Speed table for Lambeth Walk and other improvements for cyclists

The Council are planning to carry out some improvements which should make a significant difference to many cycle trips in our area.

At the junction of Lambeth Walk, Lollard Street and Old Paradise Street (pictured) the existing two raised crossings will be replaced with a single speed table for the whole junction, so that cyclists don't have to bump up and down twice when crossing the junction. The change will also stop vehicles speeding east-west through the junction, and make other improvements to the public realm.

Further north, Carlisle Lane will be resurfaced, which is excellent news for all road users, as it has terrible potholes along its length. The Council will be allowing cyclists to travel in both directions along Carlisle Lane. This will allow cyclists to safely travel more directly and conveniently.

The statutory consultation deadline has passed, but if you have any serious concerns about these proposals please do let us know.

More road changes around Lambeth

Gas main replacement work is going to result in part of Lambeth High Street being closed for up to three months. The section between Black Prince Road and Whitgift Street will be affected.

The section of Newport Street between Old Paradise Street and Whitgift Street continues to be closed because of building work.

That means traffic will have to go via Lambeth High Street, Whitgift Street and Newport Street to travel north/south.

Officers have also informed us that the developer of 20 Albert Embankment (Hampton House) has applied to vary the kerbline of the pavement and permanently 'stop up' part of the wide pavement there, in order for the building there to be constructed. The plan below shows how the pavement will be squared off and narrowed to accommodate the new buildings.

Costa Coffee proposes 25m hopper for Old Paradise Street

Costa Coffee have submitted a planning application to increase the capacity of their roasting facility next to the railway on Old Paradise Street.

The plans include a 25 metre high hopper for roasting coffee - about the same height as the police building and Sugden boilerhouse chimney on the same street.

The plans have the potential to affect residents of Gabriel House, and users of Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground (Old Paradise Gardens).

You can view and comment on the plans here.

Proposed pavement widening & raised entry treatment on Newport Street

As part of an ongoing development of Damien Hirst's new gallery, it is proposed to widen the pavement on the western side of
Newport Street and to introduce a raised entry treatment at the junction with Old Paradise Street to improve “at level” crossing facilities for pedestrians and slow vehicle speeds.

The main change is that the pavement along the front of the art gallery would be widened by approximately 1.6m (it is currently about 1.8m) to allow for some bicycle racks to be installed, allow enough room for queuing visitors and to create a more “impressive” entrance to what the applicant hopes is going to be a high profile and well visited attraction. All works would be entirely at the developer’s expense.

The plans are being sent to homes and businesses in the area, and the plans can be emailed to anybody who is interested. Lambeth Council will be collecting people's views until 18 November.

Local councillors have already asked that work takes place to improve dropped kerbs on Old Paradise Street so that people with wheelchairs and pushchairs can use the pavement more easily, for trees to be planted on Newport Street, for the surface of the raised crossing to be robust enough to stand up to HGVs, and for new street nameplates for all the corners in the area.

Improvements to the Ethelred Estate underway

Improvements to the Ethelred Estate and surrounding area's roads and pavements are continuing.

The work is part of the Better Neighbourhoods Programme. This has been set up by Labour to improve areas in Lambeth which were previously neglected.

The extra money has been made available because Labour has managed Lambeth Council’s finances prudently. Reserves have been built up, and now there are extra resources which we have chosen to spend on environmental improvements.

The Ethelred Estate and its surroundings is one of six areas chosen to receive intensive work under the scheme. Too often in the past the Estate has been overlooked and neglected, and local councillors wanted to change this.

The improvements include
-new pavements for Black Prince Road, Lollard Street, and Old Paradise Street
-resurfacing of Gibson Road (pictured)
-resurfacing of the car parks outside Malam House and Michelson House
-resurfaced pavements around the estate
-10 new trees planted
-repaired walls around trees

Councillors are keeping a close eye on the work, have undertaken a walkabout of the estate with the contract manager, and have asked that some refinements to the work be made. Please do let us know if you have any concerns or suggestions about the work, or if you have suggestions for where the new trees should be planted.

Ethelred Estate benefits from major environmental investment

Work has begun on improvements to footpaths in and around the Ethelred Estate, that are part of a £3.5 million programme of investment from Lambeth Council.

Footpaths on Lollard Street (pictured), Black Prince Road, Old Paradise Street, and throughout the estate will be replaced, and new trees will be planted.

The work is part of Lambeth's 'Better Neighbourhoods' programme.

Community garden for Sugden boiler site?

A group of local residents have begun investigating the possibility of setting up a community garden on a derelict site at the corner of Lambeth Walk and Old Paradise Street.

The site has been empty since the demolition of Sugden House nearly a decade ago. The awkwardly shaped site surrounds the main boiler for the Ethelred Estate, making development difficult. Two applications for housing development have been turned down in previous years, being too large and unsuitable for the site.

Now local residents Trevor, Rachael and Mark have begun to investigate whether a community garden can be set up, at least temporarily. An initial survey of neighbouring residents shows that reaction was overwhelmingly positive. The process may take some time, but hopefully the transformation of this neglected site may be a bit closer!

If you'd like to offer your support for the project, or get involved, please email boilerhouseproject@metronet.co.uk