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contact person: Mr. M. van Faassen |
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| Our community's ecological footprint | Atjehstraat playground |
| Extra measures to combat seagull problem | Keeping the city clean together |
| The Hague invests in green roofs | Brainstorm and participate in working party Public Space |
| Pear trees in Balistraat | ARCHIVE |
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Connection between the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen and Archipel & Willemspark
and a brief discussion followed. After the discussion a number of local residents offered to pursue this topic further with Graham with a view to doing something in our community on this front. If you are also interested please contact the A&W Residents Association at secretariaat@archipelbuurt.nl Download text of Graham Degens' introduction. In the meantime see what they have been doing in Deventer More information on the Transition Towns concept |
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Extra measures to combat the seagull problem The Municipality of The Hague is to take extra measures next year to deal with the nuisance caused by seagulls. Profiting from lessons learned by the neighbouring city of Leiden, the Council will be making use of dummy eggs to fool the birds: they spend so long trying to hatch them that they have no time for a second brood. Leiden has also had some success with a new kind of dustbin bag. These are not only made of stronger material, but are yellow - a colour apparently seagulls do not like. The city will also be installing a resident falconer, as soon as the Ministry of Agriculture gives permission. November 2009
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The Hague Invests in "green roofs" 14 May 2009 – From 1 June individuals and small businesses in The Hague can apply for a subsidy to install a “green roof”. The Municipality of The Hague is to invest €700,000 in the next two years in subsidies for green roofs in the city. A green roof is a flat or slightly sloping roof on which plants and even trees can be planted, and has many environmental advantages. Property owners are eligible for a subsidy of €25 per square metre of “green” roof up to a maximum amount of €20,000. The initiative continues till 1 September 2010 as long as stocks last.
The green roofs will contribute in all sorts of ways to a better city environment. For example cutting down on airborne particulate matter and noise as well as taking the pressure off the drainage and sewerage system because the roofs absorb rainwater. In the summer they have a cooling and insulating effect on city and homes alike. And … they help prolong the life of the roof and give us a greener world. Conditions The minimum roof area is 6 square metres. The installation must be carried by a professional firm and comply with building regulations. Maximum subsidy per applicant is €20,000; the equivalent to an 800-square-metre green roof. Owners of properties with larger roofs can apply to the existing grant scheme for sustainable building. An application form and details of the conditions is available from 1 June at district council offices and from www.denhaag.nl/groenedaken and www.denhaag.com |
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11 April 2009 – Once again we can marvel at the amazing show of blossom put on by the flowering pear trees in Balistraat.
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School playground safe once more
The schoolchildren, a nursery group and the after-school child-care centre use whole area intensively. And of course it is a favourite spot for local children. The boundary fencing was replaced a few months ago, which makes everything much safer, too. One thing that could be improved however is the problem of litter. For some inconsiderate members of the public it seems the waste bins remain invisible … and letting dogs do their business in a playground is not very hygienic either. But at least the danger of children being knocked down has been resolved. EPB, 25 May 2009
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Brainstorm and participate in the working party Public Space When Dorien de Buck approached me to take over the chairmanship of the working party ‘Public Space’, it already has a number of successes to its name. In the Surinamestraat the proliferation of rogue posts has been stopped. An information evening was organized for those living around the Deliplantsoen to discuss the accommodation of dogs and playing children. Also the plans to return the Nassauplein to its former glory are beginning to take shape. The working party functions too as a go-between for the community committee with the municipality. These are just a few examples. Given all the plans this working party still wants realise, it was no indulgence to ask for reinforcements. The couple of months I have now been involved in the working party, has transformed me from an innocent passerby to an alert local resident. “Perhaps the pavement could be widened here?”, “Couldn’t we do with more bicycle racks here?” “Request some more of those litterbins, the model that can be attached to lampposts”. And so on. “Banka Project” The biggest project the working party is involved in at this moment is the Bankastraat. Concrete, rapid changes the working party is currently keeping an eye on, are the plans concerning the extension of the Albert Heijn. We are involved in close consultation with the supermarket management to that ensure that the immediate surroundings are not detrimentally affected. Something less immediate, but nonetheless important, is the further development of improvements to the Bankastraat. There is still a long way to go. If it is were up to us, it will become a street - along which buses drive at an acceptable speed - where you can choose on which cafe terrace you sit, where different trees grow and shrubs will bloom, where there is somewhere to park your bike and where it is a nice place to be. If you are interested and have time to become involved, then do please get in touch. Josien Deknatel: 06-55 88.56.18, |
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The Hague is close to the sea. You can tell by the bracing air and the seagulls. Something that many visitors to the city greatly appreciate.
Advantages
According to Bas Steenks, coordinator of The Hague’s very own Nature Conservation Society AVN, the specimens in this tree stand vary in age but most are still pretty vigorous and with the right care will go on for a good while yet. It is an almost unique example of prime urban greenery. Well worth preserving such a beautiful street scene and replacing failing trees with the same species when the time comes. 
Two zigzag barriers were installed to prevent cyclists entering to Archipel School playground from Atjehstraat and Sumatrastraat In mid-May. Hopefully this measure will also discourage the youngsters who previously regularly drove onto the playground on their motor scooters and mopeds to play football. 
