1. Can we have more free leisure activities for young people? In particular we are interested in free swimming lessons.
2. Can we have a pamphlet to set out all services for young people and their prices? Can this also be online?
3. How can we provide more choice for youngsters at 14 and beyond?
4. Can we have more master classes and trips to universities? These allow students from around the borough to meet and it extends our learning.
5. Has there been a funding squeeze with aim higher?
6. Can you help us improve toilet facilities?
7. Could we have a lollypop lady/zebra crossing outside the school? (Capel Manor Primary)
8. Can recycling bins be put in the parks?
9. Can there be separate areas for the children and dogs in the parks?
10. Can the cycle path be extended to go past the school? (Capel Manor Primary)
11. Can we have some more public toilets, please?
12. Can you fine people who don’t clear up their dog mess?
13. Can you stop people smoking when they walk along the street?
14. Can the council stop junk mail coming through the door?
15. We need more wheely bins; can Enfield Council collect more than once a fortnight?
16. Why is it so difficult to book a venue in Enfield?
17. There is a litter problem in and around school, why is it not being dealt with?
18. Can we have plastic recycling bins in schools? (Chace Community)
19. If a land is ‘green belt’, what does this mean?
20. Do you like this job?
21. Is it hard work?
22. Is it fun to visit schools?
23. What do you mainly do?
24. Do you get paid much?
25. What is the best school you’ve been to and why?
26. Do you have a nice location at your work place?
27. How long have you been working as a councillor?
28. Have you visited every single Enfield school?
29. Do you go into their classes to see how they are doing?
30. Have you been a teacher in a class for like three days running?
31. Do you think that the education is at a good level?
32. How do you help children?
33. Why did you want to be a member of education?
34. What is your main priority with the school?
35. What is your opinion on SATS?
36. Can we have more safety?
37. How are you going to stop people dropping litter in the street and in schools?
38. What did you study at university?
39. What is the purpose of your job?
40. What do you advise the Prime Minister to do and how do you try to persuade him?
41. Can you make safer routes to school?
42. Are there bike paths for children?
43. What do you do to stop pollution?
44. Can we make sure people put leads on dogs?
45. What is the council doing about vandalism of bus shelters?
46. What is the council doing about gangs of youths and anti-social behaviour at Gordon Hill station, Tuckers Park and Aldersbrook Park?
47. What is the council doing about bonfires?
48. What is the council doing about horrible neighbours?
49. What is the council doing about all the road works?
50. What is the council doing about people swearing on the streets?
51. What is the council doing about graffiti?
52. What is the council doing about dogs’ mess?
53. What is the council doing about uneven pavements?
54. What is the council doing about litter and chewing gum on the pavements?

Traffic

1. bigger islands in the middle of the roads
2. traffic lights near the roundabout on Green Dragon Lane
3. zebra crossings on all three roads
4. no cracks on pavements
5. more cycle lanes for children to cycle to school
6. wider pavements on Green Dragon Lane
7. School signs and lollypop ladies near all schools in Enfield
8. cars should only be able to park on one side of the road where the road is small
9. double yellow lines within 20 feet from the end of all roads

Public places

1. Grovelands park needs a skate park and an area for older children with older style climbing frames
2. there should be more small local parks so that people can walk to them
3. crazy golf areas in parks
4. boating privileges in parks with lakes such as Grovelands (just peddlers or canoes).

Transport
On buses and trains, if children are caught by cameras or people being rude, disruptive or troublesome, if they can be identified then someone should contact their parents or school about their behaviour.

Question 1

• Q. Can we have more free leisure activities for young people? In particular we are interested in free swimming lessons.
• A. There is a limited amount of money for free leisure facilities and swimming lessons are already subsidised. There is free swimming offered during the school summer holidays.

Question 2

• Q. Can we have a pamphlet to set out all services for young people and their prices? Can this also be online?
• A. ‘Our Enfield’ already goes out to every household which details council spending on schools and children’s provision. There is also an “Essential Guide for Parents & Carers” that is given to all schools for distribution and available at your local library. The guide includes a section on activities and getting out and about in Enfield. It is also available on the Enfield website under Sport and Leisure director.

