Letter to residents about eviction of squatters from 130 Newington Butts

Re. Recent Anti-social behaviour at 130-138 Newington Butts

Dear Resident,

Following repeated complaints regarding noise from the Camelot Guardians who were living in the building we, the owners of the building, decided to end the contract with Camelot on the 19th November. An alternative security company was engaged to secure the building.

However, on the 29th November we discovered the locks had been tampered with and we were unable to gain access. The building was being illegally occupied. The illegal occupants stated that they would move once a court order had been obtained. We immediately began the process to obtain a possession order. On December 21st the occupants were served with an Interim Possession Order. This order required the illegal occupants to leave within 24 hours. The occupants failed to leave and during the New Year’s period they held a 24 hour party which caused a major nuisance to local residents.

We have been working with the local police and your Councillors to establish the best way of enforcing the possession order but the number of squatters has meant that we have had to wait until potential police manpower is available.

On the 7th January we successfully evicted the squatters. Now we have regained possession we will install 24 hour security on the site to prevent this happening again. We will also continue working with your local Councillors and Council on the demolition and redevelopment of this site.

The DSF deeply regret the disturbance local residents have suffered we will make every effort to work with residents and their representatives in the future to ensure that our development can progress as quickly as possible.

To view and comment on the redevelopment of the site, which will soon be decided by Lambeth Council, please visit the Council website using Ref. 12/00054/FUL and email planning@lambeth.gov.uk with your thoughts.

Yours Faithfully,

Steve Logie


Operations Manager
Dolphin Square Foundation

Comment on TfL's plans for Cycle Superhighway 5

Transport for London is proposing to introduce a new cycle route between New Cross Gate and Victoria. Barclays Cycle Superhighway Route 5 (CS5) would run via Peckham, Camberwell, Kennington and Vauxhall.

View the proposals and have your say:
Please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/cs5 to see details of the proposed route and have your say. There are some significant changes planned for Vauxhall Cross and Oval junction.

Public Exhibitions:
TfL invite you to one of their three public exhibitions so you can view the proposals and speak to members of the project team:
Saturday 8 December 11:00-15:00, Peckham Library, 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR
Tuesday 11 December 15:00-19:00, Oval House Theatre café, 52-54 Kennington Oval, SE11 5SW
Wednesday 12 December 15:00-19:00, Parnell House, 25 Wilton Road, SW1V 1LW

About the proposed new route:
Barclays Cycle Superhighway Route 5 would bring substantial changes to the road layout to improve safety for cyclists, including:
More space for cyclists and buses, through reallocation of road space
New mandatory cycle lanes
Improvements for cyclists at 52 junctions, including new Advanced Stop Lines, cycle feeder lanes, and speed reduction measures
An innovative cycle ‘early-start’ facility at Vauxhall Bridge Road/Millbank to help cyclists get ahead of traffic
Banning some turns for cars and lorries to reduce conflict with cyclists
Extension to the existing 20mph speed limit in New Cross

The new route would also include a comprehensive package of supporting measures, including:
Over 3,000 new cycle parking spaces along the route
Cycle safety checks
Free cycle training
Industry-recognised safety training for drivers of large goods vehicles

Construction work:
TfL plan to start work in late spring 2013. They will write to local residents and businesses before undertaking work. The route is planned to open later in 2013.

Councillors learn more about proposed key worker housing at Newington Butts

This evening local councillors Lorna, Mark and Steve met the Dolphin Square Foundation to find out more about their proposed development at Newington Butts (at the junction of Kennington Lane and Kennington Park Road).

The Foundation's aim is to develop affordable (below market rent) housing, primarily for people who work in Westminster. Almost all the accommodation in the new development would be affordable housing, prioritised for people who currently live in Lambeth and work in Westminster.

The development would consist of a main block facing Newington Butts, with a supermarket/ cafe on the ground floor. There would be a back block and houses accessed from Holyoak Road at the rear. You can view and comment on the plans at Lambeth's Planning Database. The developers hope the plans will go to committee in January.

Updated: Licensing applications

There is a lot of licensing activity in our ward at the moment so we have updated our story from a couple of weeks' ago.

Full details of current alcohol and sex licence applications are on Lambeth's website.

Please read our guide to licensing before making a representation. If you'd like advice from your councillors, please don't hesitate to email us.


