Combined Residents' Associations of South Hampstead

CRASH AGM 2020
Due to coronavirus, the Annual General Meeting, scheduled for June, has been postponed until later in the year. A provisional AGM date has been set for 7:30pm Monday, 30 November 2020 via Zoom.

SWISS & SOUTH MAGAZINE
Our neighbour, Katie Gosling, who is not a member of CRASH, but is supportive of our aims and involves herself in the improvement of our area, wants to set up a new local magazine called Swiss and South. This is not a CRASH initiative, but If you are interested in finding out more here is the link to her fundraising website:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/swisssouth

NEW CRASH SECRETARY
The CRASH Committee is delighted to announce that Kumiko Matsuoka has accepted the position of CRASH Secretary!

SECOND BIG CLEAN UP
Following the success of the “Big Clean” on Broadhurst Gardens, a second event was planned for early April. Due to the coronavirus pandemic this had to be postponed. A new date will be arranged.

MAJOR PLANNING OBJECTION
In February CRASH rallied opposition to a planning proposal for the first-ever private underground car park, with associated car lift, within the South Hampstead conservation area. A small army of CRASH members lodged objections with the council. A decision, by Camden, on the application is awaited.

CLEAN UP BROADHURST GARDENS - TOOK PLACE ON 27 OCTOBER
CRASH members were fed up with the litter-strewn state of the land at the corner of Broadhurst and Canfield Gardens and decided to take things into their own hands by having a clean up session on Sunday 27 October. Gloves, rakes spades, brooms and waste bags were provided by Veolia and Camden. A big thank you to those who attended to help.

156 WEST END LANE (former Travis Perkins site) - REVISED PLANNING APPLICATION
The developers A2 Dominion submitted a variation to their original application for development of the large site bordering the front of 159 West End Lane. The number of units proposed is now 180 (originally 164) and the public space that formed part of the development has been reduced. The planning application is number 2019/4140/P on the Camden planning portal. CRASH submitted comments on behalf of its members. Further details can be found at "Stop the Blocks" - click here

CRASH BRAINSTORMING SESSION
Following the CRASH AGM on 12 June, it was agreed that a group of members would get together to discuss how our association can be re-fashioned to face the current-day problems of a Conservation Area like ours. The meeting formed a number of sub-committees, including a focus on planning, trees and communications. If you'd like to get involved please contact [email protected]

CRASH AGM 2019
There was an excellent attendance at this year's AGM held on Wednesday, 12 June at the Crossfield Centre in Fairhazel Gardens.

CRASH MEMBERSHIP
If your membership has lapsed or you'd like to join CRASH or its Committee please click in the membership tab above to complete your application. There are lots of issues CRASH could be dealing with in more detail if it had more resources. If you'd like to get involved and help us please do get in touch. Equally if you'd like to raise an issue with us please contact us Peter Symonds, Chairman, email: [email protected]

CHANGES TO WASTE COLLECTIONS
The waste collection regime came into place for the CRASH area at the beginnining of April 2018. Full details are available here - where you can also check your next collection dates, register questions and complaints as well. All senior citizens and those on full council tax benefit are entitled to a 30% discount on the garden waste charge and you can join up with neighbours to share collections too. If you are unable to move your rubbish/recycling bins on collections days near to the roadside and back into your propery let Veolia know through their website or telephone 020 3567 8105 as they can provide support for this.

There are many houses which have far more recycling and waste bins than are really necessary. You can ring the above number to have those that are surplus to your requirements removed.

You can also report street cleaning, rubbish and dumping issues through the Clean Camden app which can be downloaded free of charge via google, micosoft or apple store or reported on line.

PLANNING UPDATE
Any concerned resident can raise an objection to a local planning application if you feel it is detrimental to the area. Camden Council publishes all its planning applications along with the plans and forms on its website which is fully searchable here. You can also set up email alerts for planning proposals and decisions in the area. If there is an objection from an amenity group like CRASH or objections from three individuals the planning application gets raised at a Council Members Briefing on which Councillors sit.

Objections and comments should be factual rather than emotional and are most likely to be considered where they demonstrate a plan contravenes a planning policy (see our page on planning advice). CRASH cannot submit comments on all the local proposals but where we can we do. If you would like to raise a concern with CRASH about a specific proposal please do get in touch (contact details on About Us page).

PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND BASEMENTS

It has become almost impossible, except in certain special circumstances, for CRASH to object to every basement application. Even despite Camden’s more demanding requirement of a detailed basement impact assessment (BIA) and other such technical information, a precedent has been set which means there are now fewer and fewer valid reasons for Council to refuse permission, particularly when so many applicants are prepared to go to appeal if their applications are turned down. Nonetheless you can find plenty of information about basements and the planning process on the CRASH website.