RCDT ENEWS/EVENTS LISTING 15 FEBRUARY 2008

From Riverside Community Development Trust, 20 Newburn St, SE11 5PJ. 020 7820 0555. info@rcdt.org. www.rcdt.org

Previous ENews/Events Listings can be seen on www.rcdt.org

16 February 2008 - KENNINGTON ASSOCIATION BAZAAR

ST ANSELM’S CHURCH HALL,  KENNINGTON CROSS

MONDAY - BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE BEAUFOY INSTITUTE

AND LADY MARGARET HALL SETTLEMENT.

FRIENDS OF DURNING LIBRARY TALK

BY SEAN CREIGHTON (STANDING IN FOR JEFFE JEFFERS)

LAMBETH PROPOSES TO REDUCE

THE TOWN CENTRE AREAS

(see News & Comment Section below)

BDP STARTS CONSULTATION ON

VAUXHALL PLANNING DOCUMENT

(see News & Comment Section below)

Please note that because will be working on a freelance contract in the North East Wednesday to Friday, there will be no ENews on Friday 23 February. The Diary for the week starting Saturday 24 February is set out below.

Sports etc at Old Lilian Baylis. The Full Calender of sports and fitness events taking place at the old Lilian Baylis School site can been seen on the Kennington Association Health & Fitness Blog, accessed from  http://journals.aol.co.uk/kenningtonnews/KenningtonNews/

For Diary for week starting Saturday 24 February see below.

For events March to June see 1 February Enews on www.rcdt.org

NEWS

Planning Committee Considers Hampton House application 19 February. The Council’s Planning Application Committee 1 is to consider the application on Hampton House at 20 Albert Embankment. This involves the demolition of existing buildings and erection of 3 buildings of between 13 and 27 storeys to provide a mixed use development comprising ground floor commercial units, a 67 room apartment-hotel, 93 I bed, 77 2 bed, 65 3 bed and 7 4 bed self-contained residential units, along with associated parking and landscaping including first floor podium and roof gardens. The Planning Officers are recommending full planning permission subject to a Section 106 agreement which must be signed by 29 February. If it is not then it is recommended that the application be refused on the grounds of lack of mitigation related to securing affordable housing, contribution to the provision of school places, site parking spaces, car club provision, travel , delivery management , construction management and energy, water and waste management plans, local labour, television reception station, contribution to improvements for public transport, and for Spring Gardens, healthcare, library and spots and leisure facilities. To see full Committee report go to www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=441&MId=5771&Ver= 

Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum Meeting, Thursday 28 February. Centenary Hall, Cottington Street. 6.30pm. networking. 7pm Meeting. Agenda: Welcome and Introductions, Minutes of previous meeting 17 April 07, Matters arising, Minutes of previous meeting 9 October 07, Matters, Chair's Report and feedback from recent meetings, Project Blake - Details of an Arts project celebrating William Blake's connections with North Lambeth, S 106 planning obligations and local Project Banks. Clive Fraser, from Lambeth Planning Department, KOV proposed new Constitution. Date of Next Meeting: Evening of 10 Jun. Papers will be available from Jacqueline Christie, Area Project Officer, North Lambeth Town Centre Office, 20 Newburn St.   020 7926 8295; jchristie@lambeth.gov.uk

Safer Lambeth Consultation Meeting 26 February. 6.30-9pm. At the last monthly meeting of Lambeth Community-Police Consultative Group (CPCG) on 5 February, CPCG received a brief presentation from Geoff Wade and Ann Corbett on Safer Lambeth Partnership’s Strategic Assessment in respect of crime, which will form the basis for the year ahead.  At the meeting, CPCG thought there needed to be more detail and discussion and therefore a meeting to consult with the community has been arranged for: 6.30-9.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 26 February at Karibu Centre, 7 Gresham Road, Brixton SW9. admin@lambethcpcg.org.uk; 020 7733 0878; www.lambethcpcg.org.uk for details of future events and information resources.

