Jean Charles De Menezes - CPCG meeting

The Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group (CPCG) is a community led forum for Lambeth residents and businesses to engage with the police and other agencies working together to make Lambeth a safer and fairer place. It gives ordinary people a place to make their voices heard. Anyone who lives, works or studies in Lambeth can join.

Stockwell made the news around the world following the tragic death of Jean Charles de Menezes in July 2005. Residents may be interested to know that the CPCG December meeting will cover the recent Health and Safety report released in connection with the Jean Charles de Menezes’ case. There will be representatives from New Scotland Yard, the Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC) and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).

Date: Tuesday 4th December
Start: 6:30pm
Venue: the West Indian Ex-Servicemen's and Womens Centre, Clapham Manor Street.

Oval Farmers Market - every Saturday

Don't forget that there is a Farmers Market every Sunday up the road at St. Marks church by Oval station.

The market has been running for 4 months now, after being granted permission to be a permanent fixture in August, and is opening it's doors right up to Christmas and hopefully beyond!

The market is held in the garden of St. Marks church by Oval station from 10:00am until 3:00pm. As Christmas approaches the stalls are taking a festive feel and hopefully you may get your hands on a bargain or two. For more information on the farmers market please call 020 8297 5590.

Temporary Closure of Smedley Street

This notice has appeared in today's South London Press, regarding the temporary closure of Smedley Street.

If you have any enquiries concerning the restrictions or the works in general, please contact the area engineer Michael Stowell direct on 020 7 926 0321 or by e-mail: MStowell@lambeth.gov.uk


LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF PART OF SMEDLEY STREET

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable works involving the operation of a crane to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily ban vehicles from entering that length of Smedley Street which lies between the north-western kerb-line of Larkhall Lane and the south-eastern kerb-line of the vehicular entrance to Nos. 1 to 24 Fallodon House, Springfield Estate, Smedley Street, whenever indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

2. The ban on vehicles entering the length of Smedley Street referred to above would not apply to any vehicle requiring access to or egress from premises only accessible from that length of Smedley Street, providing that vehicle does not interfere with or disrupt the works.

3. An alternative route would be available for vehicles via Larkhall Lane, Union Road and Union Grove and vice versa.

4. The Order would come into force on 3rd December 2007 and would continue for a maximum duration of 2 months or until the said works have been completed, whichever is the earlier. In practice it is anticipated that the Order would only have effect on the 3rd and 4th December 2007, but if works cannot be completed on those dates the Order would have effect on subsequent dates.

Dated 23rd November 2007

Guns and Gangs Project Wins National Award

Residents of Larkhall ward are all too aware of the appalling effect of gun crime, following three tragic fatal shootings in our area in 2007 already: of 15 year old Billy Cox, 16 year old Abukar Mahamed and nightclub doorman Kola Babdiya. There are no easy answers to the problem of diverting young people from gang culture and crime, but it is an issue which must be tackled. So it was great to see that Lambeth's X-It programme, which offers young people an alternative to gang life, has won the prestigious children's services award in the Guardian Newspaper's Public Services Awards.

The innovative programme works directly with young people in Lambeth at risk of gang membership. It uses intensive support through group work sessions, residential courses and leadership programmes to develop self awareness and empowerment amongst young people and helps them make positive choices.

Operated by Lambeth Council's Children and Young People's Service, the project has also developed close working links with a number of agencies including the police, community safety teams, tenant associations, youth workers and, most importantly, the young people themselves. Fundamental to the programme is that it is led by the young people themselves. They go through the programme and are then encouraged to become peer mentors for other young people.

Brixton Market Mambo!

Carnival is coming to Brixton market on Saturday to warm up the shoppers! The Market Mambo is a fabulous winter carnival procession that will be weaving its way through the market to rejoice everything that is Brixton! Now in its second year, the parade is a celebration of the long-established heart of Brixton’s Afro Caribbean culture and is organized by The Brixton Market Traders Federation.

The fantastic Kinetika Bloco will lead the colourful and loud procession on a tour around the area, including along Electric Avenue – the street name made famous by reggae star Eddie Grant when he sang, “I’m gonna rock down to Electric Avenue”, in his one million copy selling single.

The Kinetika Bloco’s 100 young performers will take you by storm with their exuberant mix: massed ranks of brass and percussion, extrovert dancers and extraordinary costumes inspired by Carnival - all combined in a roof-raising extravaganza that re-invents the music of the likes of Fela Kuti and Sun Ra in decidedly London style.

The procession will start at Brixton Station Rd and process along Popes Rd, over Atlantic rd and into Electric Avenue, it will continue out onto Brixton Rd and along to the Library, where the Carnival Procession will stop and perform in Tate Library Gardens. It will then return along Coldharbour Lane into Electric Lane, onto Electric Avenue, over Atlantic Rd and back to Brixton Station Rd.

