Friday, October 27, 2006


Thursday, October 26, 2006

Lambeth Comminications

LAMBETH'S LEADER STEVE REED IMPROVES COMMUNICATIONS WITH PUBLIC WITH ONLINE DIARY

This is en extact from this week go to www.lambeth.gov.uk for revisions to the
Borough's Parking Contract

Monday 23 October 2006
It's five months since I was elected Leader of the Council, and I have to admit that I'm enjoying the job immensely. It's unbelievably busy and leaves me with almost no free time, but it's a great privilege working to change Lambeth into a better council.

A lot of people have been asking me what being Leader of the Council involves. So I thought I'd start a weekly online diary here on the Council's website. That way, if you're interested, you can check in and see what I?ve been up to, and I hope you'll send me your comments back.

It,s very important to stay in touch with what people who use the council's services are thinking. So I spent all day Monday talking to some of our tenants' representatives. These are people who live on Lambeth,s estates and generously give up their free time, spending hour after hour in long meetings making sure that Lambeth,s housing managers are doing their jobs properly. We couldn't do without them, and have the deepest admiration for all they do.

The issue we're grappling with is how we can improve the quality of our council housing. We've told the Government we'll bring all our housing up to minimum standards by 2010. As things stand, over 10,000 council homes are sub-standard - meaning they are not secure, weatherproof or heated, suffer from damp, or have inadequate kitchen or bathroom facilities. It's unacceptable that people have to live like that. To put it right will cost the council well over £200 million, and that's money we just don't have. So what can we do' Well, we've put in a bid to the Government for the money.

But they won't just hand it over without strings attached. After the massive fraud scandal that hit Lambeth housing last year, they're worried the council might not spend the money properly. So they've asked us to set up a separate management organisation at arms' length from the council to guarantee the money will be spent where it should be spent ,on tenants' homes.

The key thing is that this is not privatisation. Every single home would still be owned 100% by the council. But doing it this way would mean we would have a chance to get the money we need to improve people's homes. How can we say no to that? But our tenants' reps have some concerns. They want to know how the new organisation would be accountable to them, who would sit on its board, whether underperforming staff would simply be transferred over together with the good ones, and what guarantees there are that it's not a step towards privatisation (which they want to avoid, and I agree with them).

So we talked through the issues, I listened to their concerns, and I'm going to raise what they said with the council's senior housing managers. I'm convinced that if we all work together, councillors and tenants, we can come up with a structure for the new organisation that will suit everyone. But for me the heart of the matter is simple: people deserve to live in decent homes with affordable rents, and it's my job as Leader of the Council to do everything I can to make sure that happens.
If you would like to contact me, you can do so by emailing sreed@lambeth.gov.uk.

Monday, October 23, 2006

THAMESLINK GO AHEAD.

THAMESLINK PROPOSALS GET GO AHEAD

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/2390

The money has still to be found , £3.5billion but the schme to creat completely new stations at BlackFriars and London Bridge with major expansion at Elephant and Castle has been given the thumbs up from two key departments

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Restaurant hygiene scores go online

Published on: 11/10/2006
Ref: PR5291

People who eat out in Southwark can check the hygiene ratings of over two thousand premises that sell food and drink in the borough by logging onto www.southwark.gov.uk/scoresonthedoors

Southwark is one of the first local authorities in London to make food safety scores for restaurants, pubs and cafes available online and one of only a handful in the country.

Tapas Brindisa on Southwark Street, SE1 is one of 47 premises in Southwark that achieved five stars in recent hygiene inspections.

Six hundred premises currently have four stars and 144 have none.

Cllr Lisa Rajan, Southwark Council's executive member for environment and transport, said: "Knowing how hygienic pubs and restaurants are is of huge interest to anyone who eats out.

"It is possible for all premises to achieve a five star rating and we are keen to work with establishments falling short of the necessary standards to help them improve.

"The publication of hygiene scores allows consumers to eat out with confidence and will drive up hygiene standards in the borough which can only be a positive development."

