Free Dial-A-Ride from 2008!

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, (an ex-Lambeth councillor and resident!) has announced that he is abolishing Dial-a-Ride door-to-door fares for older and disabled Londoners. The move will benefit around 50,000 Londoners who currently pay to take 1.2 million journeys a year.

The Mayor outlined that he has taken this step as part of his commitment to provide equal access to public transport for all Londoners.

Dial-a-Ride is a door-to-door transport service provided by Transport for London for older and disabled people who cannot use buses, trains and the Tube. It is used for everyday journeys that are taken for granted by people who use mainstream public transport – including shopping, visiting friends and family, attending college, doctors and dentists appointments and evenings out. Following the Mayor’s announcement, services will be free from 1 January 2008. Carers travelling with disabled and other people on dial a ride will also travel free. The cost to Transport for London of delivering free Dial-a-Ride fares is £700,000.

This is the first in a series of planned steps to improve door to door services for disabled and older Londoners. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: ‘Free Dial-a-Ride services will benefit 50,000 older and disabled Londoners, who make 1.2 million trips each year on this vital door-to-door service to go about their every day lives.

‘Many of us perhaps take for granted the ability to use buses, trams and the Tube, but for many Londoners that is not an option. By abolishing fares on Transport for London’s Dial-a-Ride services, we are improving access to a vital lifeline for some of London’s most vulnerable people, many of whom are on lower incomes.

‘Every year we are investing more in door-to-door transport but we recognise that there is more to do. This is just the first step in our absolute commitment to revamp current door-to-door services in the capital leading to a comprehensive and flexible city-wide service which better meets the needs of passengers.’

This announcement marks the latest move to improve accessibility on London’s public transport. Since the end of 2005 all of London’s buses have been wheelchair accessible, as is the Docklands Light Railway and the Croydon Tram. Transport for London is working to increase the number of accessible Tube stations. All taxis are wheelchair accessible, and private hire vehicles as well as taxis are now obliged to carry assistance dogs.

New lighting on the way for Atherfold Road

Many residents have indicated that they would like to see improved street lighting across Larkhall, to provide a more secure enviornment and reduce crime. Lambeth has already started to install new lighting on many streets, and will soon be upgrading the 'Heritage' street lighting in Atherfold Road. The works will involve installing new Heritage style lamp columns and lanterns designed and maintained to meet the latest British and European Standards.

The Atherfold Road work will begin in January next year (2008) . If residents have any queries specific to these works, they should contact the Lambeth Lighting Services Helpline on 0207 978 3423 or contact one of your local councillors.

Parents Forum - 14th November 2007

Lambeth Childrens and Young People's Service are holding a Parents Forum on Wednesday 1th November at Stockwell Community Resource Centre.

The main focus for this meeting is Home to School Transport but it is also a fantastic opportunity to meet and share information with other parents and professionals in our area.

There may be crèche places available at the Centre on the day, please phone directly on 020 7501 2501 to check availability.

For more details about Parent Forum contact Parent Advocate Denise Downie-Campbell, 07932046897 or 020 7735 2716 Email: ddownie-campbe@lambeth.gov.uk

Young People - Have Your Say

There is a 'round table' discussion for local young people at 6.30pm on Tuesday 30th October at the Stockwell Community Resource Centre. It will be chaired by a young person - so please do publicise the event to the youth groups and youth people you are in touch with. Flyers and posters can be provided.

The organiser wants to hear specific topics that you want to see discussed - so send me your suggestions by phone (07958 353 652) or email: info@csff.co.uk

Young People Matter - Black History Month event

Wednesday 24th October 2007

5:00pm to 9:00pm,

At Fenwick Hall, Fenwick Estate
128 Willington Road, SW9 9NN

Young People Matter (YPM), are holding a free fundraising event to celebrate Black history. Our group of talented young people have happily agreed to take part in this event and so will be participating in a number of workshops and rehearsal sessions leading up to the event to assure perfection on the night! (Flyer for the event is above)

Come along and support these young people for their hard work and dedication to this event.

As well as celebrating Black History, we want to promote and celebrate not just the history of Black People, but celebrate the human race as a united nation. We want to show that diversity is the beauty of the human race so it should be celebrated rather than exploited in a negative light. So whatever race, gender, class or culture you are from come along and represent your country!!!

The night’s event includes:

- Banquet
- Raffle
- Auctions
- Talent show*
- Presentations of chosen icon (by the young people)
- Role plays of events (preferably positive) that influenced black history
- Fashion show*
- D.J playing music from various cultures

Founded in February 2007, Young People Matter have been visiting schools to peer educate and running workshops on issues that affect young people. They also provide activities and outings for young people, which motivates them and keeps them off the streets. This is a fundraising event so that YPM can continue to run workshops and activities for the young people of Lambeth to encourage growth, self-development, leadership and unity.

