Market Update

The local council here has changed from Tory to Labour so I have been looking into what difference this might make to the campaign. I went to an Enfield Stakeholders "Characterisation Study" meeting last week, at which members of the public were invited to put forward their opinions on the character of Enfield, for better or worse and how they see it might best move forward in the future. Emphasis was placed by participants on the tragedy to community spirit of the building of the A10 and A406, the dangers of traffic/ need to reclaim the borough from the logic of the car via "shared space" initiatives and other traffic calming, pedestrianisation, bike and more generally community spirit friendly measures. Also the subject of Enfield being far removed from eg Palmers Green, Southgate and other peripheries of the Borough, and that this also adversely effects services and increases the need for community based initiatives to increase a sense of belonging.

Lots of talk also of its unique, mixed rural (ie farmed) and urban character, and the need defend green spaces from further concrete encroachment and indeed to actually re-green parts which are presently cemented. Within all these contexts - aswell as the wider one of economic stagnation and local food - the idea of community owned street markets which I put forward in a low key way was warmly received so that is a good sign. I am also in talks with a media advisor about the possibility of a documentary on Big Society / Big Idea which could possibly include our campaign...

pause for thought

UPDATE: We hope to resume public meetings, and with an improved structure and schedule shortly. At the moment, core team members are liaising with Stefan Cadek at Enfield Youth Services, with a view to visiting local schools to introduce ourselves and the Anchor project. Also, today I had an encouraging and pleasurable meeting with David Byrne, Principal of Southgate College. David's keen to develop ties between college and local community, and among other things we discussed ways the Southgate Community Anchor and College might work together in the future. Later on I spoke with Palmer's Green resident Francis Sealey of the 21st Century Network (or '21CN') about how to move forward with the Local Sovereignty social action work we've been developing together, ideally in the context of Southgate. More on this later, with relevant announcements and/or discussion on the email list.

gardeners are go

Just to let you know today's Gardening Club was a success, and everyone had a good time. We did a bit of tidying up of the spot in front of the Alan Pullinger centre, aswell as the TfL green space (where we held the Christmas market) litter picking, raking and so forth. I took a beautiful sunrise trip to Columbia flower market in the morning, so we had some bedding plants and tulip bulbs to plant. We're unclear about how to proceed with the path (to block or not to block, that is the question) but nevertheless after some discussion about how to go about planning the garden (we are thinking to go for a picnic table centrepiece with a mix of flowers, medicinal herbs, other sensory stuff and veggies, possibly with a wee labyrinth of some kind) we got right stuck in with some digging. In the end we planted a 21st century fairy ring (of primroses) around one of the larger trees in the space.

Joe turns out to be a champion digger, as does his son, Archie! Great contributions also in the realm of planting aswell as hole digging, treasure hunting, leave moving and football kicking also by the other Southgate Bash Street kids, Jordan, Zainab, Amina, Michael, Anthony and Leo. Big ups to Sinead for sorting the all important water out, and to Sarah J for coming in all the way from Tottenham. And to everyone who helped to make it a lovely day: cheers!

Looking forward to the next one, let's hope the weather is as good as today.

Peas on Earth and Goodwill to all Men, Women and Children. From Han Solo, no less

Quick Update

Arul and I have just put a funding application in for the proposed Health Centre project. Joe, Anne and I will be putting together Southgate Phoenix edition 2 in the coming month or so. About the market we are awaiting the Council's decision on street trading, due very soon. 9th September meeting was attended by Cllr Edward Smith, the leader of the Southgate Residents Association SRA, Anne, Joe, Mark and Archie and 7 apologies. The main topics of discussion were the market, our relationship with the SRA, the health project proposal, the newsletter and the possibility of a dedicated Southgate Town website. Next Anchor meeting date, tbc (in newsletter if not before).

9th September

The next Community Anchor Meeting will be at

Tuesday 9th September 7.30pm
Dolce Mare Cafe, Ashfield Parade

Find below suggested agenda for meeting. Please kindly pass on this invitation to others who may be interested.

Proposed Agenda:

1. Market Update, Report on Petition and Discussion about hearing on 17th Sept.
2. Alan Pullinger Project - Youth Engagement
3. STAR Association Update
4. Website
5. 2nd Edition Phoenix
6. Introducing Arul's Health Project - Proposed Sunday Provision
7. Belgian Waffle Party
8. Local Sports Groups
9 Fundraising report
10. Next Meeting
11. AOB

Has anyone got further suggestions for the agenda..?
If so, pls comment / email southgatephoenix@gmail.com

Urgent

TO RESIDENTS, TRADERS & OTHER SUPPORTERS

Please read and sign our petition by scrolling down to the bottom of this post and clicking on 'comments' link below.

ASHFIELD PARADE MARKET PETITION

We would like to see a Sunday street market in Ashfield Parade along with the freedom for all cafes and restaurants there to have tables and chairs - subject to pavement access - outside their establishments. We support the initiative of the Community Anchor for a regular Sunday community-owned street market, involving local farm and allotment grown produce and other specialities not otherwise available in Southgate. We strongly believe this to be in the best interests of Southgate, and ask the Council to respect the wishes of Southgate residents and traders by giving them the chance to work together in common cause. Therefore, please grant all the cafes and restaurants in the Parade the right to have their tables and chairs set out outside, and the Anchor association a free license to Sunday street trade in Ashfield Parade, so they can self-fund their community-cohesion and citizenship building project.

Please sign this petition by putting your name in the comments section below or texting your name, postcode and words "support market" to 0785 439 0408

For copy of the Council's draft street trading policy, go here:
Draft Street Trading Policy

And/ or respond to the Council's questionnaire that goes with it, visit here:
Questionannaire

To sign this petition: simply click on "comments" (below), fill in the comments box with name and postcode and whether you are a resident or a trader then publish by clicking on "anonymous" and "publish comment"

If this is too complicated you can also text or email your support to 0785 439 0408 / greenpeaproject@gmail.com or contact the Council direct to tell them you support the Ashfield Parade project (on 0208 379 4743)

For more info on market project, Veg Revolution
Cheers, Mark