CHAIRMAN’S REPORT –7th APRIL 2007

To all members and friends,

This is the 10th Anniversary of the ‘Friends of Hilly Fields’ so you must forgive me for a little nostalgia. I think therefore a brief history of our Association is called for. As many of you will remember, we formed our group initially to oppose the building of an unsightly concrete wall by a private landowner along the perimeter of the Turkey Brook, and the blocking of a well used unofficial footpath. We held regular Sunday walks across this area to oppose this development, and I remember our Chairman at the time, (I was then the Secretary) Cathy addressing a large crowd prior to one of our walks in the ‘Fallow Buck’ P.H car park. Cathy has lived in Devon for several years now with her family, but visited us recently and sends her best wishes. Eileen who has recently moved from Scotland to France, initially confronted the workman who were building the wall, and was instrumental in the campaign. We organised a very good publicity campaign, involving not just the local media, but were also featured on Sky T.V. and the BBC T.V. South East News, thanks to Diki who was in charge of publicity at the time. Due to the wall exceeding height restrictions, we were successful in obtaining an injunction to stop further building of the wall, and the part that already had been built was demolished by a council contractor, watched by a crowd of jubilant supporters. Using the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, and holding several meetings at the Fallow buck for residents to sign witness statements, we submitted our claim to Enfield Council, which was subsequently upheld, and ‘our footpaths’ were duly recognised and the definitive map was modified accordingly. These footpaths are on the north side of the brook between the two bridges and offer a welcome alternative to walking on the tarmac footpath.

Shortly after this, our beloved bandstand was threatened with demolishing by the Council. Again we sprang into action, as many of us recalled the days when ‘Auntie Gee’ compared talent competitions at this wonderful venue, and many brass bands entertained us. Indeed It was at Hilly Fields that the first talent competitions and children’s events were held, organised by Pip Fortune, the Entertainments Officer for Enfield Council, in the 1950’s. Although Pip had retired many years previously, we were pleased to invite him to our opening ceremony. 3000 signatures were collected and presented to a full Council meeting, with Annette (now our Ward Councillor) giving a sterling speech on our behalf. We worked exceedingly hard putting on concerts and events, including two dog shows ‘Scruffs’ entertaining the public, selling t-shirt and producing our own c.d to help raise awareness, and to raise sufficient funds to enable us to apply for Heritage Lottery funding which was granted in 2000 for the bandstand restoration. What a success it has proved to be!

Although our generator had proved very reliable, I am now pleased to report that a permanent electricity supply has now been installed ready for this years events. Due to the hard manual work to remove the front grilles, we investigated the idea of installing electric shutters. Although we looked at several types, we finally decided against the idea as we considered that this would be yet another target for graffiti.

I continue to represent our association at various Council meetings, but negotiations have proved very difficult over the last eighteen months, especially regarding funding, as there is no continuity in any level of management within Parks and Environment, having had three Assistant Directors of Parks and Environment during this time. I now chair the Hilly Fields and Tuckers Park meetings, which are held quarterly at the Fellowship building in Tuckers Park. The next meeting is on Monday June 4th at 2pm and is open to all members of the public. This is your chance to raise issues of concern directly with Council officials If you cannot make the meeting, but have a matter you wish to raise then please write or e-mail me. One of the issues I have pursued recently is for the re-instatement of the Whitewebbs Cafe. Although the long term objective, which now seems to be supported by the Council, is for a new golf club house and café to be built, little progress seems to have been made. Whitewebbs has been starved of investment over recent years, which is hard to believe when it is recognised that considerable sums of money have been generated from this golf course in the past, and is so well used. Many players have learnt how to play golf here.

Further to members wishes at the A.G.M to firmly oppose Spurs planning application to build a football academy and training complex on Metropolitan Green Belt, I represented our Association at Enfield’s Planning Committee last September. I am pleased to report that planning was refused. Spurs have appealed against this decision, and a public enquiry is expected to be held this Autumn.

The issue regarding the pollution of the Turkey brook two years ago, which killed most of our fish and left a stink for many weeks, continues to rumble on. This is one of the issues I continue to pursue at Council meetings, and can advise that the Environment Agency may well prosecute.

I think members will agree that our concerts lived up to the normal high standards that people now seem to expect, and again attracted large crowds. I was sad to have to cancel our Brass band concert due to clashing with a certain World Cup football match! I am pleased to announce that we raised over £2ooo for local charities, at our three concerts, our best ever, with £1100 being raised at just one event (almost double our previous record) for the Nightingale Hospice.

HELP is urgently needed to help marshal the events. Please telephone/e-mail me.
Once again, my thanks to our sponsors Data Connection, Fairview New Homes and Enfield Council for their continued support, and Trustees, Robin, David, Pauline, Pat and Marilyn.

CONCERT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY (start 3pm)

June 10th Concorde Big Band, with Colin the Clown to entertain the children. Finish 5.30pm

July 1st. Enfield Citadel Salvation Band, with Youth Band. Finish 5.15pm

July 22nd. Colin Peters Quartet, with Digby Fairweather and Trudy Kerr Finish 6pm

August 12th. Merengada (Salsa) Finish 5.15pm

Collections will be in aid of the North London Hospice, Wildlife Rescue Service, St Johns Church restoration appeal, and Enfield Alzheimer’s Society.

Parking. Please advise friends to use Whitewebbs car park, via Beggars Hollow, behind R&C P.H. and NOT to Park in Browning Road alongside Hilly Fields as it obstructs the traffic flow.

FOR SALE
Harrington Generator. 3.5kva.with voltage meter. Very good condition. Little used. Sensible offers

I’m sure we are all looking forward to another season of concerts. If weather is inclement we will try to use St Lukes Church. I look forward to seeing you.

Tony Claydon (Chairman)

UPDATE 21/4/2007

I am now advised that the café and toilets should be open at whitewebbs, for week commencing the 21st May