Tag Archives: Lambeth Council

Lothian estate residents will be left “worse off” if stock transfer goes ahead

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Secure tenants and leaseholders on the Lothian estate will be “left worse off” should control of their homes pass to a for-profit private company, Lambeth’s Housing Cabinet Member has claimed.

The statement came in an answer to questions submitted by Myatt’s Fields councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop at Lambeth Council’s public meeting on Wednesday 19 October. Residents and local councillors have already voiced their concerns about a ballot that could see PACCA TMO Limited and Vision Homes (Lambeth) Ltd, a for-profit company take over ownership of the council properties on the Lothian Estate area.

Vision Homes (Lambeth) Ltd have no track record of running social housing and have been, according to Lambeth Housing Cabinet Member Cllr Maria Kay, “unclear” about how they will fund a list of expensive promises to residents.

Cllr Kay also expressed concerns that if there was a “yes” vote in the ballot, the ownership of homes could be passed by Vision Homes to another owner, without the consent of residents. She also confirmed that leaseholders are excluded by national legislation from taking part in the ballot.

You can read the full text of Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop’s questions at the meeting here, listed under questions four and nineteen.

If you worried or confused about this proposed takeover and want to know more, you can contact your local councillors Paul and Annie here – and give us your views on the proposals here.

A date for the proposed ballot has yet to be set but is likely to be in the next few months. Council tenant and leaseholder properties affected by these proposals are on the following streets:

  • Lothian Road (Dalkeith House, Silverburn House and Bathgate House)
  • Langton Road
  • Frederick Crescent
  • Myatt Road
  • Halsmere Road
  • Patmos Road
  • Tindall Street
  • Elliott Road
  • Cancell Road

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

Police hold “street briefing” and feedback session for residents on Paulet Road estate

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Local police in Myatt’s Fields are hosting a “street” briefing on Monday, 15 August for residents on the Paulet Road to discuss recent issues with anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime in the area.

Residents and local councillors have been in touch with the police recently about concerns around drug use, noise and other ASB in the neighbourhood. Police have in the past few months:

  • Stepped up patrols in the area and are working with the Council to increase CCTV coverage on Paulet Road.
  • Issued a number of formal warnings for the misuse of mopeds, and taken action against one moped rider which lead to the cancellation of their rental agreement for the bike.
  • Conducted a number of actions which lead to the confiscation of drugs in the area.

Details for the street briefing are below: please note that the briefing will start at 5.30pm:

More new bike storage hangers set for Myatt’s Fields

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Cyclists in Myatt’s Fields are to benefit from two new Lambeth Council bike storage hangers — with one already installed.

The first store has appeared on Cromwell Road, following recent road works in the area.

The second will be installed on Knatchbull Road. Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, the cabinet member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, confirmed the improvements in answer to a question from Cllr Paul Gadsby at last month’s council meeting.

Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop also handed in two surveys concerning traffic problems in the ward.

The first of two new bike hangers, installed on Cromwell Road

Cllr Annie Gallop and Cllr Paul Gadsby said:

“It is really welcome news to see more bike storage hangers arriving in our area following the two storage spaces installed earlier this year on Paulet Road and the recent commitment from the Council to roll out more electrical charging points in Myatt’s Fields.

“There is a real demand for more sustainable transport options in our community, and we keep lobbying for more of improvements on behalf of residents.”

Residents can nominate streets that they think should have a bike hanger in Lambeth on this webpage.

How can we make Myatt’s Fields more child friendly?

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Lambeth Council’s new Child Friendly Lambeth initiative will be holding a consultation event in Myatt’s Fields asking for young people’s views on what improvements and priorities they would like to see from their council.

In its mission statement, Child Friendly Lambeth states:

Lambeth are embarking on an ambitious three to five-year programme to be recognised as a UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) Child Friendly Community.

This borough-wide partnership programme will see participation from the local authority, schools, community and faith groups, voluntary and community sector organisations, local businesses, police, health providers and commissioners.

The consultation event will be held 12:00 – 16:00, Wednesday 10th August 2022 at Myatt’s Fields South Basketball Court, London, SW9 6SN.

Further details below:

Lambeth urged to act on traffic problems following two residents’ surveys in Myatt’s Fields

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Local Labour councillors are demanding new action on traffic in Myatt’s Fields, based on evidence gathered in two snapshot surveys.