Valerie Shawcross Newsletter. Greater London Assembly member for Lambeth & Southwark has  just published her latest newsletter which includes details about the Mayor's Youth Offer, plans for new police bases, updates on Herne Hill Junction, Crystal Palace Park and Brixton Central Square as well as many other updates on her work as London Assembly Member. You can find it on her website at www.valshawcross.com/fileadmin/files-shawcross/downloads/ValShawcrossNewsletterWinter2008.pdf. Valerie Shawcross, London Assembly Member, Lambeth & Southwark, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London
SE1 2AA, 020 7983 4371

Mother of all Parties. Saturday 8 March, 8pm-3am. Admission: £10 (£8 concessions). Live music performance-art electronica  film  eclectic dj’s. Tetine (brazilian funk). Serafina Steer (harp/vocals). Hauschka (prepared piano). Melanie Clifford (glass percussion/electronics). Jessica Voorsanger (art intervention). Lundahl&Seitl (art interaction). Liz Murray (nail & beauty kiosk). Andrea Parker (dj/electronica). Howard Jacques (dj/mc). Annie Davey (dj). Paul B Davis (dj/circuit-bending). Weirdcore (moving image). MoaP is a benefit for Beaconsfield that happens intermittently – progressive and quirky, it celebrates the avant-garde and the everyday. Advanced tickets can be purchased securely with Paypal www.beaconsfield.ltd.uk/moap), via ticketweb (www.ticketweb.co.uk) or by contacting Beaconsfield. For more information please contact Rachel Fleming-Mulford at rachel@beaconsfield.ltd.uk or on 020 7582 6465. Beaconsfield, 22 Newport Street.  020 7582 6465   Email: info@beaconsfield.ltd.uk. www.beaconsfield.ltd.uk

HOUSE OF AGNES. Play at Oval House Theatre by Levi David Addai. 4-29 March at Oval House Theatre. Paines Plough present House of Agnes by Levi David Addai, a new play by a young writer whose recent Royal Court debut, 93.2FM, was a critical sensation. The play is a  tender, astute and humorous portrait of clashing traditional and cultural values in modern family life. After 40 years of building a home in London, Agnes is retiring and moving back to Ghana. Her final wish is for her sons to live together under the same roof when she is gone. But her eldest, Sol, is living with a girlfriend Agnes loathes, and he won't move home until Agnes accepts her. Meanwhile, younger brother Caleb will do whatever it takes to inherit the house – except share it with Sol. As her departure draws closer, the tensions in Agnes’ house rise to breaking point. Will she trust her 21st century boys and finally allow them to be men? Who will own the House of Agnes? Previews: 4 & 5 March at 7.45pm. Tickets: £12 / £6 concessions, (including Refugee Community Organisations); previews £6. Easter meal deal special (21 March & 22 March): £12 includes play, drink and meal from Oval's Caribbean Kitchen. Oval House Theatre, 52-54 Kennington Oval. Box Office: 020 7582 7680   Online sales: www.ovalhouse.com.

Paines Plough in Residence at Oval House. While the play House of Agnes is on Paines Plough company will be presenting a series of other events:

Tues 11 March 10pm. Late night hosted by playwright Levi David Addai, An eclectic mid-week mix-up of evening entertainment. £5 (£3 when booked at the same time as House of Agnes)

Weds 12 March 9.45pm. Why do the British love West African playwrights?

Debate with panel including Dipo Agboluaje and Levi David Addai. (FREE with that night’s performance of House of Agnes)

Tues 18 March 10pm. Late night with Levi David Addai. The boldest new talent sought out and commissioned by Levi David Addai to write and perform their own work: a rare late night opportunity to see the best emerging playwrights on stage.

£5 (£3 when booked at the same time as House of Agnes)

Tues 25 March 6.45pm. Around the house with Future Perfect 3.  Seven premieres of short plays especially commissioned for Oval House Theatre and performed in every nook and cranny of the building. £5 (£3 when booked at the same time as House of Agnes)

Oval House Theatre, 52-54 Kennington Oval. Box Office: 020 7582 7680. Online sales: www.ovalhouse.com

Vauxhall Primary School Spring Fayre on Saturday 29 March (12-4pm) promises a wonderful, fun filled  day for all the family. With arts and crafts including egg and Spring bonnet decorating, egg and spoon races, a coconut shie, music, Tombola, lucky dips, fabulous food and all sorts prizes to be won. Plus much, much more! The fire service will be on hand to provide safety demonstrations, there will even be a keep fit corner! Something for everyone. There will also be a Say and Play consultation. This will be part of a project supported by Lambeth’s Communities exploring ways of involving the very large number of families which cannot take part in normal consultation events.  Further information on Involve, the organisation running the project, can be seen on www.involve.org.uk, www.peopleandparticipation.net, www.youtube.com/involvefoundation.

