Lambeth Living offer help for tenants to mutually exchange their homes

Mutual exchanges are an excellent way for council tenants to secure new, more appropriately sized homes. People underoccupying their home can move to a cheaper, smaller home by swapping with people living in overcrowded accommodation.

Following the success of the last round of Mutual Exchange/Advice Surgeries held earlier this year, Lambeth Living are holding more events during the course of the next couple of months.

Nearly 500 tenants attended the 16 sessions organised early in 2013 and on the back of these Lambeth Living have already been able to set up 10 moves - with a further 11 in the pipeline – as well as obtain interest from another 220 tenants affected by the size criteria who have now registered for a move under the Mutual Exchange Scheme.

In order try and find as many suitable matches as possible between these 220 families, as well as encourage further interest, Lambeth Living are planning on holding 3 Swap Shops on the following dates and venues:

Swap Shops

Central Lambeth
Tuesday 25 June, 11am to 3pm
Assembly Hall, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW

South Lambeth
Friday 28 June, 11am to 3pm
Church of Immanuel and St Andrew Hall, 452 Streatham High Road, SW16 3PY

North Lambeth
Thursday 4 July, 11am to 3pm
Coronation Hall, The Springfield Centre, 110 Union Road, SW8 2SH

As well as the Swap Shops, they will be holding a further 9 Mutual Exchange/Advice Surgeries with the aim of not only using these sessions to find suitable matches but also enable residents to seek advice on other options such as taking in lodgers, receive debt counseling and consider employment/apprenticeship opportunities. These sessions will take place as follows:

Estate Based Mutual Exchange/Advice Surgeries

Central Area
Tuesday 30th July, 2.00 - 5.00pm
Notre Dame Community Hall 1 Worsop Drive SW4 9QU.

Thursday 1st August , 2.00 - 5pm
Heath Road TRA, Heathbrook Community Hall, 117-119 Heath Road, SW8 3BB

Friday 2nd August , 2 -5pm
Cressingham Gardens Rotonda Tenants' Hall, Cressingham Gardens Estate, SW2 2QE

South Area
Tuesday 6 August, 2.00 - 5.00pm
The Village Hall, Fern Lodge Estate, Winton Way SW16 3RA

Wednesday 7 August, 2.00 - 5.00pm
Elmworth Hall, Elmworth Grove, Rosendale Gardens Estate SE21 8RA

Thursday 8 August, 10.00am - 1.00pm
Community Hall, Drew House, Sackville Estate, Leigham Avenue SW16 2TH

North Area  
Tuesday 23rd July, 10.00am - 1.00pm
Carmelita Centre, Vauxhall Walk SE11 5NT

Wednesday 24th July, 10.00am – 1.00pm
Wheatsheaf Hall Community Centre, Wheatsheaf Lane, SW8 2UP

China Walk TRA, Chandler Community Hall, 15 Lambeth Walk, SE11 6DU (To be confirmed)

Lambeth Living offering 'Get Involved' grants to residents' groups

Lambeth Living is excited to announce the launch of the Getting Involved Grant 2013/14, which will provide funding and support for resident activities.

The Grant, available as part of their Resident Engagement Strategy, aims to get more residents involved in their communities. The grant is available to Tenant and Resident Associations (TRA) and organisations that would like to run activities that are both for and supported by Lambeth Living residents.

Lambeth Living award funds of up to £1,000 (smaller projects) and £5000 (larger projects).

Pictured: Vauxhall Gardens Estate Residents and Tenants Association turned this disused housing office into the Carmelita Community Centre

Kate's coffee morning this Saturday

Our local MP Kate Hoey is holding a coffee morning this Saturday from 11am to 12:30pm, at Roots and Shoots, Walnut Tree Walk, SE11 6DN.

All local residents are welcome to come along and say hello!

59 and 360 buses contract review - comments and suggestions wanted

Transport for London are calling for comments about the 59 and 360 bus routes, ahead of them retendering the route.

If you have suggestions for how the service could be improved a or changed then please let us know, and we will pass them on.

Licensing application - Ashtar Lounge (formerly Nar)

Premises Address: Ashtar Lounge - 80 Goding Street, London, SE11 5AW

Activities/times requested:

Live Music
Monday - Saturday   11:00  - 06:00
Christmas Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day
New Year's Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day

Recorded Music
Monday - Sunday   11:00  - 06:00
All official bank holidays and Sundays before bank holidays Mondays to 04:00
Christmas Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day
New Year's Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day

Performances of Dance
Sunday   11:00  - 06:00
Christmas Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day
New Year's Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day

Late Night Refreshment
Monday - Sunday   23:00  - 06:00
Christmas Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day
New Year's Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day

Supply of Alcohol
Monday - Sunday   11:00  - 05:30
Christmas Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day
New Year's Eve 11:00 - 11:00 following day


Enquiries:
Telephone: 020 7926 6144 Email: licensing@lambeth.gov.uk


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 27 June 2013

See the full application

See our guide to licensing

Just announced- Kennington Road and Sancroft Street pavements to be repaved

Each year council officers ask for nominations for roads and pavements to be resurfaced. The streets get inspected, scored, prioritised, and a programme of resurfacing is decided upon.

