East Barnet Residents' Association Newsletter
March 2014
Incorporating Friends of Oak Hill Park
Chairmans Message
We have been busy supporting local residents'
campaigns, many of which were discussed at the last
well attended All Members Meeting. Remember, these
are your meetings, so please contact Rob if you have
an issue you would like to have discussed.
The ancient Russell Lane Woodland continues to raise
emotions. We as an association are supporting the
local campaign to see this wonderful historic landmark
restored. This will take more than just a new sign and
replacing diseased trees - but a commitment by the
Council to replant many of the trees it has
bureaucratically felled over the years. We would like
to thank our local MP Theresa Villiers for her help,
supporting Russell Lane woodland as passionately as
she has done at Cat Hill.
It was a source of relief that Barnet Council has now
replaced the bench on Russell Lane at Beresford
avenue that it took away, apparently after consulting
local Councillors! The missing bench was spotted by
eagle eyed Rob and discussed at the last meeting and
raised by local newspapers. Following EBRA's
campaigning the Council replaced it, but the
mystery remains as to what happened to it in
the first place.
Ashmole Academy Secondary School have now
formally submitted a proposal to the
Department for Education for a primary school
on their site. This has been presented in some
quarters as undiluted good news. Some
members raised concerns at our meeting over
press reports that this new school would have
a special admissions policy meaning that
predominantly children living immediately
around Grovelands Park in Enfield would be
granted places. Concern was expressed as to
how that would impact children in East Barnet
and Brunswick Park who currently hoped to
secure places at Ashmole Academy.
Please come along to our next meeting on April
1st for an update on these and other issues.
Daniel Hope
Dates For Your Diary:
East Barnet Residents' Association All-Members Meeting: Tuesday 1st April 7:30pm in the
small hall, Brookside Methodist Church, 2 Cat Hill, East Barnet, EN4 8JB
East Barnet Residents' Association AGM: Tuesday 8th July 7:30pm in the small hall, Brookside
Methodist Church, 2 Cat Hill, East Barnet, EN4 8JB
East Barnet Festival Sat 5th & Sun 6th July If you would like to have a stall at the festival, or if you
can sponsor the festival, or if you are able to help in any way, please contact Ros Staines on 020 8441
1359 or email
[email protected] - thank you!
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East Barnet Residents' Association Newsletter
March 2014
EBRA Committee Officers
Chairman Daniel Hope
Hon. Secretary Rob White
Newsletter Distribution Yvonne Ward
Vice-Chairman George Irons
Hon. Treasurer Wendy Alcock
President Rev. James Mustard
Committee Members
Alan Kelley, James Bradshaw, Pauline Coakley Webb, Peter Robinson,
Rosina Down, Sheila Solb, Sue Scott, Sussanne Hassel, Christine Shields
Contacting the EBRA
Rob White is our point of contact, via our website: eastbar.net
Russell Lane Preservation Scheme
In 1935/36, the local population became
concerned about the preservation of Russell Lane
- a forested area known locally as Lovers' Lane because a similar area in Osidge Lane had been
totally decimated by the making of a roadway.
The site, owned by Ideal Homes, was to be
developed for housing which involved the felling
of many trees. In negotiation with the council,
who could not afford to buy the land, the Russell
Lane site was given to the council on the
understanding that it would be preserved for
future generations to enjoy. The council had to
find 3,000 to carry out necessary work of tree
preservation (cost of 5 bungalows at the time).
There was a great deal of argument within the
council about the cost and the value of preserving
the Russell Lane site, but with the support of the
majority and local homeowners and residents,
Cllrs Bennet and Judge asked for a loan from the
government, which they got. This was repaid by
putting a farthing on the rates.
This area was maintained up until the 80's, but
since then it has been destroyed piecemeal by the
felling of trees leaving the Russell Lane green area
in the parlous state it is today.
We
have
had
meetings
with
council
representatives who have assured us that the
dozen or so trees which have been removed
recently will be replaced in the spring of 2014
along with 3 or 4 extra (likely to be hornbeam and
oak). A budget has been set aside for this. Trees
will be in keeping with the ones found in the area.
We are hoping that it will be possible to restore
the area to some of its past glory.
Because of the council's budget restrictions, we
are hoping to investigate sources of free trees and
grants to enable to us to pay for planting. This will
be done in close contact with the council so we
are aware, at every step, what it is possible to do.
We do feel we can do this without jeopardising
the current use of the Russell Lane green space
by local residents to cross the lane and also help
to reduce traffic noise and improve air quality.
Page 2 of 4
Sue Scott
East Barnet Residents' Association Newsletter
March 2014
Pension Credit
Are you missing out on claiming Pension Credit to help with household bills?
