This evening Councillor O’Malley and I attended a meeting at Lambeth Town Hall with Debbie Hunter, head of Lambeth’s regeneration team and with Councillor Haselden, joining us via a telephone conference call.
Debbie was giving us an update on progress with the plans for the new leisure centre in Clapham Manor Street. It was clear that a huge amount of work has been done firming up the project and putting into place temporary leisure provision whilst Clapham Leisure Centre is rebuilt.
More news will be coming to you soon and I shall see if I can get a copy placed here. The latest update includes details of facilities that we are making available during the project, to make sure that as many people as possible can continue to use our leisure service.
The developer will soon be seeking planning permission for the new buildings. In the meantime the team continue to discuss any concerns held by local people, including residents on Voltaire and Edgeley Roads who will be most affected by the development.
Importantly, local groups such as the Clapham Society remain engaged and changes have been made following their input. We are still campaigning for the whole of the existing library building to be made available to the local community, rather than the original plan, which included selling part of the building to pay for improvements. We are very hopeful that our concerns have been listened to.
As Lambeth’s Design Champion, Cllr Haselden has been able to contribute to the scheme since its early days. The champion role helps us to continually emphasise the value that we put on good design, to channel the ideas and expectations of local people into the project – particularly in the sessions with schools and the drop-in workshops – and to contribute to the shortlisting of design teams and the ‘competitive dialogue’ part of Future Clapham, where the final three design teams worked up their proposals in more detail, before Cathedral was chosen as our preferred developer.
Please visit the Future Clapham Newsletter (June 2008)
Please visit the Clapham Leisure Centre survey on the Lambeth website.
Contact the Future Clapham team
Freephone 0800 052 6336
Email futurelambeth@lambeth.gov.uk
www.lambeth.gov.uk/futureclapham
Tags: clapham leisure centre, clapham manor street, clapham society, councillor haselden, councillor o'malley, councillor wellbelove, Future Clapham, regeneration
Category Future Clapham |
- Councillor Wellbelove with residents at the Heath Road surgery
Clapham Town Labour councillors have for many years held sugeries, where people can come and talk to their councillors, for many years. The surgeries are held at Clapham Leisure Centre every Saturday from 11:00 – midday (except Bank Holidays) and being in the same place every week are useful for people to know where to find their councillors on a regular basis.
However there are some people who find getting to the leisure centre difficult and to help ensure that we reach as many people as possible Clapham Town councillors have embarked on a series of localised surgeries.
This weekend we embarked on our biggest ever series of surgeries covering Heath Road, Westbury, Willard and William Bonney estates together with Heather Close Sheltered Housing.
The day was a huge success, Councillor Helen O’Malley started the day with the regular surgery at Clapham Manor Lesiure Centre and then joined Cllr Haselden and I at Westbury Estate.
Our busiest surgery of the day was at Heath Road where many residents came to discuss issues such as cleaning on the estate, repairs and parking enforcement.
We moved on to William Bonney estate where we spoke to residents about noise and anti-social behaviour issues caused by a local venue together with more discussion around parking enforcement on the estate.
All three of us are now taking the various issues back to officers at Lambeth Living. I have written directly to the housing manager regarding concerns over standards of cleaning.
Along with continuing the regular surgery at Clapham Leisure Centre we are now organising a repeat of the event for next month and looking for new venues throughout the local community.
Tags: clapham leisure centre, councillor haselden, councillor o'malley, councillor wellbelove, councillors, heath road estate, heather close sheltered housing, lambeth living, parking enforcement, surgeries, westbury estate, willard estate, william bonney estate
Category surgeries |
As councillors we often need to be at two places at the same time, and last night was no exception. Councillor Haselden and I were both keen to attend the Clapham Town Safer Neighbourhood panel where, included in the discussion, was the proposed dispersal zone which would cover from Queenstown Road to Silverthorne Road. The purpose of the zone would be to deal with problems with anti-social behaviour from youths on Queenstown Road. The zone would be introduced at the same time as a similar zone on the Wandsworth Road side and stop the problem simply being transfered to the Lambeth side. Along with the dispersal zone outreach work has been taken place to attempt to encourage these young people to engage in more positive activities.