Question 3

• Q. How can we provide more choice for youngsters at 14 and beyond? We can’t provide all the courses for every individual.
• A. This is a matter for the school who deal with curriculum provision.

Question 4

• Q. Can we have more master classes and trips to universities? These allow students from around the borough to meet and it extends our learning.
• A. This sounds great and something we would support.

Question 5

• Q. Has there been a funding squeeze with aim higher?
• A. In some cases but not all.

Question 6

• Q. Can you help us improve toilet facilities?
• A. We need to push central government to release Building Schools for the Future funding before 2013 so we can have money for capital investment. You should write to your local MP to ask her to release money. I am always pushing for school funding and want more for Enfield.

Question 7

• Q. Could we have a lollypop lady/zebra crossing outside the school? (Capel Manor Primary)
• A. There is a scheme that has recently been consulted on that includes a proposal to narrow the road/provide a zebra crossing on Bullsmoor Lane outside the school and a pedestrian refuge to the west of Manor Farm Road. Officers are currently seeking confirmation of the funding for this scheme from Transport for London (TfL), and subject to receiving the funding a report will be submitted to the Council for consideration and if approved, the proposals will be implemented later this year. For further information, you can contact Mario Lecordier on 020 8379 3549.

Question 8

• Q. Can recycling bins be put in the parks?
• A. We would encourage recycling and do have recycling containers in parks i.e. Forty Hall (car park area) where you can recycle bottles and clothing. In addition we are looking to expand in particular where we have large sports grounds such as Enfield Playing Fields we are considering installing drinks cans and bottle banks. There is obviously a growing interest in recycling and I can assure you that wherever possible we will be evaluating the possibility of increasing the numbers of recycling containers within our parks. For further information, you can contact Doug Shipwright on 020 83601237.

Question 9

• Q. Can there be separate areas for the children and dogs in the parks?
• A. The majority of parks have playgrounds, which are dog free areas (except for disabled dog users); others in parks are generally identified as areas where dogs must be on a lead or are allowed to be off leads. All information can be found on the Council web site under Dog Control Order (Procedures) Regulations 2006 For further information contact Doug Shipwright on 020 83601237.

Question 10

• Q. Can the cycle path be extended to go past the school? (Capel Manor Primary)
• A. The request for the cycle path to be extended to go past the school would need to be considered with a view to providing a continuous link for cyclists to existing facilities in the area. There may be a possibility that a cycle lane/track could link in with cycle measures that are already in place along the A10 Great Cambridge Road. Transport for London (TfL) is the authority for the A10 and Officers will have discussions with them to find out whether funding could be made available for a feasibility study to be carried out. However this would need to be incorporated as part of future work currently being worked by officers, subject to funding, and therefore this is likely to be a long term scheme that could be included in the London Cycle Network programme. I hope the above explains the current situation and shows that the Council is actively seeking to improve road safety by schools for pedestrians and cyclists. For further information, you can contact Mario Lecordier on 020 8379 3549.

Question 11

• Q. Can we have some more public toilets, please?
• A. The Council made a decision, as a part of its budget cuts, to close the public toilets in the Borough in 1996 (except those situated in public parks). It was costing the Council lots of money to look after them. Since then, most of them have been sold off at auction for various other uses. At the moment the Council is going to open a new automatic public toilet in Turkey Street, Enfield Wash, which will require minimum maintenance. The Council is currently looking at the possibility of re-providing this facility in other parts of the Borough. It would be uneconomic to refurbish and reopen the existing closed toilets, which are expensive to modernise and maintain.

Question 12

• Q. Can you fine people who don’t clear up their dog mess?
• A. Yes, if someone from the Council witnesses a dog owner allowing their dog to foul in a public place. The officer can challenge the person and ask them to clear up after their dog. If they refuse they can be issued with a fixed penalty notice. Currently £80 in Enfield. If they do not pay the fixed penalty notice the Council can take action against them in the Magistrates Court where if they are found guilty they face a fine of up to £1,000.

Question 13

• Q. Can you stop people smoking when they walk along the street?
• A. The Council can't stop people smoking when they walk along the street because the new smoke-free law only applies to smoking inside enclosed buildings and vehicles and not outside areas.

