TES News No 168 • Winter 2007 The newsletter of The Enfield Society Spurs’ planning What’s there now? applications
Just after the publication of our last Newsletter in mid August, we were told that Spurs had submitted another planning application to the Council for the construction of a football training centre on Green Belt land at Bulls Cross. It was then a month later before we discovered Local football and bowls clubs, a venue ... such as this one, on 21st October that Spurs had withdrawn their for matches ... 2007, appeal against the Council’s refusal to grant permission for last year’s planning application; the public inquiry on this appeal had been due to start on 20th November. The new application, the third one to date, includes the land currently occupied by the Whitewebbs Sports Centre. The intention is to demolish the pavilion, other buildings and car park on that site, which is to be tennis courts, ...... a bowling green, a cricket ground . . . commended, and most of that land will become Academy football pitches. There are a number of other changes but the size of the company, and the present Council Academy/Training Facility building should not have offered them a 75 remains unaltered with a total year lease on this public land, no floorspace of 127,018 sq. ft matter how desperate the need for (11,800m2) on a footprint which is Spurs to improve their own training 425% greater than the sum of the and Academy facilities. footprints of all the buildings which A special Planning Panel meeting would be demolished. The plan is was held on 11th October to discuss still to construct this very large the new proposals and it was clear . . .and an open field building, with its two car parks, 1.5 that by far the majority of the full size floodlit synthetic football members of the public attending was Situation vacant pitches and a substantial strongly opposed to them groundsman’s store on the 27 acre The date of the Planning Committee Secretary to the agricultural field which is within the Society historic Forty Hall Estate. meeting to decide the fate of this latest application is 12th November, We are still without a company As this Estate was bought by the just a few days before this secretary and we need to fill this Council in 1951 for the benefit of Newsletter reaches its very wide important post. Some organisational Enfield’s residents, we cannot agree audience. In the run-up to that date skills are required but experience in that Spurs should be allowed to the field is not essential and the time we will be continuing our campaign commitment is very modest. For build their facility on this sensitive of total opposition. site. Tottenham Hotspur Football further information please contact Colin Pointer (020 8366 2406). Club is a private commercial Colin Pointer 1 Conservation and planning
Street lighting No firm decision appears to have been reached yet on the exact design of the tall, retro style posts along the “principal roads”, nor on the choice of columns and lanterns for use in conservation areas such as Winchmore Hill Green. There has been another tranche of illuminated lamp post advert applications and we learn that these were agreed in principle as part of the PFI (public finance initiative) scheme. I do not recall this ever being mentioned at the public consultation meetings held at the outset of the scheme. Highlands Conservation Area There is a proposal to introduce another block of flats in the centre of the Highlands Village on what we understood to be an open amenity area as part of the approved layout. The land had been left derelict despite requests on our part for it to be landscaped as agreed. The 14 Bush Hill Park Estate. The house is surrounded existence of a rectangular outline of a by fine trees including a magnificent building on earlier maps of the hospital This is yet another example of a large oak just to the rear in Amwell has been used as grounds for suggesting building threatened with demolition Close and borders the small green in there was another pavilion on the site, but that is attractive and in a nice setting, front of Riverdell Court. There is an to us it looks much more like some sort but not in a conservation area or on outline application, which appears to of infill hut. The Society has objected the statutory list and so not protected show several units along the small strenuously. in any way. The stylish small red garden, but no detail at all. We have Chris Jephcott brick house at the bottom of Bush objected on the grounds of likely Green belts - some quotations Hill was built in 1874 as the lodge of excessive and inappropriate density from guidance documents the long demolished house Riverside, and suggested the house be added to “... the quality of the landscape is not relevant to which was actually on the banks of the local list, though unfortunately the inclusion of land within a Green Belt or to the New River. The architect was this would still not prevent its its continued protection.” “...detailed Green Belt Thomas Tayler Smith, who was also demolition. boundaries defined in adopted local plans or involved with the original Bush Hill earlier approved development plans should be Chris Jephcott altered only exceptionally.” “Essential facilities ... should be genuinely required for uses of land which preserve the openness of the Green Belt and do not conflict with the purposes of including land in it. Possible examples of such New book facilities include small changing rooms or Graham Dalling, Enfield's Local unobtrusive spectator accommodation for outdoor sport...” History Officer has just published his Planning Policy Guidance 2: Green belts third book and copies will be on sale
In Shaw's Wood the ideal scene of the ancient hornbeam against sunlit foliage . . .
