Foodbank in Demand As Pandemic Continues
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ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 27 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER DEC 2020 FEATURES A homelessness charity is seeking both volunteers and donations P . 5 NEWS Two new schools and hundreds of homes get go-ahead for hospital site P . 6 ARTS & CULTURE Enfield secondary school teacher turns filmmaker to highlight knife crime P . 12 SPORT How Enfield Town FC are managing through lockdown P . 15 ENFIELD CHASE Restoration Project was officially launched last month with the first of many volunteering days being held near Botany Bay. The project, a partnership between environmental charity Thames 21 and Enfield Council, aims to plant 100,000 trees on green belt land in the borough over the next two years – the largest single tree-planting project in London. A M E E Become a Mmember of Enfield M Dispatch and get O the paper delivered to B your door each month E Foodbank in demand C – find out more R E on Page 16 as pandemic continues B The Dispatch is free but, as a Enfield North Foodbank prepares for Christmas surge not-for-profit, we need your support to stay that way. To BY JAMES CRACKNELL we have seen people come together tial peak in spring demand was Citizens Advice, a local GP or make a one-off donation to as a community,” said Kerry. “It is three times higher. social worker. Of those people our publisher Social Spider CIC, scan this QR code with your he manager of the bor- wonderful to see people stepping “I think we are likely to see referred to North Enfield Food- PayPal app: ough’s biggest foodbank in to volunteer – we have had hun- another big increase [in demand] bank this year, most have been has thanked residents dreds of people helping us. As well in the run-up to Christmas,” because of low incomes. for their support during as donations, we couldn’t do what Kerry warned. “We will need Even if the pandemic is brought Ta year when demand for emer- we do without volunteers. people’s support. under control early next year, the gency food aid has doubled. “We have never not been able “The pandemic has amplified economic impact could be felt Kerry Coe, who runs North to give people food when they’ve the challenges that families were for some time to come. Enfield Enfield Foodbank, told the Dispatch come to us. I want to say a massive already facing. There’s the jobs was recently named the “most that the surge in demand for its thanks to everyone who has been situation, waiting for benefits to financially insecure” area in the services had been matched by a so generous, it is really wonderful.” come through, debt, housing, and UK, after local unemployment surge in donations and volunteers, Kerry revealed that during the people obviously being off work trebled (Enfieldians deemed UK’s which meant that every person in pandemic to date, more than sick – people are struggling, but most financially insecure, Page 6). the borough who has been referred 13,000 local people in need have I’m glad we can be here to help.” to them for food support packages been fed by North Enfield Food- To access foodbanks, people Help support Enfield North Foodbank: has been able to get one. bank, across the whole borough. need a referral from a local Call 07826 542 119 Email [email protected] “One of the wonderful things This is double the rate of the organisation or professional, Visit northenfield.foodbank.org.uk/ about the last eight months is that previous year, although at the ini- such as Enfield Council, Enfield contact-us 2 NEWS No.27 DECEMBER 2020 ENFIELD DISPATCH Culture Major Edmonton Green strategy ED. BY SIMON ALLIN, redevelopment unveiled LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER plan has been launched to A map of the redevelopment o plans for Edmonton Green encourage more local peo- N .27 Aple to take part in cultural activities and tap into London’s £52billion creative economy. DEC 2020 Councillors approved a five-year strategy designed to improve access Enfield Dispatch is to culture in Enfield at a cabinet the borough's free meeting last month. With one in six community newspaper. Londoners employed in the creative We publish monthly industries, Enfield Council hopes and distribute 10,000 to bring more of those economic free copies of each opportunities to the borough. issue – and we will Enfield has historically had a very low level of active cultural participation continue to do so and has limited cultural infrastructure during the ongoing compared to similar local authorities, public health crisis. according to a council report. Designed Publisher to turn that around, the strategy has David Floyd three priorities; sustainable culture, creating opportunities for young peo- Editor BY JAMES CRACKNELL be home to an enhanced library, the latest in a string of high-rise ple, and culture