Thursday, March 24, 2005

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM- more policing for Herne Hill

The new Police team dedicated to the Herne Hill Ward is now up and running.
They have set up the community panel a body that will meet quarterly to discuss priorities.
Pleased to say the Alan Gaunt trader and Maude Estwick chair of Milkwood RA are both on the panel.
The team comprises a sergeant, two pcs and three police community support officers

HERNE HILL CONTROLLED PARKING SOUTHWARK.
TO REGISTERED YOUR OPTIONS FOR REVIEW CONTACT
lbs-hernehill_review@mottmac.com

Warmington and Howeltts are likely to be included in an extended scheme.
Proposals will be displayed in May.

Lambeth are making permanent the Poets Corner review without any revisions.
The 4 hour and permit holders bays will continue at the Railton Road shops contrary to proposals put forward by shopkeepers and Clr O'Connell

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

HERNE HILL JUNCTION CHAOS

Ever since the new traffic lights were installed there have been huge tailbacks northbound (i) in Croxted Road (ii) in Norwood Road almost to Trinity Rise (iii) in Dulwich Road southbound
and (iv) the usual ones in Milkwood Road, Half Moon Lane and Herne Hill. These tailbacks last most of the day. At one stage the phase out of Dulwich Road was as low as 7 seconds. Several urgent calls have been made to the Engineers by the Herne Hill Forum Chair and local residents, and yesterday the northbound Norwood Road - Herne Hill railbridge phase was increased to 30 seconds. The pressure needs to be kept up as the problem is not yet resolved.

Saturday, March 19, 2005

GUNS CRACK DOWN

I was invited to be a community observor at last night's operation Hermes.
Operation Hermes is an exercise to identify known criminals with guns records.
A team of 150 officers. headed by a commander set up a road block in Brixton last night.
There is an armed team and several armed response vehicles. Approaching vehicles have their number plates read and checked against a whole bank of records ranging from Police to DVLA.
they are then pulled in. There are two bays one for non weapon based suspicion these are dealt with by unarmed officers and arms associated stops.
Last night's operation took place in Croydon then moved to Brixton severl arrests were made and vehicles impounded.
The teams go out at least twice a month and cover Lambeth Southwark Lewsisham and
Croydon

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

BROCKWELL PARK LOTTERY BID LAUNCH

Several hundred people attended the three day launcevent this week 11/13th March.

Three forthoming fundraising events.
1 Five Parks Walk Starting in Ruskin in May.2
2. Feast Dayy in June 19th.
3 Art Fair tbc.

TUESDAY NIGHT MEETING TO OUTLINE PROPOSALS TO CENTRALISE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL SERVICES IN LAMBETH IS IN THE BRIX AT ST MATTHEWS CHURCH 6 FOR 6.30 TONIGHT FINISHING 8.30 REFERESHMENTS.

Saturday, March 12, 2005

PETITION TO SAVE THE NUMBER 3 BUS

At the Dulwich Community Council Meeting last Wednesday a Petition was circulated to try to prevent peak-hour cuts on the number 3 bus route.
The Petition, organised by Cllr Kim Humphreys, and backed by fellow Councillors (Con) on both the Lambeth and Southwark sides of Croxted and South Croxted roads, calls on TfL to reverse the proposed peak-hour cut, which would mean services running every 8 minutes instead of every 6. The bus is a vital route and well used by local residents to travel to schools, health services and train stations.
The Herne Hill Forum has protested against the cut and, at the time of writing, we know that a strong protest has also been made by Cllr Michelle Pearce (Lab). It is hoped that other Councillors will have followed suit.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

POETS CORNER CONTROLLED PARKING REVIEW.

The public notice posted in the SLp this Tuesday that no changes are to be made.
Submissions made by the Clr Peter O'Connell to have the bays changed Railton Road shops by the station to short term free parking . The Forum also wrote in support of the traders request for a review. Clr O' COnnell will make an an appeal.

DULWICH VILLAGE POST OFFICE -- MORE NEWS

The Dulwich Society led a protest against the possible closure of this vital Post Office. Chair Adrian Hill ensured a turn-out of over 100 and passers-by waved and car drivers honked their horns in support.
The subject will certainly be raised tonight at the Dulwich Community Council Meeting at Barry Road, and it was therefore very heartening that the Chair of the Community Council, Cllr Kim Humphreys, took time to go along and add his weight to the protests.
Post Offices generally are under threat and, while this Post Office is outside the Herne Hill Forum boundaries, any closure would have a major impact on the Herne Hill Post Office branch, which was anyway recently downsized and now serves many residents affected by the recent Rosendale Road branch closure. More news in due course.