. . .contrasts with the reality not far away of the untidy mountain biking obstacle track, which seems to have acquired an abandoned wheelbarrow from somewhere.
The footpath from Bramley Road up to the wood also needs some TLC. Alongside the Trent Park Riding Stables the hedgerow is always full of dumped litter and one has to hurry to get away from the stench from the polluted ditch.
The footbridge lower down, missing for more than two years, means that walkers have to pick their way through the mud along the edge of the riding trail. Chris Jephcott
4 The President’s column
Members have responded community with the loss of football following refusal magnificently to our appeal for the pitches, tennis courts and a bowling of outline planning THFC Fighting Fund. Preparations green, as well as the social use of the permission. We for our representation at the club building. At the Planning Panel made the point that it was totally forthcoming Planning Inquiry were last week no member of the public wrong to change the use of this land, well advanced when Spurs put in a spoke in favour. The application will when so much of the health service modified application and then, later, be decided at the 12th November estate in Enfield has already been withdrew their appeal, but only after Planning Committee. sold off with, it seems, no lasting we had incurred further costs. As benefit to the service, before a Colin writes, whilst there are some As I have written before, our terms of decision on the future services to be improvements at the margin, the main reference do not cover taking a view provided has been reached. Following weakness remains, namely the on the proposed changes to the Lord Darzi's admirable report and overlarge First Team/Academy provision of health services at Chase recommendations for the future of the building, with external lighting and Farm Hospital per se. But it is very Health Service in London, the land artificial pitches, right at the heart of relevant when it is proposed to cover could well be the site of a polyclinic. the very special but vulnerable area a large section of the site with After four days the Inquiry was of countryside immediately to the housing, evidently of the same dismal abruptly interrupted, to reconvene in north of Forty Hall Park. The quality as the two developments January, when the position may be inclusion of the Whitewebbs Sports already under construction there. The clearer. Field mitigates some visual problems, Society therefore made a strong but now threatens the local representation at the Public Inquiry Chris Jephcott
The Enfield Society Sales table
Free book for members: Trees Group Red T-shirts are now available and the photo on page 3 shows helpers at some copies still On 4th September a small but select the Autumn Show wearing them. The available group had a very informative and interesting meeting with Council badge is smaller than the previous Fighting for the future, the story of Officials Andy Robinson, Highways design and the word “cares” has been EPS’s first sixty yeas and a social Trees Officer and Andy Dodkins, Section omitted. The cost is £5 and they are history of Enfield, was written by Manager Redevelopment and available in two sizes, medium and Valerie Carter and published to Environmental Works. Our wide ranging large. discussion helped gain a greater celebrate our Diamond Jubilee. It understanding of the complexities of Badges for The Enfield Society will was awarded the top prize by the looking after the Borough’s tree stock. be on sale shortly. The design is London Forum of Amenity and We were pleased to learn that capital unchanged except for the wording. Civic Societies in its Media Awards funding for the planting of 600-700 street While browsing through a book on competition. trees this year has been earmarked. The heraldry recently, in the monsters planting contract will specify watering section I came across the following The Management Committee has and replacement if the trees fail, which is now agreed to offer remaining a big advance on the