Archive for Parks & Green spaces

Lack of action by the Mayor of London and Enfield Council on A10 speeding and Borough car meets – slammed.

Call for action continues….

For years, the community in Enfield Borough has been calling for action to tackle the dangerous A10 speeding, illegally modified cars and unlicensed car meets. 

Including the average speed camera petition to tackle A10 speeding along the Great Cambridge Road roundabout to Southbury junction – that was presented to the Mayor of London last year and signed by over 2,000 residents. Last October we secured significant media coverage of the issue – including on the BBC, radio and printed press.

This time last year I also launched the Charter for Action – with steps Enfield Council and Mayor of London needed take to tackle A10 speeding, illegally modified cars and unlicensed car meets. 

So, of the key calls on the Mayor of London was to deliver average speed cameras along the Great Cambridge Road roundabout to Southbury junction, deliver noise cameras along the Enfield Borough A10 stretch and implement ‘Operation Vision Zero’ to deploy enhanced Road Traffic Police resource to the Borough. None have been delivered.

The five calls for action on Enfield Council – only slight progress has been made – with the Council now reversing its position to support a Borough wide PSPO. However, the key ask of securing an Injunction against the car meets drags on. The Council was meant to submit to the Courts in January. I have been following this up and most recently the Council was meant to submit in September – but is now citing ‘resourcing’ issues.

Police enforcement since April;

3 arrests, 8 car seized, 128 S59 notices, 23 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs), 50 Community Protection Warnings. 

Car-parks:

Since the concrete blocks were placed at the former B&Q site – many car meets moved onto Tesco’s at Glover Way. Tesco’s put in place security measures – and we are now seeing car meets at Morrisons car-park. Morrisons are also taking steps to secure their car-park. One car meet occurred when the lock barriers were broken through. There is also an ongoing issue with car meets in the business parks. 

I appreciate how frustrated the community is with Enfield Council and the Mayor of London for the lack of action. If they implemented the Charter for Action that I launched a year ago – with its eight key actions – they could overnight start to resolve this issue once and for all. I simply do not understand why they are failing to.

UPDATE: A10 Speeding, noise and borough car meets

I continue to work with the Police, Council, GLA/TfL, car park owners and local residents on these issues. Having been pressing for action for six years – appreciate the frustration of residents.

It is vital that we now ensure the Council and Mayor of London commit to the ‘Charter for Action’ (please see at the end of the article).

A10 Speeding: Average Speed Cameras: We continue to call on TfL / GLA for cameras along the Southbury Road to Great Cambridge Road roundabout section. To mirror what we successfully secured several years ago on the Southbury Road to Bullsmoor Lane section on the road.Police speed enforcement: The Police have undertaken many speed enforcement sessions across the year between 8am and 9pm – with cars recorded at speeds of up to 98mph (the road is a 40mph zone).

Freedom of Information Request: Recently I placed a Freedom of Information request about the two sections of the A10. The figures clearly showed that when the average speed cameras were introduced on the northern section of the A10 – injury accident rates have reduced over the years. There is a clear need for the average speed cameras on the Southbury Road to Great Cambridge Road roundabout section.

Business case for average speed cameras: There has been some movement from TfL / GLA on average speed cameras – committing to a ‘business case’ study. As part of this they conducted a speed survey – but due to one of the camera malfunctioning – are having to do this all over again.

Noise cameras: On the discussion of illegally modified cars – there has been a trial of noise cameras in four locations across the country by the Department for Transport. We will keep pressing for these to be rolled out on the whole Enfield Borough A10 stretch.

Car Meets:

Injunction: The Council stated in November it would make submission to the Courts in January to secure an injunction against car meets in Enfield Borough. Clearly this has not happened yet; and are in contact with the Council chasing on this. They have confirmed that they are still progressing this.

Policing: Over time the Police have undertaken a significant amount of enforcement of these illegal car meets – that has included arrests, cars seized and fines issued.

Mayor of London: I will continue to call for the London Mayor to implement ‘Operation Vision Zero’ which would bring additional Transport Police resource to tackle the car meets.

Car-park security: Both the Council and Police are in contact with different car parks about improving security at their sites. There are numerous car meet locations – we saw the measures taken former B&Q site measures last year. Recently Tesco Glover Way installed new security measures. Since last month I have been raising that a new car meet location is Morrisons on Southbury Road and the relevant agencies are following up on this.

Charter for Action: Last year I launched the Charter for Action – calling on the Council and Mayor of London to take respectively five and three steps – that would effectively tackle the issues of A10 dangerous speeding, unlawfully modified cars and unlicensed car meets.How you can help:

Please email your MP, GLA Member and Councillors calling on them to back the Charter for Action.

Save Church Street Recreation Ground – NO to Labour’s Crematorium Incinerator.

We must save Church Street Recreation Ground, Haselbury in Enfield Borough.