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

EUROSTAR and HERNE HILL
(OK, of course we'd love it to stop at Herne Hill, but it won't!!).
Eurostar services will, however, stop going through Herne Hill once the new North London Terminus opens in 2007, and the Herne Hill Forum Chair is already putting forward ideas to Councillors, Transport Heads and the Train Companies to ensure that maximum use is made of the vacant "slots" this will create.
The option that was mooted to us was an increase in services to Victoria, creating a 15 minute service for much of the day but there is another exciting option which we are bringing to the fore: namely that a new service West Dulwich or Tulse Hill --Herne Hill -- Brixton -- Waterloo is created, mirroring the existing Eurostar route. For Southwark and Lambeth residents this would create an approximately 10 minute journey time from Herne Hill to Waterloo (two thirds faster than the 68 bus) and open up connections to the Jubilee, City, Bakerloo and Northern lines. Such a service could utilise the vacant platform space which will be created at Waterloo when Eurostar ceases, whereas Victoria may be unable to accommodate extra services.
We shall return to this subject at future Herne Hill Public Meetings, so watch for news of this on forthcoming Agendas during the spring and summer of 2005.

Monday, March 07, 2005

Statement from the Brixton Cannabis Coalition 2nd March 2005

Lambeth Council try to ban 7th annual Cannabis march and festival

The Brixton Cannabis Coalition regrets the decision taken by Lambeth Council to ignore the agreed public events policy and try to ban the annual Cannabis March and Festival on Saturday 7th May because of cannabis dealers at last years Festival.
Instead of the application for a licence being taken by the relevant licensing committees the decision has been made by Cllr Clare Whelan, Tory Executive member for Environment and ratified by the Executive. This is contrary to Cllr Whelan’s statement to the Executive on 4th November 2004. "If an application is received the outcome will be determined in line with the events policy and the decision of the relevant quasi-judicial Licensing Committee".
The Police and festival organisers were not consulted on the ban.

The Brixton Cannabis Coalition request that our application is dealt with in the normal way. We also acknowledge and share Council concerns regarding cannabis dealers during the march and festival. This is a problem for us and any large open access event in Brockwell Park.

The organisers have requested police action, as in previous years, to deter dealers, but have ultimately no direct control over what they do or how they prioritise the issue of dealers.
We invite Lambeth Council officers to join the Police and the Coalition to work through these problems in a planning meeting on 11am Monday 7th March at Frank O’Neil House, Clapham Road.
Over the last 6 years the Council have taken the Festival to court twice for alleged minor licencing violations, both times we were found not guilty, then doubled the cost of using the Park by charging us a commercial price. This year the Council has not even allowed us to put our proposals before the Licencing Committee. This is against the agreed Parks event policy. This is political football in Lambeth.
Last year the Cannabis festival attracted only 4 public complaints, - based on noise, 7 arrests – one for dealing and was enjoyed by many thousands of people. We think there is a question of balance.
In a sane and tolerant society we would be consulted and recognised for putting on a safe and free event, instead Lambeth Council have made no attempt to overcome this problem but simply use it as a means to prohibit us.
We recognise that Cllr Whelan and the Executive may have more than technical problems with us. We suspect their reasons may be political. We may not fit in with their politics, their corporate, public relations driven, glossy vision of Lambeth.
The influx of West Indians from the 50’s, young urban professional clubbers and pragmatic policing in the 90’s, has given Lambeth reputation as a progressive, culturally rich and diverse area. We are part of this diversity.
We invite the Council to work with us and the police to overcome these issues, however if they refuse and simply try to prohibit the march and festival then we accuse the Executive of being intolerant of diversity.
We note the media’s reaction to the Council’s ban has already increased the size of the march. Presumably people will want to do something after the march. The question for the Executive is do they want it done licenced or unlicenced. A bit like the sale of cannabis really.

We ask supporters to sign the petition requesting a normal hearing through the licencing committee at www.thecannabisfestival.co.uk
ENDS

Sunday, March 06, 2005

HERNE HILL RESURFACING on hold

Lambeth Council Highways Department advises that there are no plans at present to resurface this major road before 2007. The recent very large petition to Council, signed by residents on both sides of the street, urges action during 2005. Homes, schools and shops are all suffering from the severe vibrations caused by heavy vehicles and buses.
The Herne Hill Forum has highlighted this issue on several occasions and will continue to press the Highways Department for immediate action.

