A shuttle bus linking Highgate and Hampstead to Muswell Hill and Crouch End is one of several ambitious ideas on a new wish list dreamt up by Hampstead and Highgate residents.
Two pressure groups have proposed projects ranging from a new playground near the Parkland Walk nature reserve to all-year-round lights on trees in Hampstead Village, after being given a say on where to spend Camden and Haringey council money in the area.
Residents can vote online to say which schemes they like best out of a huge shopping list of options, including removing the 271 bus terminus in Pond Square and a “park and ride” shuttle from Jack Straw’s Castle to Hampstead Village.
Rachel Allison, chairwoman of Highgate Neighbourhood Forum, said: “People have come up with all sorts of imaginative ideas to improve and protect what they love about Highgate, to make it an even better place to live and work.”
The wish lists have been created by the Highgate and the Hampstead neighbourhood forums, which were set up under the Localism Act 2010 to give the community more power over local planning matters.
The forums can produce a Neighbourhood Plan, which details opportunities for new housing developments and community facilities.
A government levy on large developments called the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) means that when a Plan is in place, 25 per cent of CIL money must be spent in the area where the development is built.
Camden and Haringey councils have asked both forums to dream up ideas on how best to spend CIL money in their neighbourhoods.
Among ideas proposed are:
n A community space and “food trail” on land known as Highgate Bowl;
n A shuttle bus linking Hampstead, Highgate, Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Gospel Oak;
n A “park and ride” between Hampstead Village and Jack Straw’s Castle;
n Solar panel and wind turbine schemes in Highgate;
n Renovations for Burgh House in Hampstead;
n Guerilla gardening in Highgate;
n “Heritage-style” rubbish bins and benches in Hampstead.
Ms Allison, a former Highgate Liberal Democrat councillor, said: “The new government levy on developments is a wonderful chance to turn some of those dreams into reality.
“We’re asking everyone in Highgate to go online to tell us how that money should be spent.”
Highgate Neighbourhood Forum is also consulting on the second draft of its plan, which will go to a public referendum later this year.
To read the plan and vote for projects on Highgate’s wish list until February 7, visit: highgateneighbourhoodforum.org.uk or forhighgate.org/plan.
To vote for options on Hampstead’s list until January 20, visit: hampsteadforum.org/cil.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here