Current Issues

New Ones That Come & Go & Come Back Again & Others Awaiting  A Result (Planning Applications on 'Planning Weekly') - Please scroll down for all 10 issues - Thank You

"If you can stay calm while everyone else is going mad you probably haven't completely understood the situation!" Anon 

Free Speech 'Not For Us' Say LBE?

This site has been included on LBE's 'Community Links' page since we launched it in June last  year - Until last week that was when Nice Moderator on a regular check of links during the ELAG site update discovered (Shock - Horror) we had been removed - Obviously 'someone' has complained (we wonder who)!

Now whether this is a 'blip' in the system or a deliberate (+ fairly petty & ineffective) attempt to censor this site is not clear but we suspect 'Foul Play' so we contacted Councillor 'Wise Owl' who told us LBE should contact any group before they remove the link to outline what has upset them (bless) - We weren't contacted & cannot imagine what they may object to!

This site reports LBE's actions (hopefully with a sense of humour which amazingly we have retained) in an accurate way - So if 'Some' object to what is here we suggest they look at their actions & not our reporting of them - Our advice to Councillors is 'If you are going to do it then do it - But don't expect us not to tell everyone what you did (or didn't) or are trying to do'!

We have asked 'Wise Owl ' & FERAA to look at our site & tell us if it is inaccurate or offencive - We have taken the decision to rise above it all (as always) & not to remove LBE or Councillors from our site in retaliation (we are off theirs but they are still on ours!).

FERAA have checked our site & they say 'It is very cheeky...very us...& perfectly fine!' - Wise Owl has always thought it 'Amusing...accurate...informative' - We will let you know when we find out who complained & what about (we are at a losss & all agog) - In the meantime we refer LBE to the quote below.

"We do not have censorship what we have is a limitation on what newspapers can report." Louis Nel Deputy Minister of Information for South Africa under apartheid

The 'Rule For Rumours' 

Now you all know we don't deal with rumours (we don't need to we always 'find out' in the end anyway) but we do have a 'Rumour's  Rule' - If you hear it 3 times from different sources it's 'One to find out about'! This 'Rumour' is one of those.

Still concerned about Albany Pool (see item on this page) & the possibility of losing it (as our leisure services are in receivership) we asked 'Little Bird' (more of a chattering Magpie) at the Civic Centre what she knew & this has now become 'One to watch'!

According to 'Little Bird' it's more likely to be Southgate Pool (if any) that goes - It is not a PFI or new (Albany - Southbury & Edmonton) it is not listed (Arnos) & (obviously) would be very large & very lucrative plot (house prices being higher there than on any other of the sites).

Watch this space for any categoric statement (which in fairness we will of course print here) of denial from LBE that this has been discussed (& of course watch Southgate Pool at all times).

We also have another rule aptly expressed in the quote below.

“Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied." Otto Von Bismark

Not So 'Co-operative' Co-op

The Co-op has just introduced a maximum 2 hour stay for their 'customers only' & they are ticketing cars! Some residents have had to pay the £60 minimum ticket charge (rising to £90 if not paid promptly within 14 days - Ouch!) which is sent to you not put on the car after they shopped at the Co-op then walked along the shops & took too long & others were ticketed for leaving it there & not shopping at the Co-op at all!

They are using cameras with number plate recognition to identify owners & send tickets - So please be careful how long you park for - No ticket will be placed on the vehicle but it will be in the post!

Please remember you can park in Turkey St Car Park behind Greggs (see the item below Kettering Hall for more news on this facility).

You said you were appalled that Kettering Hall was on an approved LBE disposals list - This was unacceptable & ELAG lobbied the lead member for finance (Michael Lavender) as did Councillor Matthew Laban who readily took up the cause - Kettering is now removed from the list & will receive the investment it was promised in order to improve the facilities provided there.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting on the 18th April a second letter from ELAG was received by Clr Lavender asking him to 'remove it & that the minutes reflect the decision':

We said  'Thank you so much for your very prompt reply to our letter to you any reply with such speed must be commented upon positively. We thank you - We were all pleased to have your categorical statement that you will remove Kettering Hall from the disposal list and we appreciate very much your clear statement on this worrying issue - We are hopeful that tonight’s Cabinet meeting may provide an opportunity to approve that removal; we shall await confirmation of this after the event with a hopeful disposition that is has been approved under the A.O.B part of the meting (it is our understanding it could be heard there). I shall await your reply in regard to the Cabinet meeting and the removal of Kettering from the disposal list and your confirmation that you have ‘made it so.'

