ENFIELD DISPATCH No. 13 THE BOROUGH’S FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OCT 2019 NEWS Council leader loses appeal against ruling that she bullied colleague P . 3 COMMENT A new campaign has been launched to lobby for more social housing P . 8 INTERVIEW Meet the new head of Enfield and Haringey's police team P . 11 ARTS & CULTURE Two popular classical groups team up for autumn spectacular Interfaith bike rides took place in Enfield last month to celebrate the borough's cultural diversity and unite P . 12 people against prejudice and hatred. More than 100 cyclists set off from Palmers Green Mosque and Southgate Progressive Synagogue in "a symbolic gesture of solidarity". A M E E Become a M M member of Enfield Dispatch and get Move to help keep homeless O B the paper delivered to your door each month E C – find out more R E on Page 16 families in borough B Council says it wants to stop sending vulnerable people out of Enfield BY JAMES CRACKNELL households living in temporary will help create and support more accommodation has risen by 50% accommodation, according to the stable and cohesive communities. in just five years. Earlier this year fforts by Enfield Council latest government figures. Of these, “It is not news to anyone that we the London Assembly produced a enfielddispatch.co.uk to begin “phasing out” 755 families are being forced to are in a housing crisis. While the report examining potential solu- the use of temporary live outside of the borough. cost of living continues to rise we tions to the problem, but concluded accommodation outside But now Enfield has become one are hampered by extensive cuts that more government money @EnfieldDispatch Eof the borough have been wel- of the first London local authori- to our funding and reductions to would be needed both to help comed by campaigners. ties to make such a bold promise local housing allowance rates. prevent families from being made /EnfieldDispatch The pledge was made last month on reducing out-of-borough “However, we are determined to homeless and to help councils cope by council leader Nesil Caliskan temporary accommodation place- use all the tools at our disposal with the demand for temporary as she looks to drastically cut ments. Work is beginning at to tackle the issue of temporary housing. It said many vulnerable [email protected] the £7million cost per year to Redstone House in Harlow, Essex, accommodation head on and people were being “left in tempo- the local authority of providing to return homeless families living eradicate homelessness from rary accommodation indefinitely, emergency housing. there to Enfield within six months. Enfield altogether, while sup- with no hope of acquiring secure Enfield has the second highest Cllr Caliskan said: “We are com- porting those in housing need.” affordable housing” and were number of homeless families in mitted to supporting people who Across London the number of the country, with just under 3,500 want to stay in Enfield. This in turn households living in temporary CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 2 NEWS No.13 OCTOBER 2019 ENFIELD DISPATCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and make sure temporary accom- verted into homes without plan- modation really is temporary.” ning permission or adhering to “having to choose between leaving The move has been welcomed by usual quality standards, saying she Rail boost ED. the area they call home or losing local campaign Better Homes for wanted to restrict them by imple- their temporary accommodation”. Enfield – who said it was a “relief” menting an 'Article 4' direction. A big factor in Enfield is that to see something being done. Al Sims, from Better Homes potential accommodation for local The council has recently an- for Enfield, said: “Having an o households is instead being used nounced a number of other poli- Article 4 direction will help to N .13 by other councils to house their cies aimed at tackling the housing protect local employment and own homeless families. Efforts crisis and improving the lives of ensure that flats developed from OCT 2019 will therefore be made to engage people renting privately. One is converted offices are built to a with neighbouring local authori- a proposal to force landlords to decent standard. It’s a pity that Enfield Dispatch is the ties on ways to reduce this. apply for licences in a bid to boost it’s taken so long – there have borough's free community Gina Needs, cabinet member for housing standards. The plan is been repeated warnings about Rail bosses celebrate launch of half-hourly trains newspaper. We publish social housing, added: “Nearly 60% currently out for consultation this issue – but thank you to ev- ore trains are now running monthly and distribute of temporary housing is used by but if it goes ahead