I compiled an overview of the top stories making the news in Ham & High for each month of the year. This was published in print as a 5-page spread on December 31st 2015.
Front page stories:
A delighted 5,500 campaigners celebrated a victory after a six year fight against the demolishment of heritage-listed Athlone House to make way for a mansion. Government planning inspector Colin Ball rejected the appeals saying proposals for the mansion were “inappropriate” and “harmful”. Developers put forward an appeal to the Inspector last year but Camden Council did not rule on the plans in time. In late October the developers took the matter to the High Court. (Some of the original stories can be viewed here and here)
Campaigners dub Camden Council “hypocrites” and “unethical” after they learned the council was using taxpayers’ money to invest £40million in tobacco, £11million in confectionary and £10million in shares in military companies. Residents were angered as the council encourages them to give up smoking and consume less fizzy drink. The council responded saying it has held stocks in tobacco for many years as a “defensive stock in times of economic uncertainty” and said the arms trade only holds a small proportion of its pension fund. (The original story can be viewed here)
Controversy: After reports came through that Cheltenham Ladies College in Gloucestershire would be abolishing homework, schools in the Hampstead and Highgate area joined the debate as to whether they would be following suit. King Alfred School headteacher Dawn Moore believes students should receive homework until the final years of primary education; Highgate headteacher Adam Petitt said giving homework sets students for the future; and St Margaret’s School principal mark Webster said he would not abolish homework. (The original story can be viewed here)
Lillian Altman 