What are your views on Tarts? Are you attracted to them or do they disgust you?

By Pam Taylor

No-cook Chocolate Tart

Serves 8
Preparation 25 mins

Ingredients
200g pack all-butter biscuits
100g butter
1 tbsp golden syrup or honey
100g bar dark chocolate
100g bar milk chocolate
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp icing sugar, plus extra for dusting
3 tbsp crème fraiche, to decorate
200g raspberries, to serve

Crush the biscuits by putting them in a large, strong plastic food bag and bashing with a rolling pin. Melt the buttter with the syrup or honey, then stir in the biscuits. Press on to base and up the sides of a 12 x 36cm rectangular tin (or 23-25cm round fln tin) and chill while you make the filling.

Break up the two chocolate bars and put in a large bowl. Melt in the microwave for 2-3 mins on medium, stirring halfway through. Stir in the vanilla extract, then sift in the icing sugar. Whip the cream until it just holds its shape, then fold into the melted chocolate. Pour into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Chill for at least 2 hours or for up to 2 days.

Just before serving, remove the tart from the tin and slide it on to a flat plate (loosen edges first with the tip of a small pointed knife). You will find it easier to remove the tart if you leave it at room temperature for 30 minutes. Put a few tsps of crème fraiche along the centre of the tart (or around the edges if the tart is circular) and top each with a raspberry, then dust lightly with icing sugar. Cut into thin slices and serve with extra raspberries on the side.

UPDATE: Finchley Arrow changes – the time line is rapidly reducing.

The Finchley Arrow address now bypasses the old website and goes directly into the newspaper if you live in the Finchley Area. We do get ex-Finchleans living overseas and it can take up to 24 hours for the change to register on all the world’s servers, but the old site will remain in place for those whose servers haven’t changed, at least for a couple of days.

We are working behind the scenes on the new website and the work is going at such a rapid speed that we will be able to reduce the proposed launch date of the end of August to definitely by the end of July.

Thanks to Chris Lockie, who is coming rapidly up to speed with Drupal 7, it could go “live” even earlier. Time will tell.

A big thanks to all our uncomplaining readers for your patience but it will be worth the wait.

Have you caught a bus recently? Biggest 12 months for London Buses for 50 years.

Bus travel in London highest in 50 years

London Buses have carried more passengers and travelled more kilometres in the last year than at any time in the last 50 years, according to new figures released by Transport for London today.

The capital’s bus network is one of the largest and most comprehensive urban transport systems in the world. During the last financial year London buses carried almost 2.3 billion passengers. That was 24 million more than the previous year and more than the entire number of journeys across the UK rail network. Bus ridership has increased by 60 per cent in London since 2000 due to a sustained investment in the bus network and improvements to services.

Last year buses in the capital travelled 486 million kilometres in passenger service, which was 2.6 million kilometres more than the previous year. Every weekday in London 7,500 buses carry more than 6 million passengers on 700 different routes across the Capital.

[Note to London Transport - we use miles not kilometres in the United Kingdom - Ed]

Have you ever visited an NGS garden? We did, last Sunday in Finchley!

The publishers “The Yellow Book”, a guide to over 3,700 gardens, is the National Garden Scheme, or NGS as they are commonly known.

Every year NGS gardens across England and Wales welcome about 750,000 visitors. Most gardens which open for the NGS are privately owned and open just a few times each year. Some gardens open as part of a group with the whole community involved. The gardens give all the money raised directly to us (including from the sale of teas and plants); the only exceptions being in some cases they ask that a small proportion goes to a nominated local charity.

NGS Garden

Our tradition of opening gardens of quality, character and interest is supported by our Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales.

Did you know that we currently give away more than £2.5 million each year to nursing, caring and gardening charities and we have given them a total more than £25 million in the last 15 years. Our office and overheads are small and most of the work is done by volunteers in our county teams and so currently more than 80p in every £1 raised at garden openings goes directly to our beneficiaries.

NGS Garden

I attended one such garden last Sunday in Park Crescent – just behind Victoria Park. It was a beautiful well kept garden and the £2.50 collected saw a large chunk going to the North London Hospice and the balance going to the NGS. The owner and gardener was Rosie Daniels and one wonders where she finds the time, as after a full days work in central London, she spends a lot of time at home and at The Institute with her main hobby, with stained glass windows.

NGS Garden

The photographs in this article were all of her garden.

More information on cooling TfL tube and train carriages, buses and stations.

Work continues to keep passengers cool this summer and beyond, [I have tried to remove as much "puff" as possible! Ed]

• First air conditioned Tube trains now running in central London
• London Overground served by full fleet of air conditioned trains
• Work to double ventilation fans on the Victoria line nears completion
• Work underway looking at future of Tube trains

With warm summer weather now hitting the capital and millions of Tube passengers experiencing hot journeys on the Underground, Transport for London (TfL) has set out the work it continues to carry out to try and cool the Tube network.

On the sub surface lines the roll out of new air-conditioned S stock Tube trains continues and this summer Metropolitan line passengers are able to use them on routes into central London for the first time. By 2016 forty per cent of the Tube network will use the new air conditioned trains as, once roll out is complete on the Metropolitan line, they will be introduced on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines from 2012 and the District line from 2013.

However the challenge of cooling the deep level Tube lines is one that TfL continues to work on. The Tube is the oldest metro system in the world and its basic tunnel infrastructure has changed little since it was constructed over 145 years ago. On the deep-level lines, which are unique to London, the heat generated by trains has been passing into the tunnels and the clay surrounding them for many years, meaning the tunnels retain heat. They were also built with only enough room for trains and with very little space for air-conditioning on the trains, inside or outside.

TfL’s acquisition of Tube Lines has created the opportunity for a joint approach to upgrades of the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines including a common design for trains. London Underground, working with the train industry, is looking to develop a train that would be lighter and more energy-efficient, which would mean the possibility of it being able to carry air conditioning equipment.  Using regenerative braking, which returns power back to the rails, could in turn power the air conditioning while not adding to the heat that would be generated powering it. The current plan is that a prototype will be delivered to London Underground by 2015.  

Work to double the capacity of the fans at all the main ventilations shafts serving the Victoria line is also due to be completed later this year. A total of nine fans have already been completed and the work on the final four is currently underway. Later this week the entire Victoria line train fleet will have been replaced and this will enable LU to operate the environmentally friendly regenerative braking system, which returns power to the rails while the train is braking. That will reduce the amount of heat that is generated and should therefore reduce the temperature in the tunnel.

Coupled with the new trains ventilation system, which will circulate cool air from ground level in the tunnel and distribute it into the carriage at head height, this will mean more comfortable journeys for customers during the hot summer months.

Peter Hendy, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “With the hot weather we’ve seen this week we know that it can get uncomfortable on the network, and I want to reassure our passengers that we are working hard to overcome the unique and considerable engineering challenge of cooling the Tube. We’ve made progress – air-conditioned Tube trains are now operating in central London, the entire London Overground network is served by a fleet of 57 air conditioned trains. Air cooling systems are now fitted on all new double deck buses joining the fleet and additional opening windows have also now been fitted on all double deck buses.

“Last summer saw the introduction of the first ever air-conditioned Tube train on the Metropolitan line and they are now running in central London in summer for the first time. By 2016, 191 air conditioned trains will be operating on the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.  On the Victoria line, significant work has been done to improve ventilation and make journeys for customers more comfortable. Customers should notice a significant difference when we’re able to use the regenerative braking feature on the new trains which we’ll be able to do once the old trains have been taken out of service.”

Cooling the other deeper lines of the Tube remains a considerable challenge. The deep level tube lines are unique to London’s Tube network it is not replicated on any other metro system in the world, where the tunnels only enough room for trains. This means that on the deep-level Tubes there is very little space for air-conditioning on the trains, inside or outside. But  TfL is looking to the future and what that holds for the next generation of Tube trains, with the aim of making them lighter, so that that they generate less heat and to create space so that a cooling solution could possibly be implemented.

On buses, all new double deck buses are now fitted with air cooling systems and all double deck buses in the Capital’s fleet have been fitted with extra opening windows. Since 2007, TfL has required all new double deck buses to be fitted with air cooling systems, and there are now 4,654 double deck buses with air cooling or forced air ventilation systems, an increase of 33 percent on last year.  TfL has also been working with the bus operators and joint funding a scheme to retrofit automatic heating systems on 1,361 of the older double deck buses in the fleet to ensure heating is not left on during the hot summer period. Of the 8,500 buses in the fleet 6,747 have white roof panels which help to reflect the heat. New buses must have insulated roof and side panels which reflect heat along with tinted side glass.

As with the last four years, Industrial sized blue fans are also being deployed to help cool around 30 stations across the Tube network and TfL will be providing hot weather advice to passengers. Posters and announcements at stations will provide tips to passengers on how to try and stay cool.

Here are a few tips for keeping comfortable in hot weather:

-       Carry water with you;
-       Don’t board a train or bus if you feel unwell;
-       If you feel unwell please get off at the next stop and seek help from our staff  and;
-       Avoid pulling the passenger alarm between stations, as help can be more easily obtained with the train in platform.

A New Buzz in Finchley Church End – Is it a Martian? No, it’s a bee-keeper!

