Christmas cheer, North Finchley, Saturday 15 December

At long last, some good news for traders and shoppers in North Finchley, and a party for all who can get along there. (Barnet Alliance will have a stall at this event and distribute leaflets for our protest at Capita on Thursday 20 November, 5-6pm, 71 Victoria Street, SW1H. But that's not till Thursday so here are the details for this Saturday.)

A Christmas Event for North Finchley

Visitors to North Finchley are in for a treat this Christmas as local traders organise ‘Tally Ho Ho Ho’, a town centre event packed with free family activities and entertainment. Saturday December 15th is the date for your diaries when the event kicks off with a flourish.
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Father Christmas will arrive by horse and carriage at 10.00am and he will be carried through the town distributing chocolate, gold coins to children. From 11.30am children will be able to visit Santa with two live reindeer and a barn owl in a beautiful grotto at the Bohemia Bar on North Finchley High Road.

Peppa Pig and George will be making public appearances at intervals on Tally Ho Corner from 11.30am until 3.30pm where stalls will sell mulled wine, chocolate marshmallows and other sweet treats.

Children can make Gruffalo badges in the artsdepot cafe and a small stage will be erected outside the building for musical entertainment. Other activities include cupcake decorating, wreath making, carol singing, face painting and street entertainment.

In the lead up to the event children are invited to participate in a bauble decorating competition. Perspex baubles can be picked up from Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe on North Finchley High Road and children are asked to decorate them with a Christmas scene before returning them to the to the town Centre Christmas Tree during the Tally Ho Ho Ho event. Judges from Design for London will select a winner to receive a toy hamper and all baubles will be placed on the tree for public viewing.

The Tally Ho Ho Ho event has been funded by the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund, Barnet Council and local businesses. It has been organised by the North Finchley Traders Association.

Chair of the association Helen Michael is excited about the event and thinks that it will be good for the town: ‘We are providing a real alternative to shopping centres and online shops. North Finchley has a town centre Christmas tree; we have successfully campaigned for reduced car parking charges, we have a wide range of specialist shops and cafes and this event will enable people to relax and connect with their community.’

Activities take place from 10.00am until 4.00pm; for further details contact event organiser Sally Williams, Retail Revival Ltd; 07889 173101.

The mercury is falling - it's demonstration season in Barnet

What is it about us? In Barnet, we wait for the coldest months of the year, and then rush outside to wave our placards.

This time last year, we held the Barnet march against cuts. It's logical, given that those cuts are now working their way through, and individual services and groups of residents are directly feeling the squeeze, that this year there should be a number of small, single issue protests.

Tomorrow, to remind you again, the Save Friern Barnet Library campaign are joining in National Libraries Day, with a march from Friern Barnet (old) town hall -assemble 2pm - to Friern Barnet library. I hope to get along.

This Monday (6 February), some of the traders facing economic ruin as a result of the new parking charges and 'pay by mobile' (an attempt to 'optimise' revenue income by the council) will hold a demonstration. Details (via Barnet Eye Roger Tichborne):

North Finchley Traders are organising a protest against Barnet Council's extortionate car parking charges on Monday morning at 10am. The traders are holding a funeral for the local high street, together with coffin. The Master of Ceremonies will be dressed as Brian Coleman, the Councillor responsible for the parking charges.

For more details contact Helen Michael on 07835 133355.

Meet at Cafe Buzz, North Finchley, 9.30am.

Please make every effort to promote this protest and support your local High Street traders.

I will be leafleting early morning at North London Business Park to build public support for the strike by Barnet Unison on Thursday. I hope to get away to photograph the demonstration, as well.

In relation to social conflicts, the French often talk about a 'hot autumn'. Englishmen and women (and mad dogs?) like to march in the snow. At least, they do in Barnet.