Question 14

• Q. Can the council stop junk mail coming through the door?
• A. Join Enfield's 'Stop Junk Mail' campaign by taking one or more of five actions:
  1. Register with the Mailing Preference Service to avoid the Service's member companies' mailing lists. Ring 0845 034599 to request a registration form, or register online at www.mpsonline.org.uk
  2. Return unwanted mail
  3. Put a 'No leaflets, please' sticker on the letterbox
  4. Stop unaddressed mail. Write to Royal Mail at: Royal Mail Opt Out Team, Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1 1RX
  5. Avoid joining new mailing lists. Tick the opt-out box on forms to stop your address being passed on, including the one on the Council's annual Voter Registration Form. For more information or to order a Stop Junk Mail action pack (available from April 2006 while stocks last), call 020 8379 1000 or e-mail waste.services@enfield.gov.uk

Question 15

• Q. We need more wheely bins; can Enfield Council collect more than once a fortnight?
• A. Enfield Council provides a commerical waste service for schools and the collection is weekly. Is your school part of this service?

  If you think you need more bins for your waste please ask your caretaker about it. If Enfield Council is the contractor collecting your waste then ask him to call the Commercial Waste team here at the Council on 0208 379 1000 and they will make the necessary arrangements for more bins.

  It is much better for the environment however if you reduce the waste you produce and reuse and recycle as much of it as possible. From our records the Infant school has two big recycling bins and the Junior school three big recycling bins - both are emptied weekly by the council. Into these bins you can put all your used paper, cardboard and plastic bottles (as well as glass bottles and jars and metal food and drinks cans - although I do not think you have many of these in your school). These materials are then taken away and recycled- made into new things (instead of buried or burnt - like your refuse).

  If you would like more details on how your school could be more involved in waste issues and the environment please ask an interested teacher to call the Waste Education Officer at the Council and I would be happy to support this work wherever I can.

Question 16

• Q. Why is it so difficult to book a venue in Enfield?
• A. Many schools have rooms or halls to hire. These can be accessed through the Letting Service. Availability is determined by the schools.

Question 17

• Q. There is a litter problem in and around school, why is it not being dealt with?
• A. Businesses can sponsor litterbins and help promote through press initiatives etc. Residents can get involved in clean up campaigns via EnCams and our Street Hawks initiative. For information please contact Waste Information officer via the council’s contact centre on 020 8379 1000 or via e-mail to waste.services@enfield.gov.uk
  New litter bin locations are always welcomed. Officers will check the proposed site to make sure that this would Suggestions not be an obstruction but if acceptable it is likely that a new bin will be installed within 6 weeks from report.

Question 18

• Q. Can we have plastic recycling bins in schools?(Chace Community)
• A. From our records you already have a recycling bin in your school, which is emptied every week by our recycling service. Into this bin you are able to put all your used paper, cardboard and plastic bottles (no other types of plastic can currently be recycled in Enfield). If you would like more support or information on this service please ask an interested teacher to contact the Waste Education Officer at Enfield Council.

Question 19

• Q. If a land is ‘green belt’, what does this mean?
• A. Green Belt is the designation given to land around certain cities (including London) and large built-up areas, which aims to keep the land permanently open or largely undeveloped. The purpose of the Green Belt is to:
  • check the unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas
  • prevent neighbouring towns from merging
  • safeguard the countryside from encroachment
  • preserve the setting and special character of historic towns
  • assist urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
  Green Belts are defined in a local planning authority's development plan. Further information on Green Belts is set out in the Government's Planning Policy Guidance Note 2. This outlines the history and extent of Green Belts and explains their purposes. It describes how Green Belts are designated and their land safeguarded. Green Belt land-use objectives are outlined and the presumption against inappropriate development is set out.

Question 20

• Q. Do you like this job?
• A. Most of the time.

Question 21

• Q. Is it hard work?
• A. It can be, with late night meetings.

Question 22

• Q. Is it fun to visit schools?
• A. Yes. Especially meeting the pupils.

Question 23

• Q. What do you mainly do?
• A. Go to lots of meetings, one of which is to meet once a week with the Director of Education, Children’s Services & Leisure to make sure he is doing his job.

