All change - the proof is in the shopping

Before the much maligned Tesco in West End Lane opens I thought I'd just place on the public record some of the hoarding we have enjoyed over the weeks and months...

Along with the very loud and explicit commitments to being a store that works with the community.

What might be the evidence of those links with the community?

• Low use of plastic bags with no automatic provision to shoppers
• High profile provision of cotton and bags for life
• Active support for the West Hampstead local food festival and the Jester Festival
• Involvement of staff in West Hampstead community events - through the area forum, the community association etc.

There's no shortage of opportunity - let's see the reality of the words - straplines or beliefs?

Jester Festival triumph

It's always great fun and this year the West Hampstead Jester Festival was no exception.

The Festival takes places (every year since 1973) on Fortune Green - which is the green at the top of Fortune Green Road, by the cemetery and near the Greek Streets (Ulysses and Ajax etc) .

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2007/11/west-end-west-hampstead-fortune-green.html

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/03/birds-of-prey-on-fortune-green.html

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/01/twelfth-night-or-2nd-february.html

So much, as with all street festivals is weather dependent and this year we got away with it - just. There was some drizzle but there was more sunshine.

The things that shone through for me were the acts - an amazing array of local talent - singers, guitarists, bass, dancing and ukelele (sp?) and more.

Some of the groups who entertained the crowd:

- Miss Cookie (wow what a voice...)

- Illegal Immigrant

- Young Music makers

- West hampstead Hooley Band

Who could not admire the Emmanuel school choir? And the lad with the hair and the guitar in the three piece rock band - wow... Pictures to follow (they're on a different camera).

Well done to one and all - a great team of local volunteers, hardy regulars and the strong network of local organisations. Special thanks to the West Hampstead Business Networkand Dutch and Dutch for their sponsorship and to all the other businesses that also gave their support in such a variety of ways...

http://www.bniwesthampstead.co.uk/

Independent shops and their charm

Just wandering down Mill Lane and notice these little architectural gems along the way.

I've always liked the row of shops along from the Alliance Pub and near West Hampstead Community Association.

There's now a great cake shop there so it's more than worth while.

Oh, and The Alliance is from Waterloo (1815) and the grand alliance between Wellington and Blucher against Napoleon.. though it has been a local Lib Dem haunt for a quite a while...

Oh, and there is a great little plaque at number 54 to a real local person - more to follow on this, but it has all the definitions of charm and localnesss that I find I appreciate.