Owing to the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus a number of events have been suspended or moved online, including Saturday morning coffee, the Poets Group, the French Circle, Music in Highgate Homes and Coffee & Computers (see below). In case of last minute changes you are advised to contact event organisers before attending a live event.
Bus route changes in Highgate: consultation still open
The consultation on the proposed changes to the bus routes through Highgate, affecting the 21, 271, 143 and 263 routes, the introduction of a school bus service. and the closure of the bus stand in South Grove, remains open till January 9th. More details here and at www.highgatesociety.com including the Society's views on the changes and details of how to comment.
Haringey's Walking and Cycling Draft Plan
The Highgate Society has considered this Plan and has made submissions to Haringey: the closing date for submissions is 10 January.
Haringey’s plan is to spend money mainly on cycle lanes, on safety round schools and on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, that is to say on stopping residential roads being used as through routes.
The Society’s submission covers a lot of ground but it particularly emphasises that more should be done
To consider the congestion that would result from traffic being forced to use a small number of through routes, especially narrow ones like Southwood Lane and Wood Lane;
To consider the practicality and the cost-benefit of providing cycle lanes on busy roads, thereby slowing other forms of traffic such as buses, when only 3% of journeys in Haringey are by bike; and
To address air pollution as a serious health risk.
Gatehouse expansion planThe owners of the Gatehouse pub have applied for a licence for the adjoining former restaurant at 1 Hampstead Lane. An application has been made for longer licensing hours on Mondays to Thursdays than the Gatehouse currently has – for sales to continue until midnight rather than 11.30pm. It is already until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. If the premises are combined, it would be impractical to have different hours for different parts of it, so we think the licence should be for the existing pub hours. Details are available on the Camden licensing application web page www.camden.gov.uk/en/public-licensing-register and the last date for representations to them is 12 January.
French Circle: Soirée Saint-Valentin
Wednesday 2nd February 7.30 pm at 10A South Grove N6 6BS
Discuss, in French, what LOVE means to you and bring along short texts in French about LOVE, to read out and say why you have chosen those particular texts. Entry £7 on the door. The meeting scheduled for 5th January was cancelled.
Music in Highgate Homes postponed
Unfortunately due to Covid we need to postpone Music In Highgate Homes which was scheduled for Sunday 30th January. The new date is likely to be in April or May and will be announced in this newsletter and the other usual channels. Please look out for the new date in our next newsletter.
We are very disappointed about this and do hope that those who have bought tickets will be able to make the new date. Naturally, if the postponed date is not convenient, we will refund tickets. Full details will be in the next newsletter.
Presenting the Highgate Society Planning Group
Monday 7th February 7.30 to 8.30 pm
This online event is an opportunity to find out about the Highgate Society work on planning and conservation. For full details click here.
Booking is through Eventbrite (click here) and is free to members of the Society (£3 for non-members)
Pre Sunday lunch concerts at 10A
Plans are well advanced for the Society’s new series of Sunday morning light music concerts - with a glass of Bucks Fizz! The first, on March 20th, will feature Sol Grimshaw’s Gypsy Jazz Trio. More details and how to book next month.
Coffee & Computers live meetings suspended
Owing to the rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, assistance is now being provided online only in a group Zoom session on Friday 7th January from 10.30 am and via Zoom in one-to-one sessions by appointment. To request assistance, including on how to use Zoom, email highgatecoffeeandcomputers@gmail.com with details of what help you need.
Saturday coffee mornings suspended
In view of the rapidly developing situation with the Omicron Covid variant, the usual Saturday Coffee mornings will continue to be suspended until the end of January It is hoped that this will only be a further short term suspension and the situation will be reviewed in the last week of January. We very much hope to be able to reopen from Saturday 5th February.
Updates, reminders and news snippets:
A reminder that, as notified in the autumn issue of buzz, membership subscriptions will increase with effect from the renewal date in 2022. The new annual rates are:
family membership £30
individual membership £20
senior membership £15
two senior members at the same address £25.
Update on Townsend Yard (click here for background) The Construction Management Plan submitted by the developers (which has been opposed by the Highgate Society) has been rejected by Haringey. For full details click here.
The Highgate Society's campaign to have The Victoria in North Hill declared an Asset of Community Value continues. Click here for full details and to join the online petition.
The Poetry Groupis suspending live meetings for the time being and instead meeting on Zoom. For more details contact Richard Downes at r.downes@yahoo.co.uk
Monthly tidy-up events The next meeting is onSaturday 15th January. Meet at 9.30 am at the junction of Wood Lane and Queen's Wood Road. For more information and the dates of future meetings click here.
You may also be interested in:
'Five Guys Named Moe' at Upstairs at the Gatehouse - "an explosion of entertainment using the great music of Louis Jordan". On until 16th January. More information here.
'Kyffin Williams: Influences and Opinions' A talk by Julian Halsby on Zoom, February 28th. Free. Full details here
Interested to volunteer with the Highgate Society?
We are always keen to hear from members who would like to become more actively involved. Please get in touch by emailing chair@highgatesociety.com.
Highgate Society membership
Are you a member? If not, please consider joining to help support our work. We aim to make Highgate a better place to live and work - to ensure changes enhance the area, encourage sound planning and to improve public transport. The Society is at the very heart of Highgate with a range of events for the whole community. To join click here.
The Highgate Society is a founder member of the London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies. The Forum's quarterly newsletters can be seen here.
We are also a member of Civic Voice. Click here to learn more.
The gift of Highgate ........
Give "The Story of the Highgate Society” book or some of our booklets of guided walks around North London to friends this year. The full range of guides and the book are on sale at the Highgate Bookshop and for mail order through our website. Great gifts, go check them out! https://highgatesociety.com/publications/.
The Highgate Society is an unincorporated association established for the public benefit. It endeavours to ensure that the information it provides as a free service is correct but does not warrant that it is accurate or complete. Nothing in this correspondence constitutes professional or legal advice and may not be relied on as such. In no event will the Society be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation indirect or consequential loss or damage or any damage whatsoever arising from any objections criticism advice and information it provides.
Bus route changes in Highgate: consultation still open
Gatehouse expansion planThe owners of the Gatehouse pub have applied for a licence for the adjoining former restaurant at 1 Hampstead Lane. An application has been made for longer licensing hours on Mondays to Thursdays than the Gatehouse currently has – for sales to continue until midnight rather than 11.30pm. It is already until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. If the premises are combined, it would be impractical to have different hours for different parts of it, so we think the licence should be for the existing pub hours. Details are available on the Camden licensing application web page 
Pre Sunday lunch concerts at 10A
Saturday coffee mornings suspended
Highgate Society membership
Give "The Story of the Highgate Society” book or some of our booklets of guided walks around North London to friends this year. The full range of guides and the book are on sale at the Highgate Bookshop and for mail order through our website. Great gifts, go check them out! 