Combined Residents' Associations of South Hampstead

CRASH 2018 AGM - 12 JUNE
CRASH's AGM will take place on 12 June at 7pm at the Crossfiedl Centre on Fairhazel Gardens. The evening will be devoted to an in depth discussion of how CRASH functions, its current finances and how it can continue to function. We know that our members possess a multitude of talents that could be of value in such a discussion so we hope you will join us on 6 June to have your say and offer your advice on how CRASH can survive into the future.

SWISS COTTAGE GYRATORY - CYCLE SUPERHIGHWAY 11
Construction of the Swiss Cottage Section is set to commence this July. With permissions not granted for the rest of the cycle superhighway works are pretty much limited to a complete upgrade of the Swiss Cottage gyratory with knock on repurcussions during and post construction for the CRASH area. The impacts between future HS2 vehicle movements, development of 100 Avenue Road and other major local schemes have been ignored. Read TfL's press release here and read Jessica Learmond-Criqui's article about the plans here

100 AVENUE ROAD - LATEST NEWS
Please see www.saveswisscottage.com/ for the latest news on Essential Living's Proposals for the 24 Storey development on Swiss Cottage Roundabout.

LOCAL HUSTINGS FOR PROSPECTIVE SWISS COTTAGE WARD CANDIDATES
CRASH hosted a hustings event for our local prospective candidates on 11 April 2018. The well attended event saw questions being asked on a range of local issues including rubbish, planning approvals, 100 Avenue Road and the cycle superhighway.

DRINKS PARTY FOR OUTGOING COUNCILLORS
On 4 April CRASH members gathered to thank Roger Freeman and Andrew Marshall - two of our three local councillors for their outstanding support and contribution to CRASH and the local area over the years.

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: symondsph@yahoo.co.uk

CHANGES TO WASTE COLLECTIONS
The waste collection regime came into place for the CRASH area at the beginnining of April last year. 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 the website or telephone 020 3567 8105 as they can provide support for this.

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.

WEST HAMPSTEAD STATION
West Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Forum has published ambitious proposals of how the Jubilee line station at West Hampstead could be redeveloped in light of the large and growing demands on the station. Plans to upgrade the Overground station have recently been approved and the Thameslink station has already been upgraded but the pavements and Jubilee line station are struggling to take the strain; which will only be exacerbated when West Hampstead Square fills up.

The proposals can be viewed at www.ndpwesthampstead.org.uk/ and the Forum and our local MP have been lobbying the GLA, TfL and Council to take them forward.

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
Basement applications in South Hampstead show no sign of decreasing.

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.