ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 28 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER JAN 2021 NEWS Labour councillor resigns amid ongoing political divisions P . 2 FEATURES A festive litter pick helps bring joy to Pymmes Park P . 4 ARTS & CULTURE How an Edmonton based arts school is helping young people P . 12 NEWS Council criticised after late submission of accounts P . 16 The Dispatch is free but, as a not-for-profit, we need your support to ENFIELD RESIDENTS queue to enter Carlton House Surgery for their Covid-19 vaccination, after the jabs were approved for stay that way. To make a one-off donation to our use last month. GP practices are urging people to wait until they are contacted before trying to arrange an appointment. publisher Social Spider CIC, scan this QR code with your PayPal app: Local MPs team up to stop high-rise development BY JAMES CRACKNELL North seat borders the shopping tower. By all means create a night- made an assessment of the area centre and includes much of time economy, but not like this.” they would know it is not in keep- wo local MPs have both Enfield Town Conservation Area, Enfield Southgate MP Bambos ing with it. They need to be a lot said they oppose new said she could not support plans Charalambous, within whose con- more sensitive to what is good proposals for redevelop- that would threaten the “historic stituency the shopping centre sits, about Enfield Town and respect ing Enfield Town with character” of the area. is in agreement with his Labour the conservation area. That bit of Ta 26-storey tower block. She told the Dispatch: “I have met colleague. He told the Dispatch: town around Gentleman’s Row is Palace Gardens owner Deut- with the developers a couple of “It is not in keeping with Enfield the core of what makes Enfield sche Bank wants to demolish times to look at their consulta- Town, I think it needs a rework Town attractive.” Chamberlains Estates most of the ageing shopping tion and while I welcome some and I don’t think it’s appropriate Feryal added: “I am not anti- centre and build hundreds of of the proposals to improve the – I am definitely against it. towers, in the right spaces you can homes on the site to fund the shopping thoroughfares and cre- “It is in the nature [of developers] have tall buildings, but 26 storeys Residential Sales & Lettings Agents creation of a new mixed retail ate a night-time economy, Enfield to do whatever they can get away is not right for Enfield Town. area with restaurants, bars and Town is in a conservation area with and maximise their profits I want the developers to come up a boutique cinema. and it has a historic market – the and that is in their interest. This with alternatives and I am urg- But the plans announced in Octo- character of the area does not lend might be their opening gambit.” ing constituents to write to them 020 8366 3551 ber have been slammed by the two itself to a 26-storey tower. Asked for his reaction when about what they think. We have a 020 8366 3551 local MPs whose constituencies “You have one of the oldest mar- he first heard about the plans, voice and people should speak up.” The Dispatch is supported would be impacted by the pro- kets in the country and it can’t Bambos said: “I was quite shocked by Chamberlains Estates posal. Feryal Clark, whose Enfield be overshadowed by a 26-storey and I didn’t expect it. If they had CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 – turn to page 5 020 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.28 JANUARY 2021 ENFIELD DISPATCH Labour councillor resigns Crossrail 2 Vicki Pite quits Enfield Council as ‘paused’ ED. lanning work on Crossrail divisions within Labour group deepen 2 has been officially paused P after the government and o Labour councillor has Transport for London (TfL) agreed N .28 resigned from Enfield to stop funding it. Council “with enor- The proposed new rail route had JAN 2021 mous sadness”. been seen as the next major rail infra- AVicki Pite, who represented structure upgrade for the capital, but Chase ward for more than six rising costs and delays to Crossrail 1 Enfield Dispatch is years, stood down last month say- and the pressure of the pandemic on the borough's free ing she “regrets” no longer being TfL’s finances both contributed to community newspaper. able to serve local residents. the decision to halt its development. We publish monthly Although Vicki did not elaborate The line would have provided fast and distribute 10,000 on the reasons for her resignation, and regular services from several free copies