Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Association Update – news from your local residents’ association
MHFGA moves events online!
Despite the ongoing restrictions, MHFGA members have recently benefitted from two enthralling Zoom talks from local experts. In February, art historian Peter Webb guided us through his fascinating collection of prints from Michelangelo through to Picasso. In March, we were delighted to welcome renowned gadget collector Maurice Collins OBE, who demonstrated some of the weird and wonderful items from his collection. We are also very pleased to announce that Peter Webb will be returning – by popular demand! – to give a follow up talk later in the year, covering the more modern section of his portfolio. So, please watch this space for further details, or better still, join the MHFGA to get advance notice of all meetings and events. We are also hopeful that Peter’s second talk might be an in-person one, depending on restrictions at the time.
Parkland Walk Chewing Gum Trail
Ben Wilson, known locally as the ‘Chewing Gum Man’, has been working on a trail of chewing gum pictures along Parkland Walk, the remarkable nature reserve that follows the track of a long-abandoned railway line from Finsbury Park to Muswell Hill. Ben started work on this project in October 2019 and is still working on it. So far there are 35 pictures that celebrate and are inspired by the history of the Parkland Walk and the insects, animals, birds, trees and some of the people he encountered there. The project was commissioned by The Friends of the Parkland Walk, who set up a crowdfunding page to pay for it.
Planning matters
As always, the MHFGA has been commenting on local planning applications on behalf of our members. Of particular note recently were an application to add a storey onto Whitehall Lodge, Pages Lane, and an application to build houses in back gardens on Tetherdown. Both were refused permission by Haringey Council following objections from the MHFGA and many others. An appeal has been filed against the decision at Whitehall Lodge. The planning inspector will automatically be supplied with all the objections which were made.
The MHFGA is concerned at the recent admonishment from the Government on Haringey Council (amongst others), at the fact that an insufficient number of new homes had been built. Putting pressure on Councils to simply approve more applications is a worrying ‘penalty’ in our view especially in an already largely built-up urban environment with many conservation areas like Haringey. We would welcome an assurance from the Council that each application will continue to be considered on its merits and that any concerns expressed will still be taken into consideration.
MHFGA is your local residents’ association (since 1948!) We produce six bi-monthly Newsletters per year, which are distributed to over 770 members. Membership for households is just £10 per year and gives you the chance to attend our special events, such as our guided tour of Lauderdale House last year. We have hosted the popular ‘Odd One Out’ competition three times, and our Christmas Charity Tombola has raised almost £800 for local causes. To join MHFGA and be kept up to date on local issues and our planned activities, visit www.mhfga.org/membership or email our Membership Secretary on [email protected]