Jose Pizarro from Tapas Brindisa added: "I am so happy for our staff and customers that we secured five stars in our hygiene inspection. Tapas Brindisa is a really busy place but looking after the safety of our customers is always the priority."

There is currently no requirement for premises to display their hygiene scores but this may change in the future.

ENDS SOUTHWARK PRESS RELEASE

Village Councillors

VILLAGE WARD COUNCILLORS


There are several ways to contact your local councillors.
Toby Eckersley 7701 3112
toby.eckersley@southwark.gov.uk
Robin Crookshank Hilton 8613 6046
robin.crookshank.hilton@southwark.gov.uk
Nick Vineall
7358 3524
nick.vineall@southwark.gov.uk

Ward surgery First Friday of every month

Methodist Church Hall, Half Moon Lane ,

junction with Beckwith Road.
6- 7pm.
As well a ward councillors representing all constituents
Nick is chair of the Dulwich Community Council and

Toby is Executive. Member for Resources .
The Forum is happy to publish access details for our local politicians.)


Thursday, October 19, 2006

STATION POLICING

HERNE HILL STATION SECURITY
 
As discussed at the meeting with Val Shawcross last week, the BTP Neighbourhood Policing team which covers the Victoria to London Bridge ?Inner Loop? will be including Herne Hill station in some of its activities and patrols.
 
Jim Little.
Chief Inspector.  British Transport Police



STATION SAFETY

HERNE HILL STATION SAFETY.

Val Shawcross the Greater London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark conducted a survey in the Herne Hill Ward earlier this year to establish the public perception on safety around stations.

A meeting was held recently with South EasternTrains,and British Transport Police and represntatives from the Herne Hill Forum

The following points were covered at the meeting.

1. Transport police have just appointed the equivalent of a Safer Neighbourhood Team
who will liasie with borough SNTs and they will be proactive on matters such as begging and school children problems etc. as a current priority.

2. There is money for two lifts and this is in the planning/ preparation stage.
This is excellent as its part of a £350m national 10 year budget .
There were only 10 stations nominated in London to use this fund and three were in Lambeth.

3. We had wider ranging discussion about radical change of use of the building to increase usage and footfall over a longer period.

4. The upper part of the building is kitted out as a disaster co-ordinatation centre in the event of major incidents and central control points for the networks.

5. There will be upgrading of CCTV cameras. At present they record video films the new ones will transmit to a control centre with live monitoring of screens.

6. "Assist points" will have cameras focused on them which will automnatically
draw the focus of the monitoring officer when used.
7. There will gradual installation of oyster readers but not barriers.

8. There are limitations caused by the short term contracts to installing barriers .
as well runnigns cost implications.

Following the meeting we gave Val Shawcross a briefing on the junction as it was her intervention that got the funding for the initial survey.
.
One of the problems that cause the dragging during the last three years was that it
was TFL who wanted the scheme and Lambeth had no priority for it.

We then toured the Arches behind Norwood Road shops and walked right to the very last arch as part of our strategy of winning support for imrovements and investment in this area.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

island arts studio


island arts studio

ARTS & CRAFT FAIR

SATURDAY 9th & SUNDAY 10th DECEMBER 2006


Island Arts Studio is holding an Arts and Craft Gift sale on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December 2006.

We would like to invite you to come and sell your merchandise to the local community. With Christmas not far away it’s a fantastic opportunity for you to display your products and network with our visitors. We’re expecting very a good turn out.

Your ‘pitch’ will be free. All we ask is that you pay us 10% of whatever you make on the day to cover our running costs.

We will provide tables on which to display your merchandise, but if you have any special requirements, or would like to bring your own display equipment you can discuss this with us.

Spaces are limited and allocated on a first come first served basis, so an early booking is recommended.

Island Arts Studio is a community enterprise, constantly working to support local artists. We welcome your interest and would be delighted to hear from you.
Please contact me by Friday 3rd November if you or anyone you know would like to be involved.