Additionally the issue of aggressive begging was discussed, with Sgt Nicola Duffy from the Clapham Town Safer Neighbourhood team assuring us that action is being taken to deal with the problem and that they are working with teams in Ferndale Ward and Clapham Common who all share responsibility for parts of the high street. If you have experienced agressive begging yourself you should contact Clapham Town Safer Neighbourhood team to give details as this will help the case against the worse offenders.
We promptly moved on to the Clapham Community Project AGM at St Anne’s Hall in Venn Street. The project has provided advice for people who live in Lambeth for over twenty years. They are funded by the council as part of the Lambeth Advice Network and are a member of Advice UK. The valuable advice they provide is free of charge, confidential and independent.
They provide advice on consumer, employment and debt matters giving general information and advice to enable clients to take action themselves or by signposting them to the appropriate agencies. They also provide advice on welfare benefits and housing law.
The project last year dealt with over 3,300 enquiries and provides invaluable support to people who otherwise would not know where to turn. The building is also used by a variety of community organisations and I was very interested in a letter of thanks which had been received from Kevin Spacey, artistic director from the Old Vic Theater, thanking them for their support for a education and community project which used their hall for rehersalls.
Tags: advice uk, clapham common ward, clapham community project, clapham town safer neighbourhood panel, clapham town ward, dispersal zone, ferndale ward, housing law, kevin spacey, lambeth advice network, queenstown road, st anne's hall, the old vic, venn street
Category anti-social behaviour, community meeting, venn street |
I attended the Charles Barry Close residents meeting tonight. Key issues on the agenda was the completion of new fencing that had finally been installed after years of broken promises. Some of the old fencing is still in place and I had previously been on a walkabout on the estate with council officers to highlight the issue. I have written to the council asking for an update.
They are looking to organise a party to celebrate the new fencing later in the Summer which would be brilliant.
Other issues included discussing the replacement of guttering which had started since I organised a petition regarding the fact that much of it was broken with water streaming down the walls of homes.
People reported that the men doing the water works on the estate were extremely good, always polite and doing a really good job.
On the way to the meeting I spotted fresh graffiti on the walls of Spectrum House in Bromells Road. I have reported these to Grimebuster so should be removed by early next week. If you spot graffiti in Lambeth please help ensure it is removed quickly by calling 0207 926 9000 or email graffiti@lambeth.gov.uk.
Tags: charles barry close, community meeting, residents meeting
Category charles barry close, community meeting |
I was joined by Councillor Haselden tonight at a meeting of the Willard Estate residents association. One of the key topics discussed were plans by police in Wandsworth to introduce an Anti Social Behaviour Order which would ban large groups gathering. This follows problems caused by youths in nearby Queenstown Road and an estate on the Wandsworth side of the road. Residents were clearly concerned that the problems would be simply moved to Willard Estate.
Safer neighbourhood teams are on the case though, and are looking to introduce a similar ban. They are also looking at options such as out-reach workers to try and point the youths towards more positive activities.
I heard of how local businesses were being terrorised by the youths, with a local stores security guard recently assulted. Residents spoke of the noise that they caused and whilst we were at the meeting we heard the noise for ourselves which was extremely loud and must be very frightening for both the elderly residents living in the sheltered housing and other people who have to pass them when they are coming home.
Following the meeting Coucillor Haselden and I spent some time on the estate and in the local area witnesing some of the issues first hand for ourselves. Cllr Haselden took note of this broken window which is evidence of some of the vandalism that is taking place in the area.
I took note of a problem with a local business leaving rubbish in a narrow alley which runs between the Willard Estate and Queenstown Road. Rats have been reported in the area and it adds to the feeling of the area being run down and uncared for. Together Councillor Haselden and I will be looking into how these issues can be addressed.
