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It's been a good year for the blog and Twitter and the WHamp community generally. We've had lots of meet-ups over dinner, drinks and even our first picnic. The blog was mentioned a couple of times in The Guardian and I was the only non-mainstream media person allowed to the Hampstead & Kilburn election count in May.
We had to say goodbye to some of those who attended the very first whampgather (of which there have now been five!), although they will always remain honorary locals. Even Stephen Fry has left the neighbourhood. But many new friends have appeared, and there should be plenty more chances to get to know your neighbours in 2011. Look out for all your predictions in tomorrow's New Year's Day blog.
Back to this year, and rather than try and do a review of 2010, I thought I'd set you all a short (and very easy) quiz. No prizes, it's quite lidderally "just a bit of fun". Thank you for all your support over the past 12 months - West Hampstead Life and @WHampstead would be pointless without you all.
THE QUIZ
1. How many times did Boris Johnson visit West Hampstead during the election campaign?
2. Which of these is a genuine cocktail at the Betsy Smith?
3. Election question a) What was the name of Tamsin Omond's political party?
4. Election question b) What was Glenda Jackson's winning margin over Chris Philp?
5. Who bowled the first ball in the Hampstead CC charity cricket match?
6. Which popular local live music venue announced it was closing?
7. What event opened up the Kilburn State to the public for the first time in several years?
8. Which restaurant did the whampreview gang rate highest overall in 2010?
9. What have locals found slightly peculiar about new cafe Senses?
10. Which children's author was the first recipient of a green plaque in Kilburn?
Friday, 31 December 2010
Sunday, 26 December 2010
What have I missed since December 19th?
Christmas mostly....
"What have I missed since..." is taking a well-deserved break over the holidays. It will be back in the New Year. In the meantime, enjoy the festive season and look out for the Big Whamp Quiz of the Year next week!
"What have I missed since..." is taking a well-deserved break over the holidays. It will be back in the New Year. In the meantime, enjoy the festive season and look out for the Big Whamp Quiz of the Year next week!
Sunday, 19 December 2010
What have I missed since December 12th?
While you were waiting for your deliveries from Amazon and kissing your colleague on the photocopier, what was happening in West Hampstead?
It was another quiet week, dominated of course by snow.
The closure of Brent Cross was big news on Twitter - it was even briefly a global trending topic. Otherwise there was the usual combination of photos of snowmen and complaints about the lack of grit. If you've got something to say about how the local area has coped with the sudden snowfall, add your comments on the blog.
If you're looking for some seasonal entertainment, read my review of The Nutcracker at Pentameters Theatre.
Remember, the saga of the disappearing Kilburn Christmas tree? Well, its final resting place has been revealed - it hasn't moved far - just to the permanent market on the High Road next to Argos.
Away from seasonal excitement, there are changes afoot to the way Camden consults locals on planning applications. Read more here and here.
Read the report of the Kilburn area action group meeting.
What's new?
LoveFood on West End Lane finally IS on Twitter @WeAllLoveFood (although hasn't tweeted yet)
The idiosyncratic Penguin boutique is becoming a hairdresser
Only two weeks until New Year's Eve. Where are you going to be?
The snow of course means that there's a photo of the week as well as Tweet of the Week. Photo of the week is this from @Lady_Pennyworth who sadly may not be a West Hampstead resident for much longer. There were many snowmen, but this was one of the cutest.
Now, Tweet of the Week, which does in fact include a photo (confusingly).
It was another quiet week, dominated of course by snow.
The closure of Brent Cross was big news on Twitter - it was even briefly a global trending topic. Otherwise there was the usual combination of photos of snowmen and complaints about the lack of grit. If you've got something to say about how the local area has coped with the sudden snowfall, add your comments on the blog.
If you're looking for some seasonal entertainment, read my review of The Nutcracker at Pentameters Theatre.
Remember, the saga of the disappearing Kilburn Christmas tree? Well, its final resting place has been revealed - it hasn't moved far - just to the permanent market on the High Road next to Argos.
Away from seasonal excitement, there are changes afoot to the way Camden consults locals on planning applications. Read more here and here.
Read the report of the Kilburn area action group meeting.
What's new?
LoveFood on West End Lane finally IS on Twitter @WeAllLoveFood (although hasn't tweeted yet)
The idiosyncratic Penguin boutique is becoming a hairdresser
Only two weeks until New Year's Eve. Where are you going to be?
The snow of course means that there's a photo of the week as well as Tweet of the Week. Photo of the week is this from @Lady_Pennyworth who sadly may not be a West Hampstead resident for much longer. There were many snowmen, but this was one of the cutest.
Baby it's cold outside
So, don't know whether any of you noticed, but there's been a light sprinkling of snow in NW6 over the past couple of days.
How do you think the council, TfL, and other public bodies have coped? Was enough done in advance? Was there enough grit? Have they reacted fast enough given the sudden dumping of a few inches in just a couple of hours? What else could have been done given financial constraints (remembering that despite snow in London over the past couple of years, it has been a relatively rare occurrence in the last decade or so)?
Let me know your experiences and your constructive thoughts for what could be done differently.
Remember to visit Camden's winter pages for up-to-date information on services. And here's an article from the BBC that gets behind the myth that the rest of Europe always copes better than we do.
How do you think the council, TfL, and other public bodies have coped? Was enough done in advance? Was there enough grit? Have they reacted fast enough given the sudden dumping of a few inches in just a couple of hours? What else could have been done given financial constraints (remembering that despite snow in London over the past couple of years, it has been a relatively rare occurrence in the last decade or so)?
Let me know your experiences and your constructive thoughts for what could be done differently.
Remember to visit Camden's winter pages for up-to-date information on services. And here's an article from the BBC that gets behind the myth that the rest of Europe always copes better than we do.
Tonight I'm going to party like it's 2011
I know, I know, it's not even Christmas yet, but some of you lovely people want to know what excitement is on offer on New Year's Eve in the neighbourhood. And who am I to stand between you and a continuation of your borderline alocholism.
In West Hampstead, The Gallery is having an 80s themed party. "Think 'Back to The Future', neon spandex, sweat bands, big hair and classic tunes!" Sounds more like a Fame tribute party to me. But remember people, "Fame costs, and right here's where you start paying". £20 to be precise (+ booking fee if you buy via View London).
Sister bar The Alice House is having a Masquerade Ball. "The venue will be styled with a traditional Victorian theme, cupcakes, masks, prizes at midnight, DJs and an early breakfast." Tickets for this one are a slightly eye-watering £22 - the excitement kicks off at 9.30pm and goes 'til 4am.
The Mill Lane Bistro is having its first ever New Year's Eve party. "There will be live performances, music, drinks and lots of dancing!" The bistro promises large discounts on drinks and "lots of punch". Tickets bought in advance (£8) include a free drink and the chance to win a bottle of champagne. E-mail info@milllanebistro.com. Or pay £12 on the door (no drink included).
