Newsletter of the Stockwell Park Residents' Association
October 2003
Action by Stockwell Park residents has secured initial funds for improved street lighting. Concerned that poor lighting in the conservation area is contributing to street crime, the Resident's Association co-ordinated a public meeting, which resulted in an immediate grant of ?10,000 by Lambeth Council towards improvements.
The meeting was attended by local councillors, the Vassall ward community safety officer, council officials and local MP Kate Hoey in addition to residents of the area. In introducing the meeting, called to discuss community safety and street lighting, SPRA treasurer Simon Doff said
that residents are very anxious about the continuing high levels of street robbery and motor vehicle crime and particularly by a surge in the last two years of violent street crime.Residents have applauded lighting improvements and installation of CCTV on local estates but they are now concerned about the displacement of crime into the Stockwell Park area, where lighting is poor and where there is no CCTV.
North Lambeth town centre manager Frances Forrest reported that she was not aware of any planned expenditure this financial year but only days later a first grant of ?5,000 for street lighting improvements had been awarded from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, with a further ?5,000 from the Building Safer Communities Fund.
"This is as a direct result of the pressure brought by the Residents' Association
meeting - and those sceptical about the
value of neighbourhood action should take
note. It is unlikely that any monies would
have been allocated to lighting in our area
without it," comments Simon Doff.
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Simon, who has headed this initiative, has worked tirelessly to find the best way to achieve lighting improvements and he pays particular tribute to the help he has received from Councillors Anthony Bottrall and Daniel Sabbagh. , Estimates of the total needed to upgrade [ lighting in the area and to maintain I conservation style columns are in the region | of ?300,000. So the first grants will only go ghting: a ^l? wav to improvements. The best way nodem ^ allocate the funds is to be considered with Lambeth highways engineers at a meeting later this month. Studies are also being made as to where additional funds might be found. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to leam that Lambeth has been awarded ?17 million to replace 8,602 lighting columns and install 3,441 new lighting columns in the borough. More news in the next issue of the Newsletter! |
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Many residents are still concerned about plans for a large block of student accommodation on the site of the old Scott's garage, now Zingo, at 187-191 Clapham Road. Whilst the developers have reduced the size of the proposed building from eight storeys to seven, this will make little difference to its impact on the community. The official deadline for objections to the proposals has passed but it is still not too late because all letters received by mid-October will be included in the officer's report to the Planning Committee, which is expected to decide on the plans on either 28 October or 11 November, and even if too late for inclusion in the report, responses will still be accepted up to the day of the meeting. Furthermore, Councillor Peter Bowyer has agreed to call a site meeting of the planning committee and anyone who has made written objections will be able to attend and give their views. Graham McKerrow A date for your diary This year's annual SPRA Christmas Party will be on Tuesday 9 December, with entertainment for children from 6 to 7 pm and the adults' party from 7.30 - put the date in your diary! ?? |
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Still time to make a stand Proposed development - the dotted line represents a seven-story structure at the back of the building. Some residents are proposing that the Council should refer the proposal to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and ask the developers to have an architectural competition so that Stockwell and its conservation will get a fine building. To add your voice: write to Lambeth Town Planning, First Floor, Acre House, 10 Acre Lane, SW2 5LL quoting DC/02/02308FUL/DC-CHD, 187-191 Clapham Road, London SW9 OQE To lobby the planning committee: write to Head of Democratic Services, Caroline Strallen at cstrallen(a)lambem.gov.uk or at the Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW, asking her to copy your letter to all committee members For more information: see the plans at the Acre House, or visit http://www.lumpstockwell.com. Neighbourhood News Stockwell Ward has two new Police Home Beat Help wanted in Lorn Road and St Michael's Officers, PC 342 LX Robert Harrison