Our local pledges for SE11

On 19 April we launched the Lambeth Labour manifesto for the council election on 22 May.

We have also launched three local pledges for SE11. If you elect us as your local councillors, these are our pledges that we will work towards over the next four years.

1. Protect, preserve and enhance our green spaces, making sure all our parks have a clear programme of works, and identify funding for the works.

2. Work with small businesses and shops to find ways of supporting Kennington Cross, and the smaller shopping areas, so that business and the community can thrive.

3. Tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the night-time economy by strengthening our licensing powers.


Remember that next Thursday, 22 May, you have three votes in the council election - please use all three for your Labour candidates:

David Amos
Chris Marsh
Joanne Simpson

Planning update

Apologies for the lack of blog posts over the past month - Cllr Steve Morgan has been keeping residents up to date with planning and licensing news via email. If you haven't done so already, please sign up to his occasional emails by sending him a quick email request.

Two important pieces of planning news from the past month are:

The Pathways project at St Anselm's Church has been given planning permission.

This scheme will transform the church into a community hub for several activities - including a restaurant, new hall, after school tuition, and accommodation. You can read the planning committee report here, and minutes from the meeting here.

The scheme had a lot of support from many residents in Kennington, but was opposed by residents living close by in Sancroft Street and Cardigan Street. After careful consideration local councillors decided to support the scheme because of the increase in positive activity it will bring to Kennington Cross.

A developer is holding a consultation about redeveloping Eastbury House on the Albert Embankment.

Eastbury House is one of the postwar office blocks on the Albert Embankment. Developers have a consultation website setting out their proposal to replace it with a 28 storey mixed use tower.

Another Tesco for Kennington

Many people have been asking what is happening to the old bingo hall/cinema building at 216 Kennington Road. Tesco have now revealed that they are planning to open a new Express Store in the summer of 2012.

Despite much speculation as to who would be taking over the site Tesco has only signed the agreement to use the building in the last few weeks.

The site was granted planning permission for retail use in 2008 and was renewed in 2010. Before they open their store Tesco will have to submit a planning application for the signage they will use outside of the store. They will also have to submit a licensing application if they plan to sell alcohol.

The Tesco press release confirming the opening of the store is below.

TESCO EXPRESS COMING TO KENNINGTON ROAD

Tesco is delighted to confirm its interest to open a Tesco Express convenience food store in Kennington Road. at the former bingo hall.

The former bingo hall which has been empty for some time will be converted into eight apartment and an Express.

Carol Leslie, Tesco spokesperson said: 'We think this is an excellent location for a Tesco Express and we are delighted to have secured a lease on these premises.'

The `Express’ is a small convenience food store that focuses on bringing quality, service, value and fresh produce to peoples’ doorsteps.

Carol continued: 'Our Express stores are extremely popular and can bring lots of benefit to the community it serves. Not only will it keep people shopping in the area but is extremely convenient for residents and workers and those people who have no transport or those preferring to shop on foot. We believe it will benefit the area by encouraging people to shop locally and also cut down on car journeys to other shopping areas.'

She added: 'Our Express stores are all about being local, employing local people, serving local people, working with local traders and actively supporting the local community. It will employ around 20 staff.'

St Anselm's Church planning application submitted

St Anselm's Church have submitted their planning application to transform the existing church into a thriving centre for community and youth projects.

The details of the application are:

Change of use of part of the ground floor of St Anselm's Church to a restaurant/cafe/delicatessen (Use Class A3), relocation of the church use to a new second floor, demolition of vestry and part of transepts, together with other minor external alterations within the site. Demolition of Havilland House and garages and redevelopment of the site to provide a new community hall (Use Class D1), educational facilities (Use Class D1), two work units (Use Class B1), and 17 residential units (Town Planning and Conservation Area Consent Applications received).

You can view the plans by visiting the following page and then clicking on the associated documents link: http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=LM2CI9BO0AY00

Once you have looked at the plans you can support or object to them by clicking on the submit comments button.

You can find out more about the project at http://www.pathwaysse11.com/

Local councillors will be supporting the application, which gained the support of 98% of 600 residents who attended a consultation event held at the church.

Licensing application for ABY Convenience Store, 297 Kennington Road

A New application for a Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the below-mentioned premises was received by the licensing authority on 26th October 2010

Premises Address: ABY Convenience Store - 297 Kennington Road, London, SE11 4QE

Activities/times requested:

Supply of Alcohol (for consumption off the premises)
Sunday - Wednesday 07:00 - 00:00
Thursday - Saturday 07:00 - 02:00

Prior to determining this application, the licensing authority may accept written representations from Responsible Authorities and Interested Parties on the likely effect of the grant of this application in relation to the licensing objectives, which are:

· Preventing crime and disorder;
· Public safety;
· Preventing public nuisance; and
· Protecting children from harm.

Representations will be disregarded if they are deemed to be vexatious, frivolous, or irrelevant, or if they are received later than the 23rd November 2010

See the full application here

Find out more about the licensing process by reading our guide to licensing

Kate Hoey's election HQ up and running

Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey has launched her campaign for re-election by opening an election HQ in the heart of Kennington.

