News prior to 16th May 2021

100 AVENUE ROAD
Having demolished the existing office block, the reviled owners of the property, Essential Living (EL), 'paused' construction work and closed down the site. In January 2021 EL applied to Camden for permission to remove all affordable housing units from the scheme. In April Camden refused to give its consent. CRASH waits to see if EL will lodge an appeal. In the meantime, 100 Avenue Road remains 'a hole in the ground'.

THE O2 CENTRE
In January 2021 Land Securities (Landsec) announces its plans to redevelop the O2 Centre site. Both Landsec and Camden Council publish consultation documents, and CRASH urges all its members to make their views known. There is widespread concern at the density of housing being proposed, and the height of proposed blocks.  Of equal concern is the loss of well-used facilities, such as the Sainsbury's supermarket.

CRASH AGM 2020
Due to coronavirus, the Annual General Meeting, scheduled for June, had to be postponed until later in the year. It took place at 7:30pm on Monday, 30 November 2020 via Zoom.  On behalf of the committee and members, Barry Humphries paid tribute to Peter Symonds for his ten years service as Chair. The committee also gave thanks to Yvonne Klemperer for her service as Secretary.  The three Swiss Cottage ward councillors kindly attended for a Q&A session, after which the formal business of the AGM was concluded. A note of the officers and committee members elected at the 2020 AGM is attached.
 
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 - AUG 2020
The CRASH Committee is delighted to announce that Kumiko Matsuoka has accepted the position of CRASH Secretary!

PETER STEPS DOWN
On the 8th August 2020 Peter Symonds announces his resignation as Chair of CRASH, and as a committee member. Our thanks to Peter for his long years of dedicated service.
 
SECOND BIG CLEAN UP
Following the success of the “Big Clean” on Broadhurst Gardens, a second event was planned for early April 2020. 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 2019
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 us (see Contact page).
 
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 (see Contact page)
 
CHANGES TO WASTE COLLECTIONS
The waste collection regime came into place for the CRASH area at the beginning 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 property 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, microsoft 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 (see Contact 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.