Over in Kilburn, The Good Ship has its annual ‘don't rip off the punters’ New Years Eve Party. Doors open at 7.30pm and DJs Robot & Dinosauro will see you through the new year with "a delicious feast of best of 2010, indie dance extravaganza, post-modern new wave romance, some dirty, filthy electro madness and club classics you forgot you loved." Entry is £5 in advance, £7 on the night (although it usually sells out in advance). Email john@thegoodship.co.uk to reserve tickets.
The Betsy Smith lives up to its slightly kooky image with Cirque de la Nuit. "Expect acrobatic mixology and fantastical feats by performers including Caged Lions and Tiger Dancers as well as the most weirdest and wonderful clown interludes." There are 2-for-1 cocktails (7-9pm), dance floor favourites from guest DJ Final Conflict and a 4am licence. Tickets are £10 in advance but £20 on the night.
The North London Tavern is holding a Mad Hatters Dinner Party with Mock Turtle soup, Queen of Hearts Tart, a White Rabbit terrine, Warm Pigs Belly & Roast Dodo. Bookings on 0207 625 6634 or northlondontavern@realpubs.co.uk. Prizes for best costume and the bar is open until 2am. There's a cover charge on the door for non-diners, but no tickets are available in advance. Am finding out the cost [watch this space]
The Westbury hosts "The Nextmen with their up-tempo, hip hop beats. Four hands, four decks, four times the fun! Assisting in the musical mash-up will be DJ Vadim with his eclectic vibe, enlisted by the talents of The Westbury's favourite residents." Doors open at 8pm, but get there any time before 9.30pm for a free cocktail. Buy your £20 tickets here.
Anything I've missed, please add into the comments, or mail me.
In West Hampstead, The Gallery is having an 80s themed party. "Think 'Back to The Future', neon spandex, sweat bands, big hair and classic tunes!" Sounds more like a Fame tribute party to me. But remember people, "Fame costs, and right here's where you start paying". £20 to be precise (+ booking fee if you buy via View London).
Sister bar The Alice House is having a Masquerade Ball. "The venue will be styled with a traditional Victorian theme, cupcakes, masks, prizes at midnight, DJs and an early breakfast." Tickets for this one are a slightly eye-watering £22 - the excitement kicks off at 9.30pm and goes 'til 4am.
The Mill Lane Bistro is having its first ever New Year's Eve party. "There will be live performances, music, drinks and lots of dancing!" The bistro promises large discounts on drinks and "lots of punch". Tickets bought in advance (£8) include a free drink and the chance to win a bottle of champagne. E-mail info@milllanebistro.com. Or pay £12 on the door (no drink included).
Over in Kilburn, The Good Ship has its annual ‘don't rip off the punters’ New Years Eve Party. Doors open at 7.30pm and DJs Robot & Dinosauro will see you through the new year with "a delicious feast of best of 2010, indie dance extravaganza, post-modern new wave romance, some dirty, filthy electro madness and club classics you forgot you loved." Entry is £5 in advance, £7 on the night (although it usually sells out in advance). Email john@thegoodship.co.uk to reserve tickets.
The Betsy Smith lives up to its slightly kooky image with Cirque de la Nuit. "Expect acrobatic mixology and fantastical feats by performers including Caged Lions and Tiger Dancers as well as the most weirdest and wonderful clown interludes." There are 2-for-1 cocktails (7-9pm), dance floor favourites from guest DJ Final Conflict and a 4am licence. Tickets are £10 in advance but £20 on the night.
The North London Tavern is holding a Mad Hatters Dinner Party with Mock Turtle soup, Queen of Hearts Tart, a White Rabbit terrine, Warm Pigs Belly & Roast Dodo. Bookings on 0207 625 6634 or northlondontavern@realpubs.co.uk. Prizes for best costume and the bar is open until 2am. There's a cover charge on the door for non-diners, but no tickets are available in advance. Am finding out the cost [watch this space]
The Westbury hosts "The Nextmen with their up-tempo, hip hop beats. Four hands, four decks, four times the fun! Assisting in the musical mash-up will be DJ Vadim with his eclectic vibe, enlisted by the talents of The Westbury's favourite residents." Doors open at 8pm, but get there any time before 9.30pm for a free cocktail. Buy your £20 tickets here.
Anything I've missed, please add into the comments, or mail me.
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Review: The Nutcracker at Pentameters Theatre
This was my first time at Hampstead's smallest theatre. Pentameters is a tiny space with about 50 seats, accessed from some narrow stairs behind The Horseshoe pub on Heath Street. The stage is surprisingly big and, for this adaptation of The Nutcracker, creatively adorned.
Purists expecting a faithful rendition of Tchaikovsky's ballet are in for a shock. Theatre company Butterfly Wheels has developed a slightly sinister adaptation of the classic story in which a child's Christmas reality and fantasy collide. Unfortunately, the execution does not live up to the creative ambition.
Aside from the instantly recognisable Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (who is portrayed as some gilded homage to the Maschinenmensch in Fritz Lang's Metropolis), the music veers to the contemporary. At times this lends the whole production the feel of a German high school's attempt at rock opera. And not entirely in a good way.
The story itself is told in a rather staccato fashion, and at times the libretto feels as wooden as the Nutcracker himself although there are some nice multimedia elements. The only male actor in the production, Tim C J Chew, is quite good as the Prince and the dolls that come to life are entertaining in a pantomime sort of way but one leaves the theatre feeling more bewildered than enchanted.
At £12 for adults (£10 concessions, £5 for under 5s, but seriously don't take your under-5) it's quite expensive, especially when you consider that for £15 you can see the outstanding Midsummer at the Tricycle. However, if you're flush with cash this Christmas holiday season and like a healthy dash of alternative with your festivities then maybe wend your way up to Pentameters for something a little different. Take your 9-year-old - they'll probably love it.
Purists expecting a faithful rendition of Tchaikovsky's ballet are in for a shock. Theatre company Butterfly Wheels has developed a slightly sinister adaptation of the classic story in which a child's Christmas reality and fantasy collide. Unfortunately, the execution does not live up to the creative ambition.
Aside from the instantly recognisable Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (who is portrayed as some gilded homage to the Maschinenmensch in Fritz Lang's Metropolis), the music veers to the contemporary. At times this lends the whole production the feel of a German high school's attempt at rock opera. And not entirely in a good way.
The story itself is told in a rather staccato fashion, and at times the libretto feels as wooden as the Nutcracker himself although there are some nice multimedia elements. The only male actor in the production, Tim C J Chew, is quite good as the Prince and the dolls that come to life are entertaining in a pantomime sort of way but one leaves the theatre feeling more bewildered than enchanted.
At £12 for adults (£10 concessions, £5 for under 5s, but seriously don't take your under-5) it's quite expensive, especially when you consider that for £15 you can see the outstanding Midsummer at the Tricycle. However, if you're flush with cash this Christmas holiday season and like a healthy dash of alternative with your festivities then maybe wend your way up to Pentameters for something a little different. Take your 9-year-old - they'll probably love it.