Celia
Craft Fair Co-ordinator
Island Arts Studio
T: 07960 611 387 / 0207 978 9357
E: islandarts@btinternet.com

N.B. If your call is not answered, please leave a message and we will respond to you within 24 hours.

SOUTHSIDE PARKING

PARKING PROBLEMS ON SOUTHWARK SIDE OF THE HILL/ NORTH DULWICH AREA
Any Southwark residents who have requests for parking controls should put it in writing (or by email) to me at the below address,
Tim
Tim Walker
Team Leader
Controlled Parking Team
Environment and Leisure
151-153 Walworth Road
London
SE17 1R : tim.walker@southwark.gov.uk

No News in Southwark

SOUTHWARK NEWS AND THE LACK OF IT

Southwark tell us they are unable to publish news items on the website
at present hence the lack of Southwark news items on the Forum Blogspot.
We always aim to give a balanced share of news from both boroughs

LITERACY

If you can read this, you might like to help another adult learn to read and write:
 
Amity Reading Clubs
www.amity.org.uk
 
Committed volunteers of all ages needed to tutor one student each for 2 hours per week at The Carnegie Library, Herne Hill Road, on Wednesday afternoons during term-time.  
 
Please phone 020 7274 2443 for further information.


Paul Reynolds
Secretary
Herne Hill Forum
http://www.hernehillforum.blogspot.com/

Monday, October 16, 2006

FIREWORKS

BROCKWELL FIREWORKS FRIDAY 3RD. NOVEMBER
COUNTDOWN 7.25 ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO ACCESS
ARRIVAL 7PM RECOMMENDED
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/Environment/ParksGreenSpaces/LambethFireworks2006.htmHE

Saturday, October 14, 2006

STEVEN LAWRENCE

DUWAYNE BROOKS;  STEVE AND   ME
WEDNESDAY 18.OCTOBER  6.30-9PM @ 198 GALLERY
 
Duwayne Brooks discusses his book, 'Steve and Me' and the new developments in the Stephen Lawrence inquiry
 
198 Gallery, 198 Railton Road, Herne Hill
Buses 3, 37,196,201,322,  68 & 468
The gallery is 3 mins walk from Herne Hill Station  7978 830
Its at the junction with HURST ST. 
 

http://www.hernehillsociety.org.uk/

JUNCTION PLANS ON HERNE HILLSOCIETY WEBSITE

Click on above. There are two drawings . Click on the Adobe file on the HHSoc
website for the detailed plan

Friday, October 13, 2006

11 October 2006

HERNE HILL CENTRAL SITE/ SORTING OFFICE & PETROL STATION

Following a number of enquiries and the closure of the Petrol Station the following information has been received from Clr Thackray.

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the Sainsbury’s at Herne Hill (132-132a Herne Hill). Alison Green, who manages Sainsbury’s London Regional portfolio has verbally confirmed to us that Sainsbury’s plc have not purchased the land at 128 (petrol station) or 130 (Royal Mail) Herne Hill. Ms Green also confirmed that at present Sainsbury’s had no plans to extend their store at 132-132a Herne Hill.

There are currently two approval of details applications (one for refuse, the other for cycle stands) dated 13th September 2006 on 134 Herne Hill (Post Office). The applicant and agent for these applications are AHBN & Phipps and Co Pension and Forge Architects. This is the same team that submitted the full planning application on 134 Herne Hill that was granted in June of this year. As you are aware that planning application was for the “demolition of the existing Post Office and the erection of a 5 storey building consisting of 170 sqm of commercial use for either A1 (retail) or A2 (financial and professional services) on the ground floor and 7 x 2 bed self contained flats on upper floors with provision of cycle parking “.

I understand that Chartbay’s last submitted a planning application to Lambeth for 132-132a Herne Hill in 2004 before it became a Sainsburys store. This application was for the removal of the existing roof and erection of a mansard to provide 2 additional self contained flats, which was subsequently withdrawn.