The programme for 2013/ 14 has just been announced.

We're pleased that some of our nominations have been put into the schedule.

Kennington Road pavements (from Lambeth Road to Kennington Cross)

Sancroft Street pavements

Denny Street pavements have been lined up as a reserve project, if funds are available.


Streets which narrowly missed out are:

Wickham Street pavements

Jonathan Street carriageway

Walcot Square pavements

Denny Crescent pavements

Join the Durning Library Forum on 29 June

The Library is looking for people from local services, businesses, schools and nurseries; groups and individuals who would like to be part of the Durning Library Forum; to help mould the way forward towards an inclusive community hub and library service.

For more information please contact the Library Service Manager Audrey Hudson on 020 7926 8682

Saturday 29 June 2013
1pm -3pm
The Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11 4HF

Black Dog pub applies for later hours

Applicants Name: The Lavender Pub Limited
Premises Address: The Black Dog - 112 Vauxhall Walk London (building at far end of photo)

Activities/times requested:

1) To add 6 conditions to the Premises Licence as recommended by the Council’s Environment and Noise Enforcement Department to require
(a) the installation of a noise limiter;
(b) doors to remain closed whilst regulated entertainment is taking place;
(c) erection of signage requesting customers to be quiet;
(d) restriction on the use of the garden after 23.00 Monday to Saturday and 22.30 on Sunday; staff monitoring of external areas; implementation of a dispersal policy to ensure patrons do not cause a nuisance when leaving.

2) to extend all licensable activities on the premises licence to 01.00 Friday and Saturday

3) to add Late Night Refreshment to the licence on Friday and Saturday until 01.00


Proposed Licensable Hours and Activities:

Recorded Music
Friday & Saturday   11:00  - 01:00
Monday - Thursday   11:00  - 23:00
Sunday   12:00  - 22:30

Late Night Refreshment
Friday & Saturday   23:00  - 01:00
Supply of Alcohol
Monday - Thursday   11:00  - 23:00
Friday & Saturday   11:00  - 01:00
Sunday   12:00  - 22:30


Current Licensable Hours and Activities

Supply of Alcohol
Monday - Saturday   11:00  - 23:00
Sunday   12:00  - 22:30
Christmas Day   12:00  - 15:00
Christmas Day   19:00  - 22:30
Good Friday   12:00  - 22:30
New Years Day and Eve   11:00  - 23:00

Recorded Music
Monday – Saturday 11:00 – 23:00
Sunday 12:00 – 22:30


Please direct any queries in respect of this application to the following case officer:
Ms Carol Jones
Telephone: 0207 926 6143 Email: licensing@lambeth.gov.uk


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 2 July 2013

See our councillors' guide to licensing

Open day this Sunday at Lambeth Community Care Centre

The NHS has renovated the Community Care Centre in Monkton Street and is changing its use from an intermediate care centre to an amputee rehabilitation unit.

• Find out more about its services including acupuncture, physiotherapy and podiatry.
• Take a tour of the centre and the new Amputee Rehabilitation Unit.
• Visit the award winning landscaped garden.
• Find out how you can help the NHS improve services at the centre in the future.

Sunday 9 June, 1pm - 4pm
Lambeth Community Care Centre
Monkton Street, SE11 4TX

Light refreshments will be available.

Victory for Whitgift Street residents as Planning Inspector throws out Fire Brigade scheme for blocking out the light

In a major victory for residents of Whitgift House and 2 Whitgift Street, the Planning Inspectorate has thrown out the appeal by developers of the Fire Brigade Headquarters sites.

Lambeth Council's planning committee rejected the scheme back in December 2011, but the developers appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. An Inquiry was held in February and March this year.

The scheme would have developed the site sitting immediately opposite Whitgift House, replacing the low-rise warehouses with two huge slab towers of 12 storeys and 15 storeys, which would have blocked out most of the light reaching the residents on the other side of the road. The Planning Inspector agreed that the reduction in light to Whitgift House and 2 Whitgift Street was unacceptable, and rejected the developers' appeal.

He stated: 'there would be harm to the living conditions of the occupiers of Whitgift House and 2 Whitgift Street as a result of loss of daylight which would be a substantial loss of amenity.'

Local residents represented their interests at the Inquiry, presenting their own case to the Inspector. Councillor Mark Harrison and Kate Hoey MP supported residents by giving evidence at the Inquiry.

