A site for residents of Prince's Ward, SE11, in the London Borough of Lambeth. Check for updates from your Labour Action Team's campaigning, local information, and meetings.

Sunday 30 October 2011

Lambeth transfers ownership of Old Lilian Baylis site to the Black Prince Trust





Lambeth Council transferred ownership of 2.4 acres of land to the community on 21October.

Part of the former Lilian Baylis School site in Kennington has been transferred to a new community organisation, the Black Prince Trust (BPT), which will invest over £2 million in improving and extending sports and community facilities on the site. The Trust has received grant and loan funding from the Communitybuilders Fund and will be working in partnership with social enterprise GLL (Greenwich Leisure), the Community Action Zone, and many others to provide a wide range of sports, health and community programmes.

Council Leader Steve Reed explained 'This is the co-operative council in action. The council saves money but more importantly young people gain football and athletics facilities and a wide range of programmes aimed at getting kids active and engaged. The community doesn’t need an underused building costing the council thousands of pounds each year but it does need youth sports and activities to engage local children and give them a place to go.'

Brian Dickens, BPT chairman, said: 'Ownership of the site will allow the Trust to invest in facilities, management, and a long-term sustainable business plan. It will allow us to do what the ‘third sector’ does best: to respond to local needs.'

Kate Hoey MP, BPT trustee and co-chair of the Community Action Zone, said: 'From an abandoned school to the Black Prince Trust has been a remarkable journey. My thanks to all who persevered to make it happen despite huge obstacles. The facilities are not just for young people but for everyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of sport. Now that we control the site we can continue to deliver an even better programme than before.'

Caroline Forster, Communitybuilders Director at the Adventure Capital Fund said:
'We are excited to be able to provide over £2 million from the Communitybuilders Fund to support this significant asset transfer project. We feel the Black Prince Trust will have a real positive impact in their community by providing a range of attractive services and facilities to local people.'

The Black Prince Trust is planning to add
• a new running track
• high jump and long jump facilities
• new 5-a-side football pitches with improved floodlighting
• new changing facilities, a first aid office, and wheelchair accessible toilets
• a new community building incorporating shared workspace for the Trust’s community partners, meeting and training facilities, and a neighbourhood cafĂ©
• a new gym and wellness facilities.

The site has been used for community programmes since 2005 when Lambeth Council granted the Sport Action Zone (SAZ) a short-term licence while continuing to pay for building maintenance and security. Despite having no security of tenure, SAZ attracted significant funding from companies such as Nike and the Football Foundation. The council continued to work with the Sport Action Zone to find a permanent arrangement that worked for both parties. The offer of intensive support and grant funding from the Communitybuilders Fund has allowed the development of a sustainable business plan and the founding of the Black Prince Trust.

A ‘Community Service Agreement’ tied to the lease requires the Trust to provide a range of programmes that meet local community needs. The Trust will shortly be announcing the first of its ‘open days’ when locals can visit the site, learn about the new and improved facilities, and discuss what programmes they would like in the future.

The Trust has appointed GLL to manage the facilities for an initial 3-year period.

The council has also agreed to sell the other half of the Old Lilian Baylis site (Site B). The Council has exchanged contracts with Henley Homes which intends to refurbish the Listed Buildings and convert them into dwellings and a facility for the local community.

The transaction is subject to planning consent and the Council, at the end of the planning process, expects to obtain a substantial capital receipt that will contribute towards the Council's Capital Programme that is used to fund housing, roads, schools, leisure centres etc.

Furthermore, the Council also expects the scheme to deliver 40% affordable housing for residents of the borough.

Background notes:

1. The 5.7 acre former Lilian Baylis school site is a complex of two and three storey buildings with an open play area. The school is listed grade II as being of architectural or historic interest and is on the Heritage at Risk Register. The school opened in 1964 and ceased to use the site in 2004. The Trust has acquired 2.4 acres of the site including the existing gymnasium building, 2 tennis courts and a football pitch.

2. The North Lambeth and North Southwark Sport Action Zone (SAZ) was one of 12 Sport Action Zones set up in 2000 by Sport England in response to a Government-identified need to engage deprived communities, increase sport participation, address wider social issues through sport, develop partnerships and community capacity, and to act as a test-bed for new initiatives. South Bank Employers’ Group hosted the unincorporated SAZ and provided vital support from 2002 to April 2011.

