Issue - meetings

To receive presentations by the following interested groups on the Committee:

i.          Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association – Ms D. Feeney

ii.         Friends of Alexandra Palace Theatre – Mr N. Willmott

i.          Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association (MHFGA)

The Committee received the presentation from Denise Feeney, member of and webmaster for the MHFGA Residents’ Association. The Association met 6 times each year and produced regular newsletters for its members including events at the Alexandra Palace and Park, local news and comments and planning matters.

The Association’s new website was:  www.mhfga.1to1.org

In response to a Committee Member’s question about late night concerts being held at the Palace, Ms Feeney stated that in the past there had been isolated incidents where Association members have complained that the events were too noisy, however, more recently events have been well managed.

ii.         Friends of Alexandra Palace Theatre

The Committee received the presentation from Nigel Willmott of Friends of Alexandra Park Theatre and noted the challenge of restoring the theatre to regular use.  The Friends of the Theatre group was waiting to meet with English Heritage to discuss the future of the theatre.

In response to questioning it was noted that future use of the theatre could be mixed. English Heritage contacts were keen to restore the stage and scenery and use the space as a theatre and the auditorium had been used by the Trading Company for a number of events and could be further utilised for educational and community activities.  It was recognised that with improved technology there were many possibilities for the use of the theatre.

In response to a Member’s questioning, the General Manager – Alexandra Palace explained that whilst there was no formal process for interested groups to feed into the development of the Palace, he planned to meet with individual groups to ascertain their objectives for the Palace in order to feed into the Regeneration Working Group.  It was noted that a Member of the Alexandra Palace and Park Board of Trustees was also a Member of the Friends group and so there was a formal link to the Board.

The Chair thanked Ms Feeney and Mr Willmott for their presentations.