Question 24

• Q. Do you get paid much?
• A. Basic Allowance of £10,000 per annum. Cabinet Member Salary £11,000 per annum.

Question 25

• Q. What is the best school you’ve been to and why?
• A. All schools have been good and have different strengths. I have enjoyed visiting them all.

Question 26

• Q. Do you have a nice location at your work place?
• A. I work from home.

Question 27

• Q. How long have you been working as a councillor?
• A. Since 1994.

Question 28

• Q. Have you visited every single Enfield school?
• A. No, but I am trying to.

Question 29

• Q. Do you go into their classes to see how they are doing?
• A. Yes and sometimes I participate.

Question 30

• Q. Have you been a teacher in a class for like three days running?
• A. No.

Question 31

• Q. Do you think that the education is at a good level?
• A. Yes and it is improving all the time.

Question 32

• Q. How do you help children?
• A. The purpose of me visiting schools is to listen to children and young people’s views about how they feel the Borough can improve and I will do my best to change policies at the Council to ensure a good service.

Question 33

• Q. Why did you want to be a member of education?
• A. I wanted a good standard of education for all children and young people.

Question 34

• Q. What is your main priority with the school?
• A. To ensure all children have access to a good education in a school that has up-to-date facilities.

Question 35

• Q. What is your opinion on SATS?
• A. SATS are a key measure for the Council to monitor how schools in the Borough are performing.

Question 36

• Q. Can we have more safety?
• A. Our Community Safety Unit aim to create a safer Enfield to live, work, study and do business (Mark Sanger). Enfield is considered a safe place to live, however there has been recent increase in youth crime and because of this the Police are putting extra resources and restructured to focus on youth crime. Enfield is the 7th safest London Borough.

Question 37

• Q. How are you going to stop people dropping litter in the street and in schools?
• A. Littering is a big problem. We have to try many different initiatives to try and address this problem. It is the responsibility of each individual not to drop litter on the ground- but to use a litterbin or take the rubbish home with them. Cleaning the streets costs the Council a lot of money. There are litterbins through out the borough and street cleaning staff working full time to keep our streets clean. We have also been involved in various public information campaigns to try and persuade persons to change their behaviour and stop dropping litter in the first place. I work with schools to highlight the issue. Did you know that litter is the cause of 60% of fires and can be very dangerous to animals - as well as making our environment look and smell unpleasant? If you have any ideas for ways to stop people drop litter please let me know - contact (Katie Rigg) the Waste Education Officer at the council.

Question 38

• Q. What did you study at university?
• A. Nothing as I did not attend University.

Question 39

• Q. What is the purpose of your job?
• A. To ensure all children and young people in Enfield have access to good facilities, are safe and have a good education

Question 40

• Q. What do you advise the Prime Minister to do and how do you try to persuade him?
• A. To ask him to give Enfield more money.

Question 41

• Q. Can you make safer routes to school?
• A. The Council has a programme of working with schools to develop travel plans, to encourage more cycling and walking to school. Integral to this programme is the need to provide safer routes to schools and the Council is committed to providing improved routes to make school journeys safer. This will not only reduce the amount of children driven to school, thus reducing peak hour traffic congestion, but will provide children and parents with health benefits.

Question 42

• Q. Are there bike paths for children?
• A. There is a network of cycle paths throughout London and this is being expanded year-on-year. Providing new and improved cycle paths to schools is an important part of the Council’s school travel plan programme. I have enclosed a map of the cycle tracks in Enfield and surrounding area.

Question 43

• Q. What do you do to stop pollution?
• A. The Council uses the law available to it to stop certain types of pollution, we stop noise pollution by asking residents, pubs and clubs to turn their music down. The Councils limits the amount of air pollution by working together with industry to make sure they meet pollution limits in their pollution licenses and the Council has an Air Quality Action Plan which sets out how we are working towards reducing air pollution in the borough. The Council also works with property developers to ensure that land is cleaned up where necessary before it is built upon. The Council has no direct powers relating to water pollution, this is controlled by the Environment Agency, but we work closely with them on any pollution incidents which occur in the borough.

