News, comment and features

After reading a couple of newspaper articles suggesting that the new Culture Secretary might wish to relax the regulations concerning Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals in betting shops, I today sent him the following open letter. Dear Mr Burrowes, Could I start by congratulating you on your success in last week's election. I'm writing to you in response to recent newspaper reports which suggest that the newly appointed Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, might wish to bring in legislation.......

The Save the Green Dragon Campaign is reporting that its demonstration outside the Civic Centre on Wednesday went well - they estimate that about 150 protesters turned out.  They were able to deliver an open letter (see below) to the new Mayor, Councillor Patricia Ekechi, and to the many councillors who were there to witness her induction into office. Two local MPs were among the supporters - David Burrowes (Enfield Southgate) and Joan Ryan (Enfield North).  As a result of their.......

One of the most notable institutions in Palmers Green is the Ruth Winston Centre.  In essence, it's a club for older people, but not the kind of club where you sit round dozing in armchairs reading copies of The Times.  Quite the reverse - it's a place where people do things.  The aim is to help people remain active, maintain mobility, and live a full life by providing opportunities to make and meet friends, learn a new skill or hobby, keep fit, have lunch in a convivial.......

The Save the Green Dragon Campaign is urging concerned members of the public to take part in a demonstration at 6pm on Wednesday, set to coincide with the signing in of a new Mayor of Enfield.  Support for the campaign has been expressed by, among others, the Mayor of London. Publication of correspondence between local councillors and a PR company has increased suspicions that the current and former owners have deliberately acted with a view to developing the site for housing or mixed.......

The free classes and lectures in the Enfield Thinks programme continue to deal with a very wide range of subject matter.  Among the subjects coming in the near future are: local history local railway history running a small business the housing crisis in Enfield and across London holiday destinations the politics of happiness first aid arboriculture human rights in Russia and Ukraine science and engineering.........

Children's International Voices of Enfield were one of the choirs featured on Radio 3's The Choir programme on 28th April.  You can listen to a clip of the choir in action along with commentary from singers Tom, Joe and Genevieve. Made up of six choirs with members from the ages of 4 to 18, they have been running for twenty years. You can hear extracts of two pieces composed by their patron, John Rutter. The Children's Voices are currently rehearsing for a concert at Palmers Green.......

In response to the message of the mysterious "Palmers Scream" manuscript, a group of local authors have teamed up with an illustrator to launch an initiative aimed at releasing "joyful creativity" in local people, whether adults or schoolchildren. To support their goal they have produced a book, organised collaborations with schools, businesses and other local groups, and set up a special website. The cover of the book being distributed to childrenDefeating an ancient Terror The origin of the.......

If you're a regular visitor to Broomfield Park, you're probably familiar with the pair of Egyptian Geese that were frequently seen there.  Sad to say, there is now only one of these good-looking birds. Egyptian geese in Broomfield Park during February 2013The death of one of the Egyptian Geese was noted by Derek Honnor of the Friends of Broomfield Park.  Derek posts a monthly report on bird sightings in the Park, which you can find on noticeboards and also on the Friends of Broomfield.......

Sewing workshops for beginners run by the not-for-profit organisation Studio 306 Collective will start on 14th May and run weekly until 16th July.  You will need to attend a minimum of five weeks.    Sewing Workshops at Studio 306Beginners Course You will learn to...Thread the sewing machineExperiment with different stitch patterns and sew straight seamsChoose and cut out fabricFollow a template or patternUse a rotary cutterOver lockingButtonholesInsert a zipPatchwork and.......

Positive people from the local community needed - could you spare two to four hours a week for a year to help turn a child's life round? This is the question that Chance UK is posing.  By becoming a Chance UK mentor you would be helping inspire a primary school child with behavioural difficulties, who otherwise when a little older might find themself drawn into anti-social or criminal activity. And the benefits are not all one-way.  The work can be tremendously personally rewarding.......

People concerned about the future of two local landmarks received a double blow this week, when Enfield Council notified campaigners that they had refused applications to register the Green Dragon in Winchmore Hill and the former university campus and mansion in Trent Park as Assets of Community Value (ACVs). The campaigners had received wide support from both the general public and councillors from both parties for their efforts to return the Green Dragon to its former use as a pub and to.......

Enfield Council has published more information about the design concepts for the main Cycle Enfield ("Mini-Holland") routes, together with feedback from the consultations held at the Fox and other venues.  There is still time to comment on the concepts before the next consultation phase begins in the summer. Information from the Fox exhibition now online The Cycle Enfield team have uploaded to their website the "opportunities plan" for the entire stretch of the A105 between Enfield Town.......