The Planning Service is unaware of any plans that Royal Mail may have with respect to the closure of the 130 Herne Hill site. Royal Mail has been contacted and it has verbally confirmed that there are no plans to sell the site



Rebecca Thackray

Rebecca Thackray

Green Party Councillor for Herne Hill Ward

Write to Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill SW2 1RW

Email: rthackray@lambeth.gov.uk

Phone/Voicemail: 07946 219394

Meet at Brixton Advice Centre, 167 Railton Rd SE24 0LU
on Thursday 10.15 – 12 noon
phone 020 7733 7554 after 1pm for appointment
otherwise first come first served basis

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

HERNE HILL RESURFACING

HERNE HILL RESURFACING COMMENCES MONDAY 16 OCTOBER

Following the extensive and much-needed relaying of the pavement on both the Southwark and Lambeth sides of the road called Herne Hill, it has been confirmed that partial resurfacing of the main road itself will commence on Monday 16th October. The repairs are scheduled to last 3 weeks. The exact areas for resurfacing are not fully defined.
It is possible that the very popular short-term parking bays outside Herne Hill Parade will at times be out of action.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

PHEONIX HOUSE

Phoenix House - temporary closure

Phoenix House
10 October 2006
Lambeth Council's Phoenix House at Vauxhall Cross is closed at the moment owing to a power failure.
Planning, Adults' and Community Services and Human Resources are affected and have been relocated.
Nomal service at Phoenix House is expected to resume from tomorrow morning.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and are currently working to resolve the situation.



Paul Reynolds
Herne Hill Forum
Secretary              http://www.hernehillforum.blogspot.com/
click on hyperlink for  news

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Herne Hill Forum Pub

Herne Hill Forum Public Meeting, Baptist Hall, Half Moon Lane:
5th October 2006: 7pm

Chair: Giles Gibson: Present 79, including Cllrs  Robin Crookshank Hilton, (S) Jim Dickson,(L) Rachel Heywood,( L) Nick Vineall ( S) and Becca Thackray (L) Chris Sipidias (BrixtonTown Centre Manager), officers from Herne Hill and Village Ward Safer Neighbourhood Teams
Sgt Steve Farrant and  PC Ali Gelatly.
Apologies:  Cllrs Toby Eckersley(S) Irene Kimm ()  Kirsty McHugh() Clare Whelan () Val Shawcross (GLA member S & L) Tessa Jowell (MP).   S  = Southwark  L = Lambeth
          
Minutes of AGM held on 29th June 2006: agreed.  Giles went over the details of the June master planning meeting, which would form a blueprint for future meetings and action: green space / traffic / roads / transport / traders. Many of the topics would be covered tonight, especially those concerned with environment / street clutter / traffic flows / cycling / easier parking. Giles also commented on the many new faces at this meeting, almost all responding to leaflets through doors.

Freshview: Doug Perry, Head of Streetcare, Lambeth, explained that Freshview is a one day task force operations blitzing graffiti, untidy hedges, bulk refuse, youth offending, crime and litter. Freshview is happening in 4 Lambeth Wards, with Herne Hill’s day on the second Tuesday in November. Freshview signs up various partners from the police / transport / community wardens. Residents put forward various points that could be addressed and we will devise a means of collating the requests

Lambeth Community Wardens: Barbara Emanuel informed the meeting that community wardens would soon be operating in all Wards, with 2 per Ward. Their job was to reassure the public, report items needing attention and to engage young people. T Barbara left a questionnaire (to be completed by 31 October) asking what type of warden service the public would like to see.  The emphasis is on Street care issues and low level environmental classified  as antisocial behaviour and low level crime. The wardens operate within the Streetcare Team. Staff will be established Lambeth staff and subject to a Criminal record check done.

