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- 1. NEWSFollow us onTwitter @hamandhigh Thursday December 4, 2014, H&H Series 3 ɀ One day workshops for making your Christmas arrangements ɀ 15% Discount with this advert www.jcmeades.co.uk 15 Lower Clapton Rd | Hackney | E5 0NS Call us today... ᔒ 020 89868487 Meade’s Florist PERSONAL CASH LOANS Compare the price of home collected and other cash loans available in your area at: www.lenderscompared.org.uk All home credit customers are entitled to a free detailed statement once every month, just ask: 020 8444 1919 | www.rhodesfinance.com (Written quotation on request) FROM £200 UPWARDS Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Council offers festive treat for motorists Christmas has come early for residents in Barnet who will be treated to free parking over the next three weekends as part of the festive season. Barnet Council’s policy and resources committee agreed on Tuesday to waive parking fees in all Barnet town centres and council-run car parks over the next three weekends. Haringey Council will offer free car parking on Saturday, as part of national initiative Small Business Saturday, but has no plans for free Christmas parking. Camden Council has also ruled out free parking. The council claims there is no evidence that free parking increases shopping numbers. Paddington brings a surprise windfall... thanks to Bennett The decision to cast Primrose Hill as Notting Hill in new blockbuster movie Paddington has landed a windfall for the area’s much-loved community library, thanks in part to playwright Alan Bennett. Beautiful pastel-coloured Chal- cot Crescent is depicted as the Notting Hill neighbourhood of the Brown family who bring Pad- dington home to live with them in the new feature film released on Friday. But a film crew inevitably brings disruption with them and writer Alan Bennett was among the Primrose Hill residents involved in discussions with the filmmaker to secure a donation by way of compensation. As a result the Primrose Hill Community Association, which runs Primrose Hill Community Library and other community projects, received its largest ever donation. PHCA member Pam White said: “We really wanted a generous do- nation from the film company but it wasn’t until Alan Bennett inter- vened that they came up with the final generous offer. “He was marvellous. Alan was very keen that the money should go to the library.” She said the money had really made a difference locally. “The community association is filled with important local events, like ballroom dancing, bridge, a choir and a library run by volun- teers,” said Ms White. “This donation went toward improvements as varied as a new barbecue, a defibrillator, and a coach trip to the seaside for local people.” The colourful frontages of homes in the street, one of Prim- rose Hill’s most recognisable, were also repainted by the filmmakers to make them even “brighter and more vibrant” on screen. Meanwhile the library, in Shar- pleshall Street, played host to Hol- lywood actress Nicole Kidman and other stars of Paddington during filming. The all-star cast includes Hugh Bonneville and Jim Broadbent. Renowned stage and TV actor Ben Whishaw voices the beloved Pe- ruvian bear and Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon lend their voices to other bears. Filming took place in Chalcot Crescent for five days in Novem- ber last year and the cast and crew returned in June for re-shoots. During this time the crew rent- ed an empty home in the street as a production office and set up a screening room upstairs with a live feed during filming. Children in particular enjoyed dropping by to spend time in the viewing room and ask questions about the filming process. Association member and lo- cal resident Beverley Silverstone said: “A lot of the locals really en- joyed seeing actors in the street and seeing the production at work. “It’s great for resident groups if they can get involved in control- ling filming and the benefits it can bring to the community.” She praised the PHCA for work- ing with Camden Council to develop a set of guidelines for film- makers to minimise disruption. “The guidelines help us inform the way film companies work in the area, addressing inconvenienc- es such as night filming and park- ing, and ensuring good communi- cations with residents,” she said. Councillor Abdul Hai, Camden cabinet member for customers, communities and culture, said: “With its iconic and historic build- ings and streets, Camden remains a popular place for filmmakers, and we make sure they work ef- fectively alongside the people who live and work here. “Working so closely with the pro- duction team meant the residents had a say over the possible disrup- tion from filming and negotiated a donation for the local library.” by Emma Youle emma.youle@archant.co.uk Playwright steps in to secure ‘generous donation’ for community library I Paddington Bear in Primrose Hill’s colourful Chalcot Crescent I Playwright Alan Bennett helped negotiate with the filmmakers Flourishing Children’s Bookshop For Sale After 40 years of successful trading in a vibrant, book-loving community, the renowned Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill is looking for a new owner to take it forward for its next 40 years. It offers exceptionally strong schools sales, a loyal and well-established customer base and potential for expansion. It is now being sold for family reasons. For further details please contact Kate Agnew on 0208 444 5500 or John Agnew: john@hmpbooks.demon.co.uk Bowl group wins official charity status A group fighting to keep a prized piece of land out of the hands of developers is to launch an appeal for funds to buy the green space for the community after officially becoming a charity. The Friends of the Highgate Bowl want to buy open land known as Highgate Bowl, off Townsend Yard, Highgate, to put a stop to 50 years of proposals to build housing on the site. The group officially won charitable status on Monday, which means it can launch its appeal for funds in the new year to build an educational centre. Friends of Highgate Bowl chairman Martin Adeney said: “This is a major step forward.”