Alliance members meet Councillor

"Haringey LibDem Councillor for Alexandra Ward Juliet Solomon kindly gave up her Good Friday morning to talk and listen to both Barnet and Haringey residents from all around the proposed site. She has already spoken out very loudly and publicly about her opposition to this plan, and told us of her fact-finding and lobbying within the council on our behalf.

"We took her to the boundaries of the proposed site in Hollickwood Park where everyone was able to give their thoughts and opinions, and in return we were offered good advice from her years of lobbying and stopping [alleged] lunacy within her council.

"The other pictures uploaded are taken from within the site. I'm sure you'll agree that we are potentially losing something very beautiful. The view back to Princess Park Manor also shows the lovely view that they will have in return! A big thank-you to Juliet Solomon for giving up her free time to listen."

Bowes Park is green

Flutter there, using this map

"Bowes Park Community Garden is situated on Myddleton Road, and is a welcoming green space situated near a parade of shops. It is enjoyed by everyone from local children and older people, to shoppers and staff of the nearby businesses.

"The site features mixed planting of shrubs, trees and perennials with an emphasis on sustainable planting with year-round interest. A path gives access via foot or wheelchair round one side of the garden to four benches.

"To find out more about the garden and our forthcoming events please see the website of the Bowes Park Community Association."

Friends of the Earth: Reducing waste, and boosting recycling and reuse

And the web site.

Pinkham Way Alliance - "Myth and Reality"

Link to 'Global Renewables' web site

"In March 2007, Global Renewables Lancashire Ltd, Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council signed a £2billion, 25-year agreement, to process the household waste of 1.4m people in Lancashire.

"From the moment of delivery, every aspect of the Farington facility takes place indoors, making it the UK’s first fully enclosed waste treatment facility. ... Every part of the process is connected to the air management system, which has been designed so that fresh air is constantly being sucked into the building. Therefore, when the doors are opened briefly to allow trucks access, air flows in, not out, owing to the fact that there is a slightly lower air pressure inside the building."

Link to 'Leyland Guardian' web site

Residents’ fury at ‘broken promises’ of waste firm

"More than 70 people vented their anger about the Farington Waste Recovery Park, which they blame for producing awful smells and plumes of steam, at a meeting on Monday.

"Resident Pauline Clarke said: 'It smells like a swamp, and it’s on my curtains, my bedding, my hair. It’s vile.'

"Colin Bell said: 'I think it’s in the wrong place. It’s too close to houses, and now we’ve got trouble with these terrible smells. I thought it was the drains at first.' "

Capel Manor - free entry for Enfield residents on Saturday 7 May

Link to web site

"As part of our ongoing support of the London Borough of Enfield, we’re opening our doors once again and offering FREE ENTRY to residents of Enfield. Simply bring with you a utility bill or item with proof of address to the OPEN DAY on Saturday 7th May, and 30 acres of Capel's colourful and scented gardens are yours to explore for FREE! Plus enjoy the sounds of the Enfield Brass Band.

"It’s also the College Open Day, a perfect opportunity to see Capel’s courses in action with demonstrations from each of our schools; Horticulture, Garden Design, Arboriculture (the study of trees), Countryside & the Environment, Saddlery, Floristry and Animal Care. "

Filth and squalor in Muswell Hill. (No, just joking)

'Barnet Press/Enfield Gazette/Haringey Advertiser' staff yesterday, 'Barnet Times' NLWA letter, and Haringey Journal letters

Click to enlarge Barnet Times (and maybe again to magnify)
Reply in a letter to timesletters@london.newsquest.co.uk
(include your full address, and phone number, if poss.)

---

As a result of that NLWA letter, an email winged its way to the NLWA:

"In order to avoid any misunderstanding, plaese confirm the following:

1. Waste will only be received at Pinkham Way from "Barnet, western Haringey and western Enfield".
   
   Does that mean that all waste from consolidation sites (transferring from dustcarts to larger lorries) at Hornsey, and conceivably at a new facility at Hendon, will never go to Pinkham Way for processing? This implies this waste (from other boroughs) will always be driven past Pinkham Way, on its way to Edmonton.
   
   Also, since Hendon currently takes some of west London's waste (presumably from Brent and/or Harrow), please confirm that none of that will ever go to Pinkham Way either.
   
   Will you be putting your quoted statement above in your planning application? Will your statement apply for the lifetime of any contract?
 
2. The creation of incinerator fuel at Pinkham Way helps north London residents dispose of waste in a "more sustainable way".
   