Not a man from Star Wars - just a bee-keeper

Barnet and District Bee-keepers Association, as part of their aim to support Barnet bee-keepers and promote the hobby of bee-keeping, have trained five new bee-keepers who live in the N3 and N12 area of LB Barnet.

Two of the new bee-keepers are setting up beehives in a new Apiary at Finchley Church End . The Apiary will be on an allotment plot and is specially screened, approved and welcomed by their Allotment Association Committee

As part of their training as bee-keepers they all undertook the B&D BKA winter bee-keeping course which consisted of ten Saturday afternoon lectures, practical experience and mentorship this spring and summer each Saturday on a B&D BKA bee-hive. They will continue to get support until they are experienced bee-keepers.

At the new Finchley Church End allotment apiary the new bee-keepers are now making their first beehive for their nucleus of bees which is being prepared at the B&D BKA apiary in Totteridge Vale.

If you a find a swarm of honey bees in Finchley, then Barnet and District Bee-keepers in association with Barnet Council will collect them (no fee) and rehouse them. Mr Clive Cohen the B&D district swarm collector can be contacted via Barnet Council or through the link below but cannot deal with wasp nests.

Finchley has a long association with bee-keeping as the eminent Victorian Bee-keeper and Naturalist, William Bernhuad Tegeitmere, who was a close friend of Charles Darwin, lived in the 1870′s in Alexandra Grove, N12 and is buried in East Finchley Cemetery. Barnet & District Bee-keepers Association has been around for almost as long as they are celebrating their 100th year and hope to continue supporting local bee-keepers for at least another hundred years

The Barnet & District Bee-keepers Association email address for rescuing swarms is swarms@barnetbeekeepers.org and their website is at www.barnetbeekeepers.org/sections/Apiarists/swarms.htm

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The Pasture’s 2nd Anniversary celebration

Yesterday (Sunday) evening saw the volunteers, councillors, Mike Freer our local MP and other friends of the Pastures celebrating the magnificent work the volunteers have put in. They have turned the Pastures into a wild horticultural haven, with special plants of interest to butterflies, lovely paths through the huge open space, up to a little enclosure at the far end with its own bee hive.

The volunteers, who only work during the weekends, have, in 200 days of work, really transformed this originally ugly patch to the beautiful haven of quiet and tranquillity that it is.

There is also a huge pond with fish and in season it is a hotbed of tadpoles and frogs. The fish have to be carefully chosen to be the types that don’t eat tadpoles. Alas, as you can see from the photograph, it was covered with algae but we were told by Ann Brown, who chairs the volunteers, that it was the wrong time to remove it as it would cause a lot of damage. We see the view of the pond over the view of the lovely food provided for this occasion!

It is open between 10am and 5pm, during weekends and public holidays, except after heavy rain. Also it is closed quite a bit during winter months. It really is worth a visit and, to get there is quite easy. If you go down Long Lane up to the North Circular flyover you will find the Finchley Fire Station on the N3 side of the bridge. Opposite the fire station is a little lane (you can’t park a car in it though). Walk up the lane for about 25 yards and you come to a gate in the railings on the right. You are there!

Dogs are not admitted as they could do damage to the delicate work the volunteers are carrying out. But you can get a full description and learn of all the work that is going on from their website.

Layout of the Pasture

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The Finchley Arrow want to help their competitors

You may like to know that there is a link on the front page to all the newspapers in Finchley on the Finchley Community website.

The Finchley Arrow, The Finchley Times, The Finchley Press and The Archer.

You may want to bookmark the Finchley Community website (www.finchleycommunity.co.uk) as that could be very useful for you if you are searching for something in particular and want to see what is written in all the local newspapers. In addition to this, there is a link to the Finchley Arrow at the bottom of every page on that website.

To be honest, this is not so much about helping our competitors as helping our residents, and small business, which is what we are all about!

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July events and the July Editorial are now published

The events have moved temporarily, but there is a link for you on the 3-Events page above.

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The following new planning applications have been received in N3

The following new planning applications have been received:

23 Courthouse Gardens, London, N3 1PU (F/02619/11)

Extension to roof including hip to gable and rear dormer window, with roof lights to the front and sides elevation to facilitate a loft conversion. Part single, part two-storey side extension.

More information: http://planningcases.barnet.gov.uk/planning-cases/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=277044

Changes to the Finchley Arrow throughout July.

The following is an email I sent out recently to everybody who has added their email address in the “Keep in the Loop” section of the Finchley Arrow and we have published it here so everyone can see what is happening

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There are going to be a few changes in July and I will explain below.

First, our web hosts for the Finchley Arrow will come to the end at some time on the 3rd of July so, from the 2nd of July, we will redirect, automatically everybody who clicks on the FinchleyArrow.co.uk address to the WordPress part of our newspaper, you will just lose all the “verbose” instructions for now. To read the newspaper, just click on the Finchley Arrow address as normal, the only difference is, it will take you directly into the actual newspaper.

The Finchley Community website is now fully operational – there may be a few kinks so, if you are willing, we would love you to take a look around and let us know if you find anything wrong, anything you can improve upon, or any suggestions for new information we can add about Finchley. My week, Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm is now almost all taken up with both websites and this is all voluntary. If you could see fit to help – it shouldn’t take more than a quarter of an hour – I’d be grateful as I sometimes find it hard to see the wood for the trees. I will be 72 on the 19th of July, so it would be a nice present for me if you could do this by that date! I’ll pour myself a drink for everyone who does this

The footer of the new Finchley Community website appears on every page and we have included a large size link on it for the Finchley Arrow. This means that you can just use the Finchley Community address all the time if you wish. One benefit on this website is we also have links to The Archer in East Finchley and both local commercial papers, the Hendon and Finchley Times, and the Barnet and Finchley Press. So, in one place you can search for anything happening in Finchley. We don’t mind our competition and have included them all to make life easier for everyone in Finchley.

One of the things we will lose is the Keep in the Loop facility to send these messages. we will, once we have the new Finchley Arrow site up and running later in July, be able to re-instate some form of reminder.

I have made a copy of these addresses and will mail you once we are familiar with the new site. Until then you can add your address on the newspaper site for a reminder when an article is published for a few weeks and see whether you think it is obtrusive or not. When my next email arrives, we will have ceased using the WordPress site so you won’t get any more reminders there – but we will keep the site open for the back issues of articles.

Please don’t hesitate to phone me on 020-8020 3904 or 0794-162 2401 if there is anything you need clarification on. Best between 10am and 6pm.

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Two Planning Applications, one for N3 and one for N12.

The following new planning applications have been received:

 26 Ballards Lane, London, N3 2BJ (F/01435/11)

Retention of temporary container at rear of 26 Ballards Lane.

More information: http://planningcases.barnet.gov.uk/planning-cases/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=275797

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11 Argyle Road, London, N12 8JA (F/02555/11)

Submission of details of conditions 3 (Refuse), 6 (Landscaping), 10 (Contaminated Land), 12 (Education / Library / Health / Monitoring SPDs), 17 (Boundary Treatment – details) and 21 (Ventilation and Extraction Equipment – Details Required) pursuant to planning permission F/00461/11 dated 28/03/11.

More information: http://planningcases.barnet.gov.uk/planning-cases/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=276978

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Please note that planning documents can take up to 5 working days to become available online. To access the documents relating to an application, you will need to supply the username ‘barnet’ and password ‘barnet’.

Two month ongoing rail strike now off. Transport for London statement following Arwyn Thomas tribunal decision

In response to the Employment Tribunal in respect of Arwyn Thomas, the Tube driver dismissed for unacceptable behaviour towards his colleagues, Transport for London has today offered to reinstate him with significant conditions attached.

The Tribunal found that London Underground (LU) were entitled to discipline Mr. Thomas because of his actions, that he was not dismissed for his union activities – contrary to the claims of the RMT leadership – and that he was 50 per cent blameworthy for his dismissal.

However, the Tribunal also found that the sanction of dismissal was too severe. Mr. Thomas has therefore been offered re-employment, but with a number of conditions that recognise the seriousness of his offence, including:

Mr. Thomas will not return to his previous work location, and will be re-employed in a non-operational role, which does not involve customer facing duties. 

The RMT leadership agree to end all industrial action in relation to this current dispute.

The RMT leadership agree that any future individual cases will follow the normal processes for resolving individual disputes, all of which will be exhausted up to ACAS level in advance of any ballot for industrial action being called.

Any future case will be formally referred to the General Secretary of the RMT and the MD of LU for ultimate review before any such ballot.

Mike Brown, London Underground’s Managing Director, said: “Arwyn Thomas’ employment tribunal found that, contrary to the claims of the RMT leadership, he was dismissed because of his abusive behaviour and not because of his union activities. The settlement that we have reached ensures that Mr Thomas’ re-instatement is on a basis that recognises the seriousness of his offensive behaviour. It also allows us to move forward towards a more constructive relationship with the RMT, whereby Londoners should not be threatened with strike action relating to such individual tribunal cases in the future.”  

An evening of ‘trad’ at The Finchley Jazz Club – just a little East of Avenue House.

Live Jazz in Finchley
by Pam Taylor

At the Finchley Jazz Club

Even though it was pouring with rain, it didn’t deter about 40 people from virtually filling the Wilf Slack Cricket Ground Pavilion at 19 East End Road, N3.

