The current synagogue building was completed in 1964 and serves the Jewish community in Steele’s Village, Belsize Park and beyond. The Synagogue tell me they want to create a modern facility catering for the same number of people as now, but with more space to act as a community hub. To do this, they intend to demolish the existing building and erect a new one.

There will be a public exhibition of the initial plans on Sunday 12th May, 11am to 3pm, and Monday 13th May, 4:30pm to 8:30pm, at the South Hampstead Synagogue. The proposals will then be developed through the Spring with a planning application submitted later this year.

Simon Hughes MP joins Jill and Matt to celebrate a decade of Liberal Democrat councillors in Haverstock.

Jill Fraser has clocked up an incredible ten years serving local people as Haverstock’s Liberal Democrat councillor.

Local residents first elected Jill in a sensational by-election in 2003. Back then Haverstock was solid Labour territory but, once people saw the difference a hardworking Liberal Democrat councillor can make, they elected two more of us!

Working with Jill has been a real honour. You would be hard pressed to find a local councillor who has a better understanding of the patch and people she represents. Jill is someone who sticks to what she thinks is right, never takes no for an answer, and always remembers whose side she is on. It is these principles that have led us to some terrific wins for local people over the years – from saving Bassett Street Garden; putting Steele’s Village on the map; securing proper investment for local homes after years of neglect by Labour; and, of course, Jill’s constant crusade to secure the future of Queen’s Crescent.

Last night we hosted a big party in Steele’s Village to celebrate Jill’s achievements, and were delighted that Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes MP was able to join us. But the real testament to Jill’s work was probably the large number of local residents, many of them not political, who also came along because they wanted to thank Jill for her decade of service.

So, big thanks to everyone who joined us, and here’s to the next ten years!

I have been in constant contact with the council on this critical issue. The burst pipe causing the problem was identified on the underground heating mains pipe work yesterday. The council’s contractors, Apollo, need to cut out and replace pipe work 1 meter either side of the burst. These works will continue from 6.30am today, when welders will begin the replacement of the pipe work.

After that, Apollo need to refill and vent any air to each of the blocks – this work is unfortunately expected to continue into Friday evening.

I will keep up the pressure on the council to have the work complete before the weekend – and am also urging them to provide extra electric heaters and open up the hot showers at Kentish Town Baths for affected residents.

The estates are Penshurst, Leysdown, Stonegate, Wingham, Westwell, and Chislet. If you are a resident in one of these blocks please do get in touch and I can keep you updated.

Update 9:30am Friday 22nd February: Camden have agreed to my request to allow residents of the affected blocks a free shower/swim at Kentish Town Baths. If you live in one of the blocks above you just need to report to the reception with proof of your address. This will apply today and tomorrow, when the works should be complete and the heating restored.

Update 9pm Friday 22nd February: The leak is now fixed and Camden are firing up the boilers again. It will take a few hours for heat to make its way through the system, but normal service will be resumed in the next couple of hours.

Cllr Matt Sanders at Talacre Gardens

Camden Council have proposed allowing a mobile refreshment stand in Talacre Gardens.

It’s pretty obvious that what’s driving the council is a need to find new sources of income – this is part of a deal that would see sites rented out across 12 of the borough’s parks and open spaces. However, if litter and noise could be kept under control, and if the outlet were discreet, I can see that some people might like to be able to buy teas, coffees and snacks on their way through the park.

We also need to consider the impact on existing local businesses – both Cafe du Coin and (more recently) The Fields Beneath have loyal local audiences and have worked hard to establish themselves in the community.

I’m interested to know what you think before I respond to the council’s consultation. Please do drop me an email or, alternatively, you can complete the public consultation directly, here.

South West London will be seeing more and more hire stations over the next few years, but the next time the Mayor has said he will even consider more sites in Camden is 2016.  This means that Chalk Farm residents miss out on the opportunity to cycle all the way home and local businesses don’t get the benefit of being on the cycle network.

I raised this issue at the last Full Council meeting, and asked Camden to help residents prepare sites and lobby the Mayor.

You can watch the debate here, and if you want to write to the Mayor to support the campaign you can do so here.

If you’re a local community group in Camden you can get prepared by claiming your free snow shovel from the council.