Tags: anti-social behaviour, community, councillor haselden, councillor wellbelove, meeting, vandalism, willard estate
Category anti-social behaviour, community meeting |
A new gallery and creative agency has opened in Stonhouse Street, Clapham. Filling a site that has been empty for over five years ‘Heard Gallery‘ is a welcome addition to the area and adds to an already amazing mix of creative vibrancy that helps make Clapham such an exciting place to live.
The opening party was full of local people curious about this new addition to the area, and I met with one local resident who had just made her first purchase.
The owners are proving to be keen to engage with the local community and have already began discussion with Councillor Haselden regarding engage with Clapham Manor School and are eager to also work with other local schools including the Lambeth Academy.
I look forward to a bright future for Heard and hope the combination of a gallery and creative studio will secure a long future for them here. Please do pay them a visit, they are extremely friendly and I am sure will make you feel welcome.
Tags: art gallery, clapham, councillor haselden, councillor wellbelove, heard gallery, opening, stonhouse street
Category art, local business |
We met at the town centre office in Bromells Road to consider ongoing traffic issues affecting those living in North Street. Much has been achieved in last year thanks to the hard work and determination of local residents and Hayden Tuck from Lambeth councils transport department, who has listened to the concerns of local people and worked to deliver solutions. This included a speed sign alerting speeding traffic and a re-positioning of parking spaces to reduce traffic speed making the street a little safer.
There is still a lot of work to do here, whilst many just see North Street as a through road for those living there the constant roar of heavy vehicles (which often sounds as if they are going to land in your living room). There is now an enforceable weight limit on the street and regular visits by the CCTV camera are ensuring that these vehicles are discouraged from using the road illegally.
The main issue discussed tonight was traffic congestion close to the junction with Wandsworth Road. As the video below shows at the weekend the back up of traffic is quite simply a nightmare for local residents kept awake by traffic noise. Whilst some residents want extra yellow lines installed others are concerned that the resultant displacement of parked cars will cause problems in the side streets from North Street. It was agreed to look at a partial area of yellow lines which will need to be consulted locally. Unfortunately with statutory requirements to be adhered to there is no quick fix however this is a step in the right direction.
Nicola Duffy from the local safer neighborhood team joined us to hear about issues of noise caused by visitors to local drinking houses each weekend. It was really useful to have her there so that she could hear first hand about that issue along with the other problems affecting people in the area.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2RFl1PRRok]
Tags: clapham, north street, safer neighbourhood, traffic
Category community meeting, north street |
Several buildings, including the historic Clapham Common bandstand, have been attacked by Graffiti vandals.
Park authorities have been alerted so that the graffiti can be removed; however valuable resources will now have to be diverted to remove the unsightly graffiti ‘tags’.
Many local residents, who put in years of hard work in order to get the bandstand refurbished are understandably angered by the mindless vandalism at a time when the bandstand is being used for summer concerts and should be a place of entertainment and enjoyment without the ugly scrawls that have defaced the band stand.
Police have been informed and databases of tags will be referred to in an attempt to find those who did this. Previously an appeal for help, following the targeting of the Trinity Hospice van, resulted in anonymous tip off resulting in the finding of those who caused thousands of pounds of damage to the charities property.
Often ‘taggers’ will practice on school books or around their own homes. Some taggers will brag about their activity to friends. If you have any information regarding whom did this please contact Clapham Town safer neighbourhood team in confidence either by email ClaphamTown.snt@met.police.uk or call 020 8721 2825.
Category Uncategorized |
I visited, with Councillor Irene Kimm, The Palace community hub, in Streatham. This visit was part of the resident participation commission that I am currently chairing.
The Palace is the result of a two year partnership project involving the Tenants and Residents Association at Streatham Palace Road estate, with the council, contractors Morrison and the Streatham Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team. We met members of the committee that were clearly the driving force behind taking an unused, derelict building – to create an amazing centre with huge potential.
They are looking to provide services for the whole community including Youth services which they currently have a bid in for funding projects during the coming holidays.
There was a real buzz about the place, with lots of people coming and going and everyone really enthusiastic about the possibilities that the building could provide. As an organisation they seemed to be very inclusive wanting to encourage as many as possible to get involved to ensure the project worked.