The Nutcracker runs until January 6th at Pentameters Theatre.
Ring the box office on 020 7435 3648
*Disclaimer: I received a free ticket courtesy of the theatre
Monday, 13 December 2010
Christmas craft courses
Ok - I don't normally do free advertising like this but, as it's Christmas, I'm making an exception.
Fortune Green Interiors (who had a stall at the Christmas Market) is running a Christmas fingerpuppet knitting course on Thursday evening [Ed 15/12: this has been cancelled due to illness] and a Christmas card lino print course on the 22nd (for those last-minute cards I guess). Click the thumbnail for details.
Fortune Green Interiors (who had a stall at the Christmas Market) is running a Christmas fingerpuppet knitting course on Thursday evening [Ed 15/12: this has been cancelled due to illness] and a Christmas card lino print course on the 22nd (for those last-minute cards I guess). Click the thumbnail for details.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
What have I missed since December 5th?
While you were throwing paint at the Royal Rolls and wishing Wagner was still in X Factor, what was happening "in da hood" (as we never refer to it)?
Well, not a lot in fact. It was a very quiet week in West Hampstead.
The saga of Kilburn's Christmas tree continued. The Kilburn Times covered it (obviously), but even the Daily Mail picked up the story (scroll down) although both for the "Glenda no-show" angle rather than the "where is the tree now?" question.
West Hampstead's inaugural Christmas market was a success.
There was a sighting of the local graffiti fox on the side of Tescos.
The Railway has installed 3DTV and showed its first match this Sunday.
This week sees the Kilburn area Action Group (that's for those of you in Camden's Kilburn ward) on Wednesday 15th at the Abbey Hive Community Centre at 7pm
.
Next Sunday there's panto at Kingsgate Community Centre. Oh no there isn't. etc. etc. Details here.
And that's it... for this week. Told you it was quiet... apart from Tweet of the Week of course.
Well, not a lot in fact. It was a very quiet week in West Hampstead.
The saga of Kilburn's Christmas tree continued. The Kilburn Times covered it (obviously), but even the Daily Mail picked up the story (scroll down) although both for the "Glenda no-show" angle rather than the "where is the tree now?" question.
West Hampstead's inaugural Christmas market was a success.
There was a sighting of the local graffiti fox on the side of Tescos.
The Railway has installed 3DTV and showed its first match this Sunday.
This week sees the Kilburn area Action Group (that's for those of you in Camden's Kilburn ward) on Wednesday 15th at the Abbey Hive Community Centre at 7pm
.
Next Sunday there's panto at Kingsgate Community Centre. Oh no there isn't. etc. etc. Details here.
And that's it... for this week. Told you it was quiet... apart from Tweet of the Week of course.
Christmas market success
There was a pleasingly busy flow of browsers and shoppers around West End Green on Saturday for the first ever West Hampstead Christmas market. In mercifully mild and dry weather, local businesses and craftspeople had a good selection of stalls. Feedback from both stallholders and residents was generally positive and fingers crossed that this will become an annual event. It would be nice if next year we could have a bigger tree and maybe more seasonal entertainment in the space in the middle.
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Monday, 6 December 2010
What have I missed since November 28th?
It's been a busy week of snowy excitement - but while you were reading Wikileaks, what whampleaks did you miss?
On Monday, local residents got together for an area action group meeting to discuss transport, shops and the budget cuts. Sadly, it wasn't the most representative group of West Hampstead residents.
On Thursday, a different group of locals (with three overlaps) got together at Whampgather V.
One of those overlaps was Lib Dem councillor Keith Moffitt, who gets the first Tweet(s) of the Week:
Kilburn's Christmas tree was switched on by the Mayor of Brent on Friday evening - by Saturday morning it had disappeared. Apparently Kilburn Business Friends could afford only one night's insurance.
Will Kilburn's "Sports & Arts" bar get a licence. It seems unlikely. Here's the licence application, and two background articles.
A woman on a very late tube was intimidated and assaulted by a girl gang at Kilburn station - for just 50p.
Back in West Hampstead, the West End Green Christmas tree underwhelmed.
But there are plenty of exciting Christmas shopping opportunities in the area.
There's some disagreement about whether to extend the West End Green conservation area.
Camden and Islington will not be sharing a chief executive, as was mooted earlier in the year.
Cuts were debated in the council chamber. Local councillor Nancy Jirira had strong words in advance for Labour - and for her own Lib Dem party nationally.
Library cuts are inevitable. Cllr Tulip Siddiq posted the annual cost of each Camden library, but told me (in the second of our Tweet(s) of the Week:
The Railway reacted positively to some complaints about early morning noise.
Explore Learning is opening in Fortune Green and is on Twitter.
So, yes, it snowed, and that means there's a Photo of the Week, this from (and copyright) @antjebormann
Was tough to pick a final tweet of the week this week, but here's the winner
On Monday, local residents got together for an area action group meeting to discuss transport, shops and the budget cuts. Sadly, it wasn't the most representative group of West Hampstead residents.
On Thursday, a different group of locals (with three overlaps) got together at Whampgather V.
One of those overlaps was Lib Dem councillor Keith Moffitt, who gets the first Tweet(s) of the Week:
@KeithMoffitt: Just pondering what utterly different occasions #whampgather and #whampareaforum were!In the bleak midwinter, why not go to The Tricycle to see the astonishingly good Midsummer.
Kilburn's Christmas tree was switched on by the Mayor of Brent on Friday evening - by Saturday morning it had disappeared. Apparently Kilburn Business Friends could afford only one night's insurance.
Will Kilburn's "Sports & Arts" bar get a licence. It seems unlikely. Here's the licence application, and two background articles.
A woman on a very late tube was intimidated and assaulted by a girl gang at Kilburn station - for just 50p.
Back in West Hampstead, the West End Green Christmas tree underwhelmed.
But there are plenty of exciting Christmas shopping opportunities in the area.
There's some disagreement about whether to extend the West End Green conservation area.
Camden and Islington will not be sharing a chief executive, as was mooted earlier in the year.
Cuts were debated in the council chamber. Local councillor Nancy Jirira had strong words in advance for Labour - and for her own Lib Dem party nationally.
Library cuts are inevitable. Cllr Tulip Siddiq posted the annual cost of each Camden library, but told me (in the second of our Tweet(s) of the Week:
@TulipSiddiq no decisions on individual libraries will be made until we complete an extensive consultation with library usersPizza Lupa has won a pizza award.
The Railway reacted positively to some complaints about early morning noise.
Explore Learning is opening in Fortune Green and is on Twitter.