previous situation. description of the Enfield, which is copies, free of charge, to any Not so welcome is the fact that, following featured in our badges. “The enfield is members who would like one. You the retirement of Amanda Taylor, the an extraordinary hybrid with a fox’s can collect a copy from the Sales Planning Department currently does not head on a wolf’s body and the have anyone on its staff with forelegs and talons of an eagle”. Table at Jubilee Hall or one can be arboricultural knowledge to advise on the [Editor’s note: more information about posted to you on receipt of £2.50 to increasing number of applications the enfield beast is on our web site at cover post and packing. Please do involving protected trees. Barnet has two http://www.enfieldsociety.org/links.htm] not forget to include your name and such officers. We understand the Christmas cards. Several designs address with your cheque to TES Department is looking at its staffing and have now sold out but Trent Park and (Publications) at Jubilee Hall. hope that this serious lack will soon be put right. Forty Hall are still available at £1.50 (Several members omitted to The next meeting of the Trees Group, to for five cards and envelopes and complete this section of the order decide on future arrangements, has been packs of four assorted cards at £1. form sent with the last newsletter so arranged for Thursday, November 28th at Very few packs of Gentleman’s Row some research was necessary!) 7 pm at Jubilee Hall. and the New River Loop are left. Monica Smith Chris Jephcott Monica Smith 5 Hampstead Village (lunch stop) to food available. By car Ickenham is on the Future walks Hampstead Heath. Walk will end at a B466 just north of A40 at Hillingdon. convenient point for return to Enfield but Leader: Christine Fookes Note: Train details are correct at press date also many options to leave en-route. Bring Wed 27 February but The Enfield Society cannot accept lunch or food available. Leader: Stuart Meet 10.45am at Watton-at-Stone Station responsibility for last minute changes. Please Mills (10.21am train from Enfield Chase) for always check: for National Rail train Sat 12 January 2008 contrasting figure of eight walk which we enquiries and times ring 08457 48 49 50; for Meet 10.15am at Alexandra Palace Station hope will coincide with the snowdrop London area tube, DLR and bus details, ring (9.59am train from Enfield Chase) for display in the estate grounds of Woodhall 020 7222 1234. about 6 to 6.5 mile circular walk via the Park. Morning and afternoon sections Reduced price train travel: GroupSave Cheap Palace grounds, open spaces, ancient about 3.5 to 4 miles each. Walk can be left Day Return tickets allow 3 or 4 adults to woods and Highgate Village. Shorter or joined at the lunch stop in Watton (if travel together for the price of 2 adults on options. Bring lunch or food available. joining, meet group by 1.30pm). Bring First Capital Connect, Silverlink, Chiltern or Leader: Norman Coles lunch or pub food available. Leader: Stuart One Railway. Even for travel to the start of Wed 16 January Mills linear walks, GroupSave Day Return tickets Meet 10.15am at front door of Forty Hall Stuart Mills are normally cheaper than buying a standard price single but you must travel as a group, Mansion for about 2.5 hour circular walk not separately. through the Forty Hall and Whitewebbs Estates. Leaders: Carol Cope & Kinu Ohki Obituary: Janet Dunford Wed 21 November Sat 26 January Meet 10.30am at Green Park tube station Meet 10.30am at Liverpool Street mainline for about 2.5 hour exploration of the station (at entrance to Platform 1) for a Mayfair and St James’s areas near linear walk in which Roy will explore Piccadilly in London’s West End. Leader: Spitalfields, Victoria Park and some lesser Monica Smith known parts of the East End, ending at Sat 24 November Bow Road Station. Shorter options. Food Meet 10.34am at Welwyn North Station available or bring lunch. Details: (020) (by train either 10.11am from Finsbury 8360 0282. Leader: Roy Nicholls Park or 10.21am from Potters