Longfield Hall has announced details of its festive celebration which this year will take place on Saturday 16 December.
The community run hall announced that:
Bringing together four choirs from all over South London for a night of Festive Fun. Come along to Longfield Hall on Saturday 16th December at 7pm for an evening of choral Christmas music sung by 4 wonderful choirs from all around South London. Bringing together Longfield Hall’s very own Longfield Voices, Vocal Chords from Sydenham, Wimbledon Music Hub A Cappella, and The Solis Choir, this fun, Christmassy concert will feature musicians of all ages (spanning 8 decades!) and a whole lot of festive cheer!! Featuring carols both traditional and contemporary, alongside more popular Christmas hits.
We can’t wait to come together and sing as one at the most wonderful time of the year! There’ll even be mulled wine and mince pies too! The concert is free entry and un-ticketed, but any donations to support the work of Longfield Hall will be warmly welcomed. We hope to see you there!
Local Myatt’s Fields councillors have urged residents on the Lothian estate to reject plans by a for-profit, private company to take over control of local homes as a new consultation kicks off on the proposals.
After a year of what has been described as “baffling” delays from Vision Homes (Lambeth) Ltd and PACCA TMO, Lambeth council tenants and leaseholders on the Lothian estate will finally get their say on these troubling proposals. A consultation about the plans will start on 13 November and run until 18 December with residents set to receive information about the plans from an independent electoral organisation that will be running the exercise.
The proposals, which are the first time a for-profit company has attempted this kind of council home takeover in the UK, have drawn considerable fire from the local community and councillors. Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop are warning residents that these proposals could result in:
New bills for residents: Vision Homes are proposing a new ‘Sink Fund’ charged to tenants, but they haven’t said much the charge will be, if there is any cap on how much it will be and what the fund will be used for. Vision Homes could also increase other bills like service charges during the year and ask you to pay VAT on services like repairs.
Concerns over the future of local homes: If Vision Homes were to sell homes on the estate to another company in the future, like a private developer, they will not be obligated to ballot residents to ask if they are happy with this sell off. Residents will also not be able to elect people to represent them on the “new board” that will be set up to run your estate: members of the board will be chosen by Vision Homes.
An organisation with no track record of running homes taking control of housing services: This for-profit company has no track record of running social housing. If this transfer goes ahead it would be the first of its kind anywhere in the UK.
Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop are urging residents to express their concerns about these plans in the consultation: if residents indicate they are favour of this for-profit takeover, a ballot of council tenants will happen in early 2024.
Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop said:
“We have heard from many residents on the Lothian estate who are worried sick about these proposals. We would strongly urge residents to reject these proposals.”
“We want to thank the many residents who have spoken to us about these worrying plans: please get in touch if you want to speak to us further. “
Myatt’s Fields residents are being urged to have a say in plans for a far-reaching housing strategy designed to change the way people live in Lambeth for the better.
Lambeth Council has unveiled the proposals which focus on how the authority might improve the way housing services are run, particularly to its thousands of tenants and leaseholders, and how more genuinely affordable homes can be built across the borough..
Lambeth residents can find out more here and are encouraged to respond to the plans here.
Myatt’s Fields Labour councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop welcomed the initiative and have urged residents to give their views.
Councillor Maria Kay, Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Reducing Homelessness, has published a video explaining the council’s proposals.
Myatt's Fields Labour 