LGBTIQA+ History Month - suggested reading

 Barnet's local library service has kindly suggested some good books for this month.

When I was young many of these had not yet been written, weren't available, or I never got to read them.  Going to an all boys school I never even realised until today a film was released about section 28, that section 28 also effected women and girls.

So when I picked up the Transgender Issue: a call for justice by Shon Faye I was hoping to raise my level of education a little.  What I found was a great account of the history of trans in the 20th century, which I'd also seen in the disney plus series pride.  

What I don't understand about the book is why it goes to great lengths to defend JK Rowling.

Another disappointment is that while it claims to be published in 2021, its critical analysis of the Matrix through a trans lens (though the author herself isn't trans) fails to include The Matrix 4: Revolutions.

Lots of barber shops and make-up

 I have been considering how Burnt Oak's high streets are economically viable.

Thinking back to my Geography GCSE

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9y47hv/revision/2

where we learned about business clusters.  Sometimes there are several banks in a row, or a closely organised group of similar shops or businesses.  In the AQA Geography UK urban change course, that is Birmingham's Balti Triangle, and clusters of high culture, universities, and so on.  (When I visited Birmingham I found that it has a rainbow themed gay village: I wonder why that is not on BBC bitesize).

Now as people shop online, where there is less stock shrinkage, that puts certain high streets in a precarious position.  How can they compete against Amazon?

The answer is; convenience shops, supermarkets, and Post Offices can be parcel hubs where parcels are consolidated and customers can come and pick up their item.  I have tried this on one occasion.  It offers the higher floorspace and choice of online shopping, and the convenience of the town centre without having to wait in for a courrier.

Town centres will still exist, but as a more social experience.  Some things are better in person such as a community pharmacy and health service, vaccinations, or women's clothes shopping where you can try things on for size.

Another way to compete is to specialise and have business clusters.  What are the strengths of Burnt Oak town centres?  Can we welcome people and make them spend time and money here, actually enjoy the area, perhaps while they are visiting their auntie!

Firstly there is the health cluster near the hospital, Burnt Oak Broadway:  A mobility scooter and accessories shop, pharmacy, GP surgery, dementia home, community centre, fusion pub restaurant, and community hospital.  There are also convenience shops, chippy and kebabs, a wildlife walk popular with people with substance use issues, and lots of new flats. Some primary schools are nearby and there is a playground near the flats.

Not far from the pub there is another pub for members only, which I tend to avoid, and other pubs further down the main road at the Hyde.  There used to be a pub in the town centre but it is now a supermarket.  Sadly drinkers have drifted away from pubs towards more reasonably priced single beers to crack open on the way home from work, or multi pack beers to pick up in the car and consume at home with friends. Perhaps some of the decline of drinking will lead to healthier lifestyles; but my experience of listening and reading comments online is that people do not feel healthy or safe.

There are many international supermarkets including at least 2 different kinds of certified Halal Butcher, a 24 hour Romanian supermarket and restaurant, middle eastern supermarkets, and a block of flats which used to be Tesco.  There are rumours of a new Tesco.  There are also budget supermarkets but the main ones are out of town: Lidl (in Harrow Edgware) and ASDA (in Brent).  For posh supermarkets these are also elsewhere.  Upmarket shops moved long ago to places like Brent Cross.  In the old days there was a Saturday market.

Special shops in Burnt Oak include a good number of Afro hair shops and specialist cosmetics outlets, located near the Jade Pharmacy, Library and council office, and GP.

Near the library there is the Liang church which has in its vicinity many community charities, a community cluster noted in an influential report.

In the middle there are a lot of cheap and cheerful homeware shops (selling items such as suitcases) and phone kiosks.  

 

There are also a fair amount of nearby churches and at least one Islamic Centre or Mosque.

As evident in Birmingham, green spaces are important and must be protected when brownfield sites could be used: such as the carpark.  There are 2 parks near the towncentre and a leisure centre, which also contains a nursery.