We didn’t like to over-stay our “press pass” welcome so we left as soon as we took our photographs and notes, but what we did hear we thoroughly enjoyed and will certainly return soon. The atmosphere was very friendly and welcoming but then most people who love jazz are.

The Finchley Jazz Club was formed in 1999 and meets every other Monday in the Wilf Slack Cricket Pavilion in East End Road, N3 at 8.15pm. (Future dates: July 14, 18, August 1, 15, 29, September 12, 26, October 10 24, November 7, 21, December 5 and 19). The style is really mainstream/traditional jazz. The entry cost is only £7 per person for two and a half hours of professional jazz entertainment. There is no bar at the club but customers can bring their own alcohol and there are soft drinks and crisps for sale at the door. It really is one of the great jazz sessions in the area. Full dates and other information can be found on their website at finchleyjazz.co.uk

The regular rhythm section consists of Malcolm Harrison on guitar (Malcolm plays regularly at The Lamb and Flag pub in Covent Garden and is very popular) and John Bayne on double bass and bass sax. John runs the club, also plays with Bix ‘n’ Pieces as well as the Armstrong Oliver Band and plays all the saxes, clarinet, tuba and many others. He also plays the bagpipes but they don’t seem to fit in with the jazz somehow so our readers may relax!

A different front line each session gives a continuous fresh feel to the entertainment.

The June 20th front line consisted of Peter Rudeforth on trumpet (Peter is a lead trumpet player with the Big Chris Barber Band), John Crocker on clarinet and tenor sax (John was with Chris Barber for over 20 years) and Keith Nichols on keyboard (Keith is multi-talented, playing keyboard, trombone, reeds and accordion. He has played with many famous names such as Bing Crosby, Harry Gould, Pasadena Roof Orchestra and has a few bands of his own).

The July 4th session will be different from the norm, consisting of John Cherry on guitar and banjo because Malcolm is on holiday; Tony Blackburn on drums (bet that surprised you); Trevor Evans on double bass and a double act consisting of John Bayne and John Ellmer who will both be bringing all the saxes, clarinets and scrap metal they can fit in their cars!!

Each session consists of five musicians but occasionally there is a special evening. The next special one will be on July 18th when Bob Dwyer’s Bix ‘n’ Pieces seven-piece band will entertain. A truly exceptional event.

So why don’t you give it a try? We will!

Finchley (N3) Planning Application for an extension.

The following new planning applications have been received:

54 Grosvenor Road, London, N3 1EX (F/02567/11)

Single storey rear extension.

More information: http://planningcases.barnet.gov.uk/planning-cases/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=276990

Transport for London response to the Employment Tribunal decision in respect of Arwyn Thomas

Technically, this should be in the Arrow as it concerns our use of the Northern Line. Although, of course, the trains will probably be running throughout the strikes. Puff removes and some of the bold text is our doing.

 

Transport for London (TfL) today responded to the findings of the Employment Tribunal in respect of Arwyn Thomas, the Tube driver who was dismissed for unacceptable behaviour towards his colleagues.

The Tribunal found that LU were entitled to discipline Mr. Thomas because of his actions, and also that:

• ·         Arwyn Thomas was not dismissed for his union activities, contrary to the claims of the RMT leadership
• ·         Mr. Thomas’ claims were not supported that he had become a “thorn in the side” of his employers
• ·         The explanation given by Mr. Thomas for what was seen on CCTV was not credible
• ·         Mr.Thomas was 50 per cent blameworthy for his dismissal
• ·         The hearing will continue to discuss dates for a remedies hearing.

Despite this, the tribunal found that – although LU were right to discipline Mr.Thomas – other options than dismissal should have been explored, thus he was unfairly dismissed. Given these findings, and the fact that the tribunal has not recommended that Mr.Thomas be re-instated, Transport for London will now be considering the findings in detail.

In the meantime, it is urging the RMT leadership to acknowledge that Mr. Thomas was not subject to action due to his union activity, which was the whole basis of their call for strike action. TfL is therefore calling on the RMT leadership to suspend their threatened strike action to allow the employment tribunal process to consider the potential remedies.

Mike Brown, London Underground’s Managing Director, said: “The employment tribunal has today ruled that Mr Thomas should have been disciplined for his actions and that his dismissal was in no way due to his activities as a union member. This is entirely contrary to the claims made by the RMT leadership in order to justify their strike action. The tribunal has also found that he was 50 per cent blameworthy for his dismissal, and it has not called for his re-employment.

“However, we recognise that despite these factors, the tribunal has found that the sanction used in Mr Thomas’ case was too high. We will therefore now be considering the findings in detail. We would urge the RMT leadership to acknowledge that their claims of union victimisation were false and to suspend their threatened strike action.”

The RMT leadership is currently threatening a series of strikes, aimed at disrupting services throughout next week. If the strikes go ahead TfL will operate as many services as possible, and passengers are advised to check before they travel by visiting www.tfl.gov.uk

Good news, TfL staff have received 10,000 NVQs to date…

…although by the way they treat us, we’d be excused if we found this a little difficult to be believed. Puff, of course removed.

Transport for London’s training tops 10,000

On National Vocational Qualification Day (VQ Day), Transport for London (TfL) has announced that over 10,000 NVQs have now been awarded to staff throughout the organisation, improving skills and boosting morale.

NVQs build on the already substantial training TfL staff receive allowing them to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to improve in their role and achieve a recognised qualification.

Since 2001, NVQs have been awarded to a wide range of employees at London Underground including station staff, train drivers, signallers and the engineering workforce.  Following the launch of TfL’s Skills and Employment Strategy in December 2008 the opportunity to complete an NVQ expanded further to cover other roles across TfL including administration, customer service and management employees, and are also now being offered as part of adult apprentice programmes.

Staff can gain NVQs in Rail Operations, Rail Engineering, Customer Services, Administration and Management, and programmes last between one to two years. The courses are integrated as much as possible with the staff member’s day job to avoid unnecessary repetition and also capture real evidence of performance.

Iain Smith, Head of Skills, Transport for London, said: “This is such a significant milestone for us to reach, 10,000 NVQs awarded in ten years. These values ensure staff can contribute towards the running of a safe, efficient and customer focussed transport service.”

Last month Boris Johnson announced that 2000 job opportunities had been created in the GLA group in the past two years.

Serious accident blocks off Argyle Road, N12

Argyle Road accident

Returning home we were blocked off at Sussex Ring from continuing up Argyle Road towards Nether street.

ON making a detour and approaching Argyle Road from Westbury Road we could see, lower down Argyle Road first aid being given to a middle aged woman who we were informed was unconscious.

Argyle Road accident

We took some photographs for the Arrow but were careful not to use too much zoom so as not to identify the victim.

The only reassuring point about the whole sad episode, is that we have so many police available to attend an incident in Finchley at a moment’s notice!

Latest News on Rosemary Avenue N3 murder, man now charged.

Farrukh Pervez Malik, 65 (6.3.46), of Rosemary Avenue, Finchley, was yesterday, Tuesday 21 June, charged with the murder of a 60-year-old woman on Monday 20 June.

He will appear in custody at Hendon Magistrates’ court today,  Wednesday 22 June.

A murder investigation is under way following yesterday’s death of a woman in Finchley.

A murder investigation is under way following the death of a woman in Finchley.

Police were called to an address in Rosemary Avenue N3 shortly before 11.25am yesterdayday, 20 June, following reports of a female assaulted. On arrival officers found a woman, aged 60, suffering multiple stab wounds.

LAS and HEMS also attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.25pm.

A man, aged 65, was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody.

An incident room has opened under DCI Steven Lawrence of the Metropolitan Police Service, Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room on 0207 321 9290 or if you wish to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Enquiries continue.

Dollis Walk refurbishment started, awaiting further funding between the Fursby Ave and Dollis Road section.

Dollis Valley Green Walk

Dollis Valley Greenwalk was voted for by the public to receive one of the ten grants of up to £400,000 from the Mayor of London’s Help a London Park Scheme.

The Mayor of London’s scheme, Help a London park (external link) was established to invest £6million in improving the quality and safety of London’s parks.

Latest news

Footpaths

 Before     After

The Phase 1 footpath improvements are now complete and can be seen at:

Brook Farm Open space (Totteridge Ward), from Totteridge lane to Western Way

Brookside Walk (Finchley Church End and Hendon Ward) from Hendon Lane to Bridge Lane

Brent Park (Hendon Ward) from Bell Lane to North Circular Road

 

Footpath works (Phase 2):

Windsor open space – works currently programmed for September 2011, subject to consultation

Although the full stretch of the Dollis Valley Greenwalk has been surveyed, due to financial restrictions, some areas of footpath cannot be repaired as part of this project. Areas such as the Fursby Avenue to Dollis Road section, have been identified and will be a priority once further funding becomes available.

Bridges

The next stage of works is to carry out repairs and maintenance of bridges along the length of the walk.All the bridges have been inspected and works will vary from complete replacement to health and safety works including new handrails and repair to uneven surfaces.

More information may be seen on their website

MP pays tribute to volunteers at drug and alcohol treatment charity’s North London branch.

Westminster Drug Project (WDP) provides the Catalyst and Re-Start drug and alcohol services in the Borough of Barnet. It celebrated National Volunteers’ Week at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley.