   Consider the waste stream remaining, after mechanical and biological treatment at Pinkham Way to remove some recyclables and food waste. How is the burning of the materials in the residual waste "sustainable", or does the sustainabilty comment not apply to that material?
   
   Does it, for instance, contain waste that might, through better technologies and behavioural changes, be capable of recycling, such as paper and plastics, but is deliberately kept in this fuel stream, so that the calorific value is sufficiently high for the incinerator contract?
   
   Does the supply of waste at Pinkham Way and Edmonton over the next "25 to 35 years" have to be maintained at a minimum tonnage, and a particular calorific value, by the NLWA, for the avoidance of financial penalties? Will you be stating what those minmum levels will be, in your Pinkham Way planning application?
 
3. Are you satisified you can seek approval of planning permission for Pinkham Way, without it necessarily being compliant with the submission copy of the 'North London Waste Plan'?
   
   The submitted NLWP has not yet been published, consulted on, publicly examined, or approved by government.
   
   Has the NLWA carried out a risk analysis, in case you are left with a rather expensive nature reserve at Pinkham Way? Is that risk analysis in the public domain?

Bounds Green and District hair styles

Link to Bounds Green and District
Residents Association

Comment from 14 April: "Barnet Council decided to push forward with their planning application to build the Pinkham Way 'Eco Park'. However, we mustn’t be put off, as there are many more opportunities to express our objections.

"The next full council meeting for Haringey is on 23rd May, so keep an eye out for details of further demos."

'Barnet Press, Enfield Gazette, Haringey Advertiser' journalists hold 'Death of Local Journalism' Rally, and get on Radio 2

Link to journalists' web site

"The Grim Reaper, a priest, pall-bearers carrying a coffin and more than a hundred mourners took part in a mass demonstration through Enfield Town at lunchtime today.

"Journalists on strike at the North London & Herts branch of Tindle Newspapers are taking two weeks’ action over a lack of staff and resources, leaving them unable to provide quality newspapers."

---

From Wikipedia: According to The Elements of Journalism, a book by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, there are nine elements of journalism. In order for a journalist to fulfill their duty of providing the people with the information, they need to be free and self-governing. They must follow these guidelines:

1. Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to the citizens.
3. Its essence is discipline of verification.
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
7. It must strive to make the news significant, interesting, and relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.

Current state of journalism: Even in more optimistic scenarios, no one has a business model to sustain digital journalism beyond a small number of self-supporting services. The attempts of newspapers to shift their operations online have been commercial failures, as they trade old media dollars for new media pennies. ... The Internet can help democratize our media and politics. But it does not replace skilled journalists on the ground covering the events of the day, and doing investigative reporting. Indeed, the Internet cannot achieve its revolutionary potential as a citizens’ forum without such journalism.

The collapse of journalism and the democratic infrastructure it sustains is not a development that anyone, except perhaps corrupt politicians and the interests they serve, looks forward to. Such a crisis demands solutions equal to the task.

Scroll one hour, ten minutes into the recording

"66% of the residual waste CAN be recycled, so that 90% recycling rate should be possible”

Link to short press release

Link to 'Waste in Wales'

Jane Davidson Environment Minister for the Welsh Assembly Government said:

"My ambition is for Wales to recycle 70% of its waste by 2025, and be zero waste by 2050."

Two minutes of 'Friends of the Earth'

The web reference mentioned is here.

Barnet Times: " Two Government ministers admit 'concern' over waste site planned for A406 Pinkham Way"

Link to Barnet Times

"A GOVERNMENT minister and MP for Chipping Barnet says she has 'concerns' about the traffic impact of a £100m waste plant, planned on the fringes of the borough.

"Ms Villiers has been joined by fellow Minister and Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone in criticising the plans."

Astonishing NLWA allegation: You are all crooks!

Click to enlarge. 
Even this letter was only supplied as an image!

Pinkham Way Alliance: spread the message

Pinkham Way Alliance: new poster

Bowes Park Community Association now a charity (please give generously)

Link to web site

"On 1 April, the BPCA became a charitable company, limited by guarantee. We can now apply to grant-giving trusts that will only support charities, and we hope that, as a registered charity, we will be better able to continue working towards improving our local environment.

"... 'OneTwoEight Myddleton Road' is a community space for all local people and the whole community to use and enjoy. Thanks to the continued support of volunteers and groups from the local area, there is a fantastic range of classes, activities and information available. ... The pilot year for the community space ends on 30 April, and so does the grant - but we have put in applications to grant funding bodies..."