Barnet's long term transport strategy

 I had a few thoughts to note while reading Barnet's long term transport strategy.

Here is what the corporate plan 21-24 says about cycle routes:

"– Developing a cycle network to major destinations in the borough
without impeding busy and narrow traffic routes"

As if cycle lanes would impede anything!

Why "traffic" which I take to mean cars, is busy, is because they are in their cars and not on bikes!  Why would you say they impede traffic?

Only 1 cycle lane has been built, on the very wide A1000 road. Even then part of it was shunted onto the pavement making it unsafe and badly constructed.

"Using enforcement to increase compliance and support smooth and
safe traffic movement."

I see very little enforcement.  When I am out and about I am anxious to see cars parked on the pavement, some legally, some illegally.  Sometimes it's not just cars but vans, tipper trucks and larger vehicles too.  They block the pavement and do not smooth the journey for walking and cycling traffic.  They make the whole borough unsafe to travel.

"Promoting and continuing to roll out electric vehicle charging points
and car clubs"

Unfortunately I have not driven for years because car clubs have not reached my part of the world.  There is one van rental near Capitol Way and a car hire in Brent Cross area. There are many car dealerships which I never visit because I do not own or wish to own one. A car club on my street would encourage people to go car-free and use it for convenience when it is needed which is less than you would think.

Not all roads are council run

but many are, such as the A1000.  There are traffic signals operated by TfL.  Amazingly, the tube is maintained by the Council which explains the pigeons all over Burnt Oak tube station.

 

Urban

The West of the Borough is designed in the strategy as urban in nature with similar high population densities to inner London.  This is sneaky because inner London has been hollowed out because of unaffordable prices and empty homes.  Everyone knows that this part of the borough is suburban in nature.  The MP says so, but is quick to blame the Labour mayor and assembly for everything that Boris Johnson left behind as mayor. It is a very recent and current phenomenon that tower blocks are being built there.  In some parts, such as Stone Grove, tower blocks were actually demolished and replaced with medium rise of about 6 storeys.  That area was lucky enough to have a residents association which campaigned hard to reject plans for something taller proposed by developers.

 

Passing through

My transport campaigner friends in Haringey, Camden, and Islington have complained to me that many anti-social drivers found there have started their journey in Barnet.

Narrative

The West of the Borough has lowest car ownership, correlating with income, but suffers the most severe air pollution.  I recommend that the narrative places the residents of the West of the Borough as the active agents for change, by celebrating their work and amplifying their advocacy for the area.  Groups such as Burnt Oak Residents Association might play a role, or the organisation Living Streets which historically had a presence here.

 

Freight

The strategy does not mention that freight can be carried by e-bikes and cargo bikes.  It does not mention the Council's work on consolidation hubs for the high street, and last mile delivery.   Meanwhile Royal Mail group has dragged its feet and been left behind investments in electric vans while DPD and amazon flood the streets.  This did not stop Royal Mail paying obscene salaries and dividends.

 

Here is a photo of me moving some compost on my cargo bike from West Hendon to my compost heap in Burnt Oak.

One More Thing

I have said for years that Labour's policy on 20 mph zones is weak.  When they got into power people realised that residents do not have a single way to request the zones, it's not clear how wide they would be, and how the Council would react to any objections because some residents aren't in favour.  In the climate emergency, the Council hasn't really made the case for them, and has been delaying so badly they may as well be Tory climate deniers.  So residents have pressured them to get on with implementing some.  I would struggle to find a 20 mph scheme implemented in the 1st year of the administration.  Some roads have appeared with 20 mph on the main roads and then signs saying 30 mph on the side roads which is obviously ridiculous and residents have rightly pointed out.  What's needed is a clear process for applying for these zones with an online form.  They could be judged against criteria.  I've been saying for a long time that everywhere where people live, work, and shop, should be a 20 mph area.  It's totally unclear how wide that goes and could confuse drivers as they constantly change. (which is no bad thing)