Category Archives: environment

Myatt’s Fields communities to benefit from Lambeth’s tree-planting promise

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Local estates in Myatt’s Fields will be among the first to benefit from Lambeth’s promise to plant thousands of trees across the Borough

Lambeth Labour have committed to plant more than 5,000 trees to enhance our communities and help address the climate emergency.

The ward’s Labour councillors have welcomed the initiative and pledged to lobby for more planting in the area.

New trees will appear on the Cowley estate, at locations including near Lauderdale and Garlinge Houses. Other sites include:

  • Myatt’s Fields South estate
  • Vassall Road
  • Penford Road
  • Templar Street
  • Tindall Street
  • Halsmere Road

Two new trees will also be planted in Myatt’s Fields Park.

Local Councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop said:

“We are delighted that twenty one new trees will be planted in Myatt’s Fields: new landscaping and green planting really helps enhance our local community, and, of course, plays its part in addressing the climate change emergency.”

“We are particularly pleased these tree planting plans come hot on the heels of other positive environmental announcements, including the Bees Road plan for the Knatchbull roundabout and the sustainable drainage scheme for Myatt’s South estate.”

“We will keep lobbying for further tree planting across our area in the years to come.”

Councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop

Event this week – Myatt’s South Estate Composting Community event

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Incredible Edible Lambeth and Lambeth Council (with the support of the Community Fund and MakeSoil) are hosting a composting community event on Wednesday 18 January 6.15pm to 7.30pm at the Myatt’s Field South Community Hall (Evandale Rd, SW9 6QG).

The event is designed to discuss future food recycling events or projects on the estate. It is part of Incredible Edible Lambeth’s programme to work with housing estate residents in the borough on community composting schemes.

Full details of the project and the event on Wednesday night can be found here.

Lambeth launches Air Quality Action Plan consultation

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Lambeth Council has launched a new consultation asking for residents’ views on how to improve air quality in the borough.

According to results from recent studies, air quality has been improving in Lambeth since 2014, but as with other parts of London, pollution remains high.

Responding to this challenge, the Council states in its introduction to the consultation:

“Lambeth Council has put together an Air Quality Action Plan that sets out the steps we will take to reduce air pollution in the borough. Here’s what’s included:

  • A commitment to pursuing, ambitious long term air quality targets.
  • Support for most at-risk groups: the young, the elderly, those with a pre-existing health condition, and residents in the most polluted areas.

There are air quality policy areas that are outside of our influence and so we will continue to work with regional and central government on policies and issues beyond Lambeth’s influence.

As part of our response to air pollution in Lambeth, we will be setting up an Air Quality Forum to allow residents to continue to have their say on the work we are doing to improve air quality in the borough.”

You can find out more about the consultation and give your views here.

Myatt’s South estate to benefit from new Sustainable Drainage Programme

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One of Myatt’s Fields largest estates will benefit from a share of a £6 million investment programme aimed at improving drainage systems using sustainable techniques across Lambeth.

Myatt’s Fields South has been included in the new plan announced by Lambeth Council, in partnership with Thames Water, as part of the borough’s climate change action plan.

In particular, the council, acting in consultation with residents, wants to set up nature-based solutions, including “rain gardens”, to help deal with problems in locations targeted following a range of investigations.

The aim is to relieve pressure on the ageing sewage system by mimicking natural drainage features including trees and wetland areas. The Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) scheme will provide new green infrastructure on the borough’s streets and open spaces, reducing flood risk and offering wider benefits, such as cooling areas during heatwaves, storing carbon and supporting mental health and wildlife.

You can read more about the project here.

Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop said:

“We are very pleased that after lobbying by local councillors, Myatt’s Fields South has been included in this programme, especially as the estate has long suffered from drainage and flooding issues. This is a great green and innovative way of helping to address the problems of climate change while at the same time enhancing habitats for wildlife. Myatt’s Fields South already has a strong community of residents working on a range of environmental improvements of which this will be a welcome addition.

“Of course it itself these proposals won’t completely solve all the drainage issues on the estate and councillors are continuing to lobby the Council for further action there.”

Example of a SUDs planting option

Five new electrical vehicle charging points set for Myatt’s Fields

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Lambeth Council have confirmed that five new electrical charging points for vehicles will be installed in the Myatt’s Fields area in the next year to supplement the eight already in place. This will be part of 116 new lamp column charging points rolled out across Lambeth.

The plans were revealed in response to a question submitted to July’s Lambeth Council meeting by Cllr Paul Gadsby on behalf of Myatt’s Fields councillors. More charging points for electric vehicles was one issue raised with councillors during their recent roving surgeries, with particularly strong feedback that more needed to be installed on local council estates.

Lambeth’s statement said:

“We have over 250 lamp column chargers across the borough as well as 58 Fast chargers and 20 Rapid chargers. We have secured funding for a further 116 Lamp column charge points for delivery in 22/23 and are going through a procurement process for a further 8 Ultra Rapid Charge points.   

“Of the 116 charge points due for delivery in 22/23, we plan to install 5 within the Myatt’s Field area to supplement the existing 8 charge points.  

“We are currently in the process of updating our Electric Vehicle Strategy and delivery plan.

“This work is being developed and will enable a bid into the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure scheme when the fund opens in late 2022. The aim of the strategy update is to ensure we deliver an appropriate number of chargers to support the wider de-carbonisation of transport in Lambeth, in line with the Climate Action Plan. Noting Cllr Gadsby’s request for plans relating to the Myatts Field ward, consideration as to which estates are to be included in the bid will be given over the next few months.”

Responding to the statement from the Council, Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop said:

“We are pleased that Lambeth has listened to residents and new charging points will be installed in the coming year: we are especially pleased that the Council will be looking at installing these on our estates not just street areas.

“In our view, Myatt’s Fields does need more sustainable travel infrastructure, including additional bike storage racks like those recently installed on Paulet Road. We will keep pressing for more green travel investment in our area.”