And, of course, you can contact myself, Jill or Rahel with any problems the adverse weather conditions cause.

Back to the drawing board: the Hawley Wharf scheme approved last night (top) and the developer’s initial design ideas (bottom).

Residents in Camden Town won a major victory last night as, four years after fire ripped through Camden Market, a wholesale redevelopment of the area was signed off by councillors.

Crucially, the original scheme proposed by developers has been transformed to take on board the concerns of local residents.  After a furious local campaign, the initial plans were dramatically thrown out by the council – forcing the developer to work closely with us, through the Hawley Wharf Working Group, to find a compromise.

The improved designs include a new primary school, new housing, and a new life for Hawley Wharf’s current market – with guarentees to protect local businesses and secure new jobs for young people.  In the meeting I raised further concerns about the need to compensate for the lack of affordable housing, and to provide 24 hour manned public toilet facilities to stop revellers using our streets. The council agreed to look at both these points (you can watch my fully speech to the Planning Committee here).

I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the residents who got involved in the Hawley Wharf Working Group, attened meetings and wrote to the council to express their views so forcefully.  There is no doubt in my mind that, without this action, we would have been lumbered with an unpopular scheme that would have damaged Camden Town rather than improved it. The new scheme represents a huge victory for local people – and evidence that working with, rather than against, residents is in any developer’s best interests.

Artists like Amy Winehouse could be honoured on Camden’s Music Walk of Fame

Camden Town is known for it’s buzzing music scene and a new street installation, based on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, is set to bring our unique heritage to life.

The project, led by the innovative business group Camden Town Unlimited, could see up to 25 artists honoured by a series of stones set into the pavement along Chalk Farm Road.

While lots of people will love seeing Camden’s cultural contribution recognised in this way, there’s no doubt some residents will shudder at yet another ploy to drag more tourists to Camden Town.  Camden Market is already one of the most visited attractions in London – and while that’s great for the local economy and thriving local businesses, there’s no doubt the heavy flow of people can take its toll.

Personally, I think this installation could help.  By focussing attention on the main streets, we should hold visitor’s attention and discourage them from heading off into the smaller residential roads where people live.

There will be a drop-in event for local residents and businesses to hear more information and express their own views on Saturday 17th November, from 10am until 2pm, at Castlehaven Community Centre.  I first wrote about this idea almost a year ago, so it’s great the project is now at a stage where the community can have their say.

Local Haverstock councillors Matt Sanders, Jill Fraser and Rahel Bokth are campaigning to stop Camden Council from selling the Bassett Street community garden.

Camden Council have this week announced plans to sell off the much loved community garden on Bassett Street to property developers.

The garden sits on what was once a muddy and neglected patch of grass, fenced off from the street with metal bars. About five years ago, the community came together with a vision to transform the space into something new.  We had a long tussle with the council to get them to hand over the keys, followed by fundraising and organising led by local residents – and eventually the Bassett Street community garden was born.  The garden has become a special place; a green lung in a densely populated area. People come here to grow food together, keep healthy, enjoy the outdoors and chat to neighbours.  The waiting list for a plot or a grow bag is probably as long as Bassett Street itself.

Oblivious to all this, Camden Council have labelled the community garden an “oddity”, and Labour councillors have placed it on a list of “small sites” to be sold to property developers.

We cannot let this happen.

Please help us save the Bassett Street Garden by signing our petition and asking Camden Council to think again.

You can also take part in the official consultation on the plans, here.

Local councillors and residents campaigned for a new Hawley Wharf scheme – which design watchdog Cabe has described as a “marked improvement”.

Redrawn plans for Hawley Wharf in Camden Town have been backed by design watchdog Cabe.

Developers were sent back to the drawing board earlier this year following a massive campaign led by local councillors and residents.  After several months of close liaison with the Hawley Wharf Working Group (made up of interested local representatives), developers have come forward with a new, improved scheme which shows far more respect for it’s iconic setting in the heart of Camden Town and alongside the Regent’s Canal.

While the new scheme may not yet be 100% perfect, Cabe are definitely right to describe it as “a marked improvement“. It just goes to show that corporate developers and professional planners in the Town Hall should harness the energy and ideas of local residents more often.