Kate's taken over the old Amici restaurant at Kennington Cross, and her election volunteers will base themselves here.

If you want to arrange to meet Kate, pick up a poster, or offer your help to her campaign then drop into 305 Kennington Road.

Councillors celebrate new bike stands at Kennington Cross

Councillors Lorna, Mark and Steve today visited Kennington Cross to inspect the new bike stands installed by Transport for London.

They have been installed after years of campaigning and pressure from local residents and councillors.

Mark said 'bike stands were badly needed for users of the library, shops and pubs at Kennington Cross. We're delighted that TfL have finally listened and got the stands installed.'

White Hart pub licensing application

A Variation application for a Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of the below-mentioned premises was received by the licensing authority on 22nd March 2010

Applicants Name: The Tommyfield Pub Ltd
Premises Address: The Tommyfield - 185 Kennington Lane London SE11 4EZ (formerly the White Hart)

Activities/times requested:

Supply of Alcohol
Monday - Thursday: 11:00 - 00:00 (no change)
Friday & Saturday: 11:00 - 01:00 (currently 11:00 – 00:00)
Sunday: 12:00 - 23:30 (no change)

Prior to determining this application, the licensing authority may accept written representations from Responsible Authorities and Interested Parties on the likely effect of the grant of this application in relation to the licensing objectives, which are:
· Preventing crime and disorder;
· Public safety;
· Preventing public nuisance; and
· Protecting children from harm.

Representations will be disregarded if they are deemed to be vexatious, frivolous, or irrelevant, or if they are received later than the 19th April 2010

If a valid representation (or more than one) is received and is not withdrawn, this application will be referred to a hearing of the Licensing Sub-Committee for determination. If no representations are received, the application will ordinarily be determined by the relevant Licensing Officer.

Applications for new Premises licences, and variations and reviews of existing ones, will be placed on the Councils website for inspection; the address at which these may be accessed is www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/Business/LicencesStreetTrading/AlcoholEntertainmentLateNightRefreshment/CurrentApplications.htm

Kennington Cross to get cycle racks – at last!

Transport for London have finally agreed to implement long awaited cycle racks at Kennington Cross, after lobbying by local councillors, the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum and Val Shawcross AM.

In a written response to Val Shawcross, Mayor Boris Johnson, who is Chair of Transport for London (TfL) stated that TfL were now engaged with the project and gave an implementation date of May this year.

Val said ‘I’m glad that TfL have finally got on board with this one – the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum and the local councillors have been calling for this sensible move for ages. The site, outside the Dog House pub, is ideally located and suitable for cycle racks and the scheme will contribute to the overall project to create a local identity for Kennington Cross. The Forum members have raised with me that there is nowhere for anyone visiting the area, for example to go to the Durning Library to chain a bike, except the railings around the listed toilets. So it’s great news that TfL are now listening and the improvements should happen over the next few months.’

· Mayor Boris Johnson’s full answer to Val read:

Cycle Racks – Kennington Cross

Question No: 219 / 2010

Valerie Shawcross

The Kennington and Oval Forum have contacted me about the need for Cycle Racks at Kennington Cross particularly for local cyclists. An area outside the Dog House on Kennington Road is a suitable place supported by local residents and Lambeth Council. There appears to be a lack of support for the request at TfL. Please can you ensure that TfL engages with this project and supports this request for cycle racks?

Answer from the Mayor:

I am pleased to confirm that Transport for London has engaged with this project, supports this request and that this location is on the action list. A site inspection has taken place with further investigative work required before implementation can proceed. TfL has scheduled the implementation of this scheme to take place in May 2010.

St Anselm's planning consultation

St Anselm's Church at Kennington Cross has launched a consultation with residents about major plans for redevelopment of their site.

Rev Angus Aagard (pictured) told several hundred people about the groups he wants to bring together on the site.

Into University will move from Centenary Hall to a new classroom on the site. They have provided additional tuition and support to over 1000 local school children to help improve their achievement and raise their aspirations.

The Pelican Nursery will continue working on the ground floor of St Anselm's Church Hall, providing high quality nursery places for a social mix of young children.

The London Youth Support Trust's business units for young people starting up on their own have already been built in the top floor of St Anselm's Church Hall.

Tomorrow's People provide work experience for young people on their flower stall. Currently outside the church, it's hoped they will move to the middle of Kennington Cross and be based out of the ArtsLav project in the discused gentlemen's convenience.

The Clink is a restaurant project based in a prison in Sutton. It provides work experience in a high quality restaurant environment to the prisoners there. The Clink hope to open a brasserie on the ground floor of the Church, open to all, providing work for carefully selected exoffenders who have left prison. They will be housed in flats at the back on the site.

A new community hall will provide a subsidised space for community activities and meetings.

Several new flats will replace Havilland House on Sancroft Street, providing accommodation for clergy, young people working in the business units, and exoffenders working in the brasserie.

The Church will be in the same building, but on a raised floor above the brasserie and new hall. It will preserve the architectural feel of the church whilst making it much easier and economical to heat.

