For two if not three of the last AGMs we have given a Wooden Spoon to the Council for their lack of a policy on street tree pits – that is the area around the base of the tree in the footpath. We have shown that there is no consistency of treatment which varies from just earth, to hoggin, to black tarmac to various forms of ‘bound gravel’. This is despite the formation of a StreetSmart guide adopted by the Council about 10 years ago after much exhortation by the Hammersmith Society. Lots of Borough’s deal with this problem successfully. It is a difficult problem as trees have to receive water, their roots go all over the place and dogs do nasty things on them.

As a result of our campaign, Harry Phibbs has been particularly tenacious in trying to get answers from Council Officers : They have recently come up with a new product – another form of permeable bound gravel which is being trailed at the moment around the Brackenbury area and Kings Street/St Peter’s Square – see illustration.

What do you think? Looks smart – will it last?

Resin-Bound Tree Pit

An alternative approach – not necessarily suitable for all locations – or certainly busy ones – is the personalised planted approach. I understand this is being trailed in Fulham (I am afraid the photo is from another Borough – but the principle is the same).

What do you think? Please contact Harry Phibbs or the Highways Department with your views.

Personalised planted tree pit

Dunnhumby building

Not wishing to pre-empt a winner for next year’s Environment Award but we will certainly be looking at the nearly complete offices for DunnHumby on Little Brook Green. This building next to the Brook Green Tesco store was last used by Access self Storage. It has been superbly converted, refurbished with original pattern windows and topped with a wonderful new roof extension by architects Collado Collins – Take a look when you are next passing by. You can also admire it from the Hammersmith and City Line.

Things continue to move fast on the Mayoral Development Corporation : We have responded to two major consultations in the last month. (These will posted on our website shortly together with our version of the Vision and Objectives for the area).

The OPDC was only set up this April and is likely to exist for about 30 years until the development is complete. They are having to do catch up, appointing staff and so on. Since my last report the Opportunity Planning Area Framework (OAPF) has been formally adopted. But the team have a lot to do to assemble the formal Local Plan with all its statutory framework and consultations.

Details of this scheme for a panel to advise the Council on emerging plans for Hammersmith Town Centre (including the Flyunder) were posted in previous News Updates : The Council have now announced membership of the panel. Apparently they received a very large number of applications to choose from.

A initial meeting is due to be held with the next few weeks : Watch this space.

This had been previously proposed for 3 October but had to be postponed at the last minute. It has now been re-organised for 2 December : 6 – 8pm : Hammersmith Old Town Hall : Committee Room 1.

The event has been completely re-organised and moved to an evening slot : It is also now an exclusive Hammersmith event (Fulham will have a separate one in the New Year) based around two actual local projects. The first is the proposal for the St Quintin and Woodlands Neighbourhood Plan recently approved by a Government Inspector , and the second is the proposed ideas for a neighbourhood plan for Old Oak. Henry Peterson – former Assistant Chief Executive at LBHF – is the mastermind behind both projects and he and others will explain how it all works. As an indication of his dedication, he has offered to give most of his time over the next year at least to get a project up and running in Old Oak.

The three attached flyers explain what is proposed, the programme for the evening and a background paper explaining how Neighbourhood Planning operates under the terms of the 2011 Localism Act.

 Agenda for Neighbourhood Planning Event
Neighbourhood plan proposal
About Neighbourhood Planning

PLEASE COME : GET INVOLVED : ALL WELCOME : THE EVENT IS FREE AND A FREE GLASS OF WINE IS PROVIDED!

If you wish to attend, please register your interest with me at as soon as possible but not later than Friday 27 November.

Talk about Fulham Palace by the Curator Miranda Poliakoff – Thursday 8th October at St Peter’s Church

This is one of a series of talks arranged by St Peter’s Residents’ Association See attachment

  Fulham Palace flyer

I mentioned this in my last News Update. This event has been organised by Professor Hans Haenlein and others and is a wonderful opportunity for local people to see how they can engage in planning of their neighbourhood. This is an initiative born out of the ‘Neighbourhood and Community Rights Process’ which stems from the 2011 Localism Act. Please do sign up to attend as below and hear how this is happening in other areas :

— STOP PRESS – EVENT POSTPONED —
HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING WORKSHOP

Saturday 3 October 2015
St Paul’s Primary School Annexe, Worlidge Street W6

An opportunity for those who live, work and have an interest in Hammersmith & Fulham to hear about the Neighbourhood and Community Rights Process, a government initiative, which gives you the power to make a difference to your community by getting involved in local decision making, and working with others to make your area a better place

Supported by the Hammersmith Society and the Fulham Society and organised by Local Residents

This weekend has grown bigger and bigger and more and more popular. This is good and bad news. Good because there are more buildings open but bad because many are now only available by prior booking.

Nevertheless it is wonderful that so many people are enjoying visiting and looking at buildings in London. This year hard copies of the booklet are available through the post but are being charged for rather than being free from local libraries and the like. However, everything can be viewed on line and you can choose whether you want to see the best contemporary architecture, traditional/historic or just local buildings in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Go to www.openhouselondon.org.uk and then click ‘About Open House’.