What was particularly inspiring was that people came from far and wide to get involved with the project. I met a guy from Fulham who was very passionate about the project and I was told that young people came from all over not just the estate or Streatham.
This project is a shining beacon of what community ownership of a project can deliver. With the right funding and support they will deliver real benefit to the local area.
On their website they describe themselves as ‘We’re just a group of ordinary people who shared a dream to open a local, derelict community centre and do something positive for the young people in the area. Thanks to a lot of time, hardwork and money we now have the Palace.’ I would disagree. My experience is that they are very special passionate people who really want to help others in their community with a vision and passion which I am sure will drive through all that they strive to achieve.
Tags: community centre, community hall, streatham, the palace, youth projects
Category scrutiny |
As part of my work as a councillor I am a member of the housing scrutiny committee.
What is scrutiny?
Scrutiny involve a committee or a number of committees made up of councillors. These committees hold the council’s decision-makers, including external partners such as Primary Care Trusts, to account publicly.
What is a scrutiny commission?
Every year committees agree on areas for in depth investigation and review. For each of these topics an individual commission (a working group) with between three and five non-cabinet councillors is set up.
A commission can look into any area of council services. In the past commissions have looked at topics such as the provision of respite care and how to improve the housing benefit service. To give further examples, recent commissions have looked at the provision for children with special educational needs and equalities and diversity issues.
Why is there a commission on resident participation?
I was previously vice chair of a tenants and residents association of where I used to live. It was my experience that tenants participation differs widely across Lambeth and asked that a commission be set up to look at best practice both within the borough and elsewhere. I was asked to chair the committee and site on it together with Councillors Pete Bowyer and Irene Kimm.
In the past months we have spoke to many groups and individuals both from the community and council officers to hear their views including a visit to a two star authority Haringey to hear about how they do things differently there.
This week has been a busy week for the commission as we step up our efforts. We met with Chris Vaughan, Chair of Leaseholders council to discuss her ideas of what makes Tenants participation works.
Tanzine Ahmed, Director of Olmec, came to speak to us about projects that her organisation had been involved in including ‘Black on Board’ a project with the aim to increase the representation of minority communities at board level in housing.
Both conversations were extremely interesting. Its was clear that training to give people the skills and confidence was key together with outreach work to encourage groups who do not currently engage at this level.
We also visited Chaplin Close in the North of the Borough this week. Chaplin Close is a small sheltered housing community and is inspirational in how tenants participation can work. Councillor Irene Kimm and I were massively impressed by the work of the tenants association which mixed fun activities with the important work that a tenants association does.
Some of the achievements they have include attracting numerous grants and organise regular parties, outings and other social events.
The committee is very large and they work hard to include as many residents as possible. Turn out to
committee meetings is high, helped by the fact that it follows a session of Bingo. All members of the committee were extremely vocal and shared with us why they felt their association worked so well.
The association has built close ties with local MP Kate Hoey and Councillor Peter Truesdale. They work with volunteers to help them with administration skills and with the hard work needed to maintain the gardens which are truly beautiful.
It has been my experience that many people are resistant to moving to Sheltered Housing, believing somehow that they will no longer have the independence that they are entitled to. My experience of Chaplin 
Close is that the residents are extremely independent and through the work of the tenants association the close is a vibrant and beautiful place to live.
Chaplin Close is an exemplary example of how residents participation can work. One of the key elements of the success is that they constantly work to enable more people to have the skills to participate and by actively looking for help from the wider community help enrich the lives of everyone who lives in the sheltered housing.
Some excellent ideas and findings have come out of this weeks work. Lead scrutiny officer Byron Green has worked extremely hard to organise these events and has also pulled together extensive amounts of research that will contribute to to the findings of the commission. I guess I better get back to reading them….
Tags: councillor christopher wellbelove, councillor irene kimm, councillor pete bowyer, haringey council, housing scrutiny, lambeth housing, scrutiny commission
Category scrutiny |
