Huge Homes Deal Ditched Over 'Foreign Sales' Fear
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ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 1 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OCT 2018 FEATURE A group of Enfield residents are working together to improve a local stream – and boost wildlife P . 3 INTERVIEW Kate McGeevor talks about her seven years managing Forty Hall Farm P . 7 COMMENT Inspector Chris Byrne on how a merger of two police teams could benefit the borough P . 9 ARTS & CULTURE A new children's choir in Enfield Staff at the new £200m Chase Farm Hospital building have welcomed their first patients – full story on Page 3 is hitting all the right notes P . 13 Huge homes deal ditched SPORT Why Enfield Town FC are aiming over 'foreign sales' fear high in the league this season Council leader denies money was wasted on failed search for Meridian Water master-planner P . 15 BY JAMES CRACKNELL years, but the £6billion project has overseas sales. When I asked about enter into negotiation with devel- been dogged by delays. Last year it, they said new homes would be opers on a site-by-site basis. alks with a Chinese firm the top choice for a master develop- marketed in Enfield for the first Three sites, providing around 1,000 enfielddispatch.co.uk over the construction of er, Barratt, pulled out, leaving the month, nationally for the second new homes and 900 new jobs in thousands of new homes council to negotiate instead with month, and after that the whole total, are now being taken forward collapsed after it emerged its second choice, Pacific Century world. It was unacceptable.” by the council – with the first homes @EnfieldDispatch Tthey wanted to sell them to over- Premium Developments (PCPD). Cllr Caliskan also said the firm only built as soon as possible after the seas buyers. Councillor Caliskan took over the seemed interested in creating low- opening of Meridian Water's new The new leader of Enfield Council, reigns at the council in May after skilled jobs. “Coupled with the fact railway station, currently scheduled /EnfieldDispatch Nesil Caliskan, said the proposed ousting former leader Doug Taylor they talked about building luxury for May 2019. Meridian Water deal went sour following the local election. She homes – I didn't think it was okay.” The council has also secured because the company told coun- told the Dispatch: “When I became The council confirmed in July that £120million from the government to [email protected] cillors it would market the new leader all options were on the table. talks with PCPD had ended and that fund a series of infrastructure works homes abroad. I spent a couple of weeks looking it would now take an entirely new including a new road, flood defence Meridian Water in Edmonton is at the deal. I wasn't convinced, but approach to Meridian Water, with scheme, cycle and pedestrian links, one of the largest redevelopment we gave them a chance. no master developer being sought. and a boost to local rail services. sites in London with 10,000 homes “PCPD made a presentation and Instead, the council would retain planned there over the next 10-15 it became obvious there would be overall control of the scheme and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 NEWS No.1 OCTOBER 2018 ENFIELD DISPATCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “We need to make the area con- nected,” Cllr Caliskan explained. “We need to look at the whole ED. project and show the market we have a plan and that we will deliver it. We will have a phase-by-phase o approach, giving many more com- N .1 panies a chance to bid for sites, and also generating greater financial OCTOBER 2018 returns for the council.” Cllr Caliskan dismissed sugges- Enfield Dispatch is the tions that suddenly ditching talks borough's free community to find a Meridian Water master- newspaper. We publish planner, which had lasted several monthly and distribute 10,000 years, meant starting from scratch. free copies of each issue Opposition Conservative council- to cafés, pubs, community lors claimed £3m was “wasted” on centres, libraries, GP surgeries, legal fees and advice during the schools, hair salons, and outside railway stations. failed procurement process. But the council leader pointed to prog- Publisher ress made with land acquisition David Floyd and said: “We have done a lot of the foundation work, building Editor James Cracknell up knowledge of the sites, clean- Original plans for the Meridian Water project, which may now change as the council seeks to work with new developers Designer “They talked ing up the land – these are things industries to provide employment housing, and Cllr Caliskan says this Jonathan Duncan we would have to pay for anyway.” at Meridian Water during the early also applies to Meridian Water. “My Since 2014 the council has acquired phase of works. “We