Friday, March 04, 2005

BROCKWELL PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL JUNE 10th-12th

Th first day will be a pop and dance festival.Saturday is DJ day hoste by the ministry of Sound. John Dipple organiser says if successfull they hope to make it an an annual event Big names lined up include. Lemar, Fame Academy, Eric Morilla Giles Peterson


CANNABIS EVENT GETS SUPPORT AND BRICKBATS FROM FAR AND WIDE

Todays South London Press has letters from as far as Edinburgh and Newzealand

WHAT CONDITION THE LAMBETH COALITION.

Todays Southlondon Press reports that a recent Council Celebration of the Council's move up the Corporate Performance table had dignatories such as Val SHAWCROSS and Steven Twigg but somehow the CONSERVATIVE members were omitted from the invitation this doesn't augor well for the last year of administration.

LAMBETH SETS NEW COUNCIL TAX RATES

A 730 B 852 C 074 D 1096 E1339 F 1583 G 1826 H2191/

MAJOR ROAD CLOSURE STARTING 7TH MARCH

If you are heading south on the Norwood Road beware the above temporary closure for Southbound traffic only. This will be basically the road close to the
Railway Bridge just past Tulse Hill Station from Christ Church Road to Avenue Park Road. There will be many sideroad closures in the West Norwood shopping centre.
The diversion Southbound will be via Croxted Road, Thurlow Park Road and Lancater Avenue. full details intodays SLP

DULWICH VILLAGE POST OFFICE UNDER THREAT

The post office in Dulwich Village is being faced with a rent increase from 12,000 to £25,000
Apparently the present agent could not sustain this increase and ways are being looked at to
stop the possible closure. The idea being to add another service within the building such as happened at Herne Hill. Adrian Hill, chair of Dulwich Society is hoping that Dulwich Estates might recognise the public service being provided however this might not be possible with the terms of the Charity- ie to screw everyone for as much rent as possible.
Tessa Jowell is promoting the idea of adding another business service .

Thursday, March 03, 2005

CANNABIS MARCH 7th May

There is planning meeting on Monday between police and the Cannabis Coalition to make approriate arrangements for the March from Kenningto to brockwell Park on 7th May.
There will be estimated 20,000 arriving at brockwell Park for a Picnic . We have asked the Council if they are to be represented at this meeting.

DULWICH COMMUNITY COUNCIL
9th March 7pm
Church Community Centre Barry Road
at junction with Lordship Lane. opposite
the Plough.

TRIANGLE TRAFFIC

Somone from this group is presenting a petition at the Dulwich Community Council next week does anyone know anything about the nature of this petition.

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

HERNE HILL street "Walkabout" -- (SOUTHWARK side)

The recent "Walkabout" on the Southwark side of the streets called Herne Hill and Norwood Road was organised by Steve Rodgers of the Southwark Streets Action Team/ The group walked from the junction of Herne Hill and Frankfurt Road southwards, ending up at the junction of Norwood and Croxted Roads.
There was a very good attendance of Village Ward Councillors, members of the Action Team, Officers of the Herne Hill Forum and Herne Hill Society, the local Police Beat Officer and Wardens, local shopkeepers and residents.

Almost 75 defects were identified and included the following:

+ many cracked and uneven paving stones / damaged railings
+ wobbly and damaged posts on street corners
+ unclear parking and loading bay signs (no reference also to Bank Holiday parking)
+ pigeon droppings (halfway down Herne Hill at the bus stop)
+ lack of parking and loading bays for the Carlton Parade shops
+ damaged and cracked main road surface (referred to Lambeth Council)
+ confusing and absent parking signs in Norwood Road
+ parking times in Norwood Road unhelpful to shops
+ one bay in Norwood Road covers the left filter sign

All the defects have been logged on a spreadsheet, complete with action points and time scale. More in due course.
Meanwhile: well done Southwark

EVENT UPDATE

Supt Andy Tarrant said last night in reply to a question from SHane Collins that the police had not been consulted on the proposed Festival. He indicated that March from Kennington to Brockwell is likely to get approval . In view of the Fesitval Ban one can expect very large numnbers indeed probaly the 20,000 turned up last year there will be considerable problems with these numbers arriving at the park


Tuesday, March 01, 2005

LAMBETH POLICE CONSULTATIVE GROUP MEETS TONIGHT 6PM AT LAMBETH ACCORD 336 BRIXTON ROAD SW9

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