Bar) for Wed 30 January about 7 mile walk via a cluster of greens – Meet 10.15am Winchmore Hill Station not cabbages, but Harmer, Datchworth, (10.09am train from Enfield Chase) for 2.5 Gover’s and Bull’s Green! Bring lunch or hour linear walk ending at Oakwood pub food available. By car: station is near Station. After a short tour past some of the Digswell about one mile east of A1M older and historic village buildings around junction 6 or follow B1000 from Hertford. and near The Green itself, Brenda will Leader: Brian Wragg explore the varied parks of Grovelands and Wed 5 December Oakwood. Shorter options. Leader: Brenda Meet 10.15am at Palmers Green Station Brown (10.09am train from Enfield Chase) for 2.5 Sat 9 February Footpath Group members were hour linear walk via parks, woodland and Meet 10.30am at The Ridgeway front shocked and saddened to learn of the the Pymmes Brook Trail with a choice of entrance gates to Chase Farm Hospital for sudden death of Janet towards the end ending at either Cat Hill roundabout (for 8.5 mile linear walk through Enfield’s of September from cancer that had 307, 298 & 299 buses) or at Cockfosters countryside and Fir & Pond Wood nature only been discovered earlier this year. Tube Station. Shorter options. Leader: reserve ending at New Cottage Farm, The Born on 21st April 1942 in Salisbury, Norman Coles Ridgeway. Return to Enfield by 313 bus. Janet was a clinical scientist by Sat 8 December Walk can be left or joined at Northaw profession specialising in respiratory Meet 10.30am at Platform 9, Kings Cross village lunch stop (if joining, meet group physiology, a Fellow of the Royal Mainline Station (9.59am train from by 1.30pm). About 5.5 miles in morning Society of Medicine, and for many Enfield Chase). With the planned start of and about 3 miles in afternoon. Pub food years managed the North Middlesex Eurostar services from St Pancras, Roy is available or bring lunch. Details 8364 Hospital Chest Clinic. updating his linear “Tunnels – old and 0300. Leader: Colin Adams In company with Brian Frear, Janet new” walk ending at Highbury & Islington Wed 13 February was a member of All Saints Church, Station. Shorter options. Bring lunch or Meet 10.15am at Essex Road Station Edmonton. Together they were regular food available at lunch stop in The Angel (9.49am train from Enfield Chase) for 2.5 attendees on many Group walks and area. Details 8360 0282. Leader: Roy to 3 hour linear walk through attractive and outings during the past 10 years or so Nicholls historic parts of the Canonbury and and Janet helped Brian with the Wed 19 December Clerkenwell areas. Details 8366 0149. planning for some of the Society walks Meet 10.15am at Oakwood Station for Leader: Ray Moss that he led over these years. She particularly enjoyed the longer walks about 2.5 hour circular walk in early winter Sat 23 February and, more recently, our visits to village in Trent Park. Leader: Ken Cooper Meet 11.00am at Ickenham Station open gardens, and always with that Sat 29 December (10.18am or 10.28am Metropolitan Line sense of humour and lively From Christmas Lights to Northern trains from Baker Street) for 9 mile circular conversation which was so Heights! Meet 10.30am at Oxford Circus walk in Colne Valley Park via lakes, canal characteristic of her. Station for linear walk from the West End and woodland. Option to end at lunchtime via Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill and after about 4 miles. Bring lunch or pub Stuart Mills 6 Jubilee Hall meetings New members We warmly welcome the following Tuesday mornings 10 for 10.30 am new members: Thursday evenings 7.30 for 8 pm Mr P. Ackroyd, Mrs R. Ball, Mr R. 30th October 15th November Bates, Mrs J. Bowden, Mr & Mrs J. Octavia Hill, Founder of the Discovering Enfield’s historic Bracewell, Mrs B. Bull, Ms F. Caine, National Trust by Pam Wright, with buildings by Stephen Gilburt, with Mr P. Claxton, Mrs J. Craft, Mrs P. slides. slides Crofts, Mr M. Cullum, Mr & Mrs P. 27th November Dale, Mrs M. Dixon, Mr & Mrs D. December – no meeting Flint, Mr & Mrs