Finchley & Golders Green MP Mike Freer paid tribute to the passion and commitment of the volunteers who help people to recover from drug and alcohol dependency at the charity Westminster Drug Project.

He said, “Volunteers do a huge amount of good. Often they can win the confidence of people who need help, and inspire them to change, where others fail.

“Volunteering also breaks down prejudice by bringing people in and giving them insight to people’s lives and how they can be helped, whether the issue is addiction, or HIV, or disability.

“It’s a two way street. I’ve been a volunteer and you get a lot back from it. It can also be very important experience on your CV.”

The MP heard moving accounts from former service users who are now volunteers themselves. Jon (26) explained how he had started using drugs as a way of escape: “Eventually I ended up a dependant opiate user and was committing crimes to support my use. My life spiralled out of control and for a 16 month period I was basically homeless and in and out of prison.

“The reason I am mentioning this is because it was a turning point in my life: after a sustained period of abstinence from drug use and crime, I was offered the opportunity to attend a volunteers’ training course at Westminster Drug Project.

“I decided to go because throughout my using days I had some contact with drug services and was very surprised at how helpful, and friendly the staff were.” Jon described how he developed experience and received further training. “By early 2010 I feel I started to prove myself in my role: I was given more responsibility and I was given the chance to help develop our service. I feel that I was always listened to and supported by management and staff.”

Eventually Jon was encouraged to apply for jobs, and decided he wanted to work for WDP. Today he is a successful drug and alcohol practitioner.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of WDP, told the volunteers who had come from across WDP’s services in London and the South East of England, “Volunteers’ Week celebrates the fantastic contribution that volunteers make. Today we say thank you for all the amazing work you do. By giving your time, your skills and your leadership to WDP, you are significantly increasing the help and support we can give to our service users.

“Our mission is to support people to recover from drug and alcohol dependency and help people lead full and active lives in their families and communities. Volunteering is a key part of that cycle, of connecting people with the help they need so that they in turn become empowered and able to give back.”

Volunteers make up one in four of the workforce at WDP – about 100 volunteers and 300 staff. Over half the volunteers have recovered from drug and alcohol dependency themselves and are able to provide powerful role models to current service users.

If you are interested in volunteering with WDP, please visit the website www.wdp-drugs.org.uk and click on volunteering for more information and application form, or visit Re-start. If you want to talk to someone about a drug or alcohol problem, whether for yourself or someone you know, please contact Re-start at:

6-8 Alexandra Grove, North Finchley, N12 8NU – Telephone 020 8492 2525

 

Six little hints, tips or snippets the editor has found useful over the years.

When driving in a traffic jam
If there is nothing you can do about it and you are going to be late for work, miss the train, or whatever – tell yourself there is absolutely nothing to do about it. After all, there is nothing you can do about it, is there? Then just relax. You’ll feel better, no matter how important the journey is. And when you arrive there, you’ll be far more able to deal with any problems being late has thrown up.

When working in London or other major city
Go in half to three-quarters of an hour earlier and call in to a local coffee bar and have a coffee and read the newspaper. Then, as you walk into the office on time, and on time every morning, (a) you will be noticed by your boss as always being punctual and (b) you will be totally relaxed having travelled on the “devil-tube” so much earlier. A bonus is, if there is a rail hold-up, you might miss your coffee, but you’ll still be on time.

Why purchase a Kindle?
Apart from the thousands of free books on the Internet, it is so convenient to carry, and so easy to read on the train – you can choose the size of the text. One book at only 86p is “Free books for Kindle: The secrets of how to get the world’s greatest books for a radical price [Kindle Edition] by Chris Graham. He shows how you can get all those books at hundreds of different websites on the Internet. I am reading all those classics again. Aristotle, Ulysses, The history of Zen, The beginning of the Roman Empire, Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe and dozens more. Yes, there are also crime, romances and other types of books. In addition you can read the books on a Kindle App on your smartphone, and also sync them with your Kindle so you are always at the right place.

Giving back to society
This is not as bad as it sounds. It can be money, if you are well off, or it can be time if you aren’t. All through my life I have given something back. I am not very good with the sick and infirm, but I can still do my bit. I have been on the committee of the old Finchley Chamber of Commerce when it used to meet at Avenue House, this was decades ago. I have been members of clubs and societies either on the committee, even as chairman, or willing to take any job on and help. This is what I can do, so I have always wanted to “do my bit”. You can do things for the country, or just for your local community. I have been, in the past, on the National Executive Committee of a political party (without pay), or have helped in my local community. At the moment, at 72, I haven’t stopped and run the local community newspaper and am building up a one stop website for the local Town, history, societies, small business, contacts etc. And it feels good, makes me feel I am a whole person. Try it.

Do you accept cheques?
At the time of writing, banks are cancelling and withdrawing cheque guarantee cards (CGC), so whether or not any card states it is a CGC, it isn’t so if you accept cheques from strangers, just be aware.

Proof-reading by yourself
This may not help with the spelling inconsistencies, but it will help, not only with your grammar, but with the flow of your words to a reader. Go into a room by yourself, close the door, sit down with a pencil, and read through your letter, article or whatever you have written, but read it extremely loudly. Any bad flow of words, or bad grammar will immediately become apparent. Try it, it works.

I will try and continue this over the months to follow. However, at 72 it is sometimes difficult to remember something until I can write it down. I recently reread Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe. The last and first time I read it was when I was six years old. I remembers nearly all of it. Now I find it difficult to remember what I did yesterday. I blame a life of alcohol and debauchery myself!

If you have little simppets I could add to the list, please email them to Andrew.Taylor@FinchleyArrow.co.uk and add your full name if you would like me to credit you with the snippet.

Andrew Ampers Taylor

North London Hospice brings a village fête to Avenue House

We’re getting the bunting out for the North London Hospice summer fête at Avenue House on Sunday 24 July.

There will be entertainment for children of all ages including maypole dancing, storytelling, Morris dancers, a bouncy slide plus many traditional games and stalls. We also hope to have members of the Saracens Rugby team in attendance who will pose for photos with fans for a small Hospice donation. There will also be bric-a-brac and second-hand book stalls for the adults.

Avenue House will be manning a BBQ and selling refreshments from their café to raise funds for the Estate maintenance.

This is the second year we’ve held our annual fair at Avenue House and we are delighted to be involved once again with such an important and historic part of Finchley’s heritage.

Anita Brien, Community Fundraiser is ‘really looking forward to a fun-filled day where adults and children alike can enjoy themselves in the sunshine in such beautiful surroundings while supporting Hospice care.’

The gates open at 1:00pm and the fun will go on until 5:00pm. Entrance is £2 per adult and 50p per child to help raise funds for the hospice.

North London Hospice provides free end-of-life support for 1200 patients and their families in the boroughs of Enfield, Barnet and Haringey. We are only partially funded by the NHS and rely on donations from the community to fund the care for 3 out of every 4 patients.

Avenue House: Janett Durant’s replacement starts on the 15th August.

Avenue House appoints new General Manager

The Trustees of the Avenue House Estate Trust are pleased to announce the appointment of Lance Bourne to the role of General Manager of the Avenue House Estate Trust. Lance will take up the post on August 15th, following Janett Durrant’s retirement from the post of Chief Executive.

Lance has considerable experience in the management of corporate entertainment sites: he spent fifteen years at the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, rising to the post of Head of Marketing and Events , followed by three years as Business Manager of the Tower Bridge exhibition. Lance also has experience of working with volunteers and of fund-raising.

Andy Savage, Chairman of the Avenue House Estate Trust, says: ‘I am delighted that Lance has agreed to join us. His skill set is exactly what Avenue House needs at this time, and I am sure that he will be a worthy successor to Janett Durrant, who has managed the Estate since the Trust’s formation nine years ago. I am looking forward to working with Lance as we establish Avenue House in the centre of the Finchley community.’

Lance Bourne said ’I am looking forward to joining Avenue House, and working on the Estate. Apart from working in such wonderful surroundings, I am looking forwards to helping increase the use of the Estate, and to continuing the re-establishment of its financial success after the problems earlier this year.’

Avenue House sketch

Serious knife attack on the Grange Estate, N2 last Saturday night.

Police are appealing for witnesses to an attack which occurred on the Grange Estate in East Finchley, N2 at 10:30pm on Saturday, June 18.

Police attended the estate in response to calls of ten males attacking one other male, and information from London Ambulance Services indicated they were on scene treating a stabbing victim.

Upon arrival the victim was found on the junction of Leopold Road and High Road with numerous stab wounds to the buttock and kidney area.

It was then established that there was another victim of the same incident nearby who was found at St Pancras Court with a stab wound to the left leg and his buttock.

The victims were both taken to hospital:

-Victim 1 had eight stab wounds to his buttocks and back area and at first LAS thought that his liver may have been penetrated but it was later deemed not to be the case and he was deemed as not life threatening or changing.

-Victim 2 had a stab wound to his buttock and his left leg but neither of these were deemed as life threatening or life changing and has since been discharged from hospital.

Three persons were present together prior to the attack, however, only two sustained injuries.

Four male suspects aged 14(x1) and 15(x3) have been arrested and are currently in custody.

Police are still searching for the weapon and believe there may be more suspects involved in the attack.

