What's Happening
MEET OUR NEW ELECTION CANDIDATES
West Harrow Community Forum (of which we are a member), have organised a meeting at -
St Peter's Church, Sumner Road on Tuesday 19th April at 7.30pm. It'll be a chance for us all to meet those hoping to get our votes in the local elections on 5th May. Everyone is welcome to come along and ask any questions. This is a perfect opportunity to meet those who are hoping get themselves into a position, where they can really affect our lives locally. This rarely happens, so do come along.
Plans for future homes on Charles Crescent
(The following is from the Council website) The Council are looking at Charles Crescent parking land and garage site as a potential area for re-development.
This site is located between Charles Crescent and Lascelles Avenue and currently has an open area for parking as well as two garage blocks. Surrounding the site are houses, bungalows and flats.
The proposal is for the demolition of the existing garages and the development of seven high quality and energy efficient homes. This consists of 3 terraced groups which comprise 1 two bedroom home, 5 three-bedroom homes and 1 four bedroom home. Each unit has its own private garden, parking space and cycle and bin spaces.
The scheme has been designed to Passivhaus* principles with highly insulated external walls. A large area of the roofs will also incorporate solar panels. It is proposed that the scheme will have electric heating via air source heat pumps.
Rear garden access has been retained to eight properties on Lascelles Avenue as well as access to the garage to the rear of 18 Charles Crescent. A 2m footpath has also been provided for access to the bungalow units 10 to 14.
The gardens facing the street create a 'Home Zone' style shared space with soft landscaping. This layout prioritises pedestrian movement and creates an open, accessible and welcoming arrival space. In addition some mature trees already on site, the provision of planting beds and native tree species will enhance the local biodiversity.
*Passivhaus is an advanced low energy construction standard for buildings. By using high performance insulation and making a building completely draught free, it effectively eliminates heat loss to create a building with very low environmental impact and heating demand.
(The TRA will try to ensure that residents living in the area are kept up-to-date with the progress on this development. As far as we know at present, final plans are still being drawn up and planning permission should go through in the summer with work commencing in the autumn. If you have any objections or points that you think need raising, do let us and the Council know)
Oneforty Vaughan Road
Over t he past couple of years locals may have visited this local community hub in West Harrow, or may have benefitted from the food deliveries they made during lockdown. The cafe serves excellent coffee (they boast it's the finest around!) and they've got a wide variety of events taking place, from table sales & jazz evenings, to life drawing and yoga sessions. Go to www.onefortyharrow.com
THE HONEYBUN HALL
The Hall, in Andrews Close, was for several years the Harrow Women's Centre; having previously been the Honeybun Community Centre. Due to the council raising the previously agreed peppercorn rent, the then residents’ association had to give it up. Sadly the current TRA doesn’t have the money (close to £17,000 p/a!) or obviously the staff, to take it over. The voluntary sector in Harrow, including the TRA, did try to get the council to fund it for the community to a wider extent, so that lots of different groups could use it. As ever our council turned down our attempts and looked elsewhere.
However, the TRA did manage to get a clause put in any future agreement with a tenant, allowing us to use of the hall for meetings. Since then, having left the place completely empty for 2 & a half years and not allowing us to use it, the council have now found another voluntary group who are taking on the lease. Apparently as of the begininning of March 2022, EACH Counselling will be the new tenants. Be assured that the TRA will be working with the new leaseholder to allow us as much access as possible for the whole community. Fingers crossed.
The Gardening Team
HELP TO PLANT SOME TREES THIS WINTER - MAKE THE WORLD A GREENER PLACE
The TRA has a number of very small (at the moment!) trees as part of the effort to plant a million more trees around the London area. We received several small garden trees - rowan, aspen, downy birch & field maple. As the time wasn’t quite right for planting, we ‘heeled in’, or temporarily planted, them in until they were ready. Some are now 3 foot high & over the next few months we’ll be trying to get them planted.Do you have room for one in your garden? Can you think of a spot locally where one might be a good addition? You could even plant it yourself, helping to reduce your own carbon footprint.
If you are interested in trees & would like to try & identify the trees in your neighbourhood (we’ve counted up to 50 varieties so far & we’ve probably missed loads), why not go for a stroll with a guidebook or download the Woodland Trust app.
https://www.woodlandtrust .org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/how-to-identify-
Food waste bins are coming to all flats
Whether you are keen or not, you must now recycle food waste separately. It’s fairly simple and it’s also good for the planet. Residents living in houses have had to do so for a few years now but now those who live in flats will have to do so too, and should have already received information on what goes where. If you haven't please go to www.harrow.gov.uk/foodwaste. It basically any waste food or any peelings.
You can buy biodegradable bin liners from supermarkets & libraries or from the council website.
Residents are reminded though - absolutely NO plastic bags or packaging please.
FUTURE EVENTS
Awaiting outcome of discussions on Honeybun Hall & any possible meetings
Here's a summary of MINUTES of last meeting
Meeting Date: 21st January, 2020 Time: 7.30pm Place of meeting: Honeybun Community Hall (Women’s Centre) Purpose: General Meeting
Minutes of the last meeting. These were approved.
Matters Arising (i) Honeybun Community Hall. The Council are still trying to find a suitable leaseholder for the Hall. If a group of charities can be found to meet at other times that would be acceptable to the Council. The matter is still ongoing. If anyone knows of a group who would be pleased to hold events or social occasions please let us know as we need to find a way of keeping the Hall open. (ii) Security matters. We had a meeting on the 11th December conducted by the Police which was well attended and we had hoped that more people would come to our meetings, particularly the Christmas one which was a social occasion. The Security meeting was felt to be most useful to those who attended. (iii) Anti-Social Behaviour. Food was being scattered on the grass in front of block 11 in Charles Crescent like raw carrots, raw new potatoes and raw turnips. Can we do anything about this. Perhaps a note in the next newsletter might help, and calling on some of the flats to find out who it might be. There was a report of nuisance being experienced by some tenants in another part of the estate. We will endeavour to find out who the relevant Landlord is. No change has been made at a residence in Springway with rubbish in both front and back gardens. (iv) Christmas Social. This was a very pleasant occasion and enjoyed by all who attended although it would have been nice if more people had come along. It was a “thankyou” to all those who had helped and participated in the TRA.
Financial Report. No change. Monies owed to TRA member. We hope to purchase some plants in the near future.
Gardening Club. No gardening has been done for a while because of the weather. It is hoped that we can get access to the back part of the Honeybun Hall to see what the shed is like and also to enable the gardening club to put tools etc., in there for easy access. We will try and get keys to this area for this purpose. It was proposed we buy some polyanthus (primroses) for some winter colour in the flower beds – this was agreed. We will be purchasing some rose bushes but not yet. We are still looking for places to plant trees around the estate. A house in Springway has asked for one to be planted in their front garden.
HTFRA. The meeting on the 19th November was not attended by anyone of the Honeybun TRA but minutes have been received should anyone wish to read them. A note in the minutes states that the insurance is due for renewal and the Council are running courses for Carers. Please register with the Council who will make contact.
Any Other Business. The meeting due to take place on the 10th December did not take place as the Security meeting was on the 12th and the Christmas social was on the 18th December.
Meeting closed at 9 pm. Next meeting 3rd March, 14th April, 26th May and 7th July.