of each the Dispatch understands that Enfield railway stations to central issue – and we will the decision is related to long- and south-west London and was seen running divisions within the as “vital” to supporting regeneration continue to do so Labour group. Last year, four in the east of the borough. during the ongoing Labour councillors quit the party Crossrail 2 issued a statement public health crisis. to set up a new opposition group, which said: “Crossrail 2 will still Publisher Community First. Vicki has not be needed in future to support Lon- David Floyd joined Community First and don’s growth and we have clearly remains a Labour Party member. demonstrated the case for the Editor She told the Dispatch: “Resigning scheme. The project has been put James Cracknell was a most difficult decision; one in good order, ready to be restarted Designer I took with enormous sadness. when the time is right.” I respect and thank residents who Jonathan Duncan gave me their vote in 2014 and Vicki Pite had represented Chase ward since 2014 Head of Advertising again in 2018. You’re my neigh- “She will be sorely missed by resi- the council debated and agreed a Testing Klaudia Kiss bours and I regret that I’ll not be dents and myself and I wish her all similar motion six months later. able to continue working for the the best in her political retirement.” The resignation means there are Head of Operations ward where I’ve lived for 40 years, Fellow Chase ward member and now two vacant seats on the coun- for all Paige Ballmi as a councillor at least. Labour councillor Hass Yusuf cil – the other was vacated follow- nfield Council has opened Engagement Manager “I hope that as a community activ- added: “The residents of Chase ing the death of Chris Bond in July. three “rapid testing” centres Penny Dampier ist and volunteer I’ll still have a con- Ward have lost a very hard-work- All elections and by-elections in the Ein the borough for residents tribution to make.” UK were postponed without Covid-19 symptoms to be Contributors Chase ward by the government tested without needing to make Simon Allin, Olivia councillor Dino “Resigning was a most last year because of an appointment. Devereux-Evans, Carole Lemonides, one difficult decision; one I took the pandemic. The lateral flow testing (LFT) cen- Stanley, Neil Rogers, Colin of the four who A council spokes- tres for Enfield residents were set up Lee-Own, Daniel Anderson, joined Commu- with enormous sadness” person said: “All locally to try and curb an alarming rise Leanne Kyte, Xenia nity First over the elections and refer- in the local case rate last month. The McGinley, Claire Fisher, summer following a long-standing ing councillor – but I am delighted endums have been postponed by three new test centres are at Klinger Andrew Warshaw rift with council leader Nesil Cal- that Vicki still remains a member the Coronavirus Act until 6th May Hall, Copperfield Mews, Edmonton iskan, paid tribute to his former of the Labour Party.” 2021. Unless there is a change in N18 1PF; at Kempe Hall, Kempe Road, CONTACT ward colleague Vicki. Cllr Lemon- Vicki was the first councillor to legislation, the by-election timeta- Enfield EN1 4QS, and at Brigadier ides said: “Vicki served the local call for the council to declare a ble will not start until the notice Hall, Cedar Road, Enfield EN2 0NL. Call 020 8521 7956 community and Labour Party well ‘climate emergency’ in 2019. She of election, which must be pub- All three are open daily from Email EnfieldDispatch@ during her term of office. She submitted a motion to this effect lished around 29th March 2021.” 9am–6pm. Each is capable of deliv- socialspider.com championed various causes, includ- at a council meeting in January of Cllr Caliskan declined to com- ering nearly 900 tests per day. They ing the lack of GPs and dentists, that year and although it was not ment on the reasons for Vicki complement the five test centres in ADVERTISING and poor housing in Chase ward. selected for discussion initially, resigning as a Labour councillor. the borough that offer tests for people Contact Klaudia Kiss: who have coronavirus symptoms. There is no need to book ahead with Call 07732 000 430 osseum Retail Park in Southbury. has demanded to see the financial residents without symptoms able to Email klaudia@ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 socialspider.com A 30-storey tower is now also being viability report from Deuthsche simply turn up during opening hours. Last year Enfield Council’s proposed as part of the large-scale Bank justifying the plans.