Do Your Bit

Your stories from your London community

Your stories

139 bus in Hampstead

Virginia and Miles

Members of the West Hampstead amenity and transport (WHAT) say that the 139 bus has again started driving down Mill Lane to get to the bus garage. Virginia Berridge says: "We are concerned that the bus is too big for the road, and is shaking local houses and buildings. We are campaigning for a diversion of the bus so that residents are not disturbed." Fellow campaigner Miles Seaman says that the Metroline bus has no garage at the end of the route so the driver has to go a quick way back. This, he says, is because the contract with Transport for London pays them for only a certain length of the journey. Using an alternative route makes it longer and therefore, Miles says: "More expensive! We have lodged a petition with Transport for London".

WHAT have been campaigning since the 1970's, succesfully restricting the numbers of restaurants springing up in Camden. They are also currently liaising with Transport for London about getting Oyster card machines into Hampstead overground station.

Give us a skatepark! Enfield

Potential skate park

Stuart Harper contacted BBC Action Network. The 19 year-old is "aiming to get a safe secure and popular skate plaza built in the town park. There is a small piece of land which hasn't been used for many years. We're hoping to set up the only skate plaza in London." He says that there is a perfectly appropriate area, which is a disused paddling pool. He is concerned about the image some people have of teenagers, that they are hanging around with nothing to do. Stuart feels that the authorities should take some responsibility and provide facilities.

Stuart Harper

Enfield Council say: "Skateboarders have traditionally used the dry ponds in Town Park and they may continue to do so - the Parks department is however investigating alternative uses of these dry ponds, which may include the provision of permanent skateboarding facilities."

Stuart hopes that his campaign will eventually see a brand new skate-park in Enfield. We will keep you up-to-date with developments.

Broadway market campaign, Hackney

Campaigners say: "Our aim is to prevent the ruin of our neighbours' livelihoods, and the destruction of the character of our local community, which is the direct result of Hackney Council's continued policy of selling off commercial properties as package deals to property developers. Broadway Market has recently seen a series of evictions of small shop owners who have been trading in the area for decades, and planned demolitions are lined up to make way for exorbitant luxury apartments. We fear that soon we may be the next ones who will have to go."

Hackney council say: "The properties were all sold several years ago when the Council was under legally-binding directions from the Government. All Local Authorities must by law get market value when they sell property.”

Twickenham: Success!

Action Network were contacted by a group that wanted to save the one hundred year-old Hamilton Road electricity works in Twickenham. They said: "The buildings are currently scheduled for demolition, with the developers planning to replace them with a large, modern block of flats. Our group would love to see these buildings renovated and tastefully converted into attractive flats rather than bull-dozed and replaced with soul-less yuppie accomodation as currently planned."

The good news is that anyone who now wants to develop these buildings will have to get a "Conservation Area Consent". Richmond council passed a resolution, protecting the electricity works. The council say they have listened to residents and their concerns over the issue.