Mark said: 'I'm delighted that the Inspector has listened to residents of Whitgift Street and recognised this development would block out the light from their home lives. This decision vindicates residents' long and effective campaign, for which they deserve huge congratulations. They have shown that bullying developers can be defeated. We welcome new homes and new jobs in Lambeth, but not at any price. I hope a new proposal for these important sites comes forward which respects the rights of existing residents and brings the benefits from development which Lambeth needs and expect.'

Investment into Knights Walk is the start of Lambeth Housing Standard work in our area

Residents of Knights Walk are being contacted about major investment work which is planned for their homes.

Kitchens, bathrooms, rewiring and asbestos work are all included in the programme - the works for each flat will depend on the condition of each flat.

These are some of the first works in our area of a £450 million, five year programme of works which Lambeth Living are carrying out on our Council homes.

Update on Lambeth's plans for Vauxhall Bus Station

Recently the Vauxhall Society has been trying to promote the setting up of the ‘Friends of Vauxhall Bus Station’, claiming that Lambeth Council is intent on demolishing the bus station and scattering the bus stops around the gyratory system.

Lambeth Labour councillors believe that setting up the ‘Friends of Vauxhall Bus Station’ is premature because as yet there is no finalised plan for the bus station for people to object to. Lambeth Council and Transport for London are currently working up a comprehensive plan for the remodelling of Vauxhall Cross, which should be consulted on this summer. There will be a full consultation and plenty of opportunity for all residents, businesses and travellers to express their views once there is a proposal to respond to.

Lambeth absolutely does not want to scatter bus stops around the Vauxhall Gyratory system. Any changes to the bus station need to maintain the convenience of being able to interchange between buses easily and quickly.

What Lambeth does want to do is examine whether there’s a better way of laying out the current bus station area – which maintains the convenience of the bus interchange but makes the area more pleasant for pedestrians, more economically and culturally vibrant, more green, and with more direct routes for buses to follow (so they don’t have to circle the gyratory before getting to the bus stop). We think removing the existing bus station canopy and creating a two way ‘high street’ reserved for buses might be the best way of doing this – but we are testing this in our detailed discussions with TfL before coming to any conclusions.

Park Plaza's bid to grow taller deferred by Planning Committee

Last night Lambeth's Planning Committee spent an hour and 40 minutes considering the Park Plaza Hotel's bid to add several storeys to the front of their building. Objectors representing residents of 9 Albert Embankment and Salamanca Place did an excellent job questioning the effect the extension will have on light to their homes (which are already some of the darkest and most enclosed residential areas in the borough). In the end the Committee decided they couldn't make a decision because the information the hotel and the council officers were providing on daylight wasn't clear enough.

Councillor Mark Harrison was at the meeting and ready to speak to support residents before the committee deferred the application. He has written to officers to insist on the following:

• That the information from the daylight/ sunlight study for Block C, 9 Albert Embankment be re-presented in a way which is comprehensible to lay people
• That that new presentation be shared with objectors so they have the opportunity to question it ahead of the committee meeting
• That the effect on daylight/ sunlight in the square in the middle of 9 Albert Embankment be outlined:
• Either with a full daylight/ sunlight study
• Or with a comprehensible impartial expert explanation as to why there is no effect
• That the key points of the management plans (for traffic, servicing etc) which will be conditioned be fully outlined in advance of the committee meeting, and that they are shared with objectors so they have the opportunity to question them.

He has also asked for a committee site visit to take place.

Work starting next month at Old Paradise Gardens (the Rec)

 Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground will have £150,000 of landscape improvements completed by the end of summer 2013. Landscape contractors, Randall Contracting, were awarded the job in April 2013 and
are due to start works in May 2013. The funding has come from a section 106 agreement with a local developer. The improvement works were  prioritised in line with the refurbishment plan (shown in figure 1 below) which was developed alongside the Friends of Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground and from local consultation results. The works will include refurbishment of pathways, the central water feature, entrances, play area, park furniture and plantings.

Adam Thomas of Amazea Ltd is the landscape architect who designed the improvements and will contract
administer the physical works. The commencement of works has taken longer than anticipated due to the
discharging of planning requirements, as the site has listed features and is an ex-burial ground.

An opening event will be held in autumn 2013 to celebrate the improvement works and the renaming of the
park to Old Paradise Gardens.

The improvements that are included in the £150,000 contract are:

• Refurbishment of the path network (excluding the watchtower area).
• Refurbishment of the central water feature. This includes a water play pump, plantings and seating.
• A new entrance at the corner of Lambeth High Street (the north-east corner entrance to the park).
• Refurbishment of the existing play area and inclusion of a new natural play feature.

Improvement Items that maybe added to the contract depending on the remaining contingency budget include:

• Refurbishment of the Whitgift Street entrance.
• A new perimeter path on the eastern side of the park to connect to the existing perimeter path of the western side.
• Lowering of the eastern wall in the walled watchtower area to create safe sightlines.
• Additional planting works.

The work is due for completion in August.