Herne Hill Junction: David Coughtrie, of the HHF Transport Group – catalyst for the scheme -- said that the project had been moving forward, at times slowly, for several years. A Project Board had been formed and progress was accelerating, funding was falling into place and the agreed design was ready to move to detailed design. Cllr Jim Dickson advised that all political parties were now behind the scheme, which was a priority. The relationship between the Council and the Mayor’s Office had improved; Streets for People were close to providing the revenue funding to cover the costs of the design stage, and the final tranche of £1.7 million was now being applied for. Hayden Tuck -- Project Manager, Lambeth – gave a detailed illustrated presentation about the scheme. There were 6 roads and 3 Strategic roads to be considered, there was a focus on regeneration,  improved traffic and bus flows, better bus facilities, safer pedestrian crossings, improvements to Brockwell Passage and a better approach to Brockwell Park. Start date was likely to be late 2007 with implementation in the first quarter of 2008. David then took questions about Milkwood Road – chicane to be scrapped, and a possible left turn into Half Moon Lane or Herne Hill north -- cycling, disruption, illegal turns and short-term parking in Railton Road. There was a clear view that the cycling priorities had not been given the priority expected.

To  report  or enquire about local issues  email hernehillforum@btinternet.com
Send actions for FRESHVIEW  to us  emails with announcements  /news will be posted      direct to the Forum’s website below.
Local news available on www.hernehillforum.blogspot.com
www.lambeth.gov.uk  www.southwark.gov.uk
Minutes HHF 5 Oct 2006
Page 2 continued

Southwark update / Norwood Road: Cllr Nick Vineall gave an update re points from the June meeting.  In Village Ward the Safer Neighbourhood Team were setting priorities: afternoon school / pupil muggings, safe passage of people exiting North Dulwich Station & Herne Hill Station in the evening, and burglary in the Ward. The Council was looking at better enforcement of the 20mph speed limit, and the traffic unit would target certain roads off Half Moon Lane for speeders. Graffiti response was quick. Regarding Norwood Road, attention was now focussing on better clearing of refuse chiefly through enforcement, as there is a good 7 day street cleaning rota using a mechanical and manual sweepers, and improved short-term parking (from 7am) to assist the traders.
The condition of the many railway arches at the rear was a long term issue that need to be looked at by various owners, tenants, agencies and Council enforcement team, This needs a regeneration plan
Several people spoke in support of action.

BROCKWELL PARK LOTTERY BID.  
Clr Dickson announced that Lambeth’s bid to restore the park had moved a further stage forward with a grant of £195k to develop detailed plans based on the outline bid. The Heritage Lottery Fund have provisionally set aside £3.5m to be awarded on receipt of robust final detailed costings and tenders.

Soap Box short presentations were made about the OXFAM SHOP opening at 20 Half Moon Lane on 1 December. The representative from the Carnegie used the slot to talk about the lack of book provision for the umpteenth time.

The Chair wound up by announcing a further success re the Rosendale School, where traffic calming was installed and street furniture improved, and said the next meeting would be in January, when key speakers would be asked to return to give further updates.

The meeting closed at 9.15 pm

A special thank you to the Angel of Herne Hill Baptist Church  who turned up with the key at 6.30pm (we had been given a faulty key)

DC/06/amended PR0806

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

BROCKWELL LOTTERY GRANT

THE FOLLOWING IS  A LAMBETH PRESS RELEASE

Double celebration as major restoration scheme for Brockwell Park gets the green light

04 October 2006
Park users are celebrating after the green light was given to major plans to restore one of Lambeth?s most popular open spaces.

Lambeth Council has been awarded £196,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to move forward with plans for a £3.5 million regeneration scheme at Brockwell Park, it was announced on Wednesday.

The announcement coincides with the completion of a major programme of improvement work at the park by the council. The exterior of Brockwell Hall, a Grade II listed building which is 200 years old, has just been renovated, toilets have been adapted for use by disabled people, tennis courts refurbished, and footpaths smartened.

The Heritage Lottery Funding will allow the council and park users to build on this improvement work, with the earmarked funding going towards the first phase of a major regeneration scheme, focusing on the park landscape and restoration of historic buildings. Work will include improving the park entrances, furniture and signage, repairing the Temple building, further improving toilets and footpaths, and creating a new community room. In addition three new members of staff will be taken on to manage the park and develop activities to engage local people.