3. The Black Prince Trust has been founded specifically to run the former Lilian Baylis site as a community facility. It is a registered charity. Under its Articles, at least 50% of trustees must be local residents.

4. The £70m Communitybuilders Fund, previously owned by the Department for Communities and Local Government is now an endowed fund, owned and administered by the Adventure Capital Fund. It supports neighbourhood-based, community-led organisations to become more sustainable through a mixture of loans, grants and business support. The Fund is managed on ACF’s behalf by The Social Investment Business. www.communitybuildersfund.org.uk

5. In June 2010, in response to a SAZ/ South Bank Employers’ Group bid, SIB appointed Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB) to prepare a ‘scoping report’ recommending how best to provide intensive support to develop a community hub on the Lilian Baylis site. Working closely with the council, SBEG and SAZ, CSCB carried out intensive business planning, site feasibility and design work, and organisational development culminating in a bid to the Communitybuilders Fund for a capital investment of £2 million (part loan and part grant) to enable the facilities to be improved and extended and to open up the prospect of further investment. A parallel application was made to the Council to transfer part of the site from Lambeth to the new charitable Trust.

6. Secretary of State consent to transfer at less than best market value was secured in June and, on 10 October 2011, the Black Prince Trust was assigned a 125 year lease aligned with a community service agreement setting out the community benefits to be delivered.

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.


Licensing application for 114 Brook Drive

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 the 25th October 2011.

Applicants Name:
Mr Sultan Chaudhery
Premises Address:
Brook Mini Mart - Shop 114 Brook Drive London
Activities/times requested:
New grant premises licence
Supply of Alcohol Monday - Sunday 07:00 - 23:00

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 22nd November 2011. 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.

Read our guide to licensing here

Monday 17 October 2011

Planning Committee see Whitgift Estate's concerns for themselves

On Saturday morning members of Lambeth's Planning Committee made a site visit to the Fire Brigade HQ and associated buildings which are the subject of a major planning application. Dozens of concerned local residents joined the visit to make their objections to the scheme known.

Residents of Whitgift House showed how the proposed new residential slab blocks would overshadow their building, depriving it of almost all daylight during the winter months. The Friends of Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground explained how shadowing from the new buildings would affect plant and tree growth, and make the new play fountain prone to moss growth. And local councillors Steve Morgan and Mark Harrison explained how putting all the social housing for the scheme into a building on the other side of the railway tracks would contribute to social segregation in the area, and not create a mixed and balanced community.


The application is due to go to the Planning Committee tomorrow evening.


Pictured: participants in the site visit look across to the Whitgift Street site from the back of the Fire Brigade HQ.

Thursday 13 October 2011

Val takes police petition to Vauxhall Gardens



On Saturday Lambeth's London Assembly Member Val Shawcross visited the Vauxhall Gardens Estate to collect signatures for London Labour's petition against Tory police cuts.

Val and her team are campaigning against Tory Mayor Boris Johnson's plan to cut 1800 police officers from London's streets.

The petition got an enthusiastic response from Vauxhall Gardens Estate residents, angry that the Tories are considering cutting the police so soon after this summer's riots

You can sign the petition here.
Pictured: Val with some of her team on Saturday, including Prince's Councillor Steve Morgan

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.'

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Volunteers deliver leaflet to launch Val's campaign

Over the next couple of weeks Labour volunteers across Prince's ward will be delivering a leaflet which launches Val Shawcross' campaign to be reelected as London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark.

Val has worked hard for this area ever since being first elected to City Hall in 2000. You can read about what Val has been up to on her website, which includes her annual report.

Val is highlighting Boris Johnson's terrible record as Mayor of London, including his plans to cut 1800 police officers, and his decision to raise bus fares by 56%.

If you could spare some time to deliver a few leaflets to your street or block, please get in touch.

Wednesday 5 October 2011

Licensing application for the Rose, 35 Albert Embankment



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 30 September 2011

Premises Address:
The Rose - 35 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TL


Activities/times requested:
Vary Premises




Live Music
Saturday: 16:00 - 23:00

Sunday - Friday: 12:00 - 23:00

New Years Eve until 04:00hrs New Years Day. Easter Bank Holiday weekend to increase the terminal hour until 04:00hrs for Thursday, Friday _ Saturday and 02:00 Sunday
May, August _ Whitsun Bank Holiday to increase the terminal hour until 04:00 for the proceeding Friday _ Saturday and 02:00 Sunday.
Christmas Eve _ Boxing Day to increase the terminal hour until 04:00 The opportunity to apply for 15 additional "special event" days.



