BARNEY SITS READY TO MAKE NATIONAL HISTORY

NOW THAT ENFIELD COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO CALL ONE OF THE RIVER VIEW BRIDGES ‘BARNEY’S BRIDGE’ ITS HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE IS NO OTHER BRIDGE IN THE UK NAMED AFTER A CAT !

So Barney and Barney’s Bridge (already made famous by BBC News and Radio) could be about to make a little piece of history.

To check what we were told was absolutely correct we did a bit of research and the nearest we got to a bridge named after a cat was in Istanbul. The city used to have a famous street cat that had no permanent home but lived on the streets and was regularly fed by people passing by. The cat’s name was Tombili meaning Chubby Pet. He became very popular because of his friendliness and the way he had of casually leaning against steps.

After he died in 2016 the city council honoured him with a small statue showing him reclining on the side of the street in the same position that he used to sit and watch people go by.

BUT, although there is a bridge very near to the statue they haven’t named it Tombili bridge.

Barney, it seems, continues to be unique

BARNEY and the BBC

AFTER BEING BROADCAST BY THE BBC THE BARNEY’S BRIDGE NEWS STORY WAS FEATURED ON THE BBC LONDON NEWS WEBSITE:

175,000 – the number of people that read the story

253 - the number of people who then wrote to the website

JUST KEEPING AN EYE

GOOD PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON THE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT 100 CHURCH STREET THAT IS ‘CREATING A HIGH QUALITY COLLECTION OF APARTMENTS’

The five story block is already four stories high and the four story block is not far behind. One of the early plans shows parking space for 55 cars but that has now been abandoned. These are the same buildings that we mentioned in our November edition that the Council is calling a ‘No Car Development.’

In addition those who buy one of the 78 apartments will have, ‘No access to Enfield Town parking permits’.

This is why the parking arrangements at this development should be of interest to all those GRH residents with Parking Permits. This is also why we are interested in seeing what happens when the apartments are being sold.

LET’S HOPE THAT THE GOOD WORK CONTINUES.

DANGEROUS AND NOISY DRIVERS

UNAUTHORISED ‘CAR MEETS’ WILL HOPEFULLY BECOME A THING OF THE PAST NOW THAT ENFIELD COUNCIL AND LOCAL POLICE WORKING TOGETHER HAVE BEEN GRANTED AN INJUNCTION BY THE HIGH COURT.

The gatherings are organised via Social Media and usually take place well into the night . They attract large crowds to local car parks to watch drivers perform high speed brake turns making a tremendous noise with high pitched engines and exhausts.

In order to obtain the injunction evidence was collected from the police, council and local businesses particularly along the A10.

The injunction means that drivers taking part could face arrest, criminal sanctions and even imprisonment. Meanwhile, everyone else can get a better night’s sleep.

LOCAL CHURCH SOLD

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH ON THE CORNER OF CHURCH STREET AND OLD PARK AVENUE HAS BEEN SOLD AND TAKEN OVER BY ANOTHER RELIGIOUS ORDER. ORIGINALLY UP FOR SALE AT £2.2 MILLION IT WAS ACTUALLY SOLD FOR MORE.

For the past year or so it had been used by local groups such as dance classes, a nursery and antique fairs. However, these groups cannot use the church premises now that the new owners have taken over.

Meanwhile work has now started on improving the structure of the church.

AQUATIC CHALK DEPOSITED IN THE NEW RIVER

The annual aquatic chalk application in The New River Loop was carried out this week.

Covering an area of 16000 square metres, the application of the chalk is a natural and cost effective process to reduce silt levels within the watercourse.

The safe for fish non chemical chalk reduces oxidisable and organic matter, resulting in less silt build up; stimulates aerobic micro organisms and provides calcium for wildlife and plants. It also counteracts acidity in the water and reduces methane production from silt breakdown, resulting in fewer odours!

THE STREETS WHERE WE LIVE

A BIT OF HISTORY

GENTLEMAN’S ROW

The oldest houses in Gentleman’s Row are 500 years old

No. 1 now the Registry Office was originally a Georgian Mansion with extensive grounds and a boating lake. This was later filled in to develop Little Gardens.

Charles Lamb and his sister didn’t own Clarendon Cottage (No.17) but paid to lodge there.

During World War 1 Elm House (No.9) became a 40 bed convalescent home for officers. During WW2 it was used as a dormitory for firemen.

No. 23 was the original Archway Tavern regularly used by railway workers employed to help extend the Herford North line.

STAY IN TOUCH

EMAIL: grhresidents@live.com

WEBSITE: www.grhresidentsassociation.org

INSTAGRAM: @grhenfield

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/grhenfield

A January Update