Click for details of this project to engage both younger and older people
from the Bowes Park area, with a particular focus on Myddleton Road.

Friends of the Earth: "Talking half as much rubbish"

Link to 'Friends of the Earth'

"We need to show that the majority of people want to throw away less rubbish, and have more and better recycling services instead.

Join Friends of the Earth's campaign for a goal to:

'halve household black-bag waste
by 2020'.

To paraphrase Monty Python, ...

Do you want the thirty seconds of Filthy London...

Or the full one hour?

(Click above for BBC web site)

10.30am, Saturday 16 April (free) seminars: Avoid the NEED for Pinkham Way - 'Moving towards Zero Waste'!

Click above to enlarge
(map)

"The 'Zero Waste Alliance UK' aims to protect, preserve, and improve the environment, for the benefit of the public, by the development, provision, and promotion of sustainable waste management practices. It also seeks to educate the public in all matters relating to this.

"Sustainable waste management practices include:

• waste minimisation, 
• minimisation of pollution and harm from waste, 
• reuse of waste, recycling of waste, 
• waste recovery activities, and 
• recovery of pollutants from contaminated land,

in accordance with 'Waste Strategy for England' 2007 [now being revised].

"We seek a better environment by encouraging a cleaner and healthier way of dealing with waste issues."

Haringey Independent: "Pinkham Way bosses to write to unhappy residents

Link to web site

"... John Hajdu, chairman of the Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association, says that residents there are also concerned over the plans. He said:

"If it is meant to collect waste from seven boroughs, that would mean lots of lorries driving through our area every day. I don't think they have thought through what the consequences of that would be – not just for the North Circular but also in Muswell Hill. With that amount of traffic going through Colney Hatch Lane, it could ruin the shopping centre in Muswell Hill."

"Local Liberal Democrats meet Pinkham Way bosses to raise residents’ concerns"

Link to lynnefeatherstone.org

"To make sure that the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) is aware of local concern over plans to build a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way, local Liberal Democrats yesterday presented the authority’s top boss with views from hundreds of local residents who had responded to a Liberal Democrat survey.

"Lynne Featherstone MP and Alexandra ward councillor Juliet Solomon met with David Beadle, following serious concerns about a lack of consultation of residents living close to the proposed site. ... The Waste Authority also promised to write to local residents in early May to explain the plans in more detail."

The Guardian: "Why even the sainted Ray Tindle is facing a strike by journalists"

Link to web site

"The nine-strong National Union of Journalists chapel [at its North London and Herts division in Enfield] have decided to take the action in opposition to the group's policy of natural wastage.

"'Just three reporters are churning out nine newspapers every week,' said the chapel father, Jonathan Lovett. 'The current Tindle business plan threatens to let once award-winning newspapers dwindle and die'."

Barnet Alliance for Public Services: "Pinkham Way Alliance lobby Barnet council"

"Haringey and Barnet residents opposing the proposed rubbish processing development at Pinkham Way turned up in force at the Barnet council meeting on 12 April."

Press/Advertiser/Gazette journalists ask for your support

From: strikegazadpres@hotmail.co.uk

"We need your support...your local newspaper is dying!
 
"Due to savage cost-cutting, The Enfield Advertiser Series, The Barnet Press Series and The Haringey Advertiser are on life-support machines, shadows of their former award-winning selves. Their very future is under threat.
 
"Now just three reporters are putting out a total of nine newspapers every week. To be frank, you deserve better, and that is why we are going on strike.

"We are therefore asking you to help persuade our owner, Sir Ray Tindle, to give us the staff and resources, so we can do our job and revive our quality community papers, before it is too late.  Please write to Sir Ray Tindle at this address:

Tindle Newspapers
The Old Court House
Union Road
Farnham
Surrey GU9 7PT"

The end of the Barnet Press? Haringey Advertiser? Enfield Advertiser and Gazette?

Staff at North London & Herts Newspapers say “enough is enough,” in the first strike in Tindle Newspapers’ history

 From Tuesday, 19 April, journalists at the north London newspaper group will go on strike over the Tindle business plan that is leaving once award-winning newspapers to dwindle and die.

Bad for Staff

The company is refusing to replace members of staff when they leave, while expecting increased output from its already overworked employees – seemingly with no viable strategy to revive the newspapers’ fortunes. Owner Sir Ray Tindle has claimed to be the “Saviour of local newspapers” and recently said:

“Despite the doom-mongers, regional newspapers are alive and well...”