So, yes, it snowed, and that means there's a Photo of the Week, this from (and copyright) @antjebormann
Was tough to pick a final tweet of the week this week, but here's the winner
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Blowing my own blog trumpet
Some of you may have noticed that last month I added a little badge on the right with my Wikio London Blog ranking. This is based mostly on other blogs in the list linking to you and is therefore of dubious import what with so many of these blogs having their own local focus. Moving up and down the list is indeed dependent on one of the big London-wide blogs giving you a shout-out.
Which is what happened this month, when I spotted that West Hampstead had been missed off this tube map that used font names instead of stations. Annie Mole of the London Underground blog duly linked back to me and I've shot up from No.51 to No.25 in the rankings as a result (not sure when the widget updates, but Wikio sent me a sneak preview of the new list a couple of days ago). All well and good, although frankly I'm more concerned that the blog is of interest to my local readers than to anyone else, otherwise what's the point!
December's Wikio "London Blog" rankings
Ranking made by Wikio
Which is what happened this month, when I spotted that West Hampstead had been missed off this tube map that used font names instead of stations. Annie Mole of the London Underground blog duly linked back to me and I've shot up from No.51 to No.25 in the rankings as a result (not sure when the widget updates, but Wikio sent me a sneak preview of the new list a couple of days ago). All well and good, although frankly I'm more concerned that the blog is of interest to my local readers than to anyone else, otherwise what's the point!
December's Wikio "London Blog" rankings
| 1 | dezeen |
| 2 | Londonist |
| 3 | Going Underground's Blog |
| ..... | |
| 25 | West Hampstead Life |
Ranking made by Wikio
Whampgather V - the saga continues
The fifth whampgather - a local tweet-up/party/excuse for drinking - took place on Thursday at The Lion on West End Lane in West Hampstead. Once again, it was fantastic to welcome familiar faces and plenty of new friends into the community.
There seemed to be a healthy dose of mingling taking place, which is sort of the point, and it was great to put faces to names of people I've been corresponding with for many months but had yet to meet.
Inevitably, a small contingent carried on the revelry at The Lower Ground Bar but, as those of us who are post-whampgather regulars know, what happens at the Lower Ground Bar stays at the Lower Ground Bar.
Mistakenly, I agreed to list the names of everyone who attended the next day on Twitter and then terribly embarrassingly missed a couple of people out. There were some people there I didn't even get to speak to at all - but with a total turnout of more than 50 people that's perhaps forgivable. For those of who you are on Twitter, you can find everyone who's ever attended a whampgather, whampreview or any other of our whampevents on this list.
Expect the next whampgather to take place in the spring - hopefully with DJ Stoney behind the decks (or his laptop). To make sure you don't miss out, follow the #whampgather hashtag on twitter, and/or sign up to the mailing list, which gives you a weekly round-up of local news and announcements of forthcoming events.
Thanks to everyone for coming, and roll on Whampgather VI. Meanwhile, a few photos (which seem to make it look a bit bloke-heavy, but actually was about 50/50).
There seemed to be a healthy dose of mingling taking place, which is sort of the point, and it was great to put faces to names of people I've been corresponding with for many months but had yet to meet.
Inevitably, a small contingent carried on the revelry at The Lower Ground Bar but, as those of us who are post-whampgather regulars know, what happens at the Lower Ground Bar stays at the Lower Ground Bar.
Mistakenly, I agreed to list the names of everyone who attended the next day on Twitter and then terribly embarrassingly missed a couple of people out. There were some people there I didn't even get to speak to at all - but with a total turnout of more than 50 people that's perhaps forgivable. For those of who you are on Twitter, you can find everyone who's ever attended a whampgather, whampreview or any other of our whampevents on this list.
Expect the next whampgather to take place in the spring - hopefully with DJ Stoney behind the decks (or his laptop). To make sure you don't miss out, follow the #whampgather hashtag on twitter, and/or sign up to the mailing list, which gives you a weekly round-up of local news and announcements of forthcoming events.
Thanks to everyone for coming, and roll on Whampgather VI. Meanwhile, a few photos (which seem to make it look a bit bloke-heavy, but actually was about 50/50).
Thursday, 2 December 2010
West Hampstead Christmas shopping
Given that it's now December and it's snowing, I think it's perfectly reasonable to do a quick round-up of the best places for Christmas shopping in West Hampstead.
Since Dizar sadly closed, North West 6 on the corner of West End Lane and Blackburn Road is the only full-on gift shop on the street with a suitable collection of small bits and pieces, including jewellery, mugs, and Secret Santa sort of presents.
West End Lane Books should do a roaring trade this month – and don't be shy of asking the staff for advice too. The bookshop even has a Christmas Shopping Day on December 9th when everything is 15% off from 9am-9pm and there's mulled wine and mince pies available in the evening *drool.
The Kitchener is fast becoming something of a local favourite. It is now rammed full of great things – not just basic kitchenware, but festive treats, spices, a good selection of cards and of course everything for the chef in your life. Want Christmas tree-shaped brownies? Get the moulds there.
If your loved ones are more into eating food than making it then you're in luck. Peppercorns, LoveFood and Gustoso on West End Lane all sell foodie gifts. You can also order your Christmas meat and turkey from The Kitchen Stores on Mill Lane, and pick up chocolate, Christmas puddings and mince pies while you're there.
For something more alternative and just a smidge further afield, why not go to Ms Marmite Lover's Underground Farmers' Market this Sunday afternoon , where there'll be artisan wrapping paper, home-made liqueurs, cheese, sausages and Christmas puddings. Seriously, what's not to like? You do have to buy £5 tickets in advance, and that will reveal the location – but it's not too far away!
Of course the charity shops are a great source of gifts and cards, and heaven knows there are enough of them on West End Lane. Oxfam is probably the best for new (as opposed to second-hand) gifts. There are also Card Aid outlets at the Hampstead community centre and at the Hampstead Theatre in Swiss Cottage when open.
If you like your Christmas just a little bit retro then you have to go along to tea-room extraordinaire bake-a-boo on Sunday from 2pm-6pm for its "Walking in a Vintage Wonderland" event. There'll be vintage clothing, jewellery, flowers, nostalgic gifts, one off pieces made from vintage fabrics and of course edible gifts.
While you're on Mill Lane, check out some of the art for sale in Thou Art in Hampstead – it doesn't just frame pictures, it also sells them.
Thinking about decorating the house? Christmas trees are available from Homebase and the Hampstead Garden Centre on Iverson Road. Any why not pop along to Achillea Flowers on Mill Lane for a winter wreath. Homebase (don't turn your nose up) does cheap and perfectly decent decorations – that is if you don't feel the need to go over to Habitat in the O2 centre for this year's colours.
So, whatever you want to buy this festive season why not buy locally where possible. Check out the local business directory for all the shops in the area, and LoveCamden for special offers.
Buying local might be a pound or so more than ordering online but it's a lot more fun, you know it will arrive on time and you'll be supporting local businesses at the end of what has been a very difficult year.
Since Dizar sadly closed, North West 6 on the corner of West End Lane and Blackburn Road is the only full-on gift shop on the street with a suitable collection of small bits and pieces, including jewellery, mugs, and Secret Santa sort of presents.