DC Charlie Pulling, the officer in charge of the case said: “Due to the distressing nature of the attack, the details provided by the victims are not sufficient for us to identify further suspects at this moment, so we are appealing for any members of the public who know about the incident to come forward.

“If anyone knows any of the suspects or has seen the incident we would ask that they call police or CrimeStoppers immediately to help us find these violent youths.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0300 123 1212 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference number 2414943/11.

Golders Green Bus Station re-opens ahead of time

The Golders Green Bus Station re-opened to passengers at the weekend (18 June), three weeks ahead of schedule, following essential resurfacing work.

The bus station, which is used by 2.5 million passengers a year, was closed while the work was carried out.  It was scheduled to take up to eight weeks but has been completed early and bus passengers are once again able to use the bus station.

Chris Kershaw, TfL Head of Infrastructure, said: “This is a very busy station with thousands of passengers passing through it each day so we are pleased to be able to return services to normal quicker than expected.”

The resurfacing work involved replacing the block paving on the road with tarmac.  Passengers were required to alight a stop early because of the works.

Planning Application in N12

The following new planning applications have been received:

3 Alexandra Grove, London, N12 8NU (F/02491/11)

Erection of a mansard roof with front and rear dormer windows to the bungalow in the rear garden to facilitate additional rooms to the dwelling.

More information: http://planningcases.barnet.gov.uk/planning-cases/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=276912

Normal service operating across Tube

A good service is operating on all 11 London Underground (LU) lines this morning, with LU’s full fleet expected in service for the morning peak.

The strike action began at 21:00hrs on Sunday night and ran until 03:00hrs today, but only minor service alterations occurred last night with all last trains running to time, and this morning customers are able to make their journeys as usual.

 

Wingate & Finchley have won another award to add to the incredible set of trophies picked up this season!

Wingate & Finchley have won another award to add to the incredible set of trophies picked up this season.

At the Ryman League’s end of season awards night on Saturday, the Blues were chosen for the division’s Performance of the Season honour following the historic Treble that the side won during 2010/11. First team Manager David Norman collected the award with Club Official David Thrilling at the event held in Brighton’s Hilton hotel.

In other news, the Club are delighted to announce that more first-team regulars - Ahmet Rifat, Marc Weatherstone, David Laird, Paul Wright, Mark Henry and Ajet Shehu – have committed themselves to Club for next season’s foray into the Ryman Premier League. David Norman said “It is no coincidence that these players have been attracting offers from clubs at a higher level.  The last two years of success have enabled the players to put themselves in the shop window and I am very pleased that they have decided to commit to Wingate & Finchley for another season.  This shows their desire to succeed as they have turned down lucrative offers which reflects on the professional and homely environment which the chairman and coaching staff provide for the players here.”

The Big Society is Alive in Barnet – at the launch in the arts depot.

Paul Binks

By Paul Binks

The Launch of Barnet’s Big Society Innovation Bank .

‘Barnet will be one of the fastest growing areas in London over the coming years. With reductions in public spending to tackle the deficit mean that times will be tough for the next few years, for both those who depend on good public services and those who provide them.’ Councillor Robert Rams.

The Barnet Big Society Innovation Bank has been launched so that we in Barnet get the biggest bang for our buck. This works by ensuring that the public are primarily involved in the decision-making process of where our money is spent.

From the revenue budget allocated to the Borough of Barnet, the council has set aside £600K to be invested in community-minded projects proposed and delivered by the local populace over the next 3 years.

As the Government’s Big Society agenda gains momentum, local citizens and communities will have more opportunities to take the reins in addressing local issues. Cynics would say that this is just another example of how the Government are transferring costs to the voluntary sector and alleviating themselves of responsibility should anything go wrong. The Government argue that at a time of financial constraint in the public sector, ‘business as usual’ is not an option. Nationwide polls show that the people largely accept this sentiment and which is why we are seeing a great shift in the landscape of public services.

Nick Hurd MP

The Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner patroned the scheme with an appearance and furthered the Big Society notion stating “too much power has been taken away from local Government and centralised. The transference of power back to the community is a big weapon every MP knows about.” He continued to eulogise the principles of the Big Society before changing focus to the people within the room, “Seize the opportunity in the challenge to test the notion that local communities know best.” This statement seemed to underpin the scheme’s true value to us in Barnet. For time immemorial many have exalted their wisdom in criticising the ‘powers that be’ in the administration of taxes with countless schemes suggested as superior models to those implemented. Not because of intellectual superiority but of local knowledge.

Well this is our opportunity to prove this, one never given to our forefathers and like our recent vote on the Alternative Vote, one which may never see again for generations if at all.

Councillor Andrew Harper

The Interim Leader of the Council, Councillor Andrew Harper stated that the introduction of the bank was part of the ongoing realignment in the relationships between the Council and the people and Not-for-profit organisations and charities. He stated ‘the council is not the single depository of wisdom in the borough’ which requires no convincing on my part. He continued by saying ‘you are better at judging the effectiveness of grants and so it is your ideas not ours which will drive the scheme, ideas which will be properly supported by the Council and turned into practical solutions.’ In a similar vein to Nick Herd he challenged the audience by saying “go on, surprise me”.

Ultimately the new scheme is to galvanise creativity from all sectors of the borough so that local people can innovate and find new solutions for old problems. Ideas which have previously been overlooked are very much on the table should we have the aptitude and the conviction to push them forward.

To summarise how the scheme will work a key initiative outlined in the Big Society Innovation Bank Prospectus is SUSTAINABILITY. ‘We are using grants to kick-start community-led activities that can sustain themselves through new income streams such as charges to clients, trading income and corporate giving, as well as public sector and charitable income.’

The first theme is for new projects that strengthen the bonds within the community or reduce the need for public sector support or intervention.

The second theme is to enable groups or individuals to seize control of existing projects that currently rely on public sector support and run them in such a way they will no longer rely on that support.

The funds are allocated in the form of grants which are available to any individual or group. Unconstituted groups are eligible for grants from £500-£5K and constituted groups are eligible for grants ranging from £500-£50K. A project or scheme must be submitted to the council to be assessed and if successful the funds will appear in a one-off payment devoid of any conditions or external arrangements with the council. If a scheme fails in the application process it can be resubmitted to a later round of assessment.

“Have you ever got together with someone to make Barnet a better place?” Councillor Andrew Harper. If you have or haven’t but would like to, the opportunity is there for anyone to put forward the suggestions they believe will make this a stronger and more cohesive community.

Question from audience

For more information – http://www.barnet.gov.uk/highlights/highlights-big-society-innovation.htm

New Council Cabinet in Barnet

This may interest people as it does show who to write to. All “puff” removed.

New Barnet Council Leader welcomes two new faces to his cabinet

The Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, has announced his new Cabinet.

The nine-strong team will work alongside the Leader to set and implement policy over the coming months.

Councillor Cornelius will take on responsibility for Strategy, Communications, Corporate Governance and the Mayoralty alongside his position as Leader.

Councillor Andrew Harper currently continues as Deputy Leader as well as overseeing the portfolio for Education, Children and Families.

The two new faces to Cabinet are Councillor David Longstaff, who will take on Safety and Resident Engagement, and Councillor Tom Davey will take over Housing.

Councillor Joanna Tambourides will move to a new portfolio of Planning.

Those continuing with their current portfolios are

+  Councillor Brian Coleman as Cabinet Member for Environment

+  Councillor Daniel Thomas for Resources and Performance

+  Councillor Sachin Rajput for Adults

+  Councillor Helena Hart for Public Health

+  Councillor Robert Rams becomes the Cabinet Member for Customer Access and Partnerships

Normal Tube services expected on Sunday and Monday despite RMT strike action – and details of other dates.

Action will have “very little impact” on customers

A good service is expected to operate on all London Underground (LU) lines on Sunday night and Monday morning, when the RMT leadership has called strike action.

The full list of June dates are here.

Serious warning to ‘would be’ iPhone purchasers

Eighteen months ago Apple filed a patent to be able to close your camera down remotely, to be activated if sensors detect you are filming a live concert.

In one way, this may sound reasonable as there are rules forbidding you to film commercial concerts.

However, if your school holds a concert and a parent wants to record their child performing, the camera might be shut down (see below).

Another factor is, your iPhone is never your property and can always be controlled by the Apple company.

But there may not be a real worry here as these huge corporations are always filing patents which never come to fruition.. However it is rather worrying.

There’s a lot of “noise” about this on the internet and it might work by concert organisers having an IR beam directed at the audience, the camera picks it up, and broadcasts a beam back identifying itself stating the camera is being used. The equipment at the concert could then shut down that phone’s camera. If that is the case, then school concerts are OK

Also seen on the Internet is the idea that government authorities at riots and “sensitive demonstrations” could use the same equipment.

I am glad I handed my iPhone back within the 14 days grace and bought an equivalent Android phone. Apple equipment is first class, Apple politics, their desire to lock their users in, and their desire to control them, isn’t

UK first as Transport for London installs eco-lighting in a London road tunnel

On the basis that the idea is interesting but my readers won’t want to see a lot of what we, in the newspaper business, call “puff” I have cut out most of the press release. I do have my doubts about many of the eco claims, and the real cause of global warming, but at the same time feel it is good to consider  seriously reducing our carbon foot print. 

In a UK-first, innovative, eco-friendly lights have been installed in a central London tunnel by Transport for London  helping to improve safety, reduce maintenance closures as well as cut energy consumption and costs.