Many older people are missing out on Pension Credit
and other benefits so the Mayor of London has
launched a campaign to highlight the fact that many
pensioners in London may not be claiming vital
benefits.
The help adds up to an average of 21 a week or
1,092 a year in pension credits. No small sums
when you consider the straitened financial
circumstances faced by many older Londoners.
If you are a single pensioner on less than 145.40 a
week, or your joint pension is less than 222.05 a
week, you could be missing out on additional income
to help you pay household bills and keep your home
warm.
The numbers of pensioners missing out are not
insignificant either. In London, there are around
180,000 pensioners who arent aware of what
benefits theyre entitled to, so fail to claim them.
The mayor has partnered with charities Age UK,
Citizens Advice and Carers Trust to raise
awareness of pension credit and the other
benefits available to older people as the benefits
system can be complex and it can be difficult for
people to work out what theyre entitled to.
That's why its saying to people, if you're a
pensioner or perhaps know an older Londoner
who may be missing out on benefits, call Age UK,
the Carers Trust or pop down to your local
Citizens Advice Bureau for a chat, and make sure
you're claiming what you need.
Barnet Age UK: 020 8203 5040
www.ageuk.org.uk/barnet
Barnet Carers Trust: 020 8343 9698
www.barnetcarers.org
Barnet Citizens Advice: 30 Station Road, New
Barnet, EN5 1PL (Mondays 9.30 am - 12 pm and
1 pm - 2.30 pm). Also Wednesday and Friday
9.30am 12.30pm at the Hendon office.
Those who look after older or disabled people could
be missing out too. The people they care for may
also be entitled to extra help.
Wendy Alcock
Can you help Chipping Barnet Foodbank?
One of over 200 foodbanks in the UK, the Chipping
Barnet foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust, a
charity committed to action against poverty and
marginalisation in our community.
Around 50
agencies in the borough, including social workers,
churches, doctors, the job centre and Childrens
Services of Barnet Council give vouchers to people
they know are in difficult circumstances - and since
opening at the end of 2012 Chipping Barnet
foodbank has fed around 1,500 people, over 500 of
them children.
The foodbank relies on donations of in-date nonperishable food (see suggested shopping list below)
to feed local people in crisis.
To find out how the foodbank works, how to
donate or other ways you can help:
Website: chippingbarnet.foodbank.org.uk
Email:
[email protected]Phone: 07716 890 535
Foodbank shopping list:
Milk (UHT or powdered), Sugar (500g), Long life fruit
juice, Tins of Soup, Pasta sauces, Sponge pudding
(tin), Tinned Tomatoes, Tinned Vegetables, Breakfast
cereals, Tinned Rice pudding, Tea Bags, Jar of instant
coffee, Instant mash, 500g Rice, 500g Pasta, Tinned
meat/fish, Tinned fruit, Jars of Jam, Packets of
biscuits, Snacks
Wendy Alcock
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East Barnet Residents' Association Newsletter
March 2014
Your Local Councillors
Here's a list (in alphabetical order) of your local councillors and their email addresses. They are happy to
help and if there's anything you would like to discuss you can go to one of their surgeries (no appointment
necessary)
Brunswick Park Ward
East Barnet Ward
Andreas Ioannidis (Labour)
[email protected]0791 759 9498
Surgery: 2:30 - 3:30 1st Saturday of month
Barry Evangeli (Conservative)
[email protected](no phone number provided)
Robert Rams (Conservative)
[email protected]020 8446 7291
Lisa Rutter (Conservative)
[email protected]020 8445 3829
Surgery: 2:30 - 4:00 Last Saturday of month
Andreas Tambourides (Conservative)
[email protected]020 8368 5417
Surgery: 10:30 -12:30 2nd Saturday of month
Surgeries are at Osidge Library
Joanna Tambourides (Conservative)
[email protected]020 8361 9154
Surgeries 10:30 to 12 noon on the:
First Saturday of month at NBCA Victoria Road
and
Third Saturday at East Barnet Library
Local Elections
The Election Day for local and European elections is Thursday 22nd May 2014 7am-10pm
If you haven't already registered to vote, the deadlines are:
5pm Tuesday 6th May 2014 - Deadline for registering to vote (if you aren't already registered)
5pm Wednesday 7th May 2014 - Deadline for the Council receiving new postal vote request or proxy vote
request (a proxy is someone you authorise to go and vote for you on the day)
Contact the Electoral Registration Office (ERO)
North London Business Park (NLBP), Oakleigh Road South, London N11 1NP
Tel: 020 8359 5577 Email: [email protected]
Chas R Lowe Estates are proud to sponsor the East Barnet Residents' Association newsletters.
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