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Stop the bulldozers protest at Swiss Cottage tower block site
Objectors say work should be frozen until judicial review on trucks plan is complete

Demonstrators who warn that Swiss Cottage will be wrecked by the building of a controversial skyscraper (left) have appealed for work to be stopped until a judicial review is complete. Opponents to the “construction management plan” for the demolition of the old Ham&High newspaper offices in Avenue Road and the building of a 24-storey tower are challenging the use of residential roads for site traffic and a route through the market next to the Swiss Cottage Open Space.

The plan was approved by a single vote at Camden’s planning committee last year, leading to a crowdfunded High Court challenge. Bulldozers for developer Essential Living are expected at the site on Monday 4 February, however, with the case yet to be heard, they are due to be greeted by protesters with placards at around 9am. Read full story

BRA Belsize Village Carol Singing December 2018

There was an excellent turn out of Belsize residents for the BRA carol singing this year

Photo: D Percy

Crescent Fruiterers features in the Visa Christmas TV commercial supporting local high streets. This scene of course is Belsize Lane complete with artificial snow. Matt of Crescent Fruiterers is a natural and performs really well. A great production that includes Fitzroy's Flowers in Primrose Hill and other independent shop owners. In fact there are also five further versions of the commercial. This photograph was taken during the filming one evening in October. You can view the commercial here

YOUR VILLAGE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Donations Please – Drop Cash or Cheques in to
Heywoods Estate Agents 27 Belsize Lane - NW3 5AS
(Cheques payable to Heywoods Estate Agents attn Angela King)

Nazanin's Garden photo: Linda Grove

Nazanin's news

Nazanin Ratcliffe is a local resident who has been held in the notorious Evin Jail in Iran for two years, she was taken by the authorities when she was visiting her family on her way home to London.
Local residents and the Ham&High have been supporting the campaign to get Nazanin released, with her four-year old daughter, Gabriella, who is being looked after by her Iranian Grandparents in Iran.
Nazanin was allowed home for three days to be with her family but was taken back to the Tehran jail on Sunday 26 August and was rushed to a prison clinic after falling unconscious. Read the full story with pictures here

Tish on Haverstock Hill

The new Tish restaurant on Haverstock Hill offers European cuisine featuring heritage family favourites. contemporary dishes and Jewish classics are on offer in the comfort of the large dining room, as well as in the bar and the alfresco terrace.

The main bar provides a setting in which to enjoy fruit juices squeezed to order and coffees alongside a variety of cakes. Or you can enjoy a drink on the large pavement terrace with cocktails and a selection of small plates.

Cycle Superhighway (CS11) Swiss Cottage

Work was cheduled to commence in
July 2018 – start now delayed pending judicial review

Work was due to start along the Finchley Road and the junction with College Crescent/Avenue Road from August 2018.
The planned cycle superhighway will permanently affect access to Swiss Cottage, Regents Park and the West End.
read more

Two Blue Plaques unveiled, one at No.4 Downside Crescent
and the other for the Isokon designers, June/July 2018

Read full stories here

Springtime in Belsize 2018

Bluebells outside The Tavistock Centre 120 Belsize Lane

BELSIZE Remembered: New Stories New Illustrated stories available to read here

BELSIZE Remembered is a collection of memories of life past and present in Belsize Park.

These reminiscences capture the flavour of what old hands and relative newcomers relish about where they live. Fully illustrated with contemporary and archival images, this book presents more than ninety chronicles from Belsize residents revisiting old experiences and feelings. Over 200 pages illustrated in colour.

Good news – it has become necessary to reprint more copies. The publishers intend to ensure that the book remains in print for others to enjoy. The 2018 reprint is partly funded by the surplus from the initial print run together with top-up sponsorship from Knight Frank, Belsize Park.