Superway Express - Shop 344 Kennington Lane London

Trading Standard request for review of the licence due to
- underage sales
- selling of single cans, risking encouraging street drinking
- employing staff illegally
- confusion over identity of designated premises superviser

Representations will be disregarded if they are deemed to be vexatious, frivolous, or irrelevant, or if they are received later than the 25 July 2012

Please direct any queries in respect of this application to the following case officer:
Pamela Riley
Telephone: 020 7926 6164
Email: PRiley@lambeth.gov.uk

UK Black Pride
Kennington Park
18 August 2012

Activities/times requested for this event:

Live Music
Saturday 14:00 - 20:00

Recorded Music
Saturday 12:30 - 20:30

Performances of Dance
Saturday 17:00 - 18:00

Provision of Facilities for Dancing
Saturday 12:30 - 18:30

Supply of Alcohol
Saturday 12:30 - 20:00

Representations will be disregarded if they are deemed to be vexatious, frivolous, or irrelevant, or if they are received later than the 16 July 2012

Please direct any queries in respect of this application to the following case officer:
Esther Jones
Telephone: 020 7926 6144
Email: EFJones@lambeth.gov.uk


Nigerian Carnival UK
Kennington Park
20 October 2012

Activities/times requested:

Films
Saturday 12:00 - 17:00

Live Music
Saturday 12:00 - 18:00

Recorded Music
Saturday 12:00 - 18:00

Performances of Dance
Saturday 12:00 - 18:00

Entertainment Similar to Music/Dance
Saturday 12:00 - 18:00

Provision of Facilities for Dancing
Saturday 12:00 - 18:00

Representations will be disregarded if they are deemed to be vexatious, frivolous, or irrelevant, or if they are received later than the 26 July 2012

Please direct any queries in respect of this application to the following case officer:
Esther Jones
Telephone: 020 7926 6144
Email: EFJones@lambeth.gov.uk


Sex Establishment Licences in Vauxhall

The Government changed the law two years ago to create a new sexual entertainment licence, that was separate from the previous licence regime. Lambeth did a consultation on the matter and has since adopted these rules. As a result any venue offering such entertainment needs to apply for a new licence.

Most of the press on this subject relates to men paying women to strip, but this is not what is going to happen in Vauxhall. In fact, the position will be that the activities in the clubs will continue as they always have done. They do not intend pay people to strip. We have included some explanations from the clubs concerned.


Bar Code, Arch 69, Goding Street, London, SE11 5AW

New activities/times requested:

Sex Cinema
Monday - Sunday 00:00 - 00:00

Sexual Entertainment Venue
Monday - Sunday 00:00 - 00:00

Sex Shop
Monday - Sunday 00:00 - 00:00

Representations will be disregarded if they are received later than the 15 July 2012.

Please direct any queries in respect of this application to the following case officer:
Esther Jones
Telephone: 020 7926 6144 

Email: EFJones@lambeth.gov.uk

From the owner of Barcode:

The position is that we are not applying for anything new as what we are requesting was already a part of our licence until it was separated out by the local authority.

We are not a going to be offering any new or different entertainment because of this licence. This application is being made to keep our licences concurrent and so we can, if we wish form time to time have male Go-Go dancers performing without having to make special applications for such shows as well as being able to possibly host an amateur strip event from time to time.

There will be no exploitation of performers nor will anyone 'paid to strip'.


Covert, Arch 65, Goding Street, London, SE11 5AW

New activities/times requested:

Sex Cinema
Monday - Sunday 00:00 - 00:00

Sexual Entertainment Venue
Monday - Sunday 00:00 - 00:00

Sex Shop
Monday - Sunday 00:00 - 00:00

Representations will be disregarded if they are received later than the 15 July 2012.

Please direct any queries in respect of this application to the following case officer:
Esther Jones
Telephone: 020 7926 6144
Email: EFJones@lambeth.gov.uk


From the owner of Covert:

HRH Clubs Limited, the owners and operators of Fire Nightclub, Area Nightclub and Covert Nightclub, pride themselves on offering their customers an enjoyable, safe and well managed entertainment service. We value our customer input and also value the views of the local community. For this reason we wish to clarify the reasons that we have applied for the Sexual Establishment Licences.

New legislation was passed by Parliament meaning that any venue that wished to provide nude or striptease entertainment require a Sex Establishment Licence. Premises also showing adult R18 films also require a Licence. The regime provides numerous safeguards to ensure this type of entertainment is provided in a safe, proper, legitimate and controlled manner. We have historically provided ancillary entertainment at our venues that falls into these categories and have done so without complaint.

As a result of the new legislation, we are required to apply for the licences in order to continue to provide the entertainment that we offer at some of our events. The type of relevant entertainment we provide includes GoGo dancers, R18 or special shows. All this type of entertainment is ancillary to the primary nightclub use. There will be no change whatsoever to our current operation, we will not be opening a lap dancing club or similar, we simply wish to maintain the status quo and legitimately continue the ancillary entertainment we have previously provided for many years.