'I also hope that you will consider meeting with us to discuss this further and perhaps exchange ideas and agree a forward plan that suits all in a more community friendly and acceptable way - We do feel that you may be willing to bring your support for the Lock to our suggestions and would like an opportunity to discuss this with you - Thank you again Michael for your prompt and very clear reply and for your support of the Lock (which is not new) and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future.'

Clr Lavender  wrote to us & confirmed that he has removed our hall from his disposal list & 'made it so' - He said -: "This was minuted at the cabinet meeting as requested". Good!

We say 'Thank You' to Matthew Laban for his staunch & public support - His honesty & courtesy at all times & to Michael Lavender for supporting us & Matthew by removing Kettering. Thank You both.

We are still waiting for a meeting with Michael - We will write again soon & keep you informed Click Here to read 'He Said - We Said' on Big Issue & find out what went on.

Turkey Street Car Park 'Not For Sale'!

The small Car Park (behind Greggs) at Turkey Street was also on an approved disposal list last year & again we wrote to LBE & objected that the car park was not 'underused' & 'not needed' as they stated - We pointed out that our small local shops rely on people being able to park (which the yellow lines outside all our shops prevents).

ELAG worried that without parking we would lose our 'shops at the top' - This week Councillor Matthew 'Everywhere all at once' Laban confirmed he has removed it from the list & that it will be kept for us to park in for free for us to continue to use our shops & that it will be improved in time. Excellent!

A huge 'Thank You' to Matthew for his sensible thinking & for his obvious concern for issues in the Lock (& elsewhere).

Albany Pool 'Is It Safe'?

We wrote to Council Leader Michael Rye late in 2006 & asked why some services at Albany had been cut after you contacted us & expressed concern that you may lose Albany due to financial difficulties - We asked him to confirm that Albany would not be downgraded or lost & would remain to serve the local residents

Clr Rye said: "In the  longer run we are committed to maintaining service provision & I would  encourage maximum support of Albany Pool & Leisure Facilities - You can rest assured  we want to maximise public support of Albany which we would wish to see  flourish in the  future."

Then prices rose sharply in January 2007 causing many of you to struggle with the extra costs - You asked us to raise it for you at forum - This we did in January & the reply confirmed that costs had been inflated to recoup the administrator's costs (the whole of Enfield's leisure trusts being in receivership at present)

If the price increases are affecting you please let us know & we will write to Councillor Rye again for you & let him know!

The Rifles developer applied to remove & pollard trees opposite Rifles - It is a conservation area & trees are protected - We objected as did the Conservation Group & CAG & local Clrs but LBE sadly approved this in favour of the developer but the good news is that due to letters written by the Conservation Group - You & ELAG LVRPA & LBE have agreed to reduce the work - Now to be done sensitively by LVRPA

Future management will be gradual so as not to disrupt habitats & steps to the tow path will be created & a bench facing the pool will be added!

Conditions are in Library & we thank Mr Rumble for writing to us & you for writing to Mr Rumble

331 Ordnance Road 'Still Empty'?

This application for a 'Beauty Salon' was approved with conditions in 2006 after the original 'Secret Knights' turned out not to be so secret & everyone objected & it was refused - No work has taken place at the shop & it is an eyesore remaining boarded up - A copy of the conditions are in Library

Thank you if you wrote to Mr Lister - We will keep you informed - Let us know if you know anything - Thank You

Rifles 'Still Not Begun'!

The first set of plans were proved unacceptable to the residents who own Government Row (needed for access to Rifles) - New plans were entered but the developer squashed on too many houses & parking spaces - Other concerns were correctly raised by LBE including the need for protected emergency access to EIV (raised by ELAG with LBE) - The second plans were refused

An application has now been approved providing more homes in the Lock with no infrastructure - Another accolade for LBE

Work has still not commenced after several months but we will keep an eye on the EIV Emergency Access Width to ensure it is maintained when it does - We will keep you informed.