Question 44

• Q. Can we make sure people put leads on dogs?
• A. There is no law to say that dogs must be kept on a lead in this Borough as long as the person has proper control of the dog. If a dog is not under proper control and is scaring you, please report it to either the Police or the Animal Welfare Officer at the Council. If you are in a Park and you have a problem with a dog which is scaring you, report it to the Parks Police who will ask the person to put the dog on a lead. If the person refuses to put the dog on a lead the Parks Police Officer may give them a Fixed Penalty Notice for £80.
  We are constantly trying to educate people on the correct way of looking after dogs and training your dog is a large part of owning one. A well trained dog is a happy dog.

Question 45

• Q. What is the council doing about vandalism of bus shelters?
• A. This is an offence of Criminal Damage but most of these incidents are reported directly to the Bus Companies who then repair the damage. Most of these incidents do not get reported to Police. If somebody is caught doing the damage then they could be arrested and charged. The Court may even make them pay for the damage.

Question 46

• Q. What is the council doing about gangs of youths and anti-social behaviour at Gordon Hill station, Tuckers Park and Aldersbrook Park?
• A. Gangs of Youths around Gordon Hill Station are being dealt with by both the Police and The Community Safety Unit working together. One member of that gang has recently been given an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) banning him from the area. Other members of that group have already been given agreed behaviour contracts and if they carry on breaching those, then they may also get ASBOS. At the moment there is a dispersal order in force in that area. This means that Police or Community Support Officers can split up groups who are just hanging around. This is in force until September.

  Regarding Aldersbrook Avenue Recreational Ground, the Safer Neighbourhoods Parks Unit (SNPU) regularly patrols the park and attends there late at night. The unit is also working with officers of the local Safer Neighbourhood Ward Team to reduce the anti social behaviour. A meeting is also be held with residents (date to be fixed) in an attempt to find a solution to this long term problem.

  With reference to Tuckers Park, (North Enfield Recreational Ground), the SNPU regularly patrols there and is attempting to identify the person(s) responsible for the graffiti, which keeps appearing on the buildings and pathways.

Question 47

• Q. What is the council doing about bonfires?
• A. If a neighbour having a bonfire disturbs you, always speak to them first. A quiet neighbourly chat can often resolve the situation. But, if this approach does not work then please contact the Environmental Crime Unit (ECU) who deals with complaints about bonfires. You can report this by telephoning 020 8379 3663.

  When the ECU Team receive a complaint they write to the person having the bonfires and send diary sheets to the enquirer. Most of the time this resolves the problem.

  The letter to the person having the bonfires gives advice about composting. Also the Waste Services Team will pick up green garden waste if left in open bags as part of the normal recycling collection. The letter also gives advice about how to reduce nuisance to neighbours if they still want to have bonfires.

  The ECU Team will, when possible, respond to complaints about bonfires when they are happening. The officer will speak to the householder about other options available rather than burning and also give advice on reducing annoyance to neighbours.

  If someone does continue to have bonfires with smoke that amounts to a nuisance, the Council has powers to serve a formal legal notice on the person. If the householder does not comply with the notice, the ECU Team can take them to Court and if the judge find them guilty then they could be fined up to £5000. But, we would hope that the problem would have been resolved long before the Council needed to take anyone to Court.

Question 48

• Q. What is the council doing about horrible neighbours?
• A. The Community Safety Unit sometimes deals with nasty neighbours together with Enfield Housing Department. As well as Agreed Behaviour Contracts and ASBOs people can lose their homes if they carry on acting in a way that upsets the neighbours.

Question 49

• Q. What is the council doing about all the road works?
• A. The Council is responsible for looking after most of the roads in the Borough and making sure they are safe for everyone. Highway Inspectors check all road surfaces and when they see potholes or cracks, they arrange for them to be repaired.

  Each year, a number of roads are completely resurfaced and these are the ones that are the most worn out.

  Underneath the roads and footways are lots of pipes and cables belonging to people like the gas, water and telephone companies. These sometimes break and the service companies have to dig down and repair them or lay new ones.