The Enfield Labour run Council Local Plan includes a proposal for a Crematorium Incinerator there.

Video is of me speaking against the proposal at the Council Local Plan meeting. Sadly not a single Labour Councillor spoke against the proposals;

The Local Plan consultation is now open to residents – details and how to respond; https://www.enfield.gov.uk/services/planning/new-enfield-local-plan

The petition has secured over 1,600 signatures – sending a strong message; www.change.org/p/no-crematorium-incinerator-save-haselbury-church-street-recreation-ground

https://youtube.com/shorts/CJg7wsFzLaA

#Edmonton #Enfield #Haselbury #EdmontonGreen #GreenSpaces #Southgate #Sport #Football #Recreation #Environment #Incinerator

Edmonton A10 Skatepark – great progress made!

Since March 2021 I have been raising the neglected condition of the skatepark with Enfield Council. This has involved a lot of time and effort including many site visits – but we have now seen significant progress made. It is now looking much better.

  • Area torn up during cemetery expansion resurfaced.
  • New bins installed and regular litter picking of the site.
  • Potholes near ramps repaired.
  • Maintenance works on the trees/bushes/grass.
  • New fencing barrier installed.
  • Planting area created.
  • Graffiti continues to be removed from old toilet building / ramps. Some had swear words.
  • Artist commissioned to work with community and skatepark groups to create artwork on the skatepark ramps / equipment.
  • Also requested benches to be installed.

If anyone has ideas of how we can improve the site further please let me know.

Call for A10 action grows

We continue to press the issue of tackling A10 speeding.

In the last week we received front page coverage in the Enfield Independent Newspaper.

Our call is for average speed 📸cameras network between Southbury Road junction / Great Cambridge Road roundabout like the northern section of the A10.

Please sign the petition. https://www.change.org/p/sadiq-khan-enfield-average-speed-cameras-for-a10-southbury-road-junction-to-great-cambridge-road-roundabout

Edmonton Cemetery footpath

Noticed on my walk a dangerously uneven footpath from the Edmonton Cemetery to the A10. Raised with Enfield Council.

It doesn’t need a sign – it needs fixing!

Motor vehicle crime – Bush Hill Park Ward


The local Police asked me to share with you the Bush Hill Park Ward vehicle crime figures so far this month of February.

Bury Street West is particularly being targeted for Theft of Motor Vehicles for Catalytic Converters. There
was an attempt to steal one in the street, but they managed to remove and steal some parts. Informant saw three males walk off towards the A10 and one of them was holding what appeared to be a catalytic converter. There was also an incident just around the corner in Little Bury Street, again a Catalytic Converter was stolen. Solna Road, N21 has been targeted twice this month they were Theft from Motor Vehicles.

The Bush Hill Park Police advise to park vehicles in a garage (if you have one). If not recommend driveway parking vehicles at an angle, against a wall or fence so that suspects cannot access the catalytic converter.

Suspects have been known to jack up the on street parked vehicles so that they can get underneath. I appreciate not everyone has the option of off street parking.

The local Police also advised of the option to make contact with the vehicle manufacturer to see if they could make the catalytic converter secure and prevent it being stolen.

I have attached an information sheet about catalytic converter theft. Not the best news – but thought it was important to be aware. The information sheets are also quite informative.

Mobile Phone Mast – REJECTED ❌

The 17.5 metre tall Telecommunications Mobile Phone Mast that was proposed in the Bush Hill Park Conservation area (junction of Queen Anne’s Place / First Avenue) has been rejected by Enfield Council Planning Officers.

✅Thank you to everyone who expressed a view – I understand over 90 representations from local residents were sent in.

Firs Farm Wetlands – update

I am actively working with the Firs Farm Wetlands Friends Group and Council to maintain and enhance this wonderful community asset.

*Pavements edging and clearing weeds is ongoing.
*Regular checks and clearing of litter. I spotted some the other day which the Council resolved.
*New padlocks for security gating around the old changing rooms compound.
*Additional litter bins on the way.

The above is not a comprehensive list, but gives you an idea of some good news.

 

Tackling crime in Bush Hill Park – latest CAPE meeting

Last night the latest Bush Hill Park CAPE meeting took place. The CAPE brings together local residents, businesses and the Police to discuss local issues and to prioritize two or three issues local issues to focus on.

Overall crime remained the same for the month of October compared to September with 32 crimes reported. The largest issue continues to be vehicle crime with 15 reported offences last month. Sadly we already know that for the month of November many keyless car thefts have taken place.

A range of other issues were discussed, including; the continued spate of burglaries, dangerous speeding (and accidents) along Halstead Road & Firs Lane, A10 speeding and anti-social behaviour around the Bush Hill Park Station / Firs Farm Wetlands.

It was agreed that the three key issues for this month will be: Motor vehicle crime, Burglary, anti-social behaviour / cars speeding.