BELSIZE Remembered is available from Daunt Books and Waterstone's Hampstead
Read more about the book here See photographs of the launch celebration here

Sir Derek Jacobi reads extracts from BELSIZE Remembered – watch video here

Springtime on Haverstock Hill, 2017

Following on from the success of the Pond Street Gardening Project volunteers have planed bulbs and flowers around the trees on the west side of Haverstock Hill (near the Everyman and Thornton's Budgens). Camden Council agreed to provide soil for the planting. A group of enthusiasts ensured that Pond Street was also planted with shrubs and covered in daffs for the Spring.
A group of Korean tourists helped to plant the area outside the Royal Free read more >
Read the original idea for Haverstock Hill >

photo: Linda Grove

Volunteers of the Royal Free Charity are raising funds to continue to transform the outlying areas of the Royal Free from the previously abandoned litter-covered patches into beautiful flowery gardens. Please support this ongoing work by visiting their JustGiving page here >

Join the Belsize Community Choir
It is inclusive, fun and non-auditioned, the first week is free
plus a glass of wine during the break! learn more >
New term commenced in September 2018

Artist's impression of new building

Planning permission has been granted for the erection of a five-story building plus basement near Belsize Park Underground station. The scheme will create retail space at ground and basement levels and five self-contained flats from first to fourth floor level following demolition of the previous single-storey building. Architects: Squire & Partners.

100 Avenue Road Meeting
held 19 July 2018

The agenda is available to read here

Read more here

Cycle Superhighway Swiss Cottage

Massive turnout for the public meeting
held at St Stephen's Rosslyn Hill

The planned cycle superhighway will permanently affect access to Swiss Cottage, Regents Park and the West End. Work wil start along the Finchley Road and the junction with College Crescent/Avenue Road from August 2018.

We will no longer be able to drive into the upper part of Avenue Road from Fitzjohn’s Avenue, read more here

A consultation sets out TfL's proposals for a route from Swiss Cottage southwards, along Avenue Road, the Outer Circle of The Regent’s Park, Park Crescent and Portland Place. Full details here >

Please help to keep our Village and the local area tidy

The Retail section of Belsize Village
Camden council wishes to remind us that the retail section of the village and the flats above the shops have daily morning collections.
For retail premises in the daily collection area you may put out your waste between 8am-9.30am.
Waste should not be presented before 8am or after 10am. To use these daily collections you must be a customer of Camden’s Business Waste Service.
If you are a resident who lives in a flat above a shop you may put out your waste between 7am-9.30am
FOR THE RETAIL SECTION OF BELSIZE VILLAGE THE DAILY COLLECTION TIME IN THE MORNING IS BETWEEN 10AM-12PM

The Residential part of Belsize Village
If you live in the residential section of the Village (other than retail premises or a flat above a shop in Belsize Lane, Belsize Mews, Belsize Place, Princess Mews, Belsize Crescent) the day for your refuse collection is TUESDAY and your waste must be presented neatly and secured for collection from 7am onwards on your collection day. Everyone is requested to please store their refuse in bins – or in your property – on non-collection days. This will prevent foxes from opening up bags on the street. More details >

Charlotte Gascoigne and Linda Grove are looking for local folk to join them to help improve our public spaces in NW3, so if you would like to get involved, starting with the gardens in Pond Street in front of the Royal Free, then please send them an email.
There is no requirement to be a fantastic gardener, just someone who appreciates our lovely location and wants to help to improve and preserve it.
The Peace garden in South Hill Park has been an inspiration, and we are fully aware that by being involved in community projects like this brings our neighbourhood closer together, creating a place where we want all to live, So come on, get those marigolds on and join them! – contact Charlotte and Linda.

Village Flowers in full bloom 2017
The flowers along Belsize Lane were extended last summer, with an additional six baskets along Belsize Lane down to McCrone Mews, a basket on the lower lamppost on Belsize Crescent, and one opposite the entrance to Belsize Court Garages – they look really lovely.

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These flowers are organised by Angela King of Heywoods, Angela says: "It obviously costs us more money to do this, so I would be most grateful for any further donations that our local residents may like to make to help with the annual flowers, as well as our Xmas lights. I have the baskets changed twice annually, so we have a spring/summer show and an autumn/winter show – they are maintained weekly too." Donation information is below.

Chatting to artist Alan Lancaster In the Village

Want to know more about Belsize Park?

The two films about Belsize Park are now free
to view in full online here
And the documentary on Hampstead Garden Suburb celebrating the story
of one of the first garden suburbs is also available to view here

Village Lights and Summer Flowers
YOUR VILLAGE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

The spring/summer flowers aren't provided free
On behalf of the Belsize Village Association Angela King of Heywoods Estate Agents collects the donations and organises the winter lights & flowers as well as the installation every year.

Donations Please – Drop Cash or Cheques in to
Heywoods Estate Agents 27 Belsize Lane - NW3 5AS
(Cheques payable to Heywoods Estate Agents attn Angela King)
Or donate via credit card through PayPal

With many thanks to the organisers

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