September 13, 2011

Support the Cinema Campaign: 25 Church Road Planning Application

Residents in Upper Norwood will be well aware of the long-running and hugely popular Picture Palace Campaign for a cinema in Crystal Palace. Some 18 months ago local residents wrote in their thousands to oppose an application to change 25 Church Road from a leisure building into a large church.

We were pleased to back the campaign then along with Tessa Jowell MP and we’re very pleased to be backing the campaign again.

The Church who bought 25 Church Road have made another application and already many residents have already registered their objections with Bromley Council. The deadline to make your representation is between the 13th & the 21st September. Full details & a model objection which can be copied & pasted into an email are at the Picture Palace Campaign Website.

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September 8, 2011

Recent Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour in the Woodland Road Area

Over the summer we received a number of complaints about an increase in Anti-Social Behaviour and crime around the Woodland Road area. As the local councillors we immediately contacted Gipsy Hill’s Safer Neighbourhood Police Team and the relevant department in Lambeth council. It is understood that a family recently moved into the area who have been attracting this increase in crime and ASB, we have been working closely with the police, community safety officers and local housing associations to try and resolve this problem for local residents.

Following a Partnership Meeting at the council the following actions have been agreed to address this issue:

  • The family in question is holding meetings with their housing associations and reminded of the consequences if this anti-social behaviour continues, this includes the housing association applying to a court for an eviction order.
  • Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions will be investigated as a means of excluding non-residents who have been causing trouble from the area.
  • One of the council’s mobile CCTV vans has been deployed to the Woodland Road/Cawnpore Street area to gather evidence and to deter crime.
  • Background checks are being carried out on individuals identified as possibly being involved in crime & ASB with a view to further action if necessary.
  • An increase of police patrols in the area.

As the local councillors we hope that these measures will be successful in reducing the heightened levels of crime and ASB in our area. We are very conscious of trying to support our local police at a time when they have been (and continue to be) put under real pressure. If you have any further concerns about this then please don’t hesitate to contact any of your local councillors or the local police directly.

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September 8, 2011

West Norwood Library Update

Work is continuing to repair the roof of West Norwood library after it was the victim of a series of copper thefts (the chapel in West Norwood Cemetary and the Baptist church on Chatsworth way were also targetted). The council passed all CCTV footage to the police to aid their investigation.

However, the builders have found asbestos within the library and this will delay the reopening whilst this asbestos is properly surveyed and assessed to make sure that the building is safe. Whilst the building is undergoing repairs the council has arranged for a library service to be available to West Norwood residents at the Lambeth Resource Centre at 1 Park Hall Road (a 5-10 minute walk along Robson Road or a couple of minutes on the 322 bus) the library service is available 10am-4pm Monday to Friday but as local councillors we are continuing to push for our library to be reopened as soon as possible.

The Friends of West Norwood Library have a facebook page with more information at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-West-Norwood-Library-FoWNL/153384884734244

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June 16, 2011

Save Our Police from Boris’ Tory Cuts

Your local Labour councillors are backing Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP and Ken Livingstone in their challenge to Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson over figures which indicate the number of police officers in London is set to fall by 1800 in just two years.

On 10th February 2011 Boris Johnson said London would have, ‘more uniformed fully warranted police officers than ever before.’ Yet figures published recently on the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) website completely contradict that claim. According to the MPA in just two years the number of police officers in London will fall to just 31,460 from 33,260 in 2010, a fall of 1800.

Yvette and Ken called on Boris Johnson to answer the following questions In a letter to the Conservative Mayor:

· How many police officers are individual boroughs set to lose?
· Have you set any cap on the number of police officers individual boroughs are set to lose or could some boroughs lose over 100 or 200 officers?
· You are cutting 300 sergeants from 600 safer neighbourhood teams. Which wards are set to lose a sergeant because of your decision?

Yvette and Ken held a meeting for Safer Neighbourhood panel members in Stonebridge, Brent to listen to views and concerns of residents. The Safer Neighbourhoods scheme was launched by Ken and the Metropolitan Police in Stonebridge in April 2004.

Yvette Cooper MP said:

“Boris Johnson is failing to stand up for Londoners who want more police officers on the streets, not 1,800 less.

“The Conservative Mayor and this Conservative government are putting the Metropolitan Police in an impossible position, and these cuts to police officers put at risk the huge progress made by the police and local communities in keeping our streets safer.

“Labour will put crime and policing at the centre of it’s 2012 London election campaign. Crime and safety is a key issue for Londoners. Whether you live in Redbridge or Richmond, residents want safe streets and that means keeping police on the streets.”

Ken Livingstone said:

“Boris Johnson began cutting the police even before this government was elected. These Conservative cuts will mean some of the most experienced and able officers losing their jobs including 300 of the 600 sergeants who manage local police teams.

“Right across London there is huge concern about the cuts to the number of frontline police officers including in Bromley where Boris Johnson is cutting 30 police officers.

“Conservative London MPs, Conservative London Assembly Member and Conservative London Councillors have a simple decision to make – they can stand alongside their Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson and defend his decision to cut 1800 police officers or they can join our campaign to protect frontline policing in the capital.”

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June 10, 2011

Good News on Road Repairs

The heavy snow and ice during the hard winter caused real damange to roads across Gipsy Hill ward. The council runs a rolling repairs programme but some roads were more badly damaged than others.

Matthew, Jenny & Francis have worked with residents across the ward to lobby the council for major repairs to be carried out where the road surface has seriously deteriorated. Yesterday we found out that two roads in the ward have been selected for the council’s major road repairs programme. Councillors were invited to nominate roads in a particularly bad state of repair after the winter for inclusion in the programme.

