This year represents the 70th year that our Association has been in existence.  This is quite an achievement and something of which the residents of Totteridge should be proud. The challenges in today’s world and our area have meant that we have had to move with the times.  Not only has this resulted in a change of attitude but also in the way things are dealt with - our website being just one example of this new world.  Despite these changes, I believe the Association still listens and promotes the views of the residents.  As in the past, I would like to report on issues that our Association has faced over the previous year.

PLANNING

As ever, the Committee continues to keep a watchful eye over all planning matters affecting our area and our residents.  We use the information provided by the Local Authority and, of course yourselves, to enable us to consider and make any appropriate representatives to the relevant authorities.  Our role is to bring what we regard as relevant issues to the correct bodies, together with our comments.  This ensures that the relevant people are able to take into account factors which might otherwise not come to their attention.

Can I remind members of the process involved in a planning application and some of the implications arising from this?  The Householders’ Guide from the Planning Office at Barnet House, 1255 High Road, Whetstone, London N20 0EJ is recommended.

We are monitoring the Government’s proposals for 48,000 new homes within our Borough.  We are still not sure at this time how this would impact on our immediate area.

We are concerned about a proposal at 115 Totteridge Lane for a 2 storey building with rooms in the roof and parking in the basement providing 6 flats at this address.  We feel that if permission is granted it will set a dangerous precedent.  Our concerns were relayed to the Planning Committee and our President spoke at that meeting.  The Planning Committee turned down the proposal but we continue to watch this situation.

TELECOMMUNICATION MASTS

Planning permissions have been successful but we do continue to monitor the situation bearing in mind that this is becoming something of a national concern.

TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY

We continue to review traffic and road safety issues in the area on a regular basis. There have been serious accidents on Totteridge Lane between Grange Avenue and Mill Hill. Speeding in Totteridge Lane is still a problem.

POLICING THE BOROUGH

Our relationship with our local police force has again been most helpful and useful over the past year. 

A Totteridge Ward Community Action Panel has been set up as part of the Safer Neighbourhood Campaign. Caroline Stock is our representative on this Panel.

We understand that there are 6 Police Officers dedicated to the Totteridge area who would welcome contact/complaints from Residents.

DARLANDS

We are pleased to note that considerable improvements have been made at Darlands, as reported in our Autumn newsletter.

NOTICE BOARD

A new notice board at Dollis Brook has been provided.  This is for our Association’s use but we do not object to non-commercial organisations using this facility with our prior consent.

WWW.TOTTERIDGERESIDENTS.ORG

We continue to update our website and hope that our residents find the contents useful.  I remind you that we offer a notice board facility to local organisations and charity groups who wish to advertise their various activities.

We are grateful to Dr Christine Riley for her tremendous contribution to our website.

NEWSLETTER

I would like to thank all those involved in producing the Newsletter (particularly Dr Christine Riley) which has proved a great success.  The Autumn Newsletter resulted in a good and encouraging response to the “write to us” column.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

You should all receive a letter during the month of April concerning subscriptions.  If you have responded to that letter, then please ignore the Subscription Form which is included in the Year Book.  It would be of tremendous help to us administratively if you could respond as soon as possible.  I continue to remind you that the annual subscription runs from 1 May 2006 to 30 April 2007.  The current minimum sum is £5.00.

We are delighted that subscriptions have increased substantially in the past year.  Approximately 35% of households are members.  The percentage is very high for this type of Association, which is very encouraging for the future of our Association.

FINALLY

I would personally like to thank the Committee and its Officers for the work and assistance carried out on behalf of our Association during the past year.  Again, I would like to also thank residents for their assistance, which has enabled us to carry out our functions.

I would also like to mention our thanks to Teresa Villiers, our MP; our Councillors; the Officers of the London Borough of Barnet; and the Police.  Particular thanks to our President, Eileen Eskenzi, all our Road Stewards and all those others who have helped during the course of the year.

PAUL A. DAVIS, LL.B., Chairman.