The Upper Thames Street westbound tunnel is now entirely lit with low energy, long-life LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights providing a host of benefits for Londoners. The design and colour of the lights is designed to improve visibility for cyclists and motorists to boost safety.

The lights will also cut CO₂ emissions by more than 60 per cent compared with conventional systems, helping to reduce TfL’s energy bills. Projections show the cost of lighting the tunnel could fall from around £50,000 each year to less than £10,000, delivering a potential annual saving of at least £40,000. The innovative lights are also expected to last for 20 years as opposed to the existing system’s two year life span, significantly reducing the need for maintenance closures.

The LED system is contributing towards the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s target of a 60 per cent reduction in the Capital’s CO₂ emissions by 2025, and will deliver an estimated saving around 163 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year – enough gas to fill almost 800 double deck buses. Upper Thames Street tunnel, which opened in 1970, carries around 35,000 vehicles each day.

Proposals for neighbourhood policing in Finchley and Barnet – how it should work

The Met remains committed to neighbourhood policing’ is the message from Barnet’s borough commander.

Following an extensive review of neighbourhood policing the Metropolitan Police Service is proposing that every local community in Barnet will retain its dedicated police team, comprising of at least two constables and six police community support officers.

Under our proposals, which are due to be debated at the Metropolitan Police Authority on 16 June, Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, which were introduced in 2006 will continue to be aligned to political ward boundaries, and will remain responsible for addressing local crime and safety concerns. They will also remain under the operational control of the borough commander. There will be no reduction in the number of PCs and PCSOs within Safer Neighbourhoods Teams so every ward will retain a dedicated team of at least two PC and three PCSOs. Boroughs that currently have enhanced teams with six PCSOs will also retain these staff.

However, changes are being proposed that will, on occasion, see Safer Neighbourhood resources used more flexibly to support other wards in the borough. During these periods of temporary deployment to other areas, wards that are supporting their neighbours will still retain a minimum strength of one PC and one PCSO from its dedicated team to make sure there is still a permanent uniformed presence in every ward.

Another key proposal is to make reducing crime and anti-social behaviour explicit objectives of Safer Neighbourhoods activity in addition to the priorities of the community, which are through ward panels. In addition there are proposed changes to supervisory roles where sergeants may be responsible for more than one team.

Ch Supt Neil Basu, Barnet borough commander said: “I’m delighted to announce the MPS remains committed to neighbourhood policing. This means that under our proposals every ward in Barnet will continue to have its own Safer Neighbourhood team working with and for local people.”

“We intend for our Safer Neighbourhoods teams, which have become familiar sights in local communities, to continue to do the things they have always done by supporting local communities and helping address their crime or safety concerns. “

“As borough commander for Barnet I will continue to ensure they are being used in the right way to work with local people to help keep communities safe. I’m pleased to reaffirm the Met’s strong commitment to community policing.”

Proposals from the Met’s review of Safer Neighbourhoods are due to be discussed at the MPA Strategic and Operational Policing committee on 16 June.

N3 resident murdered last year – coordinated arrests in eight premises around London took place today.

Subject: Arrests re: 2010 murder of Bogdan Paduret – latest from NSY

Arrests have been made this morning, Wednesday 15 June, in connection with the murder of Bogdan Gabriel Paduret.

Officers have so far this morning executed search warrants at eight address in North, East and West London.

At this time six people have been arrested.

The police operation is in connection with the murder of Bogdan Gabriel Paduret in Tillingbourne Gardens, N3 on 27 November 2010.

Mr Paduret died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Officers have established that Mr Paduret, the Head Doorman at the Mayfair Club in Dover Street, W1 and known to his friends as Tony, finished work at 05:30hrs on 27 November 2010. A friend driving a silver Vauxhall Corsa then gave him a lift home. When Mr Paduret arrived home at approx 06:00hrs someone walked up to the car and shot four times through the passenger window killing Mr Paduret.

Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Sebire, Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “This was a cold blooded and planned murder. Mr Paduret was without doubt targeted. We have been working tirelessly to piece together events leading up to the death of Mr Paduret, we are now at the arrest phase and intend to question a number of people in connection with the murder. We are committed to putting those responsible before the courts to be held to account.”

When the victim’s mother, Mariana Paduret, flew into London from her home in Romania following the murder she said: “To me Tony meant everything. He had such tremendous love for people, he would call his friends and relatives brothers and sisters. He was incredibly generous and forgiving and at the same time very modest about it. He had an acute sense of justice and he took pride in everything he did.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Incident Room at Hendon on 020 8358 0400; if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 .

Officers attended addresses in:

- Tiller Road, E14 and arrested a 28-year-old man [A];
- Poplar High Street, E14 and arrested a 19-year-old man [B]
- Pennyfields, E14 and arrested a 19-year-old man [C]
- Vimy Close, Hounslow and arrested a 29-year-old man [D]
- Guinness Court, E1 and arrested a 24-year-old man [E]
- Stanford Road, N11

And two business premises in Oakley Road South, Whetstone and Forest Industrial Estate, Forest Road, Ilford.

A sixth man [F] attended an east London police station.

All those arrested are at present in an East London police station.

N3 Planning request for a house in N3 converted into three flats and extensions up and back..

The following new planning applications have been received:

13 Wentworth Park, London, N3 1YE (F/02199/11)

Conversion of property into 3no self-contained flats following single storey rear extension and extension to roof including wrap-around dormer to facilitate a loft conversion.

More information: http://planningcases.barnet.gov.uk/planning-cases/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=276597

Man attempts to abduct female jogger and drag her into the undergrowth.

This wasn’t in Finchley, but with all our open spaces, we thought it best to include it. And, before 1908, Hampstead Garden Suburb was called South Finchley.

Barnet police are releasing a photo fit image in relation to an attempted abduction on Hampstead Way, NW11.

The incident, which occurred at 6:20pm on 25 May 2011, involved a lone female jogger heading towards the heath being grabbed by both arms by the suspect in the image.

He then tried to drag her into some nearby undergrowth, but the victim managed to break free by kicking out and screaming for help.

The man is described as white, approximately 6 foot 1 inch tall, of proportionate build, with brown hair.

He was wearing thin rimmed glasses and a waist length brown cotton jacket with a hood, dark basketball shorts and black Nike trainers with a yellow tick.

DS Xavier Banaghan from Barnet’s Crime Investigation Unit said: “We hope that a member of the public can help us identify this man as soon as possible. His actions indicate he may be a dangerous individual, and we need to find him before his actions can escalate in any way.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0300 123 1212 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 giving reference number 2412826/11

Wingate & Finchley Football Club Preseason Fixture and Charity presentation

Wingate & Finchley have announce their preseason fixture list for this coming summer. First up is a visit to the Great Britain Maccabiah side at the end of June, and the fixtures build up to testing matches against Uxbridge, Chesham Utd and Dulwich Hamlet. Hamlet were of course the beaten finalists in last season’s Ryman League Cup Final.

The full list is as follows:

Tues 28th June – v GB Maccabiah (at Rowley Lane), kick off TBA
Sat 9th July – v Cockfosters (at The Hive), kick off 3pm
Tues 19th July – v Cadicote (Away), kick off 8pm
Sat 23rd July (Game 1) – v Haringey Borough (Away) , kick off 3pm
Sat 23rd July (Game 2) – v Broxbourne Borough (Away), kick off 3pm
Tues 26th July – v Oxhey Jets (Away), kick off 7:30pm
Sat 30th July – v Berkhamsted (Away), kick off 3pm
Tues 2nd Aug – v Uxbridge (Home), kick off 7:45pm
Sat 6th Aug (Game 1) – v Chesham United (Away), kick off 3pm
Sat 6th Aug (Game 2) – v Leverstock Green (Away), kick off 3pm
Sat 13th Aug – v Dulwich Hamlet (Home), kick off 3pm
Sat 20th Aug – Ryman League Season Starts

Wingate & Finchley Club President Harvey Ackerman and Commercial Director Mike Bayly are pictured handing over a cheque to Hazel Kaye from Jewish Blind and Disabled. The club raised over £2300 for the charity as some of its supporters and staff embarked on a sponsored walk to Waltham Abbey FC’s ground earlier in the year.

The Emmanual Wind Quintet at a free concert at St Mary-at-Finchley last Saturday

Chamber Music Concert at St Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church by Pam Taylor

We spent an enjoyable early Saturday evening at a concert given by the very talented Emmanuel Wind Quintet. This was in aid of the church organ restoration fund which has now reached £123,500, but more needs to be raised to cover the VAT. Reliance was put on the honesty of the audience as there wasn’t an admission charge for the concert or the wine and other refreshments afterwards.

There were about 80 people in the audience and we enjoyed a very varied programme which started with five Jeux d’Enfants (Children’s Games) by Bizet. These were followed by Mozart’s Serenade No. 11 in Eb Major, three songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn by Mahler followed by the Quintent’s favourite : Kleine Kammermusic (Little Chamber Music) by Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) which consisted of 5 compositions.

At the end, after much enthusiastic applause, the Quintet surprised us by returning to play some good jazz entitled “The Roaring 20s” arranged by Paul Nagle which included Tootsie Tootsie Goodbye and Making Whoopee to name but two.

