• Local community schemes come up trumps in Lambeth council funding announcement

    A group which works to save children and young people in Myatt’s Fields from educational failure and other effects of social problems is the big winner in a list of cash awards worth almost a quarter of a million pounds, announced by Lambeth council.

    XLP, which supports young people in Lambeth facing challenges like family breakdown, unemployment, and educational failure, often in areas impacted by antisocial behaviour and gang violence, will get £156,814.

    The organisation, which works alongside bodies including St Gabriel’s School in Myatt’s Fields, focuses on creating positive futures through long-term relationships and belief in change, regardless of background. Initiatives include a school exclusion reduction programme, mentoring, sports and arts and a mobile youth centre. Read about XLP here.

    Three other local community projects are celebrating their share of the combined windfall from the Borough’s Community Connections fund.

    Breath Arts Health Research — £77,000. Breath are world leaders in combining creativity and scientific research to improve health and wellbeing in communities. The Melodies for Mums programme aims to support new mothers in Brixton and Stockwell experiencing postnatal depression or low mood. This free, 10-week group singing initiative, delivered in local community settings including the Liz Atkinson Children’s Centre, has been proven to improve mental health, boost confidence, and strengthen social connections. More details here.

    Longfield Hall Trust — £10,000. The famous local landmark bid will receive the funding injection to help continue it’s work in the community: read about the Hall’s work here.

    The Remakery – £9,995. This renowned sustainability organisation which includes a collection of workshops and community space in Lilford Rd will use the grant to support its ongoing community outreach work. Read more about this project here

    Community Connections encourages initiatives set up to make our borough fairer and safer — more details can be found here.

    Cllr Annie Gallop and Cllr Paul Gadsby said:

    “It’s great to see Lambeth stepping in and putting our cash where it’s going to have a significant effect on the lives of many vulnerable people. We’re also please to see big financial boosts for organisations which have been working to improve lives in our neighbourhoods for many years.”

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  • Developers to consult Myatt’s Fields residents about “co-living” proposal.

    Plans have been unveiled to build a large block of what the developers call “high quality” accommodation for short-term lets.

    The developers, InHouse, want to construct a five-storey block of 160 units on the corner of Cancell Rd and Elliott Road, next to the new Patmos Lodge site.

    The Cancell Rd sit of the proposed new development.
    The site of the proposed development on Cancell Rd

    The development will include facilities including a gym, social areas and a roof garden. The accommodation, mostly small self-contained flats, will be offered for rent on short leases — three months or longer — to people attracted to the idea of communal living.

    A public consultation session has been arranged at St John the Divine, 92 Vassall Rd, London, SW9 6JA on 27th February 2025 between 5pm – 7.30pm, supported by a document outlining the proposal.

    Local councillors, who intend to respond to the consultation, are also asking for residents’ views: you can contact them here.

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  • New tree planting initiative for our communities

    Myatt’s Fields is to benefit from the latest phase in Lambeth’s tree-planting initiative.

    The Myatt’s Fields South estate is the big local winner — 30 trees are planned to be planted there.

    Elsewhere, there will be 16 new plantings in Myatt’s Fields Park itself, and another in nearby Calais Gate and Coligny Court.

    The council’s tree-planting target is 1700 — or more — across Lambeth this season. Four hundred have already been completed, and 182 stumps have been removed.

    The council is working with both Street Trees for Living and Action for conservation to deliver planting in and around schools. Street Trees For Living are working with Lambeth Primary Schools to plant in and around their sites, whilst Action For Conservation will run a days environmental action programme with pupils from Lillian Baylis Technical College that will culminate with them collaborating with planting trees in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens with Lambeth Tree Service and contractors Street Ltd.

    Cllrs Annie Gallop and Paul Gadsby said:

    “We are very happy to see more tree planting throughout Myatt’s Fields!”

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  • Local police announce first public liaison meeting of the year

    Myatt’s Fields local police team is inviting residents to meet them at their first Safer Neighbourhood Team panel of 2025.

    The panel – at which the local team answer questions about local crime and safety issues – will take place at the Myatt’s Fields North community centre on February 12th at 7pm.

    At the last meeting, new policing priorities were set by local people – they were:

    • Anti-social behaviour, including drug dealing, on the Myatt’s Fields North estate
    • Positive engagement with local young people
    • Violent crime, including robbery in the Ward.

    Earlier this month the team reported that three suspects had been arrested and bailed following a robbery in Patmos Road on Christmas Eve.

    The Myatt’s officers say they are working with the Met’s robbery team in the investigation, and intend to have Community Behaviour Orders imposed to ban the suspects from the area.

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  • Myatt’s Fields councillors announce surgery schedule for 2025

    Myatt’s Fields councillors have confirmed their public surgeries for 2025, including a change to the first surgery of the new year.

    As in 2024, Myatt’s Fields Labour councillors will hold a regularly monthly surgery (apart from in August) at Longfield Hall on the first Thursday of each month, between 6pm and 7pm. Either Cllr Gadsby or Cllr Gallop will be on hand, accompanied by support volunteers, to speak to residents about any local issue they might have. No appointments are necessary!

    Residents can also contact councillors at this page.

    The schedule for 2025 is below: the councillors have opted to move the first surgery of the new year to the second Thursday in January to avoid a clash with the start of the year.

    Surgery details for 2025 (all held at Longfield Hall, 50 Knatchbull Road, London, SE5 9QY between 6pm and 7pm)

    Thursday, 9 January

    Thursday, 6 February

    Thursday, 6 March

    Thursday, 3 April

    Thursday, 1 May

    Thursday, 5 June

    Thursday, 3 July

    Thursday, 4 September

    Thursday, 2 October

    Thursday, 6 November

    Thursday, 4 December

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  • Myatt’s Fields venues take part in Lambeth’s free holiday activities for children and young people.

