Residents' opposition halts All Nations expansion plans

In the rush before Christmas we missed some good news from Lambeth's Planning Department - they have refused the All Nations Church's application to dramatically increase the size of their centre on Tyers Terrace.

The ANC have caused problems with noise and parking for local residents over many years. Many residents of Tyers Terrace objected to the application, supported by your local councillors.

We're pleased that Planning officers agreed that the ANC need to resolve the noise disturbance, parking problems and antisocial behaviour they cause before any expansion can be considered.

Council Leader sees Vauxhall Five's new windows for himself

Leader of Lambeth Council Steve Reed was shown round SE11 by local councillors Mark Harrison and Steve Morgan last week.

They took him to the Vauxhall Five Estate to celebrate the work taking place to transform residents' homes.

After decades of neglect, the blocks are having new windows, roofs, and concrete repairs, as part of a multimillion refurbishment.

Residents have campaigned for new windows for many years - the previous windows were over 60 years old and left people's homes draughty and cold. Local councillors and Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey supported the residents campaign and persuaded the Council to put the Estate at the top of Lambeth's housing capital programme.

Cllr Mark Harrison said 'it was great to be able to show Steve Reed the results of years of campaigning and lobbying - the new windows are already making residents' homes warmer and cheaper to heat.'

Vauxhall Five windows - project about to start!

After many years of pressure from residents, Kate Hoey MP, and councillors; work to replace the Vauxhall Five's windows is due to start at the end of this month.

Windows in Braham, Darley, Grover, Leary, and Simpson Houses are 1930s crittal windows which are in an appalling state, leaving residents with sky-high fuel bills in the winter. In addition, concrete from the balconies is failing, causing a serious safety hazard.

A 52 week major refurbishment programme will begin on 27 June. Roofs, windows, balconies, brickwork and concrete will all be brought up to a decent standard. Each individual block will take around five months to complete, depending on what concrete repairs are required.

Whilst major work like this will inevitably be disruptive, there will be Resident Liaison Officers from the contractor and Lambeth Council available for residents to speak to throughout the process. Work in flats will be done by appointment.

Many leaseholders will be concerned at the large bill they will have to pay. Lambeth Living should provide advice, support, and payment options to help leaseholders who will struggle with the bills.

Local councillors will be monitoring the project closely, and on hand to help if problems can't be resolved with Lambeth Living or the contractors.

Councillor Mark Harrison said: 'after more than a decade of pressure residents are finally close to seeing the work started which is so badly needed. We won't be celebrating until the windows are replaced and the contractors are offsite, but this month's news is really encouraging.'

Pictured: Mark Harrison with a petition for new windows he organised back in January 2009.

This week's Labour activity in SE11

On Tuesday evening Councillor Steve Morgan held a well-attended surgery at the Vauxhall Five Tenants' Hall. Residents of the five blocks met Steve to speak about issues they are facing with Lambeth Council. More people signed the petition asking the Council to bring forward badly-needed work to windows and concrete balconies.

On Wednesday morning Kate Hoey MP and Mark Harrison visited Denby Court sheltered housing for a coffee morning. Residents asked Kate to find out whether major works were planned for the buildings, which have had little work done to them since they were built in the early 1980s.

On Saturday the Kennington Association held their bazaar at St Anselm's Hall. The hall will also play host to a special fish and chip dinner on Monday 23rd, where Kate Hoey will welcome Frank Field MP as a guest of honour.

Petition for Vauxhall Five's windows

Labour Action Team members braved freezing conditions on Sunday to collect Vauxhall Five residents' signatures for a petition to Lambeth Council demanding speedier installation of new windows.

The petition came in response to Monday's meeting for residents, where officers explained that a major works contract for the five blocks has been programmed to start in January 2010.

The petition asks that Lambeth Living move the works forward, as windows and balconies on the estate are in a terrible state of repair, and people are struggling to heat their homes during the winter.

Pictured: Action Team Member Mark Harrison shows the signatures collected outside Grover House.

Vauxhall Five balconies and windows

Kate Hoey MP and Action Team Member Mark Harrison attended a special meeting of the Vauxhall Five TRA this evening.

The Vauxhall Five are five 1930s blocks on the corner of Kennington Lane and Vauxhall Street. Residents have been horrified this year as large chunks of concrete have begun to fall from their balconies and walkways. Some balconies have literally collapsed onto the ground below. Since June The Council has stuck up plywood boards and banned residents from using their balconies as they are unsafe. This evening residents were finally informed that the Council will carry out proper repairs, as soon as possible, in the next few weeks.

Residents are also fed up with the state of their windows. The original 1930s crittal windows are still in place, and are in a terrible state. Many can't be closed properly, and some have fallen out of their frames. The Council has promised that windows would be replaced many time over the years, but the estate seems to have been overlooked again and again. The Council have finally recognised that the windows need replacing, but can't guarantee they will be done in the next year, or even the year after that!

Vauxhall Labour campaigners will be supporting residents in their demands for new windows now, and will be keeping a close eye to ensure the balconies are repaired speedily and properly.