Tag Archives: transport

Lambeth Council places new restrictions on Lilford Road Business Centre redevelopment

Posted on by

A range of restrictions has been imposed on the proposed controversial redevelopment of the Lilford Road Business Centre following lobbying by local residents and Myatt’s Fields’ Labour team.

The development is likely to bring new jobs to the area and create a fresh start for the dilapidated buildings at the business centre. There are also proposals to create new green landscaping around the site and install sustainable travel infrastructure for employees, like bike storage sheds.

But many residents were concerned that the original proposals would have allowed delivery vehicles to move to and from the site for more than 100 hours each week which could mean a huge increase in traffic in the heart of a residential area that Lambeth Council has acknowledged is a congestion and pollution hotspot.

The restrictions were imposed by the Council’s Planning Committee at its most recent meeting. Cllr Paul Gadsby told the committee:

“I want to focus my comments tonight on a real concern in the community about an increase in traffic from this application.

“The applicant is proposing a window of 16 hours every weekday when vehicles can move to and from the site:  the Council’s transport assessment suggests that peak hour movements will increase by 60%, this will result in hundreds of extra vehicle movements to and from the site each month, perhaps thousands over the course of a year. And while the developer has ruled out pleasingly the use of takeaway deliver firms in response to the community’s concerns, it hasn’t ruled out grocery or other high intensity delivery outfits: this model being pushed by developers across London is causing chaos in other residential areas, like Lilford Road, where residents are subject to increased noise, congestion and pollution, especially from speeding motorbikes.

“It should be noted that Lambeth Council has identified this area as a traffic hotspot with millions to be allocated to reduce traffic in the area: residents might rightly ask if this is a waste of money should this application go through unamended.”

As a result of the campaign by the community and councillors, the committee approved the application but placed more than 30 conditions on the development to address the community’s concerns.

They included:

  • Tough monitoring procedures to ensure the applicant abides by the delivery hours approved by the committee.
  • A requirement for the developer to appoint a “community liaison officer” who would be on call to answer any concerns raised by local residents.
  • The conditions also confirmed that delivery hours would be limited to 7am to 11pm weekdays – down from the 24 hour delivery window originally proposed.
  • So called “dark kitchens” (takeway food outlets) would be barred from operating on the premises.

Responding to the outcome of the meeting, Cllr Gadsby said:

“Cllr Gallop and I want to thank local residents, MPs and community groups, including the Lilford Road Action Group and the Brixton Society, for the huge amount of effort they have put into improving these proposals.

“We did not get everything we wanted and would have liked to have seen further reductions in delivery times to and from the site, however, the plans have undergone a lot of change from the original proposals from the developers last year. This includes tougher traffic restrictions on the businesses using the site to rule out the very worst high delivery businesses which are unsuitable in a residential neighbourhood. We acknowledge that the developer has also listened to local residents, with a number of the changes made voluntarily by them following a lengthy period of discussion in the past six months.

“However, we will be watching the development as it progresses. The planning committee spent more than two hours debating the traffic points made by residents and councillors: it is now over to the developer and Lambeth’s Building Control Team to make sure the promises made at the committee are upheld, especially those relating to ensuring there no adverse effects on local roads and pollution from the site.”

Local councillors call on Lambeth to take action on traffic congestion around Cranmer Road

Posted on by

Myatt’s Fields councillors have called on Lambeth Council to take a tougher line on delivery companies causing traffic congestion, pollution and noise along Cranmer Road near the Holland Town estate.

Cllr Paul Gadsby submitted the below question to January’s full meeting of Lambeth councillors:

Myatt’s Fields councillors have been receiving complaints from residents on the Holland Town Estate and around Cranmer Road about delivery lorries and refrigerated trucks delivering to Gorillas who regularly block the road, causing congestion, heavy pollution, and noise at all hours of the day, and can be seen idling, despite Lambeth’s discouragement of this practise. Can the cabinet member outline what action can be taken in Lambeth to address the issues caused by delivery trucks outlined about, especially in relation to Cranmer Road?

In response, Lambeth said it would increase action in the area:

Our Parking, Highways Enforcement and Public Protection teams will work together to address the parking, obstruction, idling, and any licensing issues with regards to their operation and ensure all avenues are explored to resolve the issues that residents are experiencing. We will patrol this location and enforce where possible. Idling is nearly always unnecessary and it’s a source of pollution. Idling is now a fineable offence across the whole of the borough. Lambeth have a team of officers that will ask drivers to switch off their engines if they notice them idling across the borough. A penalty notice may be issued if this request is not complied with.

However, councillors have followed up this exchange by asking the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Travel and Clean Air to visit the area and to write to the company demanding they take action.

Request a new electrical vehicle charging point in your neighbourhood

Posted on by

Lambeth Council is encouraging residents to suggest locations for the new electrical vehicle charging points that are set to be rolled out across the borough in the next few years.

Local councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop have successfully campaigned for more vehicle charging points in Myatt’s Fields following feedback from the local community: Lambeth Council confirmed in July that five would be installed in the next year. The news has been followed by an announcement of new funding for other “sustainable travel” projects in Myatt’s Fields after a petition about ongoing traffic concerns in the area was organised by Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop.

Residents who own an electrical vehicle or are thinking about buying one, can suggest a charging point for their street or estate by filling in this form.

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.”