Recorded Music
Monday - Saturday: 11:00 - 05:00
Sunday: 07:00 - 02:00

Christmas Eve _ Boxing Day to increase the terminal hour until 04:00 The opportunity to apply for 15 additional "special event" days.



Late Night Refreshment
Monday - Saturday: 23:00 - 05:00
Sunday: 23:00 - 02:00

All bank holiday Sundays 23:00 - 0500 for New Years Eve to the starting times of new years day.



Supply of Alcohol
Monday - Saturday: 11:00 - 05:00
Sunday: 10:00 - 02:00

New Years Eve until 04:00hrs New Years Day. Easter Bank Holiday weekend to increase the terminal hour until 04:00hrs for Thursday, Friday _ Saturday and 02:00 Sunday
May, August _ Whitsun Bank Holiday to increase the terminal hour until 04:00 for the proceeding Friday _ Saturday and 02:00 Sunday.
Christmas Eve _ Boxing Day to increase the terminal hour until 04:00 The opportunity to apply for 15 additional "special event" days.



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 28 October 2011

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



Tuesday 4 October 2011

Snow Wardens scheme



When the winter months arrive Lambeth's gritters work hard to keep our borough's main transport routes and pedestrian areas free from ice and snow.


With our focus on keeping public services and main transport routes running, many quieter residential roads don't get gritted. Because of this, we are offering all our residents and communities the equipment and grit they would need to make a difference in their local area by clearing snow and ice from residential streets.


If you are an individual or part of a community group who is keen to assist others on your road and in your local area and would like to be a part of our Snow Wardens Scheme, please contact us by email SnowWardens@lambeth.gov.uk or telephone 020 7926 0524.


What does the scheme involve?
If you, or a group of you, would like to be able to clear snow from your pavements, we will give you some basic training to keep you safe and supply you with:
-a grit bin and supply of salt (delivered to you)
-shovels
-hi-visibility vests
-gloves.


If you are part of a community group, we will supply you with a number of shovels and equipment which can be shared by your members. Training sessions will be held during the weeks beginning 10 October and 24 October 2011, with some sessions during the early evening and some during the day. The sessions will be a good opportunity to meet and mix with other snow wardens in your area.


How do I sign up?
To sign up as a volunteer or to simply find out more about the scheme please email SnowWardens@lambeth.gov.uk or telephone 020 7926 0524.

Linear park for Tyers Street



A steering group has formed to make plans for a community-led linear park to be created in Tyers Street, through the Vauxhall Gardens Estate.


The street is currently long and empty, with little traffic, parking, or people.


Councillor Mark Harrison believes it could be transformed into an extension of Vauxhall Spring Gardens.


He's teamed up with other local residents, including the Secretary of VGERTA, who have set up a website calling for initial ideas about the park. Please get in touch!

New playground and ballcourt for Cotton Gardens?





Lambeth Living have submitted their planning application for a new playground and refurbished ballcourt at Hurley House behind the Cotton Gardens Estate. (Located on the corner of Wincott Street & Kempsford Road)

The planning application is for, "Improvement works of existing ball games by installation of new rigid weldmesh ballcourt fencing, new surfacing and goals. Installation of a small play area on existing open space with timber/net/play equipment landscaping, to include timber fence, low vertical bar fence, seating and grassmatt safety surface."

To view the plans and to comment on them you will need to go to the Council's planning database. The reference is 11/02866/RG3.


The project has been driven forward thanks to the hard work of the Cotton Gardens Residents' Association.

Monday 3 October 2011

Green Flag hoisted at Kennington Park



On Saturday Kate Hoey MP had the honour of hoisting the Green Flag awarded to Kennington Park this year.


The Green Flag is a prestigious award, recognising parks with excellent standards. The award is a tribute to the hard work of the Friends of Kennington Park and the park maintenance staff.


Local councillors from all the surrounding wards were out in force to celebrate in the unseasonable hot sunshine.