    An exciting drama programme at Longfield Hall and multisports and crafts at Myatt’s Fields North community centre are just some of dozens of activities planned during the borough council-organised Winter of Food and Fun, which runs from Monday December 23rd to Friday January 3rd.

    The programme is aimed at children between four and 16 years who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. Each club will provide free healthy meals, fun physical activities to suit all tastes and ages, as well as opportunities for the family to learn about food and nutrition.

    A flyer is being distributed around our neighbourhoods — you can find it here. More about the project, funded with cash from the Department for Education, is here.

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  • Minister backs local councillors’ call for better controls on e-vehicle “nuisance”.

    A Government minister has weighed in on Myatt’s Fields Labour councillors’ call for better powers to deal with the ‘blight’ of e-bikes and e-scooters left strewn across our pavements and open spaces.

    Councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop wrote to Simon Lightfoot MP, Minister for Local Transport, urging the government to help Lambeth council deal with the problem, following representations from local people.

    Now Mr Lightfoot has replied, thanking the councillors for their comments and assuring them that he was aware of the issue, in Lambeth and in the rest of London.

    In their letter sent earlier this month, Cllrs Gallop and Cllr Gadsby urged tighter regulatory powers in the face of a growing problem from “dockless” e-bikes and scooters.

    Residents in Myatt’s Fields have complained about public spaces in the ward being used to abandon the vehicles, creating an eyesore and blocking pavements – a particular nuisance for our neighbours with mobility issues.

    In his reply, Mr Lightfoot said he agreed with the councillors’ view that so-called “micro-mobility” schemes can benefit many users and contribute to our environmental targets.

    However. he said: “I am particularly conscious that while pavement obstructions caused by poorly parked e-bikes are an inconvenience to many, they present a serious safety risk to vulnerable pavement users such as those with mobility issues or visual impairments.”

    He went on: “On e-scooters specifically, until any legislative changes are brought forward and come into effect, private e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and rental e-scooters can only be used in national rental e-scooter trial areas. Enforcement of illegal and/or
    irresponsible e-scooter use is a matter for the police. Users can face fines
    and fixed penalty notices, criminal prosecution, points on their driving licence, and have their e-scooter impounded.

    “As you will appreciate, the new government is still in its early stages, and I
    am still carefully considering the future of micromobility policy, including on
    shared micromobility rental schemes and e-scooters”.

    He said he was grateful to the councillors for getting in touch with him as he considers action – “Your distillation of the specific nature of the problem in London and your recommendations for suggested action will be of great help as I do this”, he said.

    Separately, Lambeth has proposed a big expansion of bays for dockless bikes – some of them in Myatt’s Fields – but has emphasised that users should act responsibly and refrain from leaving the vehicles in inconvenient places.

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  • “Vandalised” tree to be felled near Vassall Road, say Lambeth council

    A tree which has died after being deliberately damaged is to be felled by the Borough council.

    The Ailanthus tree, between Russell Grove and Vassall Road, was confirmed to be lifeless earlier this year. Experts say the cause of death isn’t known but there as been “determined vandalism” to the stem – shown in the picture below.

    The bark has been deliberately cut through right around the tree stem, up to a height of a metre from the ground.

    The tree is located on ground to the rear of houses on Russell Grove – shown in the red square below. Lambeth council says a felling notice will be placed on the tree to inform residents before it is felled this Winter. It will be replaced next Winter.

    Ward Labour councillors Annie Gallop and Paul Gadsby said: “it really is pathetic that vandalism has played a part in the destruction of this tree and we would urge anyone with information to contact the Council. It is however important the Council seeks to replace the tree and that this is has already been committed to.”

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  • Big expansion of dockless electric hire bikes and scooter bays in view as Lambeth launch a public consultation

    Plans are afoot for a big increase in the number of roadside spaces for rental e-bikes and scooters in the borough — including some in Myatt’s Fields. The council wants to hear from residents before approving the plan which, they say, would put hire vehicles within a three-minute walk for most residents.

    If the program is approved, the number of locations would rise from around 200 to 350, with four of the new sites in our ward – in Foxley Rd, Welby St, Mostyn Rd and Patmos Rd. These and others can be viewed on this map.



    Some local residents have recently complained about e-bikes and scooters left strewn across pavements and public open spaces. Local Labour councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop have written to the Government minister responsible asking for councils to be given more powers to deal with the ‘blight’.

    Deputy council leader Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: “Lambeth Council supports the further expansion of sustainable forms of travel such as rental dockless bikes and scooters, but we also recognise the accessibility issues that parking on pavements and in high demand locations can cause.

    “It’s vital that when people are finished using rental scooters and bikes, they are stored safely in one of the new dockless bays rather than abandoned on the street for the next person to use.”

    Many of the new sites chosen are proposed to be installed in some of Lambeth’s busiest areas and frequent destinations to ensure that e-scooter and e-bike users can properly park their rental vehicles when they finish their journey.

    The council has launched a consultation on the proposals and is asking residents to respond by visiting this portal. The consultation finishes on Friday December 6.

    You can read more about the proposal here.

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  • “Free Food” tasting menu this weekend at Myatt’s North Community Centre cafe!

    The Myatt’s North Community Centre is hosting a “free food” tasting event this Saturday (23 November) between 12pm and 2pm.

    Home Grown Brixton, currently based in the cafe, are throwing open their doors – and their excellent menu – to the community.

    They describe their approach to cooking local cuisine below:

    Our food is uncomplicated but tasty and made using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible to ensure we give back to the community that we love. Whether it be for you, a family member or someone you care for, we want to make sure that not only do we deliver food, but that food hug satisfaction too!

    More information about Home Grown Brixton, including their delivery service, can be found here.

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