The surveys – organised by Cllrs Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop – revealed strong support for action to deal with speeding vehicles and dangerous driving around Myatt’s Fields Park and Akerman Road. The results of the petitions, based on two questionnaires, were handed into Lambeth council by Cllr Gadsby on behalf of the Labour team.  Lambeth Council are now formally required to respond to the surveys.

The councillors said:

“Thank you to all residents who took the time to fill in the surveys. They clearly demonstrate real concerns about speeding vehicles and dangerous driving in these closely connected neighbourhoods.

“As councillors, we have also received similar speeding concerns on Patmos Road which connects into Akerman Road, and a local Residents Association on Loughborough Road has been highlighting for many years problems with congestion there.

“ We are asking Lambeth Council to take a look at all these issues together and put in place a comprehensive plan that makes local roads safer.“

The headlines from the surveys, which were prompted by local concerns, are:

83 responses were received to the Myatt’s Fields Park survey, with 160 residents saying there was a problem with speeding cars in the area. In this survey, the top asks from residents were:

128 – Better enforcement of the 20mph speed limit

113 – Introduction of speed bumps

82 – Better facilities for cyclists

32 – Improvement/resurfacing of local roads

55 responses were received for a survey about speeding on Akerman Road, with 52 respondents stating there was a problem with speeding on the road.

A variety of suggestions were made about how to tackle the problem, including better enforcement of the 20mph speed limit, including the introduction of speed cameras, and  speed humps being put into the area.

Cllr Paul Gadsby at July’s Lambeth Council meeting

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.”

Myatt’s Fields Park asks for residents’ help in a bid for Lambeth Community Funds

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Myatt’s Fields Park is bidding for £75,000 from the Lambeth Community Fund in order to fund its outstanding local community work – and it’s asking residents to support its application.

Talking about its bid, the Myatt’s Fields Park Project, said:

We want to: 

* Empower at least eight people a year to develop and run their own activities in the park. This will include personalised development and mentoring, accredited training, fundraising support and free use of the park’s facilities 
* Support at least five organisations a year to run events and activities in the park 
* Engage local people as community representatives, reaching out into the community, gathering information about community needs 
* Run events and activities for more than 3000 people a year 

This program will prioritise young and older people from the African diaspora and other people of colour as they are currently under-represented as park users. 

MFPP has applied to Lambeth Community Connections Fund for £75k over two years to pay for a new community engagement manager, marketing manager and community engagement costs. To be successful, we have to prove that we have local support. If you would like to see the change above, please do so.

Residents can pledge their support here.

Local councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop are backing the project, and are encouraging residents to do the same.

Lambeth announces package of measures to help residents struggling with cost-of-living crisis

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Myatt’s Fields residents in the grip of the Tories’ cost-of-living crisis are being offered help to make ends meet by Labour-controlled Lambeth council.

In line with Labour’s manifesto promise during last month’s local elections, the package will offer extra financial help for those residents caught in the grip of the emergency by funding free school meals during the school holidays for families on low incomes, and direct payments to thousands of residents who are struggling to pay their bills.

Funding will be available to those who need it most in the borough at a time when many people in our communities are struggling with rising household bills by offering:

  • A targeted £150 Council Tax Energy Rebate for those on Council Tax Support not living in Band A-D properties
  • £100 Additional support for low-income pensioner households
  • £50 Additional support for low-income households (non-pensioners)
  • £20 per child per week additional support for households with children, during the school holidays

Myatt’s Fields councillors Annie Gallop and Paul Gadsby said:

“Many of our residents are already struggling to pay for basic needs like food and fuel; we can’t and won’t stand by and allow this crisis to let rip across the borough while the Tories in Westminster stumble from one scandal to the next.

“This package of support will help the people in our communities who are suffering the most. It is part of our commitment as Lambeth Labour to do everything we can to shield everyone, particularly our most vulnerable, from the worst effects of this crisis.

“At the elections last month we made a manifesto commitment to take whatever action we can to help our residents at this difficult time. Now it’s time for us to deliver on that promise.”

Details of the scheme can be found here.

Cllr David Amos, Cabinet Member for Finance, talks about the new package here.