would mean eryone who signed our petition.” from Meridian Water 10,000 free copies of other boroughs. On top of this, landlords have to meet conditions MStation after a new shuttle each issue to cafés, pubs, there are too many households such as carrying out safety checks “We are service to Stratford was launched. community centres, in temporary accommodation in and ensuring properties are not determined to The station in Edmonton was opened libraries, GP surgeries, Enfield. We need to take a trans- overcrowded or dangerous. tackle the issue in June as a replacement for Angel schools, hair salons, and formational approach to prevent In addition, at a council meeting Road, which was the second-least used outside railway stations. homelessness, develop relation- last month Cllr Caliskan criticised of temporary station in London. With services now ships between residents and land- 'permitted development rights' accommodation” leaving Meridian Water every half- Publisher lords to make tenancies successful, which allow offices to be con- an-hour it's hoped more people will David Floyd start to use the station – although Editor none of the 10,000 homes planned James Cracknell for the area have yet been built. The third track at Meridian Water Designer Bike scheme axed which enables more regular services Jonathan Duncan launch, the firm's co-founder and is part of a £170million upgrade Project Manager chief executive Phil Ellis told the to the Lea Valley Line by Network Anna Merryfield Dispatch: “This is not a trial – we Rail. It also includes new track and are going to be here for years.” platforms at Tottenham Hale and Contributors A council spokesperson said the Northumberland Park stations. Simon Allin, Andrew Gurr, authority had not lost any money A fourth track to boost services Cheryl-lya Broadfoot, from Beryl's suspension and that further could also soon be built, Toni Fielding, Zac Ntim, it was hoped a solution could be after Enfield Council was awarded Norma Chapman, Bob found that allowed it to return. £156m by the government to spend on Mallick, Christine Hamilton, Emma Friddin, Christina Beryl continues to operate in the infrastructure improvements at Davis, Ian Mackenzie, City of London and anyone with Meridian Water. Jo Johnson, Graham Frost, pre-bought cycling minutes on However, at the launch of half- Andrew Warshaw their Beryl account can use them hourly services on Monday 9th Sep- A Beryl hire bike dumped to hire bikes there instead. tember, Greater Anglia's head of in the Turkey Brook In better news for local cycling, corporate affairs, Jonathan Denby, told CONTACT the council has pledged to create the Dispatch: “We need to build the Call 020 8521 7956 BY JAMES CRACKNELL to be hired from were also often several “low traffic neighbour- business case – it depends how many Email EnfieldDispatch@ empty, with users finding it diffi- hoods” in the borough to help new residents use the train. In three socialspider.com andalism has led a bike cult to locate their nearest bike. make streets quieter and safer. or four years we will have a sense of Post Salisbury House, Bury hire company to suspend Beryl's withdrawal from the Deputy leader Ian Barnes said: how the patronage is growing and how Street West, Enfield N9 9LA V its scheme in Enfield – the borough is a blow to Enfield “Enfield Council is committed to make the case for extra frequency.” second such firm to do so in less Council, which had champi- to introducing low traffic neigh- ADVERTISING than two years. oned the scheme as a way to bourhoods – we have a clear vision Contact Klaudia Kiss: The decision by Beryl Bikes to make cycling more accessible for the future where residential Good value withdraw its distinctive emerald and help reduce local car jour- streets are rescued from high Call 020 8521 7956 green bicycles from the borough neys. A council spokesperson levels of speeding traffic cutting study has found Enfield to Email klaudia@ socialspider.com comes just three months after said: “Beryl made the commer- through to shave a few seconds be the “best value for money it launched. In an email to its cial decision to suspend its bike off their journeys. A borough in London”. customers, the company said the share scheme in Enfield from “We will be working with resi- The LiFE Residential London Bor- scheme would be suspended “as Monday 23rd September. dents to help return these streets oughs Study quizzed 700 Londoners we investigate issues with vandal- “Talks are ongoing between to the people who live there, creat- on a range of issues, to help estab- ism and availability of bikes”. Enfield Council and Beryl on ing places where people of all ages lish which was the best neighbour- On the very first weekend after potential next steps. Those users can walk, cycle and play without hood to live in.