The evening closed with some drinks and nibbles which gave us a chance to socialise, meet people to talk about the wonderful concert and to network..

Alex Edmundsun, the horn player announced each set of pieces and there was a detailed programme supplied by Alison Smart, St Mary’s Director of Music who also introduced the quintet.

 In the order of the above photograph were

David Ruff is from Bournemouth and started playing the flute at the age of eight. He studied with a full scholarship at the Junior Royal Academy of Music and is now studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Ian Clark, as well as jazz flute and saxophone with Martin Hathaway. David is currently principal flautist in the National Jazz Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Aisling Maguire studied oboe from the age of 12 at the Junior Guildhall School and currently studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Gordon Hunt and Alison Teale. She has won various competitions as a soloist, including BBC Radio London’s Young Musician Competition, the North London Music Festival Recital Prize and Premier Challenge Cup

Alex Edmundson comes from a musical family in Lythan St Anns, Lancs. Having previously studied at Chethams School of Music with Richard Watkins, he is now continuing his studies at the Guildhall with Jeffrey Bryant. He is an experienced orchestral musician; engagements have included frequent work with the European Union Youth Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru and a recent appointment as Principal Horn of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra. He was twice a Brass Section Finalist in the BBC Young Musician Competition.

Tom Corin is from St Ives in Cornwall and is studying bassoon at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His interest in orchestral playing has led to work within the Guildhall School’s many ensembles and also outside with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, European Union Youth Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru and the Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra.

Max Mausen was born in Luxembourg and took up the clarinet at the age of seven. He studied with Marcel Lallemang at the Conservatoire de Musique de Luxembourg and became a member of the Luxembourg Clarinet Choir, with whom he regularly performs as a soloist. He is currently studying with Julian Farrell at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The new Northern Line update program is about to start, there is good news, and there is bad news!

 

 

 

 

The following press release from Transport for London, whilst not being altered, has had reams of information (and self-congratulating puff) about the Jubilee line removed.

It looks very much like a journey to Tottenham Court Road from West Finchley will knock around five minutes from the present 26 minute journey. Not a lot, but if you make ten journeys a week for 46 weeks a year, that’s a saving of around 38 hours a year.

You may ask, ‘so what’, but as Tesco keeps reminding us – “Every little helps!”

 

New Northern line upgrade set to start

Transport for London (TfL) today announced that the main programme of works to upgrade London’s busiest Tube line – the Northern line – will commence later this year. When complete, the upgrade will deliver faster, more frequent and more reliable train services for customers, increasing capacity by 20 per cent and cutting journey times by around 18 per cent. The upgrade works are due to be completed in 2014.

Lessons have been learned from the upgrade of the Jubilee line and a new approach is being taken on the Northern line that will mean significantly fewer weekend closures than originally planned under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts, with no early evening closures.

Under the PPP, Tube Lines had proposed 65 weekend closures on the Northern line, many of which would have closed the whole line, or large parts of it. Instead there will now be:

• just eight weekends of full line closures for the installation and testing of the new signalling system, spread out so as to cause minimum disruption, with five closures in 2013 and three in 2014,
• eight additional weekends where shorter sections of the line will be closed, many of which will affect only the High Barnet branch, the most lightly-used section of the line; and,
• six closures of parts of the line during the quieter Easter and Christmas holiday periods which will be closed for 4 or 5 days respectively

Tube Lines had also, under the PPP, planned 18 months of weekday early evening closures affecting the whole line, with last trains due to have left the centre of London by 2200; instead of this, from October, the northern branches of the line will in turn start up slightly late on Sundays to allow for extensive work during Saturday night’s engineering hours to be completed.

This will give greater flexibility to install and test the signalling and will impact on considerably fewer people than either early evening closures of a series of weekend closures. Services on the High Barnet branch will start from 8.30am on Sundays through to November 2012, followed by the Edgware branch through to November 2013.

Overall, this represents a reduction of over 60 per cent in the number of passenger journeys that will be disrupted by the work compared with the number that would have been disrupted under the original PPP plan.

Isabel Dedring, the Mayor of London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “Delivering more reliable journeys for Londoners wherever they are on the transport network is a top priority for the Mayor. The team at the Underground have completely overhauled the Northern Line upgrade programme to ensure that passengers do not have to go through a repeat of the disruption they suffered with the Jubilee Line upgrade.”

In order to achieve this reduced closure programme London Underground will be intensifying the amount of work done during night-time engineering hours, using the hours where the network is closed each night in full to carry out upgrade works, as well as the usual maintenance work.

In addition, much more system testing will be done ‘off site’ using improved simulators, and on an extended and enhanced test track at Highgate, to reduce the time needed for closures and to drive out any problems in the system before it goes live for passengers. Improvements made for the Jubilee line system (which uses the same hardware and software) will automatically be carried across to the Northern line. 

Staff who will operate the system on a day to day basis, including train operators, will also have a greater involvement in putting the new system through its paces in simulators to iron out issues off site. These new approaches will together help to ensure that the new system is reliable once it is used in passenger service.

The upgrade will proceed in phases to minimise risk, starting with off-site software development and testing, followed by the new system being applied in the High Barnet area before being rolled out across the rest of the line.

London Underground Managing Director, Mike Brown, said: “We know how disruptive weekend engineering works can be and we’re determined to learn lessons from the Jubilee line upgrade, the last of the PPP upgrades. Working with our signalling contractor Thales, we’re adopting a new and innovative approach which means we will be able to greatly reduce the disruption to our customers and businesses along the Northern line.

“The Northern line is the busiest line on the Tube network and some of the signalling dates back to the 1950s. Its essential upgrade will deliver huge benefits for passengers – with more frequent services, quicker and more comfortable journeys, and the capacity to carry an additional 11,000 passengers an hour. While we do this vital work we will do our utmost to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.”

The revised and less disruptive closure programme has been welcomed by groups representing businesses along the line. Simon Pitkeathley, Chief Executive, Camden Town Unlimited said:

“Whilst there is still pain for business in this closure programme it is a substantial and meaningful improvement upon the original suggestions, which would have sounded the death knell for Camden Town. We are delighted with the progress that has been made as a result of the partnership approach now taken by LU under the leadership of Mike Brown and will continue to work closely with him as this programme is executed. We very much hope that the lessons learned on the Jubilee Line will bear fruit for the Northern Line.”

• The Northern line is the busiest line on the Tube network with more than 900,000 passengers each day.
• Much preparatory work for the Northern line upgrade has already been done – putting in new trackside wiring and other equipment, and converting the line’s trains so they’re ready for the new system. Much of the work has been done at night.
• In addition to the upgrade work, the Northern Line needs essential track renewal in the next two years, not linked to the signalling upgrade. This pre-planned work is essential and the nature of it – including heavy engineering to replace tracks and sleepers – means it cannot all be carried out in the limited New Northern line upgrade set to start
• New post-PPP approach to upgrade will mean far fewer closures and a reduction of over 60 per cent in the number of disrupted passenger journeys
• More and better “offline” testing to ensure the reliability of the system when it goes live for passengers
• Capacity to be increased by 20 per cent and journey times to be cut by around 18 percent by 2014
• Jubilee line upgrade on-track for completion at the end of July
• Increased capacity by 20 per cent, cutting journey times by around 18 per cent.

Under the PPP, Tube Lines had proposed 65 weekend closures on the Northern line, many of which would have closed the whole line, or large parts of it. Instead there will now be:

• just eight weekends of full line closures for the installation and testing of the new signalling system, spread out so as to cause minimum disruption, with five closures in 2013 and three in 2014
• eight additional weekends where shorter sections of the line will be closed, many of which will affect only the High Barnet branch, the most lightly-used section of the line; and,
• six closures of parts of the line during the quieter Easter and Christmas holiday periods which will be closed for 4 or 5 days respectively

Tube Lines had also, under the PPP, planned 18 months of weekday early evening closures affecting the whole line, with last trains due to have left the centre of London by 2200; instead of this, from October, the northern branches of the line will in turn start up slightly late on Sundays to allow for extensive work during Saturday night’s engineering hours to be completed.

This will give greater flexibility to install and test the signalling and will impact on considerably fewer people than either early evening closures of a series of weekend closures. Services on the High Barnet branch will start from 8.30am on Sundays through to November 2012, followed by the Edgware branch through to November 2013.

Overall, this represents a reduction of over 60 per cent in the number of passenger journeys that will be disrupted by the work compared with the number that would have been disrupted under the original PPP plan.

Isabel Dedring, the Mayor of London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “Delivering more reliable journeys for Londoners wherever they are on the transport network is a top priority for the Mayor. The team at the Underground have completely overhauled the Northern Line upgrade programme to ensure that passengers do not have to go through a repeat of the disruption they suffered with the Jubilee Line upgrade.”

In order to achieve this reduced closure programme London Underground will be intensifying the amount of work done during night-time engineering hours, using the hours where the network is closed each night in full to carry out upgrade works, as well as the usual maintenance work.

In addition, much more system testing will be done ‘off site’ using improved simulators, and on an extended and enhanced test track at Highgate, to reduce the time needed for closures and to drive out any problems in the system before it goes live for passengers. Improvements made for the Jubilee line system (which uses the same hardware and software) will automatically be carried across to the Northern line.