D. Girling, Mr & Namibia, land of contrasts by Anne Mrs T. Guyatt, Mr J. Hallier, Dr N. Johnson, with slides. Holmes, Mr & Mrs R. Hunter, Miss J. Ingham, Ms E. Laier, Mr D. Lewis, 18th December We now have a volunteer to Dr N. Mehdi, Miss G. Morris, Miss Annual quiz, with Joyce James arrange the evening meetings and 29th January 2008 C. Muskett, Mrs S. Newell, Mrs K. these should restart in April 2008. Petrides, Mr R. Pople, Dr T. Ridge, The joys of Spring by Jean Crew, Any suggestions for speakers are Mrs E. Scarff, Mr A. L. Smith, Mr & with slides. welcome – please leave a message Mrs P. Smol, Miss R. Swanick, Mr & 26th February on the Jubilee Hall telephone: Mrs A. West, Ms C. M. Williams, Three famous women by Christine (020) 8363 9495. Miss C. Williams, Mrs G. Yaz. Padwick. Pat Atkins
Obituary: Wally Woodfield
The walking enthusiast and marathon walker, John N. Merrill, has recently turned his attention to Enfield, and has produced this little book describing ten walks within the Borough, as well as combining some into a 25 mile circular challenge walk via Cockfosters, Pymmes Brook Trail to Pickett’s Lock, the River Lee Navigation, Enfield Lock and the London Loop back to Cockfosters. If you certify that you have
Photo:Enfield Gazette done this walk and send him £5, he will Wally Woodfield, second left, at a tree-planting ceremony in the 1980s with the Mayor, send you a badge and a certificate. John Jackson. Irene Smith, EPS’ Secretary, is second right. The book gives detailed walking It is sad to have to report the passing of yet another major contributor to the work of the Enfield instructions, with hand-drawn maps, black Preservation Society. Wally Woodfield, Trees Group Leader for 12 years from 1977 to 1989, and white pictures and notes about things died on 28th August after a short illness at the age of 84. During his tenure he was responsible for you may see on the way. There are a few an enormous amount of work – protecting threatened trees, managing the tree nursery, arranging errors and inconsistencies, such as references to “Holly Fields Park” and the tree plantings and compiling a comprehensive pictorial record of the effects of Enfield’s Street “Queen and Horseshoe Inn” in River View, Tree Replacement Programme in the 1980s. I realised this as a member of the Group, but even with advice not to stop while walking and more so when I was given the task of sorting out the huge volume of paper work, records, the dangers of “gluttonous mud”. If you correspondence, photographic albums etc. accumulated during his stint as leader. Wally was also accept these as the idiosyncrasies of a one of the small team who carried out the major refurbishment works to Jubilee Hall after the characterful walking companion this book EPS acquired it and, in keeping with his love of the countryside, was a valuable member of the will still give you ideas for several pleasant Footpaths Group team that constructed the Jubliee Footpath from Hadley Road to The Ridgeway. and interesting walks. 1n 1990 he and his wife Mary moved to County Durham, where in no time he had become a Walks in the London Borough of Enfield / Voluntary Countryside Ranger. Sadly Mary fell ill and he nursed her through her final illness. A by John N. Merrill. – Waltham Cross : The big man physically and big hearted, the results of his dogged endeavours are to be seen all around John Merrill Foundation, 2007. – 84 pages; us in our streets and open spaces to this day. We offer our sympathy to his second wife Jean. 21cm. – ISBN 978-0-9556511 -2 -0 : £8.95 (wire spiral bound) Chris Jephcott Leonard Will. 7 TES Directory Footpaths and walks
