Myatt’s Fields councillors will next month be switching their regular monthly surgery to Thursday 9 May 2024 in order to avoid a clash with the Mayoral elections (taking place on Thursday 2 May 2024).
As usual the surgery will be held at Longfield Hall, 6pm-7pm, and as always, no appointment is necessary: if you have an issue to discuss please do drop in for a chat!
The monthly surgeries will return to the first Thursday of every month from June 2024.
Local Myatt’s Fields councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop have called on energy providers EON to take urgent action over heating failures that have affected households across the Myatt’s North estate (Oval Quarter) during the Easter break.
Residents across the neighbourhood faced limited or no heating after an outage during the recent bank holidays, the latest in a series of failures over the past few years. The system is operated by energy provider EON.
Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop said:
“It is unacceptable that many residents across Myatt’s North have had to go days with either partial or no heating over Easter. To make matters worse, local people have been struggling to get any response from EON about what is going on.
“As councillors, we have written to EON asking them to urgently explain when this problem will be fixed and what compensation residents can expect. We have separately asked the Council to raise this matter with EON at the highest level.
“In the longer term, it is worth remembering that two years ago EON promised Lambeth Council and the local community that they had fixed the heating outages on the estate: it is about time that this company, which makes billions in profit, fulfilled their promises to their customers.”
UPDATE (3/4/24): EON have confirmed that heating has been restored to the area, and the energy provider has confirmed they will be offering compensation to residents for the Easter outage.
While welcome, Local Councillors will be taking up the repeated pattern of long term heating failure with EON, and will be expected improvements to be made in the future.
Following lobbying from local councillors, Lambeth Council has given the green light for two sustainable drainage (SUDs) gardens, aimed at reducing flooding by planting water retaining plants and surfaces, on the Myatt’s South estate.
Cllr Paul Gadsby pressed for an update on plans for the SUDs on the estate at a recent meeting of Lambeth Council, while highlighting the impact of Tory cuts on the local authorities budget. In response, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, Councillor Rezina Chowdhury, said:
” You are right (Cllr Gadsby) to highlight the government’s woeful record on funding for adaptation to climate change. It is left to local authorities to bid for little pots of funding and lobby Thames Water to deliver work that we know to be essential as we continue to break temperature records.”
“However, we are determined to deliver for and with our residents, and Myatts Fields estate is an excellent example of this. We have commissioned construction of the rain gardens at Myatt’s Fields, scheduling this around ongoing deep retrofit work to properties on the estate, which temporarily requires the green space where the SuDS will be positioned. The SuDS works are now scheduled to be implemented in Spring 24.”
“We liaised with the local resident association and those living directly adjacent to the proposed scheme location at St Lawrence Way. We have updated the design to reflect resident input. The rain garden will be set back further from the property boundaries and will also take on a more natural shape and form. The engagement process has enabled us to develop a more aesthetically pleasing scheme. The local resident association has supported us to develop the Lord Holland’s Way rain gardens. We will soon liaise with residents to go through in detail the works involved and how they will be affected.”
Local councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop have both welcomed the new investment on the estate, saying:
“It is fantastic news that the Myatt’s South estate will benefit from this investment into two rain gardens: we will continue to press for more across Myatt’s Fields.”
Residents on the Lothian estate in Maytt’s Fields have overwhelmingly rejected proposals from a for-profit, private company to snatch control of their homes.
The results of a consultation, held at the end of last year, found that:
This huge “no” vote came after local councillors and residents raised serious concerns about how the plans could affects the bills of tenants and leaseholders, and put the future of their homes in doubt. Vision Homes (Lambeth) Ltd and their partner PACCA TMO also clearly failed to convince residents that they had either expertise or ability to run their homes.
Speaking about the result, Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop said:
“Lambeth Council have confirmed that they believe no ballot is now needed on these proposals given the large turnout and clear majority who rejected these plans. We support this position and would urge Vision Homes Lambeth to listen to the people and abandon the proposal. It is concerning that early indications appear to show that the for profit outfit still wants to continue with a ballot.
“We would like to thank everyone who has spoken to us about these takeover plans: we realise this process has been extremely stressful for many residents.”
Further reading on these proposals
For-profit outfit unable to provide basic information about their proposals
Lambeth Council is offering a free Christmas Tree recycling service during January for any resident in the borough.
Full details of the service are below:
Lambeth Council is asking for residents to share their views on a proposed expansion of it’s licensing schemes covering the private rented sector.
The consultation, which runs until 4 March 2024, aims to raise standards for the many thousands of private renters across Lambeth and in Myatt’s Fields, by requiring more landlords to obtain a license to rent out their property – which they will only receive if they meet minimum safety and other standards.
Speaking about the proposals, Cllr Maria Kay, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness said:
“We have already taken significant action to tackle poor standards in the private rented sector, and although most landlords operating in Lambeth provide our residents with decent, well managed and safe homes, we continue to uncover renters living in hazardous and unacceptable conditions.
“We are focussed on improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities for people in Lambeth. That’s why we have launched our consultation on the private rented property sector as part of our commitment to addressing these issues.
“It’s important that we hear from everyone who may be affected by our proposals. If you are a tenant or homeowner, or if you study or work in the borough, we need to hear from you. Your views are important and will help to ensure that we develop the best new scheme for everyone.
“We know that many of our residents are feeling the pressures of the current cost of living crisis and supporting our most vulnerable residents is a number one priority for all of us in Lambeth. That’s why we want to ensure that as many as possible have the chance to take part, share their views and comment on our proposals, and we are providing many different ways to engage with the consultation.”
Myatt’s Fields councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop are urging residents to give their views – find out more here.
You can also share your views by attending one of the virtual public meetings being held on the following dates:
Date & Time: Wednesday 17 January 2024 at 6.30pm – Please register and reserve your place by clicking this link.
Date & Time: Wednesday 21 February 2024 at 6.30pm – Please register and reserve your place by clicking this link.
Lambeth Council have confirmed there will be changes to the normal collection days for waste and recycling during the upcoming festive period.
A revised schedule for collections is below, with more information on Lambeth Council’s website here.
| Usual collection date | Christmas collection date |
|---|---|
| Monday 25 December | Tuesday 26 December |
| Tuesday 26 December | Wednesday 27 December |
| Wednesday 27 December | Thursday 28 December |
| Thursday 28 December | Friday 29 December |
| Friday 29 December | Saturday 30 December |
| Monday 1 January | Tuesday 2 January |
| Tuesday 2 January | Wednesday 3 January |
| Wednesday 3 January | Thursday 4 January |
| Thursday 4 January | Friday 5 January |
| Friday 5 January | Saturday 6 January |
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:
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. “
Further reading on these proposals
For-profit outfit unable to provide basic information about their proposals
Leaseholders will lose out under local home takeover plan
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.
Local Myatt’s Fields councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop are hosting a coffee morning for local residents on the Lothian estate this coming Saturday.
This drop-in event is open to all residents to pop along and discuss any local issues with Annie and Paul, whether it’s ideas for improving our community, or a personal matter that may require a helping hand from councillors.
The coffee morning will be held at St John the Divine Community Centre, 21 Frederick Crescent (SW9 6XN), on Saturday 28 October, 11am-1.30pm.
Many residents have been concerned about the proposed take over of council homes on the Lothian estate by a private company. This has now been dragging on for almost a year, with Lambeth Council saying it is “baffling” that the for-profit outfit behind the proposed privatisation of local homes has failed to provide basic financial information on how they would run essential services, including repairs, for residents.
If you are concerned about these proposals, please contact councillors here.
Myatt's Fields Labour 