every day. James Cracknell with a dedicated community hub schemes proposed for the bor- It identifies the council’s £6bil- Designer he owners of Edmonton created below Mendip House. ough this year. In September, lion Meridian Water regeneration Green Shopping Centre Opinions are now being sought investment giant Blackrock won scheme as a potential hub for film, Jonathan Duncan want to build 1,500 on the plans, prior to the submis- planning permission to build 1,800 television and associated industries. Head of Advertising new homes – including sion of a planning application to homes in towers up to 29-storeys The council hopes to attract more Ta 30-storey tower block – as part Enfield Council. Sabri Marsaoui, tall on a retail park in Southbury; businesses such as OMA Film Stu- Klaudia Kiss of a sweeping redevelopment of asset director at Edmonton Green, while in October, a proposal by dios, which last summer opened its Head of Operations the site. said: “We have already conducted Deutsche Bank to rebuild Pal- new Enfield Lock site, claimed to be Paige Ballmi While the existing three tower a lot of consultation with residents ace Gardens Shopping Centre in the largest film studio in London. Engagement Manager blocks, ASDA, and the bus station and we hope they will see we have Enfield Town, including a 26-storey The council cultural strategy pro- Penny Dampier would be retained, much of the taken on board their feedback. tower and several hundred homes, poses a “youth culture catapult pro- remaining older parts of the site “Edmonton Green has so much was revealed. Both schemes are gramme” to increase and improve Contributors would be torn down, with addi- potential and we feel these pro- proving controversial among res- creative opportunities for young Simon Allin, Olivia tional residential blocks built above posals will help realise this. It is idents, being planned as they are people. Deputy leader Ian Barnes Devereux-Evans, Neil newly created shopping areas. vital the development remains for generally low-rise areas, but told the meeting: “This strategy Littman, Basil Clarke, The current indoor in Edmonton Green the is for the council to convene and Jeremy Hay-Campbell, market would be “Edmonton Green has skyline is already punc- catalyse the whole borough to work Terry Neville, demolished to help tuated by existing high- in collaboration, from grassroots open up the site and rise blocks, the tallest community organisations to large- Andrew Warshaw so much potential and create new public being 25 storeys. scale commercial players.” spaces and thorough- we feel these proposals Regarding the height CONTACT fares, with a replace- of the tower blocks ment market built on will help realise this” proposed, a Crosstree Waste plan Call 020 8521 7956 an existing car park “to spokesperson said: Email EnfieldDispatch@ make it the focal point of the grounded in what already makes “Edmonton Green is identified in orth London Waste Author- socialspider.com new development”. Edmonton Green successful and local planning policy as an appro- ity’s plan for waste disposal Owners Crosstree Real Estate that is why we have put the market priate location for tall buildings. Nacross seven boroughs over ADVERTISING Partners have been working on the at the centre of these proposals. The residential blocks will there- the next ten years is being examined Contact Klaudia Kiss: plans since buying the site from “We also believe our plans for fore range in height from four to by an independent planning inspector. St Modwen in 2018, with surveys new streets, spaces and squares 30 storeys. The centre of the site Stephen Normington is assessing Call 07732 000 430 and public events being held over will make this area safer, and a will feature taller buildings, with whether the North London Waste Email klaudia@ socialspider.com the last two years to hear local place for local people to spend smaller buildings at the perime- Plan, which identifies sites for dispos- people’s thoughts. A number of time shopping or socialising with ter to tie in with Fore Street and ing of waste up to 2031 and includes improvements to existing facilities friends and family.” other neighbouring streets.” guidance for determining relevant have also been made in that time. The proposals have been drawn Residents can now have their planning applications, complies with Feedback suggested people wanted up by architects LDS. If approved say, until Sunday 6th December, legal requirements and is “sound”. a mix of shops, restaurants and by the council, the first phase of by logging on to egconsultation. The plan was initially launched in cafés, and the Crosstree proposals the scheme – on the ASDA car park co.uk. A window display has been 2019, but several amendments have include a greater range of retail – would be due for completion in placed at 50 South Mall, a vacant since been made.