Submission to the Libraries Commission by Prince’s ward councillors



We want to make the case for the Durning Library to continue providing a library service in its present building.

Well-used

The Durning has a higher footfall than any of the ‘non-town-centre’ libraries. It is significantly better-used than Carnegie, Minet, Waterloo and South Lambeth libraries. Its footfall (94938) is not far off the footfalls of Clapham (110640) and West Norwood (133440). This is remarkable as the ‘catchment area’ in which most Durning visitors live is pretty tightly drawn around the library, in the immediate Kennington area. This demonstrates that the local Kennington community uses its library to a greater extent than in other areas. It is also a reflection of the high density of this part of central London, with a high population within walking distance, large numbers of crowded flats, and a high level of deprivation.

Well-located

The Durning is located at Kennington Cross, in the heart of Kennington. It is very prominent and a focal point for the community. It is especially-well served by buses running north-south along Kennington Road.

Unlike the rest of Lambeth, ‘North Lambeth’ does not have a single town centre – it is a collection of centres – Waterloo, Lambeth, Kennington, Vauxhall and South Lambeth. There is no obvious central point which is easily accessible to everybody in the area. The history and high population density of the area explains why there are more libraries, and it would be very difficult to consolidate them into single location. Kennington Cross is the logical focal point for services in our area to be provided at.

Much-loved building

The Durning is an impressive and attractive building, opened in 1889, and providing library services to Kennington ever since. Local people want the library service to continue to be provided in the building. All too frequently councils make the mistake of abandoning historic buildings because they are ‘expensive’ or ‘difficult’ to maintain – underestimating the value which people place on the heritage of their area. The attachment Kennington residents have for their library was demonstrated in 1999 when they launched a vocal and successful campaign to save the library from closure. No doubt residents would be willing to campaign once again, if the library was under threat. To cease providing a library service in the building Jemima Durning gifted to Lambeth 122 years ago would be very sad. Moving library services elsewhere would also leave the Council with a highly-visible listed building empty – the Council would have to find a use for it, and would still face the issue of finding the capital investment it needs.

Willingness and capacity of the community to find a solution

The Durning is extremely fortunate to possess a large, capable, articulate and constructive Friends group, who are ready and willing to work with the Council to find solutions to the issues the library faces. They would be receptive to calls for volunteering, fundraising and Cooperative Council solutions. Local businesses are even seriously working up plans to offer to buy the building from the Council as a community hub. All these options should be seriously considered.

Solutions to the need for capital spending

The biggest issue the Durning faces is its need for significant capital investment, to deal with the backlog of maintenance issues and make the building completely fit for purpose for the 21st century. We believe the Council needs to acknowledge Durning’s needs and find creative solutions to attract investment. The following should be fully explored:

-The Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea development affects parts of Prince’s ward within Durning’s catchment area. The significant developments within the VNEB area should be contributing to the cost of sustaining and improving Lambeth’s local library services, at South Lambeth and Durning. We strongly suggest that South Lambeth and Durning are prioritised as recipients for VNEB investment in community infrastructure.
-As stated above, local businesses have expressed a willingness to explore buying the building as a community asset. This option should be seriously explored, as it could allow external sources of funding to be accessed.
-The issue of the Lambeth Living flat above the library is a challenging one. If a solution could be found, then the option of selling the building to a developer should be explored. The developer could then be responsible for maintaining the fabric of the building, could develop attractive flats upstairs, and be compelled to let the Council continue to provide a library service on the ground floor.
-Prince’s ward and North Lambeth are experiencing more than our fair share of asset sales, which bring the Council significant capital receipts. At the moment, the Beaufoy Institute and the Old Lilian Baylis building are in the process of being sold for significant sums. We fully support this, but believe there is a moral case that our much-valued library building should receive a portion of these large capital receipts. Our residents are having to lose potential community assets, and we think it is right that one of the most valued assets in our community gets the investment it needs in return. As local councillors, we are happy to work closely with officers to identify further unused assets and sites in our area which could be developed and bring in capital receipts to invest in our library.

This submission by Prince's ward councillors is kindly supported by the Friends of the Durning Library.
Promoted by David Amos and Joanne Simpson of Prince's Branch Labour Party (Vauxhall Constituency and Lambeth Borough) all at 264A Rosendale Road, SE24 9DL