Clapham Pool Temporarily Closed (Again...)

Unfortunately due to gas pipe leaks found at Clapham Leisure Centre, the pools were closed yesterday evening (Wednesday 28th November) to safeguard public welfare. As the gas services the boilers that generate warm water, the showering facilities are also disrupted and so is the building heating due to a lack of temperature control. Greenwich Leisure are in the process of installing temporary heaters to warm the building until services are back to normal.

Engineers are currently on site diagnosing the leaks and will provide a projected repair schedule shortly. I will update you all as soon as I hear more news.

In the meantime you may be aware that a new leisure centre for Clapham High Street is set to be commissioned, along with a new library on the High Street, and renovation of the Old Library (which will be reserved for community use). More information here.

Larkhall Safer Neighbourhoods Panel - meeting 5th December

The next meeting of the Larkhall Ward Safer Neighbourhoods Panel will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 5th December 2007 in St Johns Church Hall, St Johns Church, Clapham Road SW4.

The Chair, local resident Toby Riley-Smith said: "I hope very much that you will make every effort to join us. There is a lot to discuss. There been more shootings in the Ward over the last couple of months. The next meeting therefore has great importance - and it is vital that we have a good attendance."

Attendees are asked to bring a list of the community contacts that you may have - for example the members of any tenant/resident association, any neighbourhood watch representatives, any care workers, any youth workers, any GPs, any clergy, any leaders of commercial associations, any heads of schools, any heads of fire services, or any other leaders of any other community organisations. These contact details will be collated and should provide the SNP with a very useful resource - enabling us to have a relevant contact list in order to assist our work.

The Safer Neighbourhoods Panel, which consists of a dozen or so local Larkhall resident representatives, meets regularly to discuss local policing issues and to decide what priorities the local Safer Neighbourhoods Police Team are to follow for the next quarter of the year.The Larkhall Safer Neighbourhoods Police Team are all based at the Clapham Police Station in Union Grove and spend all of their time tackling issues in Larkhall ward.

They are a permanent fixture in the Ward, not a 'quick fix' brought in to respond to local changes in crime and disorder. These officers work at grass roots level in addition to London's other policing teams and specialist units.The Team’s priorities are decided by the ward’s Safer Neighbourhoods Panel. This Panel meets every 3 months and decides – in liaison with local authorities and other local organisations – what local issues the local officers will tackle. These issues can be anything – from anti-social behaviour to shoplifting, from drug abuse to abandoned cars.

Larkhall roads and pavements - resurfacing suggestions needed!

A message from Cllr Pete Robbins:

Lambeth officers are currently preparing a list of roads and pavements that need to be resurfaced, and I am looking to gather suggestions from Larkhall residents.

Please email me as soon as possible if you wish your road to be considered - I need to make suggestions within the week if possible.

Not all nominated roads and pavements will be automatically included in the programme as inclusions will be decided by an engineer’s assessment. Although condition continues to be the most important criteria for inclusion, for footways last year officers weighted the condition rankings by following factors:

- importance as a footway (usage and number of links),
- profile (e.g. town centre or by important building),
- links with other new development (e.g. new school, carriageway renewal),
- and build-ability (absence of other works such as utility renewals).

In addition this year officers are proposing to add a factor representing economic deprivation, on the basis that the economically poorer communities are proportionately more dependent on high standard local footways. Many parts of Larkhall will stand to gain on this basis.

Despite strict inclusion rules, sometimes roads and pavements are overlooked. This is usually if they are heavily used and have therefore, deteriorated more quickly than expected, which is why I have been asked to nominate.

I hope that residents in the area will ensure that any hot spots that officers and I haven’t already picked up are given due consideration.

The allocated £2 million (approx) will be distributed between foot and carriageways. This is because the majority of the Council’s maintenance backlog lies within the footways rather than carriageways and because we have attracted external funding for road repairs through improving local routes, bus priority schemes etc.

The finalised programme will be available on 31 January 2008 and a copy will be available online.

Please send your nominations to me at probbins@lambeth.gov.uk

Stockwell Partnership - AGM and Xmas Party

Stockwell Partnership are combining their AGM and Xmas Party on Tuesday 4th December at the Stockwell Community Resource Centre.

The partnership is a charity run by local people for local people. They aim to improve the quality of life in the Stockwell neighbourhood, and to help build an area that people feel proud of, where they feel safe and where there is a sense of community.

The AGM will be at 6.30pm, followed by the Christmas Party at 7.00pm.