  It is the job of the Council’s Traffic Manager and his engineers to try and make sure that all these works are planned together and cause as little disruption to road users and pedestrians as possible.

Question 50

• Q. What is the council doing about people swearing on the streets?
• A. The Community Safety Unit work form offices and do not deal with people on the streets. Police and Community Support Officers have to hear the swearing at the time it is happening and then they can either give warnings, issue people with a fixed penalty notice (fine) or arrest them and take them to Court.

Question 51

• Q. What is the council doing about graffiti?
• A. The Council will remove racist or offensive graffiti, from Council-owned property such as street nameplates, benches etc., within 24 hours of it being reported to us. This is done by the Council’s Cleansing and Waste Services team. If you witness someone putting graffiti on property you should contact your Safer Neighbourhood Police Team in the first place. If they are not available – the Council’s Environmental Crime Unit will refer the incident to them

Question 52

• Q. What is the council doing about dogs’ mess?
• A. The London Borough of Enfield has installed a number of dog bins in the Borough, which are red in colour and are usually fixed to a post. This is to enable residents to dispose of their dog’s waste in a clean and hygienic method when they take their dogs out for a walk. Any dog owner who allows their dog to foul the pavement without cleaning up the mess can receive a fixed penalty notice of £80. Dog faeces that are found on the pavement by the street sweepers will be removed and disposed of the sweeper.

Question 53

• Q. What is the council doing about uneven pavements?
• A. Most pavements in Enfield are made of concrete paving slabs laid edge to edge. Sometimes they get damaged by cars and lorries illegally driving over them or they can get pushed up by tree roots.

  The Council has a number of Highway Inspectors whose job it is to look closely at all pavements every 6 months and record the places where people could trip up. They then make a list of all those places road by road and give orders to the Council’s Works Contractor to carry out repairs.

  To make the best use of the Council’s money, repairs are made only where the tripping height is 25mm or more.

  The Council has an annual programme to relay pavements and it will take many years to do them all. The principle we use is to ‘do the worst first’.

Question 54

• Q. What is the council doing about litter and chewing gum on the pavements?
• A. Residential streets within the London Borough of Enfield are swept and litter picked on a weekly basis. Streets with shops are cleaned on a daily basis. Chewing gum is removed with special machinery that is operated by the night time crew.

Streets

1 - bigger islands in the middle of the roads

Traffic islands for pedestrians are usually a minimum of two metres wide - to allow a person to stand with a pushchair. Sometimes islands are smaller or larger depending on the road width, the amount of traffic, the desire to slow traffic speed, the need for lorry or bus access and a number of other factors. It may be possible for the Council to provide larger islands on the roads around the school and I would advise the school to raise the issue through their school travel plan.

2 - traffic lights near the roundabout on Green Dragon Lane

Traffic lights provide a useful traffic management tool, which tend to be used in locations where traffic is heavy. The downside of traffic lights is that they create ‘dead time’ between the different phases, which can mean that cars have to wait even when there is no other traffic. The mini-roundabout at the junction between Green Dragon Lane and Old Park Ridings is probably the most appropriate arrangement for that location. It may be possible to provide a Pelican Crossing on Green Dragon Lane, but such a crossing would be expensive and may only benefit a small proportion of the school children walking/cycling to the school. Other measures may provide better value for money. These are matters that could be fully investigated through the school travel plan process.

3 - zebra crossings on all three roads [around the school]

It may also be possible to provide Zebra and Pelican crossings to assist children crossing busy roads in the area. Normally such measures are introduced in locations where pedestrians have been injured in road accidents. Fortunately the Council’s records indicate that no pedestrians have been injured in the last three years on the roads around the school. However, once again, the provision of crossings is an issue that could be considered as part of the school’s travel plan.

4 - no cracks on pavements

Most pavements in Enfield are made of concrete paving slabs laid edge to edge. Sometimes they get damaged by cars and lorries illegally driving over them or they can get pushed up by tree roots.

The Council has a number of Highway Inspectors whose job it is to look closely at all pavements every 6 months and record the places where people could trip up. They then make a list of all those places road by road and give orders to the Council’s Works Contractor to carry out repairs.