NEWS & COMMENT

How Should Section 106 be Spent in Kennington and Vauxhall? Cllr Stephen Morgan writes: I am writing to you as the council are running a consultation which could mean more money for the Kennington & Vauxhall area. At the moment when a developer applies for planning permission they are asked to make a financial contribution – called an S106 agreement. The consultation calls for the council to set a tariff of charges so that all developers are treated the same. It will also set up a project bank so that improvements that are needed in our area can be identified by the council and community groups and then the developer will pay to implement them. If you could go to the following website and fill in the consultation it would be a great help.

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/HousingPlanning/Planning/Section106planningobligationssupplementaryplanningdocument%28SPD%29consultation.htm’ Comment: For local debate on Section 105 see the Planning Our Future and Planning Event (Feb 2007) reports on www.rcd.org.

Lambeth Proposes To Reorganise Town Centre Areas. Out go the Town Centre Managers and Community Development Manager posts in the five current Town Centre Area Teams. In come three new area offices one each for the north, centre and south of the Borough, with a Communities and Neighbourhoods Manager , two Neighbourhood Development Officers and an Area Information Officer. Their role will be area based community engagement supporting the Council’s regeneration objectives, implementation and co-ordination of neighbourhood working, outreach in priority wards, preparation of ward profiles and other information, and support to delivery of identified projects with Ward Councillors’ capital programmes. Democratic Services will be given the responsibility across these area structures for democratic engagement and delivery of the Community Voice programme, including the development and implementation of Civic Assemblies. These changes are proposed by Lambeth Council officers for a major reorganisation of the Regeneration and Enterprise Division. The aim is said to be to enable it to better deliver the Council and Lambeth First’s priorities and objectives and to operated as an integrated service to drive the economic, physical and social regeneration of the Borough. ‘There is insufficient capacity in the organisation to address wordlessness and deliver against the enterprise agenda.’ It needs to refocus ‘area based operations to support the delivery of neighbourhood working’, and maintain ‘capacity to deliver Communities First and the active communities agenda’. The proposal is to reorganise the Division into Business Growth and Enterprise, Communities and Neighbourhoods, Employment, Learning and Skills, and Physical Regeneration teams, supported by a Divisional Business Support team. The Neighbourhood Development posts are subject to funding approval by Lambeth First. The Communities and Neighbourhoods Managers will be responsible to a new post of Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods. That Head will also have the Active Communities Team, with its own Manager, and specialist officers dealing with third sector development, community information, programming, faith and Muslim communities engagement, and special projects.

Cllr Andrew Sawdon (Lib Dem, Oval Ward) writes: Lambeth’s Labour Council announced cuts in the town centre  offices – down from 5 local offices, to 3 teams for north, centre and south - represents a further blow to community involvement, and engagement of local people and groups. This is the new labour administration’s third big move following their decision to cut support and links to the town centre forums, like the Kennington Oval Vauxhall Forum which had devolved power to local community representatives, and their decision to abolish the north Lambeth Area committees which had forced councillors out of the town hall to take their decisions locally with and in front of local people. I believe that this is the death of neighbourhood democracy and involvement. What I find particularly shocking is that  there has been no reflection of what people actually want in local areas – everything is imposed centrally without regard to local wishes and circumstances. What are the councils remaining staff going to do instead? The new structure also comes with a change of role. The Focus will be on economic development in the 3 areas, and the implementation of national government and councils centrally decided economic strategies. We could expect the Focus in the north will be in Waterloo – so will anything be happening in Kennington and Vauxhall? In fact the Borough’s strategy is largely based on turning Lambeth into the London borough of Tesco's. In the south, as well as a big new Tesco Store in the south at Streatham there will be a flagship Tesco’s for Norwood. In the centre there will be a greatly enlarged Brixton Tesco’s to be built on land provided .by the Council. And as we know, for many years (more than 10 I am sure) Tesco's have “land banked” the former Boroughs gin factory site (i.e. bought it and kept it empty), so perhaps we can expect an announcement about the future of the site!

Editorial Comment. The existing role of the Town Centre teams never made sense because it had nothing to do with neighbourhood management, or ensuring proper co-ordination between the different sections of the Council. But at least they did their best. The former Lib Dems had four years up to May 2006 to improve the position but did not. Once again Lambeth has come up with a top-down approach. The whole package is a nonsense, but there is not enough time to write why.