West End Lane Books should do a roaring trade this month – and don't be shy of asking the staff for advice too. The bookshop even has a Christmas Shopping Day on December 9th when everything is 15% off from 9am-9pm and there's mulled wine and mince pies available in the evening *drool.
The Kitchener is fast becoming something of a local favourite. It is now rammed full of great things – not just basic kitchenware, but festive treats, spices, a good selection of cards and of course everything for the chef in your life. Want Christmas tree-shaped brownies? Get the moulds there.
If your loved ones are more into eating food than making it then you're in luck. Peppercorns, LoveFood and Gustoso on West End Lane all sell foodie gifts. You can also order your Christmas meat and turkey from The Kitchen Stores on Mill Lane, and pick up chocolate, Christmas puddings and mince pies while you're there.
For something more alternative and just a smidge further afield, why not go to Ms Marmite Lover's Underground Farmers' Market this Sunday afternoon , where there'll be artisan wrapping paper, home-made liqueurs, cheese, sausages and Christmas puddings. Seriously, what's not to like? You do have to buy £5 tickets in advance, and that will reveal the location – but it's not too far away!
Of course the charity shops are a great source of gifts and cards, and heaven knows there are enough of them on West End Lane. Oxfam is probably the best for new (as opposed to second-hand) gifts. There are also Card Aid outlets at the Hampstead community centre and at the Hampstead Theatre in Swiss Cottage when open.
If you like your Christmas just a little bit retro then you have to go along to tea-room extraordinaire bake-a-boo on Sunday from 2pm-6pm for its "Walking in a Vintage Wonderland" event. There'll be vintage clothing, jewellery, flowers, nostalgic gifts, one off pieces made from vintage fabrics and of course edible gifts.
While you're on Mill Lane, check out some of the art for sale in Thou Art in Hampstead – it doesn't just frame pictures, it also sells them.
Thinking about decorating the house? Christmas trees are available from Homebase and the Hampstead Garden Centre on Iverson Road. Any why not pop along to Achillea Flowers on Mill Lane for a winter wreath. Homebase (don't turn your nose up) does cheap and perfectly decent decorations – that is if you don't feel the need to go over to Habitat in the O2 centre for this year's colours.
Don't do all your Christmas shopping too early though – you'll miss the main event on Saturday 11th. The West End Lane Christmas market on West End Green promises to be excellent and I can reveal that stallholders include Zana Boutique, The Pink Petshop, Fortune Green Interiors, Achillea Flowers, bake a boo, Kitchen Table, Mill Lane Garden project, Rooms Above and Chocolo. There will also be stalls from independent local craftspeople selling jewellery, bags, tea towels, stained glass, cards, and knitwear. There may still be room for a couple more if anyone's interested? Contact westhampsteadxmasmarket@gmail.com for more.
Local businesses in West Hampstead are also offering various discounts and promotions on the day, including West End Lane Books, Chez Chantal, David's Deli, Walnut, Insight Opticians, Mill Lane Barbers, Holistic Hair and Beauty, Robert Brennan Fitness, The Alliance, Mill Lane Vets and Hair by Red.
Local businesses in West Hampstead are also offering various discounts and promotions on the day, including West End Lane Books, Chez Chantal, David's Deli, Walnut, Insight Opticians, Mill Lane Barbers, Holistic Hair and Beauty, Robert Brennan Fitness, The Alliance, Mill Lane Vets and Hair by Red.
So, whatever you want to buy this festive season why not buy locally where possible. Check out the local business directory for all the shops in the area, and LoveCamden for special offers.
Buying local might be a pound or so more than ordering online but it's a lot more fun, you know it will arrive on time and you'll be supporting local businesses at the end of what has been a very difficult year.
Midsummer [a play with songs] at The Tricycle Theatre: review
Midsummer was a hit at Edinburgh. It is actually set in Edinburgh at midsummer and is simply a story of boy meets girl, or rather girl meets boy. The girl is a divorce lawyer, the boy a petty criminal. Over the course of the play they let us look into their lives as 35 year-olds. They don’t especially like what they see, but we love them. We cannot help but love them.
It is an astonishingly good play. David Greig's script (he also directs) flows effortlessly and convincingly from appropriate dialogue to poetic musings. Attempts to do this jar in many modern scripts, but never once does it seem out of place here. The staging is great - there’s no interval, no set changes, and definitely no fourth wall. With just a bed and a few props, the cast of two work their magic. Yes, just a cast of two. At times they each morph into other characters – which sounds odd but works brilliantly. I can't recall seeing a production that plays so smartly with the suspension of disbelief yet never once disengages you from the unfolding drama.
The two actors are faultless. Cora Bissett perhaps has the edge, but it’s really unfair to split them. Matthew Pidgeon turns "Robert... Rob... Bob... fuck" into a tragic hero on a par with the best. These two are a double act and utterly convincing. Over a drink after the play I tried hard to think of faults with this production and struggled to find one.
Throughout Midsummer there are musical interludes penned by Gordon McIntyre – it is after all "a play with songs". These work rather well – rather like music in a TV drama, except here it’s the cast that sing and play guitar. Again, sounds a bit odd – works like a dream. Seems a bit Dennis Potter doesn't it. Well, he was brilliant too.
I can’t recommend this highly enough. It is both hilariously funny, utterly engaging and incredibly moving as the characters come to terms with what they are doing with their lives. And it’s on our doorstep. Go and see it.
Midsummer runs until January 29th at the Tricycle Theatre.
*Disclaimer: I received a free ticket courtesy of the theatre
Area group postscript : Burn, baby, burn
After the Area Group meeting had disbanded, West Hampstead Lib Dem councillor Nancy Jirira approached me to make what were distinctly party-political points.
“The Labour party in Camden," she said "needs to be managing more efficiently, rather than just focusing on 'cuts cuts cuts'". She accused Labour - now in control of Camden council - of a lack of imagination, and argued that the proposed cuts were “officer-led” decisions rather than being developed by political debate.
"There could be much more business process re-engineering," she argued (that’s 'doing things better' to you and me), based on her experiences of working for a local PCT. She couldn't tell me what proportion of the £80 million in cuts could be delivered through efficiency savings vs. cuts to services/programmes.
She also thought that Labour, as the opposition party nationally, should be holding the government to account, even though her own party is in government. In fact, she came come across as disillusioned and disappointed with Labour as a whole. Which is no doubt how many in her own party feel about the path that their own leadership has taken them down.
She also said that it was crazy that schoolchildren were going on demos, and seemed to be blaming Labour for that too. I pointed out that most of the anger about changes to education funding was being directed towards Lib Dems over the broken promise on tuition fees.
In what may be a representative position of Lib Dem councillors across the country* she was clearly extremely sympathetic to the protestors. “They can burn Nick Clegg’s effigy if they want,” she said, which is an odd thing to say about the leader of your own party.