The Council has to make the best use of its money for highways maintenance. For this reason, when paving slabs are cracked but not uneven and would not cause people to trip over them, they are not repaired. However, they will continue to be regularly inspected and if they get worse, repairs will then be carried out.

The council has an annual programme to completely relay some of the pavements in the Borough. This is very expensive and will take many years to relay them all. The principle we use is to “do the worst ones first.

5 - more cycle lanes for children to cycle to school

Safe cycle routes to schools, including cycle lanes, is an important factor in whether pupils and parents feel comfortable with the idea of cycling to school.

The Council has a programme of working with schools to develop travel plans, to encourage more cycling and walking to school. Integral to this programme is the need to provide safer routes to schools and the Council is committed to providing improved routes to make school journeys safer. This will not only reduce the amount of children driven to school, thus reducing peak hour traffic congestion, but will provide children and parents with health benefits.

There is a network of cycle paths throughout London and this is being expanded year-on-year. Providing new and improved cycle paths to schools is an important part of the Council’s school travel plan programme. I have enclosed a map of the cycle tracks in Enfield and surrounding area.

6 - wider pavements on Green Dragon Lane

Generally, the pavements along Green Dragon Lane are of a satisfactory width. However, there is a narrow section between the junction with Hadley Way and Hoodcote Gardens. Engineers in Highway Services are designing a scheme to build a wider footway to go beneath the railway arches on the south side of Green Dragon Lane.

The land belongs to Network Rail and the Council is at the moment talking to them about buying the land to make this possible. It will probably be some time before it can be built.

7 - School signs and lollypop ladies near all schools in Enfield

Most schools in the Borough already have warning signs to alert motorists that a school is nearby. The Council does find it hard to recruit lollipop personnel, which has lead to a shortage.

8 - cars should only be able to park on one side of the road where the road is small

The number of cars on the Borough’s roads is increasing and there is an ever greater need for on-street parking. The Council tries to maximise the availability of on-street parking whilst still providing adequate access for large vehicles, such as dustcarts, fire engines etc. If the emergency services inform the Council that parked cars are preventing them from accessing a particular road, the Council would introduce parking restrictions.

9 - double yellow lines within 20 feet from the end of all roads

The Council has an on-going programme of providing double yellow lines at junctions. This is known as ‘junction protection’ and is intended to provide better visibility and space at junctions. Normally the yellow lines would extend for 15 metres from the junction.

Public places

1 - Grovelands park needs a skate park and an area for older children with older style climbing frames

The installation of a skateboard park would no doubt be seen as great advantage by one sector of the community, however the installation of skateboard facilities can be controversial, and therefore would require extensive local consultation to be completed prior to this. They are also expensive to install, and though we have an established capital programme, there is no current allocation for a skateboard park in Grovelands. In light of this, though I appreciate your desire to see a skateboard facility installed, it is unlike to be provided in the near future.

Alterations or additions to the play are to provide equipment, which appeals to an older age range, is a more viable proposition, however as the refurbishment of play provision at this park is also not on the current programme.

2 - there should be more small local parks so that people can walk to them

While I appreciate your desire to reach a park with out having to walk long distances, this must be seen in comparison to the quality of the park at which you will arrive. Enfield is blessed with a set of reasonably large well landscaped parks with a good range of facilities. More numerous smaller parks would be more accessible but there would be less to do when you got there. Smaller parks also present issues of sustainability and management of facilities. IE they may not be busy enough to support a cafe or justify a varied play ground.

3 - crazy golf areas in parks

Crazy golf is no doubt fun. However it presence normally relies on the viability of a commercial concession. While we do have crazy golf in some parks it is unlike to be greatly extended due to a lack of commercial viability.

4 - boating privileges in parks with lakes such as Grovelands (just pedalos or canoes).

The introduction of boating into lakes such as at Grovelands Park is an interesting suggestion that I will bear in mind when considering the future management of the site.

Transport

1 - On buses and trains, if children are caught by cameras or people being rude, disruptive or troublesome, if they can be identified then someone should contact their parents or school about their behaviour.

Bad behaviour on trains and buses is not part of the Council’s remit and should be brought to the attention of the relevant train operating company or Transport for London.

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