Planning the Future of Vauxhall. Building Design Partnership (BDP) has been engaged by Lambeth Council to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document for the Vauxhall Area. The aim is to apply the Lambeth Unitary Development Plan and Mayor’s London Plan policies to provide guidance to shape and help decide development proposals in the future. BDP has sent out invitations to a workshop on Tuesday 26 February (10am-12pm) at Roots & Shoots. After a short presentation of the work conducted to date and the purpose of the Document, there will be an opportunity for participants to develop a shared vision for the area through group discussion of the key issues and opportunities. For those unable to attend face to face interviews are being arranged for Thursday 28 February (9am-4pm) at Lambeth’s offices at Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Rd. Further information can be obtained from Becky Cocker at BDP: B-Cocker@bdp.co.uk. 020 7812 8980. The area covered starts at Lambeth Bridge/Lambeth Rd to the railway line, turning south along the railway line to Vauxhall Station, down to Black Prince Rd to Tyers St, down Tyers St to Kennington Lane, across down the backs of the premises in Durham St to Harleyford Rd, up Harleyford Rd to the back of the building complex on the corner of the Rd and S. Lambeth Rd, down S. Lambeth Rd to Wyvil Rd, along Wyvil Rd to Wandsworth Rd, down Wandsworth Rd for a short distance and then cutting across to the railway line, along the railway line to Wandsworth Rd, along Wandsworth Rd to Nine Elms Lane, and finally along the first stretch of the Lane before it bends. The mid river forms the western boundary of the area. Here are some key points from the explanatory document.

·                     Vauxhall is part of the Vauxhall & Nine Elms Opportunity Area capable of providing 7,600 new jobs and 1,5000 new homes by 2016 (London Plan)

·                     Need for good public transport and traffic management and environmental improvement. (Lambeth UDP, London Plan)

·                     Lambeth ahs guidelines for tall buildings (over 25 metres in height) to ensure appropriate siting, etc

·                     Lambeth recognises the need for co-ordination with Wandsworth Council along Wandsworth Rd.

·                     The Vauxhall Urban Design Study (2006) produced for the Council highlighted Vauxhall’s strengths as: relationship to the River, variety of local community and major parks and green spaces, good public transport access, local centres in Black Prince Rd and Kennington Lane, and significant historical environment

·                     It identified the weaknesses as traffic dominated streets, congestion issues and poor movement, lack of activity and positive street structure, ansec of a sense of place, and poor pedestrians links

·                     The Study suggested the vision for Vauxhall should be ‘focussed around a new vibrant urban centre with complementary district centres. Vauxhall Urban Centre should also link in and be accessible, exciting, stimulating, and diverse. The Urban Centre should also respect and complement the new districts that neighbour it.’

·                     It highlighted the potential for a cluster of tall buildings to emphasis the location of the heart.

The document states that 'It is intended that the Vauxhall Area SPD should:’

·                     Provide a framework to guide the design of development proposals, maximising development opportunity in a sustainable manner, linking up with development proposals in adjoining areas notable the other parts of the London Mayor’s opportunity area including Convent Gardens, Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station in LB Wandsworth

·                     Help in assessing planning applications in Vauxhall Cross and Albert Embankment.

·                     Define the potential for a town centre.

·                     Provide a visual expression and guidance on uses for a ‘new character’ for the area.

·                     Provide urban design guidance taking into account relationships and linkages with adjoining areas both within and outside the borough.

·                     Raise aspirations and ambition for what can be achieved including looking at future changes to the transport network.

·                     Set standard/quality for movement linkages, public realm improvements etc.

·                     Set out where tall buildings are appropriate.

·                     Set guidance of skyline impact/envelope and key local views.

The timetable proposes a public consultation workshop on draft options to be held in March or April, and a public consultation exhibition on the draft in June or July, with the final document prepared in August for adoption on October. Editorial Comment. I emailed BDP with a number of comments and copied it to a number of people locally. This is the main part ‘I note that it is only for 2 hours. I presume after introductions and the preliminary presentation there will only be about 1 and a half hours for visioning and discussion. There is already a host of views on what should happen generated through previous consultations and other activities. It would make sense to have a summary of these so that their relevance can be taken into account.  Given that some people who will represent organisations are not available to attend day time events, it would make sense to hold an additional evening session as well. I hope that you have been given access by the Council to the many views have been expressed e.g. during the Draft UDP exercise, the Community Development Strategy, the work on the strategy for Spring Gdns (inc Tyers St)  and Albert Embankment, 100 Vauxhall Walk, objections to individual planning applications within the area e.g. St George's Tower, London & Regional Towers, 1 Glynn St, etc. I attach, as an example, the Focus Vauxhall Action Plan from 2001. As background you may find useful the Planning Our Future, Maximising Community Benefit and Towards a Community Plan reports on the Trust website’

Are You Concerned About Heathrow Expansion? A local resident has sent the following piece: ‘You should be concerned about expansion at Heathrow.  It is likely to affect you if you live in central London.  Londoners already living under flight paths suffer from intrusive and intolerable levels of noise, on average one plane a minute at 60 decibels.  If the proposals for increased capacity go ahead:

• Further areas of central London are at risk. These areas include Fulham, Hammersmith, Holland Park and Notting Hill. 
• Residents under existing flight paths risk a further increase in flights. 