Councillor Lib Peck, Lambeth Council?s cabinet member for environment and culture, said: ?This announcement is fantastic news. We have made major improvements to Brockwell Park over recent months but the support from the Heritage Lottery Fund will help us ensure its place as one of the best parks in London.

?Together with officers from the council, the Brockwell Park Management Advisory Committee has developed an excellent vision for the park. The funding from the HLF now gives us the opportunity to put this vision into practice.?

Laura Morland chair of Friends of Brockwell Park, said the news meant a double celebration for park users, following the completion of the recent work by the council: ?The Hall now looks sparkling and beautiful and now we have the exciting news of our successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid, we are really looking forward to being able to renovate the interior and make better community use of this landmark building.?

Members of Friends of Brockwell Park met with Councillor Lib Peck, cabinet member for environment and culture, on Saturday 30 September to discuss the recent work and the HLF bid.


brockwell lottery grant

HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND ANNOUNCES £3.5MILLION GRANT FOR BROCKWELL PARK.

SOURCE STATEMENT ON 11AM itv NEWS

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

BrixtonShootings


Monday, October 02, 2006

WINTER LIGHTS

MARK THE START OF WINTER AT MYATTS PARK

Light it! ? a festival of light
Friday 20 October 2006, 6.30pm ? 8.30pm,
A Free Event for All Ages
Myatt?s Fields Park, Knatchbull Road, Camberwell,
London SE5

Click here for more information
For the first time, a beautiful Victorian park in South London is transformed into a dynamic performance space to celebrate the start of Winter, with multi-sensory performances by a range of artists and hundreds of local people.

Artists; The Barefoot Company, Poulomi Desai, Disinformation, In Toto Theatre, Sofie Layton, Mandinga Arts, Howard Matthew, Ali Zaidi.
Light it!? a festival of light is a two-hour long spectacular promenade event, which uses light as a magical, transformative and spiritual force, cross-referencing the major festivals of Diwali, Halloween, Eid Al Fitr, Fireworks Night, Day of the Dead and Channukah, which are all variously celebrated by local communities.

The park will be lit and animated with music and sound, candles and lanterns, sculptural artworks, video installations, a carousel, circus art and pyrotechnics.

Leading up to and forming part of the event is a major programme of participatory community workshops, led by the artists in collaboration with local schools and communities.

This will be the first in a series of annual events to celebrate the seasons, produced by home and motiroti, in Myatt's Fields Park, which is undergoing a major regeneration through support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Lambeth Council.


How to get there;
By tube to Oval;
10 minutes walk or catch a bus.

By Bus from Oval Station;
N.3, 36, 59, 133, 159, 185, 333, 436.

By Bus to Camberwell Green;
N. 148, 484, 12, 35, 36, 40, 42, 45, 68, 171, 176, 185, 345, 436, 468. Please use public transport or walk as there is very limited parking.


Sunday, October 01, 2006

FLOODING AVERTED

FLOODING AVERTED.  SUNDAY
 
Adrian  Hill,  of the Dulwich Society showed that  being  chair is not  
titular. He was spotted on Sunday afternoon during the deluge  in  wellingtons and sou' wester rodding  drains in Half Moon
Lane.
Th torrential rain coupled with the current leaf fall is a high risk combination that could lead to flooding.

Picture Launch

BROCKWELL PICTORAL MAP LAUNCH
 
Clr.  Becca Thackray  unveiled  Clare Skilbeck's new pictoral map of the Park.
It is much improved with many  new characters  and now incoporating the  character key in the body of the picture rather than a separate card.
Contact Clare on 7733 5388 for copies of the print.
The laucnh took place at the same time as the BIG Draw  a chalk on the path challenge  which was enjoined by a good number of participants. It was brought to an earl;y closure  to the appling rain.
 

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