Not in north London – here, they suffer death by a thousand cutbacks. The company says our centre has to cut costs, but last year our employer Tindle Newspapers made more than £3million profit.

• More than a third of editorial staff have left without being replaced, and key positions are not being filled
• Just three reporters are churning out nine newspapers every week
• In the past few weeks, management has slashed the Sports section by half, while the future of the entire Arts & Leisure section is under threat.

Bad for the community…

As a consequence of its refusal to replace staff, an inferior product is being delivered to our readers and, therefore, our advertisers:

• Reporters do not have time to leave their desks, meaning they are missing stories of vital importance
• We are unable to cover a range of council meetings, attend community events, court cases and inquiries, and report them to the public
• This leads to a failure to uphold the newspapers’ fine tradition of holding public bodies to account and the worst kind of “churnalism”.

Messages of support

“It’s a dispute that should not be happening. If this business is to have a future it must rely on the quality of journalism and sufficient staff to produce the titles.”  
Barry Fitzpatrick, NUJ Head of Publishing

“I am very concerned about the issues raised by staff at these papers. Residents in Enfield are proud to have – and deserve to continue getting – such a good quality, campaigning newspaper that can boast a distinctive style. We must remember what an important role regional newspapers play in the local community.”
Nick De Bois, Conservative MP for Enfield North

“I’ve watched the standard of these papers drop over past months with great sadness. I believe that the local journalists are under additional pressures due to the reductions in staff and the number of papers they are expected to produce. This leaves them less able to investigate and evaluate stories, which not only affects quality, it affects community accountability as well.”  
Andy Love, Labour MP for Edmonton

---

• NUJ members will be outside their offices in Refuge House, 9-10 River Front, Enfield, EN1 3SZ (just across from Enfield Town railway station) from Tuesday to Thursday over the next two weeks.
• Wednesday, 20 April from noon: a mass demonstration will take place, featuring The Grim Reaper and a funeral procession.
• North London & Herts Newspapers comprises: The Enfield Advertiser, The Edmonton Advertiser, The Winchmore Hill Advertiser & Herald, The Enfield Gazette, The Barnet & Potters Bar Press, The East Barnet Press & Advertiser, The Edgware & Mill Hill Press, The Hendon & Finchley Press and The Haringey Advertiser.
• For more information call FOC Jonathan Lovett on 07917 871 421 or Barry Fitzpatrick on 020 7843 3706.

To find out more, search:

• Facebook for Gazette, Advertiser and Press on Strike
• Twitter: @StrikeGazAdPres
• email: strikegazadpres@hotmail.co.uk
• blog: http://strikegazadpres.wordpress.com

Video of Barnet Council, Tuesday night

(Leigh Warner)

---

And a statement by the 'Pinkham Way Alliance':

"We had a fantastic turn-out - thank you to everyone that was there to support our cause. As expected, Barnet Council has chosen to shift responsibility for the welfare of the residents they are supposed to represent, to the NLWA and Haringey Council. Debate was stifled, and despite concerns about the lack of proper community consultation and the lack of independent scrutiny, it seems that the NLWA have what they want.

"And for the sharp-eyed - the Union Jack above the Council building was flying upside down - a sure sign of democracy in distress. Even the policeman on duty had a little smile at that."

Our view: After Tuesday night, even more people know about 'Barnet Democracy'

An advert for Barnet's Leadership: click above to enlarge

 (admittedly, Lynne Hillan left it all to

Andrew Harper on Tuesday)

Evening Standard: "Minister takes on Tory council in fight against giant waste plant"

Link to Evening Standard

"Transport minister Theresa Villiers is fighting her own party over plans to build Britain's biggest rubbish processing plant in north London.

"Ms Villiers says she is 'gravely concerned' about the Pinkham Way site close to Muswell Hill and Bounds Green, which could see more than 500 lorries a day delivering waste."

Barnet Times (2), Barnet Press (2), Haringey Journal (2), and Enfield Independent

 (Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)

 (Click to enlarge, and usually again to magnify)

Click above to enlarge,
or below to link to earlier
'Enfield's New Southgate Plan'

Enfield Conservative Group favour 'Towards Zero Waste' principle

Commentary by Cllr Daniel Pearce

Southgate Ward - London Borough of Enfield

There is an increasing popular policy that uses the phrase: 'Towards Zero Waste’, and the Conservative Group on Enfield Council is in favour of this in principle. But local authorities, waste authorities, residents and retailers should be offering 'carrots' (a range of incentives) and not 'sticks' (in the form of taxes), to encourage reductions in waste.

