HSG REGENERATION SUBGROUP
AUGUST MINUTES
DEVELOPMENTS
HSG spoke to a couple of members of the HIPE steering committee. They have been holding off on a public meeting until
Sainsburys' Planning Application, which had been expected this month but which has, apparently, been put off until the
end of September. HIPE don't know why there has been this delay, but are increasingly suspicious and disinclined to take
anything at face value.
Sainsbury's have bought the Council site, subject to Planning Permission. They have also, it is rumoured, bought some of
the third party land beside the Depot and Waterworks sites outright. It is further rumoured that the Depot, which was to
have been cleared next February, will actually be empty by October. The local retailers are becoming increasingly alarmed.
A Crouch End Traders Association (CETA) has been formed. It and retailers from Muswell Hill have had a couple of meetings.
After being railroaded at the last Planning and Licencing Committee meeting, HIPE looked into the possibility of seeking
a Judicial Review, but were advised that there were no grounds. Barbara Roche is sympathetic to their campaign and agrees
that the proposal should go to the full Council, rather than just to the PLC, who, it is clear, will rubber stamp anything
Sainsburys' put forward. The trouble is, there is no-one who is prepared to put the issue up to the full Council. If/when
the plan does come in, HIPE intend to appeal to the Dept of the Environment.
Sainsburys have, apparently, attempted to defuse the traffic issue by suggesting that they would provide only limited car
parking, thus forcing people on to public transport. HIPE are going to get in a Traffic Engineer to do their own
assessment (Sainsburys did theirs in the middle of the school holidays, when traffic is below normal levels). HIPE members
believe that Hornsey High Street is a far more significant east/west artery than is generally realised. HIPE are even
thinking about blocking the High Street one day and demonstrating the kind of chaos that ensues...
PLANNING
We are still trying to get hold of the Unitary Development Plan. We are supposedly on the mailing list for Planning
Applications, but nothing has shown up yet...
NOMAC
McDonalds' withdrawal from the Arcade Motors site may be regarded as a victory of sorts. However:
From its Press Statements, McDonalds are clearly determined to get into the Hornsey area
The local press reports a rumour that McDonalds' will be going into Alexandra Palace itself!
They have apparently taken an option on the Shell Garage site on Hornsey Rise.
Thames Water have apparently refused to allow them into the Waterworks Pump House; however there is plenty of room
elsewhere in the proposed development...
HARINGEY REGENERATION COMMUNITY FORUM / UPPER LEE VALLEY PARTNERSHIP
HSG spoke to Lucy Ross, the Urban Regeneration Co-ordinator at HRCF. The consultation process on the Regeneration scheme
will apparently start shortly. He has still received no response to his enquiry from ULVP, but is still on their case.
He wrote again on 12th August; if he gets no reply, he may write to the press. If all else fails, Lucy has information
about them which she would be prepared to pass on. We may do something for the next newsletter about his struggle to find
out what the ULVP is actually for.
ESTATE TRANSFERS
There is a report of a forthcoming meeting between the Council and the Dylan Thomas House tenants. This could be to do
with the rumoured transfer.
Hackney are apparently determined to sell off much of their housing stock and much the same is going on in Islington too.
We will check whether there is an umbrella Haringey tenants association.
GENERAL
We concede that -- within the limits of their mind set -- HIPE are doing a better job than we can of monitoring
developments and responding. Short as we are of time and resources, we see no point in duplicating their efforts.
|
