Blog

Full minutes of the 2016 AGM of Palace Gates Residents Association can be found at http://www.palacegatesra.info. Here is a summary of some main points.

The Gardening Group:
The large beds at the Crescent Rise mini-roundabout are now becoming well established. During this year’s dry summer a neighbour kindly contributed a regular water supply, which kept the project alive. We have been cutting back shrubs, spreading compost and planting bulbs, and are grateful to Dave at the Crescent Hardware for supplying compost at a very good price. On the Triangle we have installed new hanging baskets. Plans for next year include the installation of more signs, pointing out PGRA maintains the beds, and holding a ‘Big Dig‘ day in March, when we will construct a rockery in one of the smaller beds at the mini-roundabout. More volunteers to help with this work would be very much appreciated, as their is lots to do. The group meets on the first Saturday of every month, 11.00 to 1.00 - see http://www.palacegatesra.info/gardening-group for more details.

Palace Gates Food Co-operative:
This has now been running successfully for about 6 years. There is a meeting every 6 weeks, held in a member's home, where residents can order healthy dry foods and eco-cleaning products from Infinity Foods. A catalogue and contact address is available at http://alexandraparkneighbours.org.uk/local-groups/palace-gates-food-coop

Installation of bench on the Palace Gates Triangle:
After an application to Haringey under the Ward Budget scheme for a circular bench to be placed around the large ash tree was turned down, a standard bench, with arms, to be placed behind the notice board on the Triangle, facing towards the tree and the bus stop, has apprently been approved in principle, with the condition that the agreement of residents and businesses is forthcoming.

Safer Streets:
The new Community Roadwatch scheme, has been finally launched by TfL, in conjunction with London Boroughs and the Metropolitan Police. This involves Police Community Support Officers, with at least 2 members of the local community conducting speed checks at places where speeding is thought to be a problem.  Warning letters are sent to drivers who are speeding. Some speed checks have already been carried out in Alexandra ward.

Pinkham Way:
The Pinkham Way Alliance has been fighting since 2011 to prevent a large Mechanical Biological Treatment plant being built at Pinkham Way on the North Circular Rd, only a short distance away from our neighbourhood. Although North London Waste Authority announced that it was abandoning its plans for the site, it has now re-stated that it wants to use the land, though it is not clear for what purpose, and PWA is continuing to battle. Please sign up to www.pinkhamwayalliance.org to be kept informed of further developments, including fund-raising campaigns to support the costs of the substantial professional planning and legal advice, which the PWA continues to incur.

Police and Crime Report:
Every 3 months representatives of the PGRA attend the meeting of the Alexandra Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team panel together with members of the local Police and local Councillors. These meetings are an information-sharing forum, where the public have the opportunity to hear about local policing issues, express their concerns and agree priorities for police action in the local area. PGRA has campaigned for attention to be paid to traffic speeding, and this is now being tackled by the Community Roadwatch scheme. The Police reoprt that we live in a ‘relatively’ crime free neighbourhood, but there has been a spate of bogus callers, preying mainly on older residents, pretending to be utility company representatives, usually in pairs. The Police urge residents to call 101 to report anything suspicious. Some residents have also drawn attention to aggressive doorstep calls from street traders, selling fish.

Planned increase in the Events programme for Alexandra Park:
This was discussed at a recent meeting of the Alexandra Park and Palace Statutory Advisory and Consultative Committee, on which PGRA is represented. Concerns have been expressed over the sharp increase in the number of proposed events, noise levels, accessibility, road closures, public transport disruption and parking. It is also appreciated that the Palace needs to make itself financially sustainable, as a valuable local resource, and that a balance needs to be struck.

Friends of Ally Pally Station:
The Friends of Ally Pally Station was set up in early summer to fill the station platforms with plants and flowers. The Opening Day was held on June 4th. Supporters include Great Northern Rail, the Sunshine Garden Centre, the PGRA, Hobarts, Our Cottage and Crescent Hardware. Gardening Parties have been held in early October to weed the pots and planters and to plant spring bulbs and winter plants. For more information see: www.friendsofallypallystation.co.uk. The Friends have also been designated an official ‘Rail User Group’, which means that they can provide a significant voice in discussions with Great Northern about recent developments at the station.

Controlled Parking Zone:
The current position on extension of the controlled parking zone remains uncertain. A public meeting was set for late October, but no further information has emerged. The PGRA does not adopt a position on the existing CPZ scheme or its extension, but it has tried to ensure that the process and decision-making is carried out effectively and legitimately.