Due to the deep cut in Lambeth’s funding from the Tory government, across the twenty-three wards in Lambeth only seventeen roads have been able to be chosen for major repairs. We are really pleased that two of those roads, Rommany road & Woodland road, are in Gipsy Hill.

Work will start on Woodland road, in Upper Norwood, in June and Rommany road, in West Norwood, in October – residents on these roads will be contacted directly by the council about how these works will affect them. Matthew, Jenny & Francis will continue to lobby the council about the state of other roads with the council so do let us know if you’re concerned about the roads where you live, we’ll always do our best to help.

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June 7, 2011

Flooding Damage to West Norwood Library

Local residents will be angered to learn that the copper roof has been stolen from both West Norwood library and the Chapel at the crematorium in West Norwood cemetery. This happened at the same time as the very heavy rain over the end of the weekend and has resulted in serious rain damage to both buildings.

The library and the Nettlefold halls have had to be closed for two weeks to allow the building to dry out and for repair work to begin – workers are also on site at the Chapel in the cemetery so that there are as few disruptions as possible for bereaved families.

As a consequence of the closure of the Nettlefold Halls, please be advised that the regular councillor advice surgery on Friday 10th June at 10am with Tessa Jowell MP has had to be cancelled. However, Gipsy Hill councillors will be going ahead with the other scheduled advice surgeries including from 4-5pm on the 10th at Upper Norwood Library.

If you require any further information about the temporary closure of West Norwood library or the Nettlefold Halls please contact Maria Bogle-Mayne, Area Manager (South) on 020 7926 8031 or email MBogleMayne@lambeth.gov.uk

And if anyone has any information relating to the cowardly theft of the roof of the chapel or our library please let the police know on 0300 123 1212 or  anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

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June 1, 2011

Primary School Places

Primary school places are a real issue in Lambeth and, particularly, in Norwood. Demand for places has risen by as much as 40% in the past few years and the council has worked to increase the number of places available for local children with over 300 extra places since 2009.

The council was able to secure £9m in funding from the last Labour government to boost places in the borough and this has allowed us to double the number of places at Kingswood – from a two form entry primary to a four form entry school. The council is also opening a new primary school on Wolfington Road (by West Norwood station). This will increase the number of places in the area and should help reduce demand for places at Kingswood and Elm Wood from families living between West Norwood and Streatham.

The New School will be run in federation with the excellent Julian’s primary in Streatham Wells and will open in September 2011 (temporary classrooms) and will open onsite in West Norwood from September 2012. The council’s planning committee approved the design last week and the scheme is moving ahead.

However, even though we’ve seen a large increase in the number of primary places available we expect that demand will continue to rise. Lambeth is asking the government to stump up the money to provide these places for local families. In the past, the Labour goverment provided the funding that we needed to get every child into a local school – and we want to make sure that carries on. We’re asking parents to join our campaign – and the details are at:

Lambeth Primary School Places Campaign

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June 1, 2011

Lambeth Libraries Commission

Over the next few weeks Lambeth council is starting a discussion with local  people  about what they want from their  library service. Things like the internet, electronic books, amazon and wi-fi are changing the way we all use information, books & libraries.

As well as technological changes the council  will have less money to spend on libraries – because  the Tory government, supported by the Lib Dems, has cut Lambeth’s spending by one third.

We are lucky to have two fantastic libraries in our ward: West Norwood Library and the Upper Norwood Library, which is joint-funded with Tory-controlled Croydon.

Gipsy Hill’s Labour councillors have been very active in working with the Upper Norwood Library campaign against any threat of cuts or closure of Upper Norwood from Croydon.

There will be two “open space” sessions during June 2011 to talk about Lambeth’s libraries . Open space sessions allows everyone attending to  have an opportunity to discuss what is important to them.

Saturday 4 June 2011 – 10am to 1pm, at Lambeth Town Hall (Assembly Hall), Brixton SW2
Tuesday 14 June 2011 – 6.30 to 9.30pm at Lambeth Town Hall (Assembly Hall), Brixton SW2

For more information see: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/CouncilDemocracy/Consultations/ACSConsultations/LibrariesConsultation.htm

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March 31, 2011

West Norwood Feast – 3rd April

This Sunday, 3rd April, sees the first of a new monthly market open in West Norwood. The West Norwood Feast is a community-driven market led by local people who want to help regenerate our community. The group received start-up funding from Lambeth council and the market looks set to be a roaring success.

There’ll be four separate hubs to the market along Knights Hill & Norwood Road: the Food Fair, the Retro Village, the Artisans Market & the Gardeners’ Corner with street performers and music throughout the rest of West Norwood.

The market will be open 10am-4pm on Sunday (perfect for last minute mother’s day present shopping….) and it would be wonderful to have a big turnout for the market’s first outing. More information is available on the website for the West Norwood Feast.

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March 29, 2011

Complete the Census

Census day was Sunday 27th March and every household in Gipsy Hill should have received their form in the post. It’s extremely important that everyone fills in their form and sends it back as soon as possible. Failure to return the form can lead to a £1000 fine.

The census is used to understand population levels and diversity in different parts of the country and is used to calculate where public spending should be directed. We need as accurate a picture of our local population to make sure that we get our fair share of support for local public services (even more important given the scale of the government’s cuts to Lambeth) – each person not recorded in the census could lose our area about £300 so it’s vital that everyone takes part.

There are two events for anyone who needs help filling in their census form – both are free of charge and no appointment is needed. The first is on Thursday 31st March 3-5pm and the second is on Thursday 7th April 10am-12 noon both at the West Norwood Library.

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