ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 15 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER DEC 2019 FEATURES Winchmore Hill Residents Association has been relaunched P . 4 ELECTION Candidates in three constituencies make their election pitches P . 8–10 NEWS Major Edmonton estate redevelopment plans announced 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 16 B Edmonton Green Shopping Centre hosted its first-ever Christmas launch event last month, with Santa greeting enfielddispatch.co.uk children inside a giant bauble and a variety of local talent performing throughout the day Credit Natalie Gee @EnfieldDispatch Anger over council's low-traffic plan [email protected] Former boss of Cycle Enfield among those critical of latest scheme BY JAMES CRACKNELL dubbed the 'Fox Lane Quieter traffic fall 16% after the first year, in the borough, including those on Neighbourhood' reacted with fury despite increases of up to 11% on Green Lanes which have been nom- nfield Council has at a public exhibition – with one surrounding main roads. inated for a top transport award. extended a public con- branding it “a disaster”. Mel Kirkland from Derwent Road However, a previous attempt to sultation on its latest It was only after several election told the Dispatch: “It's a disaster. My reduce traffic in the Fox Lane area The Dispatch is supported cycling proposals after candidates for Enfield Southgate wife shops at Morrisons but now was abandoned earlier this year. by Chamberlains Estates Ea furious backlash from local began writing to the council she'll need to drive almost up to The former boss of Cycle Enfield, – turn to page 5 residents, councillors and parlia- demanding more time to consider Southgate and back to get there.” Southgate Green councillor Daniel mentary candidates. the scheme that a public consul- Eleanor Grey-Parsons, another Anderson, admitted large 'plant- The local authority last month tation was extended, until Sunday Derwent Road resident and cyclist, ers' previously installed at road revealed its plans to create a series 22nd December. said: “I appreciate the sentiment entrances had failed to deter of low-traffic zones across the Residents fear plans to block 16 on climate change but I think they drivers – and now says he is also borough, closing dozens of roads road entrances – only allowing need to look at this properly. I don't sceptical about how the new road Chamberlains Estates to motor traffic to try and stop cyclists and pedestrians to enter want to live in an enclave.” closure plans will work. rat-running and reduce pollution – will funnel traffic into surround- The quieter neighbourhoods “There are major concerns,” Cllr by persuading people to leave their ing roads, worsening congestion scheme is the latest proposal from Anderson told the Dispatch. “If Residential Sales & Lettings Agents cars at home for short journeys. and pollution in shopping streets Cycle Enfield, the council's 'Mini there was a simple solution we An area in Palmers Green will be such as Green Lanes. The council Holland' project that won £30mil- would have done it before – the used as a six-month trial for the argues overall car use will decline, lion from Transport for London reality is it's very complex. I am not scheme as soon as next spring, as happened in Walthamstow (TfL) in 2014 and has so far seen 020 8366 3551 but residents living in roads now where a similar project saw total several miles of cycle lanes installed CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 020 8366 3551 020 8366 3551 Residential Sales & Lettings Agents Residential Sales & Lettings Chamberlains Estates 020 8366 3551 2 NEWS No.15 DECEMBER 2019 ENFIELD DISPATCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Firs Lane area; plus parts of Edmon- feedback will be taken on board. Two decades ton Green and Enfield Highway. Cllr Barnes added: “This is not opposed to the principle of it but Not everyone is against the a cycling scheme, it is about in 'temporary' you have to have more evidence plans, however. Tom Parry lives improving quality of life. Resi- and support from the commu- in Old Park Road, part of the dents have long complained about accomodation ED. nity to make it work. Fox Lane neighbourhood, and the volume and speed of traffic. BY SIMON ALLIN, “The plans were published only told the Dispatch: “We get cut- Low-traffic neighbourhoods are LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER a few days before the exhibition through traffic and by blocking part of our long-term strategy wenty-one years – that is the o and ward councillors weren't one end you can stop that. I to reduce traffic overall which longest period a local resident N .15 even invited. That's not the way think, ultimately, this will make should lead to environmental has spent in temporary accom- to bring people with you.” life slightly less