They need the help of the community to make this happen and you can help us make this possible.

All donations are welcome on the night and all cheques can be made payable to Young People Matter, however big or small.

Train Service at Clapham High Street Under Threat

Network Rail have drawn up plans that, if implemented, would see the end of the South London Line - the line that runs in a loop from Victoria to London Bridge via Clapham High Street, Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye. Many people from Larkhall use the service to get to Victoria, but it may be diverted to Clapham Junction instead.

There is an online petition you can sign which has been set up by a member of the East Dulwich Forum. You can find it by clicking here .

Bereavement Groups

BEREAVEMENT GROUPS

For people who were carers of partners, relatives, children or friends with any type of disability or long-term illness

Lambeth Carers would like to offer you the opportunity to take part in a group for former carers who have been bereaved of the person they cared for. This will provide an opportunity to exchange stories, thoughts, feelings and ideas with people who have had a similar loss to your own.

The groups are run by Rob Finley, Bereavement Group Worker at St. Christopher’s, but takes place at Lambeth Carers in Brixton. If you think you would like to attend please contact Rob on 020 8768 4596 on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday during office hours.

Lambeth Carers can be contacted on: 020 7733 9600 (Monday to Friday only)

(Funded by the Help the Hospices’ HBOS Bereavement Support Worker Grants Programme)

18,000 Lambeth residents to benefit from half-price bus travel

Ken Livingstone has sent us this message for readers of 'We Love Larkhall':

Dear resident,

On Monday, I launched a scheme that will mean up to 250,000 of Londoners who receive income support will be able to benefit from half-price bus and tram travel. This will include many of the 18,000 Lambeth residents on income support - lone parents, carers, the long-term sick and people with disabilities.

The discount will mean that those on the lowest incomes will pay only 50p for a single bus journey, half the £1 adult Oyster fare and a quarter of the £2 cash fare. From 30 September this year it will be even cheaper as a 10 per cent across-the-board fares cut is also introduced. This will make a single bus journey just 45p for those on income support.

The scheme has been developed following the agreement I signed earlier this year along with Transport for London and Venezuelan Oil Company PetrÓleos de Venezuela Europa. This provided a 20 per cent reduction in the price of fuel for London's bus fleet, which will be passed on to cut fares for some of the least well off Londoners. At the same time, London will provide Venezuela with advice and technical expertise in fields of city management in which London is a world leader such as transport, town planning, tourism and the protection of the environment.

How Londoners can apply:

Bus and Tram Discount Card application forms are available at all Post Office ® branches in Greater London.

Application forms and leaflets will also be issued at a number of events across London. The form will also be available to download from Transport for London’s website: www.tfl.gov.uk/discountcard

Applicants must live in a London Borough to qualify for the concession.

The application form contains details on the action to be taken by the applicant. The applicant must supply two passport type photos for each application. Completed application forms must be taken in person by the applicant to a Post Office® branch in London where the application and evidence of eligibility will be checked and the Bus and Tram Discount Card issued.

Applicants must produce proof of eligibility in the form of an Income Support letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or Jobcentre Plus, and evidence of identity such as a passport, driving licence or bank card. Other acceptable proofs of identity are listed on the application form. If the letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or Job Centre Plus is more than three months old it must be supported by a bank statement issued within the past three months showing that payments are still being made. If the Income Support is paid by cheque, the cheque can be shown instead, together with the original Income Support letter.

Obtaining the discount:

On presentation of the Bus and Tram Discount Card at an Oyster Ticket Stop, the discount will be loaded onto the applicant’s existing Oyster card, or they will be able to obtain a new Oyster card in the normal way. A £3 deposit will be payable for the issue of a new Oyster card, unless a 7 Day, monthly or longer period Bus Pass season ticket is being bought at the same time.
The Bus and Tram Discount Card serial number will be loaded onto the Oyster card. Holders must register their Oyster card at this point if they have not already done so, supplying a password to secure access to their Oyster data.

Continuing Eligibility:

If the concession holder is still in receipt of Income Support when the Bus and Tram Discount Card expires, they may apply for a new Bus and Tram Discount Card at the Post Office as for a first application, and then have the discount renewed on their accompanying Oyster card.
If the concession holder ceases to be in receipt of Income Support before their Bus and Tram Discount Card expires, they may continue to benefit from the discount until the expiry date on their Bus and Tram Discount Card. It would therefore be quite legitimate in these circumstances for a Bus and Tram Discount Card to be used for journeys to work.

Yours sincerely

Ken Livingstone

Mayor of London