The initial reaction from local residents, the Kennington Association, and ward councillors has been hugely positive. The scheme has the potential to create a bustling community hub, providing services of benefit to everybody in the area. A planning application will be launched shortly - if you support the scheme please consider writing to Lambeth's Planning Department to let them know. Demonstrating community support will be crucial to the application's success.

The consultation continues today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday).

Community coffee morning announced!

Following the success of 2009's Prince's ward coffee morning, the councillors are delighted to announce a coffee morning for January 2010.

Residents of Prince's ward are invited to a community coffee morning on Saturday 23 January, from 11am to 12:30pm, at St Anselm's Church Hall , Kennington Cross.

It will be a chance for residents to meet their neighbours and local councillors, and to discuss issues affecting the area. Kate Hoey MP will also be attending.

We hope to see many residents there!

Tree of Hope lit up

Tuesday evening saw hundreds of Kennington residents flock to St Anselm's Church to watch as Kate Hoey MP switched on the 'Tree of Hope' lights.

The Tree of Hope is designed to improve Kennington Cross, increase the sense of community, and provide a positive focus after the tragic deaths of several young people in past few years.

The money has been raised by the Kennington Association, who have spearheaded the project.

Local councillors helped out by donating part of the 2008 'ward purse' fund towards the project.

If you have a good idea for the 2009 ward purse, please get in touch with your local councillors in the next month.

Let us know how Council money should be spent

Local councillors are asking residents to suggest the best options for spending £12 000 earmarked for Kennington and Vauxhall. Labour has decided to continue a scheme which gives councillors a pot of money to distribute in their ward.

Last year councillors chose to fund:
-The Tree of Hope project – which will light up the large tree at Kennington Cross as a symbol of hope against violent crime in the area
-A project at Archbishop Sumner’s School to erect a greenhouse in their eco-garden
-The Creative Sparkworks project at the Old Lilian Baylis, providing art, craft & media activities for young people
-Initial security works to the disused Victorian gentlemen’s convenience at Kennington Cross, so that further work can proceed to convert the space into an arts centre.

Councillor Steve Morgan said ‘last year’s projects were really successful, and we want to make sure this year’s will be just as good. Please let us know if you have an idea for funding by getting in touch’.

Pictured: Labour councillors in front of the tree which will be list up this Autumn, in part thanks to Ward Purse money

Update on ward purse projects

Earlier in the year councillors in Prince's ward selected several projects to benefit from funding from the 'ward purse' - a special fund from Lambeth Council.

Here's an update on the projects:

Archbishop Sumner Primary School Eco Garden
The Friends of Archbishop Sumner School applied to erect a greenhouse in their eco-garden, at the corner of Kennington Road and Reedworth Street. The greenhouse has now been erected, and pupils at the school are making use of the growing facilities there.

Tree of Hope
A project to light up a tree as a symbol of hope against violent crime in the area. After many travails, notably with TfL, the lights have now finally been installed. They are expecting their electrical inspection and certificate on Monday 27th June. However, a formal “switch on” will take place, probably in September, when the evenings become darker.

Creative Sparkworks
A project providing art, craft & media activities at their workshop in the Lilian Baylis Old School for which it needed running water, electrical work for heating and kiln installation. This Ward Purse project is complete.

ArtsLav
A “reserve” project, to make four rather than the allowed three in Prince’s Ward. The long term plan is to convert a disused Victorian gentlemen’s convenience into an arts centre. The Ward Purse funding was for initial security works, so that further work could proceed without fear of theft of items for architectural salvage. As a reserve project, this commenced somewhat later than the others, so is a little further behind the others and only received the funding mid June.

Pictured: Councillor Mark Harrison outside the Kennington Cross toilets earmarked to become the 'ArtsLav project.

Community coffee morning announced

The Prince's Labour Action Team are delighted to announce a community coffee morning, open to all residents, which will take place on Saturday 17 January, from 11am to 12:30pm.

It will be a chance for residents to meet their neighbours and local councillors, and to discuss issues affecting the area.

It will be held at St Anselm's Church Hall, at Kennington Cross. St Anselm's is at the junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Lane, and the Church Hall is on the left hand side of the Church.

We hope to see many residents there.

£12000 purse to spend!

'The Ward Purse' in a new scheme Lambeth Council has introduced for 2008, which will allow councillors to allocate funds to projects in their local area. Up to £12000 is available to spend in each ward, on up to three projects. It is up to the ward councillors which projects are allocated the money, but they are required to consult their local community before doing so.

Councillors Lorna Campbell, Steve Morgan and Sam Townend have until 12 December to consult and decide which projects in Prince's ward will benefit from the 'Ward Purse'. They want to hear from community groups and individuals who have ideas as to how the money should be spent.

Initial ideas that were suggested at a recent meeting of local Labour party members include:

-protecting newly planted trees from vandalism / planting new trees

-a collaborative project with a local group like the Kennington Association or Roots & Shoots

-improvement work to Kennington Cross, such as installing bike racks

-refurbishment of community facilities - such as the Vauxhall Five's hall

-community action days to clear up certain areas

What do you think?

Please let your councillors know:

lcampbell@lambeth.gov.uk

srmorgan@lambeth.gov.uk