Do other Camden Lib Dems hold similar (if less publicly expressed) views? Will all six West Hampstead and Fortune Green councillors run under the Lib Dem banner again? Might some with a strong personal reputation be better placed running as independents given that the Lib Dems could get hammered the next time we go to the voting booth?
*wild speculation - probably
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
West Hampstead & Fortune Green area action group
On a cold Monday evening, Liberal Democrat councillor Keith Moffitt (West Hampstead) kicked off the first combined area action group meeting. This is the successor to the local area forums. All six of the local councillors were present (all Lib Dems).
The audience – around 80 people, the vast majority being older members of the community – settled down as Keith mentioned that they had publicised the event on Twitter and on the two local blogs. He asked if anyone except me had come because they had seen it promoted online. No-one had.
A man behind me said sotto voce "Twitter is one of the most ridiculous pointless things I've ever heard of". I wondered whether he'd ever even seen it. Keith introduced me, which I wasn’t quite expecting, but I sensed only mild curiosity rather than active interest.
There was a really quick rundown of projects funded by the £10,000 per ward improvement fund (inevitably that isn’t being offered again). These included two new benches (Agememnon Rd/Ulysses Rd and top of Fortune Green Rd); a “give-and take” event at Emmanuel School in March; new dog/litter bins and hanging baskets on Mill Lane.
One project – improvements to the paved area around the library – has yet to happen, but it is still being planned. A plan to use Mill Lane Bridge as a community art project had to be shelved due to health & safety concerns apparently.
Thameslink station
The session kicked off with a team from the Thameslink programme bringing us up to speed on the developments at West Hampstead Thameslink station. They had a powerpoint presentation that no-one could read, which was ill-thought out. The headline news is that the platforms will be ready for the longer 12-carriage trains by December 2011, but the new trains won't be fully installed until 2015.
The plans for the station on Iverson Road have had to be adapted to bring it within budget. The changes are largely in materials although it’s clear that the initial plans were on the ambitious side. The station is also due for completion in December 2011.
As you all know, the pavement is being substantially widened on the north side of Iverson Road. The existing embankment is being built up and paved, and this should alleviate some of the congestion between the stations.
The design of the wall running from West End Lane to the station has been adjusted – and will now be a flat wall rather than with “profiled bricks”. There's been an invisible change to some water flow issue and the zinc roof is becoming aluminium, so will look different from above but not from ground level (makes you wonder why they went for zinc in the first place).
Finally, the sedum roof (i.e. the one covered in greenery) is being replaced by a separate larger area of grass at ground level.
All the construction materials will now be delivered trackside and not by road, so there shouldn't be road congestion. The timetable is also designed to ensure that work takes place on weekdays during working hours.
There were plenty of audience questions, and rather a lot of talking at cross-purposes. Someone pointed out that with all the street clutter outside Starbucks, Costa etc., this was still a pinch point. Keith explained there would be a sizeable project in 2011 to widen West End Lane pavements, and that tackling this issue would be part of the January phase of that (the plan is for work to be done up the west side of WEL and then back down the east side. Expect more traffic disruption for most of next year then).
There was another question about how a car club has procured more spaces than it had apparently bid for, which went unanswered, and one woman appeared disproportionately angry that the pavement had been widened on both side of the street without consultation. Keith said he thought this might just have been a lack of clarity on the diagrams, to which she replied rather ominously, "Lets hope for your sake it is".
There was a more measured question about lighting. Network Rail explained that there will be strip downlighting all along the wall between West End Lane and the station, and the footbridge will also be lit. This should minimize glare for residents, while ensuring enough light for safety.
The existing station on the north side of the bridge will close, and there will be ticket barriers under a weatherproof shelter there that will be manned (or left open). There will also be ticket machines.
Strangely, despite the longer platforms, there is no provision for extra platform signage. Given the frequent platform changes and running delays on the service, the information boards are of course very useful, but clearly they won’t be visible from further along. Roger Perkins, the communications manager for the Thameslink Programme, said he would look into this and that there may be some other sources of funding available. It seems crazy to extend platforms and not think about extra signage.
Roger then explained the service improvements. As was announced last week (and mentioned on my weekly round-up) the Thameslink programme survived the spending review but the completion date has been pushed back from 2016 to 2018. This drew inevitable groans.
The new trains won’t appear until 2015 (although there will be a few longer trains in service from the end of 2011 using leased carriages) but even then very few if any will stop at West Hampstead. Priority for the extra capacity will go to the fast commuter trains from Bedford that are fast from St Albans. Most of the trains that stop at West Hampstead head down to the Wimbledoon loop, where many of the stations can’t be extended.
It began to dawn on everyone that we’re enduring quite a lot of disruption for not much immediate benefit. Eventually of course, more longer trains will be rolled out and services that do not go down to Wimbledon will use them. The major benefit to locals will be that there will be new routes opening up beyond the Bedford-Brighton/Sutton services, but these routes are yet to be decided.
Roger also said that 5,000 seats had already been added to rush hour trains – but again, not necessarily to services stopping at West Hampstead.
Appropriately, Keith now announced that we were now running 20 minutes late.
Policing
Seargeant Dave Timms of the West Hampstead Safer Neighbourhood Team spoke very briefly and wanted some input/feedback on how best the SNTs might be deployed. As he explained, they were suffering from funding restrictions like everyone else so they are very open to hearing how the public would like them to operate and whether the current organisation (where they are strictly ward-based) was appropriate. You can contact the team here.
Shopping
New West Hampstead councillor Gillian Risso-Gill then discussed the issue of shops on West End Lane and Mill Lane. This is a emotive issue, as we know from the response to the “Changing Streetscape” blog from August.
She argued that West End Lane was faring relatively well in the aftermath of the recession, with very few units remaining empty for long. Glo of course being an exception and Mill Lane showing a more mixed picture. She argued that Tesco can live alongside independent shops and helps increase footfall. This met with a mixed reaction from the crowd.
Apparently, no-one other than Sainsbury’s had expressed any interest in the Best-One site. She also said that Penguin – the vintage boutique opposite the Overground station – is closing due to retirement rather than for financial reasons.
The main thrust of her talk was that we should look at other avenues for smaller retailers, such as markets. There was notable vocal support for a farmers market, although the issue of where it would be is tricky. The Christmas market, which is very clearly a retail opportunity and not a ‘festival’, will be on West End Green, but this is probably not big enough for a full-scale farmers market.
Someone asked what happened to the market that used to be at the O2 car park, which has moved to Eton Avenue (perhaps not realising that the car park solution was in fact temporary and the market was originally in Swiss Cottage).
A woman who works at West End Lane Books argued that the lack of parking was a big problem and stopped people from coming to West End Lane. This wasn’t especially well received by the councillors. Surely, if we’re trying to get local people to local shops then they can walk or use buses? It’s very hard to see much being done to increase parking in the area.