Haringey Journal: 'Transport matters'

Link to web site

"[It was an] utterly foolhardy decision to close down the Alexandra Palace line almost 60 years ago, especially when over £1million had been spent on the aborted project, to convert it into a branch of the Northern line.

"The sooner this is returned to some form of transport use, the better and, before the greenies start moaning, there are plenty of other places in the neighbourhood where they can go and convene with nature."

'Alexandra News': "More Protests Over Pinkham Way"

"Mrs Angry talked to the Pinkham Way objectors, who were incensed at what they had seen. In their naivete, they had expected honest, open debate, on issues of local concern"

Link to Mrs Angry's 'Broken Barnet' council meeting report

"... the chamber erupted in fury after councillor Gordon chose to make a passing comment about the continuing chanting going on outside from the Pinkham Way protestors: incredibly, the word 'rabble' was used. There was outrage, not just in the public gallery, but within all sides of the Chamber. Even the Mayor's jaw dropped open, and he quickly reprimanded him by pointing out, no, he mustn't call them that, they were demonstrators ..."

NLWA Short-list for Incinerators is ALSO cut from Five to Three

"The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has announced a shortlist of three bidders that have been chosen to develop detailed fuel use solutions under the NLWA procurement. This follows an evaluation of outline solutions that were received in January from five bidders.

Barnet Times: "Cllr Brian Coleman says an 'anti-semitic' campaign is being run against Veolia over the Pinkham Way waste site"

Link to Barnet Times

"Councillor Brian Coleman said some protesters had been running an “anti-Zionist” campaign against Veolia over their bidding for contracts for the Pinkham Way site on the fringes of Barnet, Haringey and Enfield."

---

Link to 'And then there were three'.

Barnet Times: "Barnet's planning chief says Pinkham Way protesters 'complaining too early' "

Link to 'Barnet Times'
(photo:'Barnet Eye')

"Councillor Richard Cornelius, who is in charge of planning, told protesters they were: 'complaining too early' as: 'we don’t know what we’re getting there'.

Labour and Lib Dem members were joined by Tory Councillor Kate Salinger to vote against provisional approval of the plans, but were outvoted by the rest of the Conservative members."

'Pinkham Way Alliance' condemns Barnet Council’s decision to ratify north London Waste Plan

"More than 300 angry north London residents protested outside Barnet Town Hall last night (Tuesday 12 April) to show their disgust over plans to build one of Europe’s biggest waste disposal plants in the middle of a residential area, near one of the busiest junctions on the North Circular Road (Colney Hatch Lane).

The majority of councillors voted to approve the scheme, effectively dumping the problem on to neighbouring Haringey, where a planning application is expected to be made by the North London Waste Authority in May.

Video of Hendon Town Hall last night

(Courtesy of 'Barnet Eye'.)

Barnet Times: "Pinkham Way Alliance calling Barnet, Enfield and Haringey residents to another protest tonight

Link to Barnet Times

"DOZENS of residents from three boroughs are expected to picket a full council meeting at Barnet Council tonight.

"More than 100 people turned up to demonstrate against plans for Europe’s largest waste handling plant alongside the A406 Pinkham Way, on the boundaries of Barnet, Haringey and Enfield, at a Barnet Council cabinet meeting last month."

'Pinkham Way Alliance' issues call to arms

Photo: Belinda Lawley

"Angry north London residents will turn out in force tonight (Tuesday) to renew their efforts to stop the building of one of Europe’s biggest waste disposal plants in the middle of their communities.

They will demonstrate outside Barnet Town Hall in The Burroughs, Hendon, as the north London local authority’s 63 councillors gather for a full council meeting, during which a final decision on whether to go ahead with the plant will be taken.

AND THEN THERE WERE THREE!

Link to news story

"Just three bidders have been left in the running for the 'North London Waste Authority' waste management contract, after the shortlist was narrowed down this month. The three bidders left to fight it out for the 30-year contract are:

• A joint bid between waste management company SITA UK and private equity firm Catalyst Lend Lease
• A consortium of Swedish engineering firm Skanska and Spanish waste management firm FCC
• Waste company Veolia ES Aurora Ltd."

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A later NLWA announcement about the Incinerator short-list is here.