There will be LIVE MUSIC from the show-stopping stars of the Stockwell Festival 2007 “The Congolese Youth Band” and food Portuguese Food from “Maria’s Kitchen” and African Vegetarian Food from “Ethio Restaurant”.

All Larkhall residents welcome!

Girls Football In Larkhall Park Every Monday Night

Lambeth Forum for Older People AGM

Are you aged over 65? Do you live in Lambeth? Do you represent an organisation that supports Older People? Do you want to have a say on important issues and hear from key people about what is happening in the borough?If the answer is ‘YES’ then come and join:

Lambeth Forum For Older People AGM

29th November 2007 at 10.15am

Topics: The Future of the Forum, Lambeth Council Budget Consultation 08/09

ROOM 8, Lambeth Town Hall

Call Age Concern on 0207 733 0528 to find out more!

Budget 2008 Consultation - Your Money, Your Say

Lambeth council is inviting residents to attend a meeting as part of its budget consultation in the Assembly Hall of Lambeth Town Hall. The meeting will be held from 6.30-8pm on Wednesday 28 November 2007.

In the consultation, residents will be asked for their ideas on how the council's money should be spent in areas ranging from housing to waste and recycling, before full council agrees the budget next February.

Councillor Steve Reed the Leader of the council, Lambeth's Chief Executive, Derrick Anderson and Mike Suarez, Executive Director of Finance and Resources, will be present at the meeting to introduce the event and answer any questions you may have. Larkhall Cllr Pete Robbins, who is Chair of the Finance Scrutiny Committee will also be in attendance.

OPM, an independent research company, will facilitate the event and guide attendees through a number of structured exercises that will explain the budget setting process.

If you would like to attend please email dclark@lambeth.gov.uk, specifying any requirements you may have. This will help Lambeth prepare the venue and materials to suit the number and nature of attendees.

Visit Lambeth's budget consultation page for more information.

Clapham Pool Temporarily Closed

Update - Thursday 15th November

A quick warning for Larkhall swimmers - unfortunately due to problems with the boilers at Clapham Leisure Centre, both swimming pools are closed. Dry side activities are still in operation, although there is no hot running water until the boilers have been fixed.

Contractors were immediately called to the site to deal with the boilers, and have confirmed the problem can be repaired by Saturday 17th November. On the basis of pool re-heating time, it has lost heating very quickly and is therefore not likely to be open until the morning of Monday 19th.

We Love Larkhall E-Newsletter

Last week the first 'We Love Larkhall' monthly e-newsletter was sent out to over 200 residents of Stockwell and Clapham.

To see the latest version of the newsletter - click here. If you want to be included then please email me at probbins@lambeth.gov.uk .

Invititation To Open Day At 401½ – Local Artists Workshop

For over thirty seven years a local workshop for artists, 401½ , has provided studios for fine and applied artists and designers. The project, started in 1971 by Michael Haynes is housed in a Victorian warehouse perched on one edge of Larkhall Park.

They are holding their annual open days on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th November 2007, 11am to 5pm. You will be able to meet the artists, see the workshops themselves, and view some of their work. Everyone is welcome.

Table Top Sale at St Johns Church - Saturday 24th November

Come and hunt out bargains at a table top/car boot sale at St Johns Church (Clapham Road) on SATURDAY 24th NOVEMBER between 2.30pm to 5.30 pm.

If you fancy clearing out your garage and finding some items of your own to sell, then you must book a space in advance - contact Roz on 0207 9782878.

(£5.00 per space, £3.00 extra if you need to hire a table)

Annual Lambeth Tenants Conference - Saturday 17th November

Lambeth Housing's Annual Tenants Conference is to be held on Saturday 17th November 2007 at the Brit Oval, home of Surrey County Cricket Club.

This year’s Lambeth tenants’ conference will discuss the government’s affordable housing agenda and the mayor’s housing strategy for London. There will also be workshops on tenant empowerment, climate change and the new choice based lettings system. Cllr John Kazantzis, Lambeth's Cabinet Member for Housing, will also be in attendance to answer your questions.

If you are a council resident and would like to book a place call 020 7926 3402/3538.

'Christmas Cup' - 7-a-side football tournament

Stockwell Park Football Club are holding a Christmas Cup football tournament on Saturday December 22nd 2007, between 10am and 6pm, at the Kennington Park Astro pitch.

Under-10's, Under 11's and Under-13's teams are all welcome, and registration is just £1 per player. Trophies will be awarded for the winners, runners up and the best individual players.

To register your team download the application form from http://www.stopu.org.uk/ Fill out the form and return to 353 Southwyck House London SW9 8TT.

Contact 07948 289 424 or e-mail eaispinfo@yahoo.com or info@stopu.org.uk for more details.