A more sophisticated issue is that of rates and rents and planning use. One local businessman said he knew of two chain restaurants that were actively looking to move into the area, but wouldn’t say which.
He also said he’d heard a rumour that M&S was going to take the Pizza Express site. This is an extension of the rumour a while back that Sainsbury’s was going to take that site, which a Pizza Express spokesperson categorically refuted when I put it to them earlier in the year. I am not convinced that site would work for M&S, but we shall see.
“Multiples” (as chains are called in the business) do of course bring footfall, but they can also afford to pay top whack in terms of rents, which raises the baseline level on the street, squeezing out smaller players. The audience member cited examples where rents had rocketed from £28,000 to £43,000 with change of use and suggested that the planning department could do more to control these changes of use.
Someone suggested whether Camden could turn a unit into a sort of permanent pop-up shop, allowing rotating use of the space. The idea was well received, but Keith pointed out that the council doesn’t own any units on West End Lane. Whether they could enquire/put pressure on landlords of empty units when they are available remains to be seen.
Not surprisingly, the issue of Tesco (and soon Sainsbury’s) delivery lorries came up. Fortune Green councillor Flick Rea explained that the Tesco on her patch had been expected to use a delivery point at the back of the building but it turned out the lorries couldn’t access this service area because it was too low. She is looking at getting a delivery bay built into the street as there is room there.
The West End Lane Tesco remains a problem as the company sees the constant parking fines as simply part of the cost of doing business.
A man from Fawley Road asked what he admitted was a NIMBY question about where Sainsbury’s delivery lorries would park. Flick said that she hoped it would be possible to have a conversation with Sainsbury’s about this, as they were more socially amenable than Tesco.
Budget cuts
The final topic of the evening was the budget cuts in Camden. By the time you read this, these will have been debated in the council chamber, and at this stage the programme of cuts is light on detail. Keith pointed out before the discussion started that legally this couldn’t be a party-political discussion as it is funded by the council*.
Given that much of this was hypothetical I shall keep this section short and wait until the budget plans have been approved for a longer discussion of how cuts will affect West Hampstead.
The nub of the issue is that Camden needs to cut £80 to £100 million of its budget, which is approximately 10%. Councils of course have statutory commitments and discretionary roles. Camden historically has been a council that has prided itself on going the extra mile but inevitably some of these discretionary services would have to be cut or provided by the voluntary or private sectors.
Keith also pointed out that there would be job cuts: 1,000 positions would go although many would happen through early retirement or posts not being filled rather than redundancies. However, plenty of jobs are on the line.
Libraries are one service that always receives a lot of publicity. It seems inevitable that some Camden libraries will close. Keith seemed reasonably confident that West Hampstead would not be one of them. However, whether it can remain in its current state is not clear. It is expensive to run (behind me a voice whispered authoritatively that it costs £290,000 a year to run WH library of which half is staff costs).
There was some confusion as to whether the mobile library service had already been cut or not. A tweet the following day from Camden suggested that it hadn’t been cancelled just yet and Alan Templeton from the Camden Public Libraries User Group (CPLUG) seemed to think that nothing had been definitively decided. However, he also believed that council officers had already decided which libraries were for the chop, suggesting Belsize, Chalk Farm and Highgate as the most likely casualties. He argued that no library was safe however, and locals should definitely adopt a “use it or lose it” attitude.
Other conversations discussed community centres and children’s services/play services. Keith mentioned the rebuilding/expansion of Emmanuel School, which has been discussed at length already. The issue of whether the possible new primary school on Liddell Road is the best location was also mentioned but not discussed.
And that was that. Not everyone had stayed to the end, and most scarpered off into the dark cold night as soon as the meeting was brought to a close. Surprisingly, no-one asked anything about the proposed student accommodation, although Keith mentioned it and there was a handout about it.
The audience – around 80 people, the vast majority being older members of the community – settled down as Keith mentioned that they had publicised the event on Twitter and on the two local blogs. He asked if anyone except me had come because they had seen it promoted online. No-one had.
A man behind me said sotto voce "Twitter is one of the most ridiculous pointless things I've ever heard of". I wondered whether he'd ever even seen it. Keith introduced me, which I wasn’t quite expecting, but I sensed only mild curiosity rather than active interest.
There was a really quick rundown of projects funded by the £10,000 per ward improvement fund (inevitably that isn’t being offered again). These included two new benches (Agememnon Rd/Ulysses Rd and top of Fortune Green Rd); a “give-and take” event at Emmanuel School in March; new dog/litter bins and hanging baskets on Mill Lane.
One project – improvements to the paved area around the library – has yet to happen, but it is still being planned. A plan to use Mill Lane Bridge as a community art project had to be shelved due to health & safety concerns apparently.
Thameslink station
The session kicked off with a team from the Thameslink programme bringing us up to speed on the developments at West Hampstead Thameslink station. They had a powerpoint presentation that no-one could read, which was ill-thought out. The headline news is that the platforms will be ready for the longer 12-carriage trains by December 2011, but the new trains won't be fully installed until 2015.
The plans for the station on Iverson Road have had to be adapted to bring it within budget. The changes are largely in materials although it’s clear that the initial plans were on the ambitious side. The station is also due for completion in December 2011.
As you all know, the pavement is being substantially widened on the north side of Iverson Road. The existing embankment is being built up and paved, and this should alleviate some of the congestion between the stations.
The design of the wall running from West End Lane to the station has been adjusted – and will now be a flat wall rather than with “profiled bricks”. There's been an invisible change to some water flow issue and the zinc roof is becoming aluminium, so will look different from above but not from ground level (makes you wonder why they went for zinc in the first place).
Finally, the sedum roof (i.e. the one covered in greenery) is being replaced by a separate larger area of grass at ground level.
All the construction materials will now be delivered trackside and not by road, so there shouldn't be road congestion. The timetable is also designed to ensure that work takes place on weekdays during working hours.
There were plenty of audience questions, and rather a lot of talking at cross-purposes. Someone pointed out that with all the street clutter outside Starbucks, Costa etc., this was still a pinch point. Keith explained there would be a sizeable project in 2011 to widen West End Lane pavements, and that tackling this issue would be part of the January phase of that (the plan is for work to be done up the west side of WEL and then back down the east side. Expect more traffic disruption for most of next year then).
There was another question about how a car club has procured more spaces than it had apparently bid for, which went unanswered, and one woman appeared disproportionately angry that the pavement had been widened on both side of the street without consultation. Keith said he thought this might just have been a lack of clarity on the diagrams, to which she replied rather ominously, "Lets hope for your sake it is".
There was a more measured question about lighting. Network Rail explained that there will be strip downlighting all along the wall between West End Lane and the station, and the footbridge will also be lit. This should minimize glare for residents, while ensuring enough light for safety.
The existing station on the north side of the bridge will close, and there will be ticket barriers under a weatherproof shelter there that will be manned (or left open). There will also be ticket machines.