could just rent number one priority for the borough Project Manager about building Anna Merryfield 35 hectares at Meridian Water, at a cost it out to a chicken factory and make is reducing inequality, and Meridian luxury homes of £157m, and now owns 64 percent of some money, but we are trying to get Water will play a part in that.” Contributors the land earmarked for development. people to live here. We will get it right.” Stephen Cox – I didn't think Cllr Caliskan also said the council The council's aim for any new Find out more about the Claire Fisher was exploring the potential for key housing development in Enfield is plans for Meridian Water: Frances Dismore it was okay” players from the film and music to provide 50 percent 'affordable' Visit meridianwater.co.uk Alison Archer Ciara McNulty Basil Clarke Chris Byrne Jason McKenna Margaret Green Jo Johnson Borough prepares for Brexit Sharlene Gandhi Dana Burstow Fears over impact on local services and construction projects after UK leaves European Union Garry Humphreys Regan O’Mahony Marianna Michael BY STEPHEN COX service arrangements will need to new and untried ‘settled status’. Cllr Caliskan said: “As with the David Williamson be reviewed”. Enfield’s flagship £6billion Meridi- majority of local councils across Arthur Salisbury ix months before Brexit, Councillor Nesil Caliskan, the an Water development is intended the country, we are very keen that bosses at Enfield Council council leader, has called for new to bring thousands of jobs and new government should announce a CONTACT say they need urgent clarity funding streams to cover the loss housing, but could become one of fund to replace the EU structur- Son the final deal to be able to of EU regeneration funding. She many projects that struggles to find al funding that will no longer be Call 020 8521 7956 manage the effects on its services. said: “Enfield Council continues qualified workers, with the council open to us. Email EnfieldDispatch@ The council's leadership has to be concerned as to the poten- warning that Brexit “may have a “We hope to see decisive lead- socialspider.com highlighted the potential eco- tial impact Brexit or a ‘no deal negative impact on [the] construc- ership from government soon Post Salisbury House, Bury nomic impact and uncertainty Brexit’ may have on our commu- tion industry, which is reliant on as the deadline draws closer. Street West, Enfield N9 9LA for the 23,000 non-British EU nities and our ability to continue EU nationals”. We cannot firm-up plans of citizens currently residing in to deliver high-quality services Last month the council’s cabinet action until more detail is made ADVERTISING the borough. when we leave the EU. available to us Contact Ben Cawthra: Earlier this year a council paper “We continue to await on the final Call 020 3892 0061 assessing risks to service deliv- firm direction from “Regeneration programmes settlement.” Email ben.cawthra@ ery gave an 'Amber' rating for government and in the The council hackneycitizen.co.uk Brexit, meaning it has potential interim are developing could be placed at risk” leader has also to cause disruption. contingency plans and joined those The report stated that, depend- gaining a better understanding of discussed a projected gap in calling for a 'popular vote' on the ing on the outcome of negotia- potential impacts on our residents funding over spending of more final proposals – a second Brexit tions, “regeneration programmes and on service provision.” than £9million, which may be met referendum. could be placed at risk; housing A third of all London’s construc- from reserves. Any economic She added: “I support the People’s supply may come under further tion workers come from the rest downturn caused by Brexit could Vote and believe that Enfield resi- We are grateful to Love Your Doorstep pressure; business rate income of the EU and, after Brexit, such impact further on income and in- dents deserve a say over what the for their ongoing support could fall, and environmental workers will need to apply for a crease demand for services. deal is – if there is one.” Feature 3 Volunteers are working together to P.5 NEWS No.1 OCTOBER 2018 ENFIELD DISPATCH improve a local stream – and boost wildlife Local Tories Labour divided over leadership in racism row Complaints about selection process, but action against local party unlikely BY JAMES CRACKNELL Councillor suspended omplaints by Labour coun- after comments at meeting cillors in Enfield about the selection process during this he local Conservative Party Cyear's local election are unlikely to became embroiled in a lead to disciplinary action being racism row after two Enfield taken, the Dispatch understands. Tcouncillors in as many months were Several sitting councillors were suspended over comments made deselected prior to May's election, about people of Turkish origin.