Staff who will operate the system on a day to day basis, including train operators, will also have a greater involvement in putting the new system through its paces in simulators to iron out issues off site. These new approaches will together help to ensure that the new system is reliable once it is used in passenger service.

The upgrade will proceed in phases to minimise risk, starting with off-site software development and testing, followed by the new system being applied in the High Barnet area before being rolled out across the rest of the line.

Following Transport for London’s acquisition of Tube Lines last summer the Jubilee line upgrade is now on-track for completion at the end of next month. The upgrade will mean faster and more reliable journeys and an increase in capacity of 33 per cent – space for around 12,500 extra passengers per hour. Services will initially increase from 24 to 27 trains per hour, with further increases at the start of next year.

London Underground Managing Director, Mike Brown, said: “We know how disruptive weekend engineering works can be and we’re determined to learn lessons from the Jubilee line upgrade, the last of the PPP upgrades. Working with our signalling contractor Thales, we’re adopting a new and innovative approach which means we will be able to greatly reduce the disruption to our customers and businesses along the Northern line.

“The Northern line is the busiest line on the Tube network and some of the signalling dates back to the 1950s. Its essential upgrade will deliver huge benefits for passengers – with more frequent services, quicker and more comfortable journeys, and the capacity to carry an additional 11,000 passengers an hour. While we do this vital work we will do our utmost to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.”

The revised and less disruptive closure programme has been welcomed by groups representing businesses along the line. Simon Pitkeathley, Chief Executive, Camden Town Unlimited said:

“Whilst there is still pain for business in this closure programme it is a substantial and meaningful improvement upon the original suggestions, which would have sounded the death knell for Camden Town. We are delighted with the progress that has been made as a result of the partnership approach now taken by LU under the leadership of Mike Brown and will continue to work closely with him as this programme is executed. We very much hope that the lessons learned on the Jubilee Line will bear fruit for the Northern Line.” 

Poll on publishing weekend underground holdups – results are in.

It seems that, on the whole, this is what you want.

71.43% have voted for yes, all the time.

There really isn’t a lot to say now.

New political boundaries for Greater London

The following website will allow you to download a PDF of the boundary changes in Greater London or, indeed, any other part of the United Kingdom.

The change for Finchley is the amalgamation of Finchley & Golders Green, and Hendon.

http://www.democraticaudit.com/the-uks-new-political-map

New Underground strike dates for June and July 2011.

The dates for the new Tube Strikes are:

Between 21.01 hours on Sunday 19th June 2011 and 03.00 hours on Monday 20th June 2011.

Around half of all Tube drivers are members of the RMT, and all of these members have been ‘instructed not to book on for any duty’ between the said dates.

Between 21.01 hours on Monday 27th June and 11.59 hours on Tuesday 28th June.
Between 12.00 hours on Wednesday 29th June and 11.59 hours on Thursday 30th June.
Between 12.00 hours on Friday 1st July and 21.00 hours on Friday 1st July.

There’s no point in going into the reasons as the RMT Union strike at the drop of a hat. Let’s hope, like last time, they are called off. But each time they are called off, it means a loss of revenue to TFL and they will find another way to claim back their losses.

From us.

Restaurant Review – Vy Nam Cafe in Finchley Church End

Vy Nam Cafe
371 Regents Park Road
London N3 1DE 

Vy Nam Cafe

A taste of Vietnam

Recently we took a colleague to the Vy Nam Cafe in Ballards Lane for lunch – my husband was attracted to the 20% discount on the menu for lunchtime meals.

Our colleague, who was Asian, thought their food extremely good and we all thought their glass topped tables, with plastic plants between the glass and the base of the table top, looked very attractive and something I’d never seen before.

We arrived there about 12.30 and by 1.00 the restaurant was virtually full – most of the clientele were Vietnamese – it is always a good sign when the establishment’s own people frequent the business – and the place was abuzz with conversation producing an extremely lively atmosphere.

Our friend had lychee juice and we had wine while we waited for our meal. We certainly didn’t have to wait long – I have never seen food appear so quickly. The portions were very generous and we didn’t really need to have had both a dish of rice and one of noodles with vegetables to accompany the food. My chicken dish was mouthwatering and delicious and my husband and our friend enjoyed their king prawn dish. We also thought prices were extremely reasonable for such excellent fair.

We left feeling very happily replete and will definitely return soon – you can see their menus in the link at the top of this post.

Barnet Council cancels the Finchley Carnival this year.

We are sad that Brian Coleman has cancelled the carnival at the very last moment.

We suspected he was thinking of it as far back as last July so, surely, he could have cancelled it earlier before the committee had put so much work in this year’s festival.

I am sure he wasn’t being mean, and small minded and vindictive, and that there was a legitimate reason for waiting so long, so it would be nice if he could explain what this reason is. We would hate our readership to get the wrong idea about him.

Here is an open invitation, write in and tell us why and we will print it in full.

There is also a story in the Finchley Times – but we can’t write about it ourselves as we strive to be non-political and won’t take sides.

The Barnet Junior Citizens scheme at Avenue house for a month has 2,500 children attending

The Barnet Junior Citizens scheme is in full swing again with nearly two and a half thousand children learning how to stay safe at home, at school and out and about. 

The Barnet Junior Citizens scheme is in full swing again with nearly two and a half thousand children learning how to stay safe at home, at school and out and about.

The four week long event, lead by Barnet Police, held at Avenue House on East End Road started on Monday June 6 and runs until Friday July 1, 2011 and 52 primary schools from the borough have confirmed their attendance. 

 Approximately 2500 Year 6 pupils will take part in several scenarios revolving around personal safety including:

• how to prevent fires in the home, and what to do when discovering a fire 
• basic first aid, 
• stranger danger 
• use of public transport, buses and underground 
• taking down details as a witness 
• correct use of crossings  

The sessions are finished off with an interactive play presented by Jigsaw Art in which the pupils get a chance to ask three characters about why they carry a knife in the given scenario, and they learn about the repercussions of carrying offensive weapons.

Barnet Councillor Joanna Tambourides , cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said: ““It was such a varied, action-packed day for the kids, with lots of different things to learn about, and a few surprises along the way too.  

“It certainly made them think about how to keep themselves safe at home, at school, in the street and on public transport. I  even learned quite a few new things too!”   

Safer Schools Sergeant Andy Taylor said: “In this day and age it is vital that children learn how to stay safe at home, travelling to and from school and when out alone or with friends”.

“Barnet Police join with our colleagues from the London Fire Service, London Ambulance Service and Transport for London to deliver our safety messages to the children and this year we have been joined by Amey who are delivering the safety message around the correct way in which to use crossings at the roadside

“We make all the scenarios as interactive as possible so that the information provides them with the skills and confidence to keep themselves and others safe and from speaking to older children in Secondary Schools and even those who have left school, who did attend Junior Citizen it always seems that they do remember their day at Avenue House.”

An exciting new website called Streetbank

Streetbank’s Sam Stephens

I have recently come across a new community website called Streetbank run by four young people who have come up with an interesting concept.

This is a community website where people can offer to lend neighbours mundane items of equipment, such as a ladder, a lawn-mower and other garden tools, or even a fish kettle for those who want to cook a whole salmon for a garden party once or twice a year.

In addition, most of us have various objects around the home that we should throw out but feel they might be worth something to somebody – here’s a chance to offer them here.

The third, and up to now, the final idea is if you have a knowledge of something, an opportunity to share it with your neighbour, such as maths or science skills, repairing lawnmowers, or writing a complaint letter for someone.

You also have to select an area distance around your house, and that area is all you will ever see on the website. If you live in a city area or town centre, you may choose the 1 mile radius as I have done in Finchley, my local area. If you live in the country, you might choose the largest 10 mile radius and if you live in an urban sprawl, the middle choice of 5 mile radius might be your best bet.

This is an ingenious method as you don’t get inundated with “noise” or offers way too far for you to go and borrow, or too far for anyone to trust lending to you.

You can also send and receive messages without the other person knowing your email address to ensure privacy, although once you set up to deal with someone you can exchange phone numbers, addresses etc. For example, if someone wants to borrow one of my items, I will only deliver but never let them collect – so I know where they live.

If you run a club, society or just want to broadcast something there is a page you can go to just for that purpose.

The final good idea is, you can’t join until you offer someone something. So forget it if you don’t want to give, and only want to take. This is not for those people.

Can you help our next community project in Finchley?

We are looking for voluntary help in the following area for

The Finchley Community.

We need three volunteers, one each in N2, N3 and N12 to keep an eye on their postcode area. To let the office know when a company closes and a new one opens in its place, to source likely small business with branches in Finchley only who might be interested in joining us, and to source any not-for-profits in the areas which aren’t on the FinchleyCommunity.co.uk website.

What we are really asking for is researchers, if you want to actually call and talk to various of these shop owners and organisations secretaries, that would be a bonus from our point of view but not essential.

Who would volunteer. It would be someone who has a love of community and would love to see Finchley grow into a tightly knit area where people are willing to get involved. This is a long term project as we, in London, have, on the whole, lost the community spirit and recreating it may take years. You would be welcome to attend our once a month Editorial Meeting but it is not a requirement of the job and you will be able to please your self.

How to apply: In the first instance, send an email to andrew.taylor@finchleycommunity.co.uk with your phone number and the best time to call.