President: Dr. C.J.A. Jephcott Path use appeals update Heritage walks Chairman: Colin Pointer The Society’s Autumn 2007 In our Summer newsletter, no. 166, Hon. Secretary: [See “Situations newsletter carried appeals for we reported that instead of our annual vacant” column on page 1] evidence of use of paths across Walk round Enfield we would Hon. Treasurer: David James farmland in Western Enfield and use arrange three guided walks from our of off-road paths avoiding Carbone recent publication, Heritage walks in Office: 2 Parsonage Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 0AJ. Hill between Cuffley and Newgate the London Borough of Enfield, in Telephone: 020 8363 9495 Street Village. With such evidence it June, July and August. When there is nobody in the office, messages will hopefully be easier to create The three walks were reasonably well left on the answering machine will be dealt additional paths and access for the attended in spite of the weather. The with as promptly as possible. public. Edmonton walk was completed on Website: www.enfieldsociety.org.uk We are pleased to report that the the wettest evening of the summer, Helplines: response has been encouraging but whilst the Winchmore Hill walk was done on the hottest day of the year! For information on TES activities or to more evidence from other persons report matters you think need would strengthen both cases. However, each walk was enjoyed by investigation or action, please phone the those who attended, as the guides appropriate number below: Western Enfield took them to see the noteworthy Architecture and Planning buildings and gave interesting 020 8363 7707 (John Davies) If you have ever used the existing informal paths/routes across the commentaries about these, also Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings, farmland between The Ridgeway, pointing out other places of interest Green Belt during our travels. 020 8360 5677 (Chris Jephcott) Enfield Road and Trent Park, please My thanks to all who attended and Coach Outings ring Dave Cockle on 020 8366 2242. 020 8360 8974 (Jim Deamer) especially to all the guides. Footpaths and Walks Cuffley / Newgate Street Village Sadie Isaksson 020 8367 5168 (Shirley Cotton) If you have used any off-road Historic Buildings Group path/route to avoid Carbone Hill, 020 8363 0031 (Stephen Gilburt) please ring Hywell Morris direct on Jubilee Hall Bookings 01707 888 957. 020 8360 3873 (Pat Keeble) Stuart Mills Membership 020 8886 3829 (Pat Atkins) Press and publicity 020 8360 0804 (Peter Mackey) 020 8363 5732 (Bob Fowler) Volunteers needed for Records and Research Enfield Council Health 020 8372 0092 (Leonard Will) Walks programme. Trees The Enfield Parks Outreach Team are [Vacant] looking for volunteer leaders for their Walk Enfield Management Committee Health Walks programme based upon Enfield Council has recently Pat Atkins, John Davies, Robert Fowler, Stephen Gilburt, David James, Tony Enfield’s parks. The Health Walks produced The Enfield walking Langston, Janet McQueen, Peter initiative is a very worthwhile activity directory, encouraging people to walk Mackey, Stuart Mills, Pam Pemberton, and there are plans for the local more as “the perfect way to have fun Peter Perryman, Colin Pointer, Monica Smith, Derrick Stone, Leonard Will. Mental Health Trust to also and get fit”. As well as general participate as improved physical advice, it contains a list of 15 bodies Vice-Presidents Mr A. J. Skilton, Mr D. Pam, health can lead to improvements in a that organise walks in and around Mr S. R. Smith, Mrs P. Lowen, person’s mental health. Enfield, details of six maps and Lord Graham of Edmonton, If you think you might be able to help brochures that you can obtain for self- Mr J. W. E. Jackson, JP, guided walks, and has some of the Mr M. Saunders, MBE, Mr C. Pointer. and could spare a couple of hours per week on an occasional basis, please organisations’ leaflets in a pocket Newsletter Editor inside the back cover. Leonard Will contact either the Parks Outreach ([email protected]) Team on (020) 8449 2459 (email: The directory is available free from The Enfield Society. [email protected]) or Enfield libraries or may be requested Registered in England as a limited Vicki Stewart at the Mental Health from the Council by telephoning company no. 312134. Trust on (020) 8245 9852 (email: (020) 8379 1000 or emailing Registered Charity no. 276451. [email protected]). [email protected]. Printed by Studio Projects Ltd Stuart Mills Leonard Will 8