In Oval Ward Fire and the Eagle have also applied for Sex Establishment Licences.

Licensing application for 351 Kennington Lane

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 23rd August 2011

Applicants Name: Alentajano Bar & Grill Ltd.

Premises Address: Alentajano Bar & Grill - 351 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5QY (next door to the Eagle)

Activities/times requested:

Supply of Alcohol
Monday - Sunday 10:00 - 23:30

Recorded Music
Monday - Sunday 10:00 - 23:30

Late Night Refreshment
Monday - Sunday 23:00 - 23:30

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 20 September 2011.

You can view the full application here.

Details of the licensing process and how to make a representation are here.

Emergency Thames Water Works – Kennington Lane

Transport for London has made us aware of emergency works by Thames Water taking place on Kennington Lane at the junction of South Lambeth Road to investigate and repair a major leak. To accommodate these works the following traffic management has been put in place:

· Southbound lane one closure at Albert Embankment at the junction of Vauxhall Cross
· Eastbound lane three closure on Kennington Lane between the junctions of South Lambeth Road and Albert Embankment
· Northbound lanes two and three closed on Harleyford Road between the junctions of Vauxhall Grove and South Lambeth Road

Works commenced yesterday, Sunday 19 June 2011 and Thames Water have committed resources to 24/7 working until the leak is repaired.

Once Thames Water have repaired their main there are also additional TfL, BT and UKPN cable damage which will be repaired within the existing traffic management.

TfL anticipate significant disruption to vehicular traffic and to mitigate this, TfL will have electronic Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) strategically placed in the area to pre-warn drivers of these works. TfL has worked closely with the London Borough of Lambeth in order to reduce the impact of these works on road users, local people and businesses as far as possible.

TfL apologises in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused because of these essential works. Should you require further information or an update during the delivery of these works please contact our Streets Customer Services department on 0845 305 1234 or via our website at www.tfl.gov.uk/contact

Updates at the Friends of Vauxhall Spring Gardens AGM

This evening saw a well attended AGM of the Friends of Vauxhall Spring Gardens.

News included:

The people behind the 'Cabinet Gallery' proposal announced they will be holding a consultation event ahead of applying for planning permission. It will be held next Wednesday, 25 May, from 3pm to 7:30pm, at Vauxhall City Farm. They hope to build a prestigious gallery in a new pavilion building on the olf 'Lord Clyde' site in the north eastern corner of the park. Associated environmental work will include greening over the hammerhead road off Tyers Street, thereby increasing the amount of green space in the park.

The work to the Kennington Lane entrance is progressing, and a completion date of 10 June has been set. Six new elm trees and two new mulberry trees have been planted and the columns are up. The granite paving will be installed from next week, and the entrance walls should be ready shortly after that. The final thing to complete will be the lighting behind the walls and up the columns.

Once the entrance is complete a grand opening ceremony will be arranged, when the park will be formally renamed 'Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens', the name used in its eighteenth century heyday.

Finally there was news about the proposed statue of Basaveshwara, the inspiration for Indian democracy and equality. A site in Albert Embankment Gardens has been identified and designs for the statue and associated environmental works are at an early stage.

The Friends normally meet every first Monday of the month, at 6pm, at Vauxhall City Farm.

National Grid Gas Works – Kennington Lane

TfL is writing to make you aware of the upcoming planned works by National Grid Gas (NGG) on Kennington Lane to renew 57m of gas mains.

This work will be completed in two phases, with each phase lasting for up to 10 days. In agreement with the London Borough of Lambeth’s Environmental Team, NGG will be working the extended working hours of 08:00 – 19:00 Monday to Friday and some weekends as deemed necessary. The following traffic management will be put in place for each phase:

Phase one
· Starting Friday 25 February 2011 until Sunday 6 March 2011
· Kennington Lane opposite the junction of Opal Street
· Two way temporary traffic signals
· Bus stop suspensions

Phase two
· Starting Saturday 9 April 2011 until Tuesday 19 April 2011
· Kennington Lane opposite the junction of Cottington Street
· Two way temporary traffic signals
· Parking and loading bay suspensions
· Bus stop suspensions

To minimise disruption to vehicular traffic, the temporary signals will be manually controlled between 07:00 – 10:00 and 16:00 – 19:00 Monday to Friday, and during working hours at weekends.

Whilst we appreciate that a certain level of disruption is inevitable, TfL has worked closely with NGG and the London Borough of Lambeth in order to reduce the impact of these works on road users and local people and businesses as far as possible.

I apologise in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused as a result of these essential works. Should you require further information or an update during the delivery of these works please contact our Streets Customer Services department on 0845 305 1234 or via the web at www.tfl.gov.uk/contact.