 The Government’s consultation on Heathrow expansion and a third runway closes on 27^th February.  It has taken no account of Londoners, concentrating only on the area closest to Heathrow.  The attached document lists some of the reasons why you should be alarmed, and gives links to useful websites. Register your opposition to any increase in flights over London and take action now, it really won’t take you long. 

1. Forward this email to your neighbours and to your residents’ association, and to friends and family who may be affected.  This is important as weight of numbers is crucial.  Please delete the sender’s details (at the top) before forwarding this email.
2. Register your opposition on Public Consultation at http://surveys.globalepanel.com/wix/p48537354.aspx .  Click forward at the bottom of the first page, then enter your details as asked clicking forward at the end of each section, which brings you to the menu page.  Click ‘general comments’ and enter that you are opposed to any increase in flights over London and opposed to any expansion of Heathrow. Then click completion.
3. e-sign the petition against Heathrow expansion http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopheathrowexpansion/
4. Email your objection to any increase in capacity at Heathrow to your MP. You can find out who that is, and their email address at www.WriteToThem.com
5. Email your objection to the aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick at mailto:fitzpatrickj@parliament.uk‘

LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS & NEWS

Planning Applications

10-16 February

60-66 Brook Drive. Erection of a single storey side / rear infill with the installation of a ramp to the front elevation and internal alterations. Ref: 08/00442/FUL

15 Denny St. Partial removal of interior partition wall between two main ground floor rooms. Ref: 08/00513/LB.

75 Heyford Ave. Alterations to windows and doors at ground floor level to the rear and side elevations at flat A. Ref: 07/04374/FUL

365 Kennington Lane. Re-building of partially demolished party garden wall between 365 and 367. erection of a single storey rear extension and the addition of two new timber sash windows to the rear with amended openings to side extension and the installation of four rooflights. Creation of new WC to ground floor rear extension and the installation of a new floor creating level access throughout ground floor. Ref: 08/00425/LB. Plus: Re-building of partially demolished party garden wall between 365 and 367, erection of a single storey rear extension and the addition of two new timber sash windows to the rear and the installation of four rooflights. Ref: 08/00423/FUL

Details can be seen on:

http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/publicaccess/dc/DcAplication/weeklylist_searchform.aspx. If this link does not work then go to www.lambeth.gov.uk and track through to Planning and Public Access database. And to go and see any plans is easy from the KOV area as the Town Planning Advice Centre is at Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Road, at Vauxhall Cross. 020 7926 1180. tpac@lambeth.gov.uk. Plans can also be seen at Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane. You can also send your comments on applications through the Public Access data base. Kennington Association’s Planning Group blog is accessible via http://journals.aol.co.uk/kenningtonnews/KenningtonNews/

10-16 February

289-299 Kennington Lane. Details re-Oval Way access to Yellow Self-Storage’s new storage premises. Permitted.

190-196 Kennington Park Rd. Approval of details re-waste management - redevelopment of site (five storey building - 28 flats). Permitted.

377 Kennington Rd. Part change of use from office to ancillary residential accommodation. Refused.

59 Richborne Rd. Conversion into 4 flats. Refused.  

The Power House, 6 Sancroft St. Change of use from Office () to mixed use office and residential inc additional floor to provide (4 x 2 bed and 1 x 1 bed units).  Refused.

16A Stannary St. Redevelopment of site to provide a new building: office/workshops and 2 x 2 bed apartments. Permitted.

Vauxhall Primary School, Vauxhall St. Formation of a multi-use games area. Permitted.

Unit B, 3 Whiteacre Mews. Replacement of existing window with double door at ground floor level to unit B. Refused.

LOCAL LINKS – see www.rcdt.org

Waterloo/South Bank Events and News – see www.London-SE1.co.uk

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITIONS

See 1 February ENews on www.rcdt.org