Monthly Archives: March 2025

Half-a-dozen new public cycle sheds for Myatt’s Fields in prospect

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Six more roadside ‘bike hangers’ are set to appear in Myatt’s Fields later this year as Lambeth Borough Council consults our communities on their locations.

The hangers are semi-cylindrical lockable metal structures containing bike racks. An annual subscription costs £30 – down from £42 and available to apply for on the LockIt Safe website.

Councillors have successfully lobbied for a number of new public cycle storage hangers in recent years, including on local estates. New bike hangers have been installed on both the Paulet Road estate, the Myatts North estate and the Lothian estate, as well as on local streets.

Existing bike hanger off Patmos Rd

The Borough Council is consulting on these new locations:

  • Calais St – opposite no 8
  • Eyethorne Rd – opposite 1-10 Cancell Rd
  • Halsmere Rd – outside the student flats
  • Mostyn Rd – outside no 2
  • Patmos Rd – Rear of Foxley Square
  • Tindal St – outside Dalkieth House.

Residents can contribute to the consultation on the GoVocal survey. It’s hoped the hangers will be installed in the Summer.

Each structure takes up less space than a parked car and contains stands for six bikes. The authority’s Kerbside Strategy includes provisions for enabling people who have limited storage space to keep their cycles securely. Cycling is an important part of Lambeth’s Climate Action Plan which aims to make the borough cleaner and greener.

Said Myatt’s Fields Labour councillors Annie Gallop and Paul Gadsby: “It is excellent that Lambeth has listened to residents and brought forward proposals for six new public cycle storage hangers in Myatt’s Fields. We would strongly urge residents to give their views to these consultations.”

Join the Myatt’s Fields Parklet Initiative

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Myatt’s Fields residents are being asked to nominate a location for a “parklet’ – a kerbside space transformed into something for people to enjoy.

Nine parklets have already been installed across Lambeth – the borough council is rolling them out in waves and Myatt’s Fields is up next.

Supported by the borough’s Big Shift community fund, each site will have a base and surrounding barriers, although optional extras, including seating and planting areas, may be added. Each parklet is managed and maintained by community effort.

The programme is being operated under the auspices of the borough’s Kerbside Strategy and the Climate Action Plan.

A parklet in Clapham Old Town

Parklets can be applied for by residents, charities or community centres. Applicants are encouraged to read more about the project including the design guidance to ensure that their proposed location is suitable. They must also speak to their neighbours, gain support for the project and fill out the neighbourhood support form.

Lambeth Council has completed improvements to Cowley Road near the junction of Vassall Road, including cycleway improvements as well as footway and carriageway resurfacing, following lobbying by residents and councillors.

Recycled materials were used as well as methods that support and encourage biodiversity and creating healthier and safer streets for residents living in and around the local area.

Myatt’s Fields Labour councillors Annie Gallop and Paul Gadsby said: “The Community parklet scheme is a brilliant initiative to bring communities together; the seating provides an opportunity for the less mobile to get outside. Many people in Myatt’s Fields have no gardens but love plants and greenery – we look forward to seeing these spaces springing up around the Ward.” 

UPDATED: Lambeth’s top police officer urged to act on Myatt’s Fields crime by MP Florence Eshalomi and your local Labour team.

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Lambeth’s most senior police officer has been urged to provide more resources to deal with a perceived upsurge in crime in Myatt’s fields.

Local MP Florence Eshalomi, along with your local Labour team, Cllr Annie Gallop and Cllr Paul Gadsby, say they want extra effort to support measures already being taken by police and council safety teams in the ward.

In a letter to acting Lambeth and Southwark Borough Commander Detective Superintendent Emma Bond, they point out that although there have been recent arrests in the area more needs to be done to deal with what appears to be an upsurge in robberies on the Myatts Fields North and Cowley estates, and around Myatt’s Fields Park.

They write: “This has created significant anxiety in the community, especially as these incidents have been ongoing for some time.”

Florence Eshalomi MP and Cllrs Gallop and Gadsby have written to the Borough Police Commander.

While praising the actions of the local police Safer Neighbourhood team, they point out that more effort is needed to reassure our communities that everything is being done to keep residents safe.

“We are … aware that their hard work and diligence, as well as that of Lambeth Council officers
attached to the community safety team, have borne results,” the letter says. “From what we have been told, 8 suspects have been arrested for robbery, another known gang member has recently been apprehended and at least one property search warrant has been executed. This is incredibly
welcome.

However, they insist that local initiatives need more support from the Met, and invite the Commander to address a future Safer Neighbourhood Panel — the local body through which police liaise with our neighbours.

The letter is signed by the councillors, Vauxhall and Camberwell Green MP Florence Eshalomi, and Safer Neighbourhood chair Lucy Williams and secretary Mark Mitchell

Update 14/3: Local police report they have arrested and released on bail a pair of suspects following two knifepoint robberies in Myatt’s Fields Park last month. They say they are working with CCTV and Robbery teams to identify “two other males”.

You’ll Regret nothing if you book to see this new play in Myatt’s Fields.

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A remarkable new play based on conversations with real people on the subject of regret is about to get an airing at our Longfield Hall.

No Regrets, by Gary McNair, is being performed by the Knatchbull Road venue’s Young Company next Friday and Saturday. The play is the result of conversations McNair had with people from all walks of life over five years.

Longfield Hall: a richly varied programme of local events

According to the Longfield, the play is “a collection of scenes from the silly to the profound, that charts our relationship with the things we should have done but didn’t and the things we shouldn’t have done, but did.”

No Regrets, performed as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival, is also being staged elsewhere. It contains swearing and depictions of violence. More details, including performance times, here.

New council homes in Myatt’s Fields to be altered to allow easier living for vulnerable people – senior councillor

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Some of the flats in the new Patmos Lodge development will have more work done to enable better access for people with disabilities, it has been revealed.

Dozens of residents will shortly begin moving into the blocks, on the site of the old care home in Cancell Rd.

The development of 31 new homes includes social rent one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as accessible and much-needed larger family homes with three or four bedrooms and some private homes.

At a site visit, Cllr Claire Holland, who leads Lambeth Council said: “Patmos Lodge is a prime example of the high-quality, energy-efficient, sustainable, modern homes we want to provide for our residents. The new homes will meet the needs of some of the homeless families in Lambeth who desperately need a permanent place to live.


“I am delighted that over 56 residents will be moving into their new homes shortly and we are also making further modifications to the accessible homes to suit the needs of those vulnerable residents so they can also move into their new homes soon.”

Patmos Lodge has been built to high- energy efficiency standards with air-source heat pumps and solar panels included in each property. 

Myatt’s Fields Labour councillor Annie Gallop — herself a disability campaigner — said: “It was great to see these beautiful new homes ready to let, all fully adaptable and very accessible. Secure tenancies build better, happier and much stronger communities”.

Cllrs Gallop and Holland at the Patmos Lodge development, with Lambeth’s deputy leader, Cllr Dan Adilypour.

Councillor Gallop, along with Cllr Paul Gadsby, have been instrumental in bringing the project to the area. Cllr Gadsby said: “I was very pleased to speak in favour of this development at Lambeth’s planning committee a number of years ago: it is incredibly important we build more council homes as part of a mix of genuinely affordable housing for our residents. More of this please!”

Cllrs Gallop and Gadsby have long campaigned for the Patmos Lodge development

Twelve homes at the Lodge are being offered for private sale, the proceeds from which will be ploughed back into providing affordable housing in Lambeth.