convenient for improvements. We are currently Tmodation waiting to be housed by DEC 2019 Fox Lane is the first of eight car drivers but my main concern receiving valuable feedback and Enfield Council. low-traffic neighbourhoods set is for my young children.” anticipate revisions to this pro- The shocking figure emerged at a Enfield Dispatch is the to be introduced across Enfield. Deputy council leader Ian Barnes posal; a key theme so far being meeting last month of the overview borough's free community Other zones include streets sur- says the upcoming road closures concerns around entry and exit and scrutiny committee, as council- newspaper. We publish rounding Connaught Gardens in trial will only become a perma- points for the the Lakes Estate.” lors discussed new plans to tackle the Palmers Green; Fernleigh Road nent change if it “improves the borough’s housing crisis. Committee monthly and distribute Find out more about the plans: 10,000 free copies of in Winchmore Hill; Bowes Park; situation for local people and Visit cycleenfield.co.uk/quieter- members gasped as it was revealed each issue to cafés, pubs, streets around Bush Hill Road; the works for local businesses” and neighbourhoods by Nick Martin, the council’s head of community centres, temporary accommodation, under libraries, GP surgeries, questioning by Labour councillor schools, hair salons, and Achilleas Georgiou. outside railway stations. Nick said: “21 years is our longest so far. The average stay in temporary accom- Publisher modation is two-and-a-half years.” David Floyd Nothing more was revealed about the case. Editor Temporary accommodation – which James Cracknell can include homes owned by private Designer landlords, housing associations or Jonathan Duncan the council – is meant to be a short- term fix while local authorities find Project Manager suitable long-term housing for people Anna Merryfield who have become homeless. But with Contributors available homes in short supply, people Simon Allin, are having to spend longer periods in Richard Harmes, Laura temporary accommodation. Spencer, Helen Osman, Enfield had 3,410 families in tempo- Jo Johnson, Fears over future of Whitewebbs rary accommodation as of April this Kathleen Richardson, BY JAMES CRACKNELL the land for other commercial other woodland pursuits. year – the second-highest number in Andrew Warshaw activities. Suggested uses include “None involve clearing the site England. The main cause of homeless- ears are growing over the a leisure centre, outdoor gym and to create a landfill. Some propos- ness in the borough is the loss of a fate of one of the bor- bike track, although the council als involve the import of soil to tenancy held with a private landlord, Fough's best-loved parks has encouraged “creative” ideas. remodel the golf course. As part of according to a recent report by think- CONTACT after Enfield Council invited Local resident Sean Wilkinson, our assessment we would consider tank The Smith Institute. Call 020 8521 7956 commercial bids for “alternative who regularly walks his dog in the scale, suitability and impact Council bosses now plan to intervene leisure proposals” on land that the woodland, says he cannot of those proposals. Any proposal early to stop residents losing their Email EnfieldDispatch@ socialspider.com includes ancient woodland. understand why the council has based simply on importing soil homes and work with landlords to Post Salisbury House, Bury It was reported in spring that the decided to include the whole of would not be acceptable.” provide people with long-term tenan- Street West, Enfield N9 9LA council was seeking to lease the Whitewebbs Park in the lease. Whitewebbs faces competition cies. The aim is to ensure there are no 42-hectare Whitewebbs Park Golf “It is a beautiful piece of ancient from nearby golf courses, despite households in temporary accommoda- ADVERTISING Course to a private provider as it woodland,” he told the Dispatch. “It offering an 18-hole round for tion for more than six months, while was struggling to cover its costs, forms part of a suite of Green Belt as little as £8.50. Although the saving the council £1million per year. Contact Klaudia Kiss: but the Dispatch has now learned land from Forty Hall Estate to Hilly council claims it is losing money The committee also discussed the prac- Call 020 8521 7956 that a further 55 hectares of Fields. What could you put there on the course, it has not revealed tice by neighbouring councils – includ- Email klaudia@ “adjacent land” was also included that will make a lot of money? how much it receives in rental ing Barnet and Haringey – of placing socialspider.com in the offer. Marketing materi- “What really made me angry was income from the Toby Carvery people on housing waiting lists into als for a 25-year lease beginning when they described the ancient and Whitewebbs Café businesses Enfield.