Strangely, despite the longer platforms, there is no provision for extra platform signage. Given the frequent platform changes and running delays on the service, the information boards are of course very useful, but clearly they won’t be visible from further along. Roger Perkins, the communications manager for the Thameslink Programme, said he would look into this and that there may be some other sources of funding available. It seems crazy to extend platforms and not think about extra signage.
Roger then explained the service improvements. As was announced last week (and mentioned on my weekly round-up) the Thameslink programme survived the spending review but the completion date has been pushed back from 2016 to 2018. This drew inevitable groans.
The new trains won’t appear until 2015 (although there will be a few longer trains in service from the end of 2011 using leased carriages) but even then very few if any will stop at West Hampstead. Priority for the extra capacity will go to the fast commuter trains from Bedford that are fast from St Albans. Most of the trains that stop at West Hampstead head down to the Wimbledoon loop, where many of the stations can’t be extended.
It began to dawn on everyone that we’re enduring quite a lot of disruption for not much immediate benefit. Eventually of course, more longer trains will be rolled out and services that do not go down to Wimbledon will use them. The major benefit to locals will be that there will be new routes opening up beyond the Bedford-Brighton/Sutton services, but these routes are yet to be decided.
Roger also said that 5,000 seats had already been added to rush hour trains – but again, not necessarily to services stopping at West Hampstead.
Appropriately, Keith now announced that we were now running 20 minutes late.
Policing
Seargeant Dave Timms of the West Hampstead Safer Neighbourhood Team spoke very briefly and wanted some input/feedback on how best the SNTs might be deployed. As he explained, they were suffering from funding restrictions like everyone else so they are very open to hearing how the public would like them to operate and whether the current organisation (where they are strictly ward-based) was appropriate. You can contact the team here.
Shopping
New West Hampstead councillor Gillian Risso-Gill then discussed the issue of shops on West End Lane and Mill Lane. This is a emotive issue, as we know from the response to the “Changing Streetscape” blog from August.
She argued that West End Lane was faring relatively well in the aftermath of the recession, with very few units remaining empty for long. Glo of course being an exception and Mill Lane showing a more mixed picture. She argued that Tesco can live alongside independent shops and helps increase footfall. This met with a mixed reaction from the crowd.
Apparently, no-one other than Sainsbury’s had expressed any interest in the Best-One site. She also said that Penguin – the vintage boutique opposite the Overground station – is closing due to retirement rather than for financial reasons.
The main thrust of her talk was that we should look at other avenues for smaller retailers, such as markets. There was notable vocal support for a farmers market, although the issue of where it would be is tricky. The Christmas market, which is very clearly a retail opportunity and not a ‘festival’, will be on West End Green, but this is probably not big enough for a full-scale farmers market.
Someone asked what happened to the market that used to be at the O2 car park, which has moved to Eton Avenue (perhaps not realising that the car park solution was in fact temporary and the market was originally in Swiss Cottage).
A woman who works at West End Lane Books argued that the lack of parking was a big problem and stopped people from coming to West End Lane. This wasn’t especially well received by the councillors. Surely, if we’re trying to get local people to local shops then they can walk or use buses? It’s very hard to see much being done to increase parking in the area.
A more sophisticated issue is that of rates and rents and planning use. One local businessman said he knew of two chain restaurants that were actively looking to move into the area, but wouldn’t say which.
He also said he’d heard a rumour that M&S was going to take the Pizza Express site. This is an extension of the rumour a while back that Sainsbury’s was going to take that site, which a Pizza Express spokesperson categorically refuted when I put it to them earlier in the year. I am not convinced that site would work for M&S, but we shall see.
“Multiples” (as chains are called in the business) do of course bring footfall, but they can also afford to pay top whack in terms of rents, which raises the baseline level on the street, squeezing out smaller players. The audience member cited examples where rents had rocketed from £28,000 to £43,000 with change of use and suggested that the planning department could do more to control these changes of use.
Someone suggested whether Camden could turn a unit into a sort of permanent pop-up shop, allowing rotating use of the space. The idea was well received, but Keith pointed out that the council doesn’t own any units on West End Lane. Whether they could enquire/put pressure on landlords of empty units when they are available remains to be seen.
Not surprisingly, the issue of Tesco (and soon Sainsbury’s) delivery lorries came up. Fortune Green councillor Flick Rea explained that the Tesco on her patch had been expected to use a delivery point at the back of the building but it turned out the lorries couldn’t access this service area because it was too low. She is looking at getting a delivery bay built into the street as there is room there.
The West End Lane Tesco remains a problem as the company sees the constant parking fines as simply part of the cost of doing business.
A man from Fawley Road asked what he admitted was a NIMBY question about where Sainsbury’s delivery lorries would park. Flick said that she hoped it would be possible to have a conversation with Sainsbury’s about this, as they were more socially amenable than Tesco.
Budget cuts
The final topic of the evening was the budget cuts in Camden. By the time you read this, these will have been debated in the council chamber, and at this stage the programme of cuts is light on detail. Keith pointed out before the discussion started that legally this couldn’t be a party-political discussion as it is funded by the council*.
Given that much of this was hypothetical I shall keep this section short and wait until the budget plans have been approved for a longer discussion of how cuts will affect West Hampstead.
The nub of the issue is that Camden needs to cut £80 to £100 million of its budget, which is approximately 10%. Councils of course have statutory commitments and discretionary roles. Camden historically has been a council that has prided itself on going the extra mile but inevitably some of these discretionary services would have to be cut or provided by the voluntary or private sectors.
Keith also pointed out that there would be job cuts: 1,000 positions would go although many would happen through early retirement or posts not being filled rather than redundancies. However, plenty of jobs are on the line.
Libraries are one service that always receives a lot of publicity. It seems inevitable that some Camden libraries will close. Keith seemed reasonably confident that West Hampstead would not be one of them. However, whether it can remain in its current state is not clear. It is expensive to run (behind me a voice whispered authoritatively that it costs £290,000 a year to run WH library of which half is staff costs).
There was some confusion as to whether the mobile library service had already been cut or not. A tweet the following day from Camden suggested that it hadn’t been cancelled just yet and Alan Templeton from the Camden Public Libraries User Group (CPLUG) seemed to think that nothing had been definitively decided. However, he also believed that council officers had already decided which libraries were for the chop, suggesting Belsize, Chalk Farm and Highgate as the most likely casualties. He argued that no library was safe however, and locals should definitely adopt a “use it or lose it” attitude.
Other conversations discussed community centres and children’s services/play services. Keith mentioned the rebuilding/expansion of Emmanuel School, which has been discussed at length already. The issue of whether the possible new primary school on Liddell Road is the best location was also mentioned but not discussed.
And that was that. Not everyone had stayed to the end, and most scarpered off into the dark cold night as soon as the meeting was brought to a close. Surprisingly, no-one asked anything about the proposed student accommodation, although Keith mentioned it and there was a handout about it.
*unlike the conversation after the meeting drew to a close.
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