemonides said there had or to the decisions of Cllr Levy, the leadership of council leader of conduct breach but not Cllr been several policy areas where Cllr Barry and Cllr Anderson to Nesil Caliskan. Caliskan, who last year was found he had wanted to raise issues quit in similar circumstances. All The latest departures have dou- to have made multiple breaches. with the council leadership, but four have been highly critical of bled the ranks of Community The latest Labour departure is the ‘final straw’ had been the Cllr Caliskan’s leadership style. First, the newly-formed break- Dino Lemonides, also a former recent controversy over the deci- Cllr Anderson was suspended Chamberlains Estates away group, from two to four, cabinet member. He said he was sion to raise special allowances earlier this year after an internal after a pair of earlier resignations. joining Community First because for councillors by up to £36,000. investigation ruled he had bullied One of the ex-Labour councillors the Labour group had become “I didn’t agree with them,” said officers, following complaints Residential Sales & Lettings Agents told the Dispatch he believed there unwilling to debate policy with Cllr Lemonides. “As soon as I sug- from four members of staff. That were “a dozen” of his former col- its own councillors. Cllr Lemon- gested doing something different, code of conduct breach is cur- leagues who might quit. ides told the Dispatch: “I have been I was accused of being a ‘trouble- rently subject to appeal. Derek Levy and Dinah Barry unhappy with the bullying and maker’. I thought this was just 020 8366 3551 were the first to leave, claiming harassment of the Caliskan regime. crazy. There wasn’t a discussion CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 020 8366 3551 020 8366 3551 020 8366 3551 Residential Sales & Lettings Agents Residential Sales & Lettings Residential Sales & Lettings Agents Residential Sales & Lettings Chamberlains Estates Chamberlains Estates 020 8366 3551 020 8366 3551 2 NEWS No.24 SEPTEMBER 2020 ENFIELD DISPATCH Charity shops closed Smart drains ED. nfield Council is trialling a amid fears for high streets new ‘smart drainage’ system Eit hopes will reduce flood o BY JAMES CRACKNELL with our staff and have infor- The RSPCA has said that the risk by providing instant warnings N .24 med them, our volunteers and closure of its Enfield shop in of high water levels. everal charity shops in other key stakeholders of our Baker Street was because of In partnership with tech company Enfield have not re-opened board’s decision.” an increase in rent, while the DMS Live, smart sensors using 4G SEPT 2020 since the Covid-19 lockdown Child poverty charity The pandemic had also had an impact technology have been installed in a Enfield Dispatch is the was lifted and may never Children’s Society has not yet on branch finances. However, a number of drains around Enfield to Sdo so, in a worrying indicator of re-opened its Chase Side shop but new RSPCA charity shop has now identify overflowing gullies. borough's free community newspaper. We publish the struggling local economy. says it hopes to do so in future. opened in Palmers Green. Deputy leader Ian Barnes said: “The monthly and distribute Shops that haven’t opened Lynne McMahon, director of retail A spokesperson said: “It is with initiative works hand-in-hand with the 10,000 free copies of their doors since March when trading and property services a heavy heart that the charity council’s wide-ranging climate action each issue – and we the pandemic began include at The Children’s Society, said: shop in Enfield has been closed. plan, which aims to address the issue will continue to do so those run by Royal Free Charity, “While we would have loved to be It has been part of the local of flooding and commits to pro-active during the ongoing public in Enfield Town; the RSPCA, in able to re-open all our shops from community since 1995 and a flood alleviation work to protect health crisis. Baker Street; Mind, in Southgate; July, the safety and wellbeing vital source of fundraising. We homes, buildings and infrastructure.” The Children’s Society, in Chase of our staff, volunteers and are grateful to everyone who Publisher Side; and Oxfam, in Enfield Town. customers is paramount. We have has supported the shop over the David Floyd Royal Free Charity raises been re-opening our shops on a many years and those who have Orca upgrade Editor money to support patients phased basis, initially starting worked there and given up their James Cracknell and staff working for the NHS with the larger shops where social time volunteering too. ransport for London (TfL) has Designer trust that runs Chase Farm distancing can be most easily “But we are excited to announce paid to replace scores of ‘orca’ Jonathan Duncan Hospital, but has announced implemented alongside all other that the branch has opened a new T cycle lane barriers after a num- Head of Advertising that none of its charity shops government safety guidelines. charity shop in nearby Palmers ber of incidents in which people were Klaudia Kiss across North London will be “We are keeping the situation Green and almost all our other injured tripping over them. re-opening. A spokesperson under constant review and thank charity shops have now re-opened The black-and-white bumps seg- Head of Operations said: “We can confirm that our loyal customers, supporters, as well.” regating cyclists from motor traffic Paige Ballmi we have taken the difficult staff and volunteers for their Oxfam and Mind did not respond were criticised as being “unsafe” for Engagement Manager decision to close our shops as patience and understanding.” to requests for comment. elderly and partially-sighted people. Penny Dampier TfL has now stumped up the cash – Contributors “The economic revealed via Freedom of Information Simon Allin, Robert Widders, request to be £232,139 – to pay for Frances Button, Matt Burn, downturn means their replacement with larger bollard- Lindsay Rawlings, Claire that our shops type barriers. Fisher, Andrew Warshaw, will not be viable” An Enfield Council spokesperson Phil Hambling, Guy Malyon, said: “Following a review of available Robert Taylor a result of the retail pressures products, the council has upgraded caused by the pandemic. the light segregation on the A105 and CONTACT “This is in no way a reflection replaced orcas with ‘cycleway defend- Call 020 8521 7956 of the efforts of our retail staff ers’. TfL agreed to cover the cost.” over the past few years, who have Email EnfieldDispatch@ socialspider.com done an outstanding job. But, in common with some of the best- Meat free ADVERTISING known high street brands, we BY SIMON ALLIN, have reluctantly concluded that LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER Contact Klaudia Kiss: the economic downturn means eople need to eat less meat to Call 07732 000 430 that our shops will not be viable tackle climate change, the dep- Email klaudia@ for a long time, if ever. P uty leader of Enfield Council socialspider.com “We conducted a consultation This RSPCA charity shop in Baker Street has permanently closed said as he defended a “ban on meat” at council events. Councillor Ian Barnes said meat and CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Labour Party was contacted Community First because I still hold dairy was “bad for the environment”, by the Dispatch but declined Labour values, but I want to hold citing expert scientific advice given to In a statement about his to comment.