and PC 382 Road. Following the departure from the LX Patrick Mills. They are based at Clapham neighbourhood of Charles de Freitas and Philip Police Station, 51 Union Grove and can be Mason from Lorn Road and Alexandra Irons from contacted on answerphone ((020) ) 8649 2512 which St Michael's Road, all of whom had been great is regularly listened to, so please do call and leave supporters of the Residents' Association, we need a message if you need to talk to them. representatives for these two streets. Could you give occasional help such as to deliver New local Councillor. Following the recent local newsletters? If so, please contact a member of the Council by-election, our new Councillor is Peter committee. Bowyer (Labour) who can be contacted on ((020) ) 7926 2650 or pbowyer@lambeth.gov.uk |
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Objections already made include the following: B The building will be higher than those surrounding it, apart from the school tower - which even the school wants replaced by a low-level building. B The ugliness of the proposed building is astonishing because the developers. Unite, are acting for the London Institute, a collection of London's best art and design colleges (Camberwell, Central St Martin's, Chelsea, and London College of Fashion). B The large site is in central Stockwell and in the Stockwell Park Conservation area. 13 Whilst nearly all the buildings on Clapham Road (Kennington to Clapham North tube) are set well back from the road, this will reach almost to the pavement, creating a visual intrusion and reflecting traffic noise, making noise pollution even worse. E As the building will be used round the clock and being so large it will create a great deal of light pollution. B Although there will be only 4 parking spaces and the 69 student residents will be banned from having cars, it is hard to see how this can be enforced. B The proposed development has an open space but this will be hidden from view and the building will turn its back on its neighbours. B The seven storeys will infringe on the privacy of local residents and the school. |
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Police Provide Safety Tips Whilst the Metropolitan Police say that street crime a Never keep your wallet in your back in Lambeth overall was reduced by nearly 40 last pocket. Keep it out of sight in an inside year, there is still need for great vigilance. To help j^ket or front trouser pocket. tube travellers and pedestrians avoid such incidents, the police recently issued notices at a Be aware of your surroundings when using a Stockwell tube station giving helpful tips for street cash P0^ machine on ?e street ^^ ^ safety to use machines within the branch and never keep your PIN number with your card. Pointing out that most street crimes are snatches, with a robber simply running past and grabbing whatever a Avoid weatm^ expensive (or expensive the victim has in their hand or the bag slung over their lookmS) J^116^ on show- ^^it shoulder, the Police said: "We do not wish to raise concealed when in public places. your fear of becoming a victim of crime but believe it Q Know where you are going and plan your important you know what is happening so you can take route in advance. Avoid short cuts and try to positive action to prevent yourself becoming a victim." keep to the main road. They offered a number of tips, which included: a Never resist a robber. If the worst happens, Q Don't use a mobile phone at or close to a you can always replace your possessions. railway or underground station. Be aware of Always thmk ofyour P^01131 safety flrst who's around you and avoid making unnecessary calls in public. Thieves want l|3RHBBBI Q Wear shoulder bags across your body so that _ _j^jj^fljj^j^ they open on the side facing you. Don't leave ^^i(i^^ your bag open or carry it over one shoulder. Your Residents' Association Street Representatives Committee Burnley Road Elizabeth Aves (020) 7737 2377 22 Simon Doff/Fiona Adshead (020) 77330102 e.aves@avenuecommunications.com Groveway Amanda Cornish (020) 7735 8792 15 Richard Furse (020) 75822860 amanda@comish38.co.uk St. Michael's Road Simon Doff (020) 7733 0102 8 Margaret and Simon Barker (020) 7733 9464 s.doff@londonmet.ac.uk Stockwell Park Crescent Anthony Gladstone-Thompson (Chair) (020) 7924 9567 23 Elizabeth Aves (020) 7737 2377 a_gladstone_thompson@hotmail.com 29 Anthony Gladstone-Thompson (020) 79249567 Caroline Hirst (020) 7735 9615 42 Carole Willis (020) 7733 0504 Stockwell Park Road Martin Kenyon (020) 7274 2304 3 Caroline Hirst (020) 77359615 28 Amanda Cornish (020) 77358792 William & Gill Wayne (020) 72745775 58 Gill & William Wayne (020) 72745775 wswayne@bun.com 83 ClaireDean (020) 72746577 Newsletter Lorn Road & St. Martin's Road Editor: Elizabeth Aves Volunteers needed please! Production Editors: Darius Poli and Jenny Bolton-Clark |