Brixton Road, Burnley Road, Groveway, Lorn Road, St Martin's Road,
St Michael's Road, Stockwell Park Crescent, Stockwell Park Road

Annual Neighbourhood Meeting

Thursday 2004-05-20 19:30 St Michael's Church Hall

ENTRANCE FREE * ALL WELCOME * REFRESHMENTS

What's going on in Stockwell? Come to St Michael's Church Hall on 20th May to hear what your Residents' Association has been up to and to air your views in return. A dozen unsung local heroes are expected to speak on local recent and forthcoming developments. All residents receiving this Newsletter are automatically members of the Association, and those of you who have recently moved into the area are particularly welcome.

This one-hour meeting is our main opportunity to seek new volunteer members and discuss a range of vital issues. There are always plenty of these - the summer events, street safety, planning and development, lampposts, parking - and the more of us help the better we shall be able to preserve the very qualities of Stockwell Park that drew us here in the first place.

Agenda

The Summer Festival

The organisers will outline the programme for the weekend of 19th June.

Neighbourhood Watch

A guest speaker will run through current issues, and give residents a chance to debate questions of security that concern us all.

Planning and our Environment

1. Recent planning applications, including the former Scotts Garage site in Clapham Road and the Somerville Hastings House and sheltered hostel redevelopments in Stockwell Park Crescent
2. Initiatives to improve street lighting
3. St Michael's Church restoration and Church hall works
4. Stockwell Park Estate: a significant success story
5. Improvements in parking arrangements

Financial Report

How the Association raises money, and how we spend and donate it.

Stay afterwards for a glass of wine and chat with your neighbours

Stockwell Park Estate

2004-05-01: It is on our doorstep but how many of us know anything about the Stockwell Park Estate, apart from what we hear or see on radio or television or in the papers? David Tomlinson found out about the history and transformation of one of London's more notorious housing estates from Julie Fawcett.

The estate lies on either side of the southern end of Stockwell Park Road as it enters Brixton. It was completed in 1974, with 940 homes. Unfortunately the construction method which was used caused structural defects, including water penetration, condensation from large sealed-glass units, and insect infestation through piping conduits from flat to flat. At that time it was envisaged that there would be high-level walkways linking the whole of Brixton and Angell Town, so the estate was designed around them, with ground floor garages which have proved to be a major security problem.

In 1995 the tenants and the leaseholders of the properties, bought under 'right-to-buy', on the Stockwell Park estate voted to take the management of their council properties out of the hands of the local authority, Lambeth, and to manage the area themselves through a tenant management organisation. They formed the Community Trust, a limited company and a registered charity. Subsequently they have taken over the management of the Robsart estate (some 250 homes) and the so-called 'street properties' - 180 local authority properties 'pepper-potted' around the streets opposite the skateboard park at the end of Stockwell Road. The Trust employs about 25 staff, including caretakers, sheltered housing wardens, accounts personnel - and managers.

Lambeth Council does not have the financial capacity for major housing works and has declared itself unable to complete the regeneration scheme that had been started on the estate. With little more than half of it refurbished, Lambeth, under a deal struck in the late eighties, now faces having to repay millions of pounds to the Treasury, having failed to complete the programme.

Local trust seeks finance

Consequently the residents of Stockwell Park, Robsart estate and the street properties that the Trust manages have entered into a dialogue with Network Housing Association, a registered social landlord, to enable the Trust to raise the £70 million necessary to complete the works. Their properties will be transferred from Lambeth into the ownership of the Trust. This is a lengthy legal progress monitored and assisted by the government through the office of the deputy prime minister.

The Trust aims to refurbish and rebuild parts of the estates to create not only more social housing, including provision for key workers and individual work units, but possibly others at market rents or outright sale to assist financing. There are significant demographic changes affecting strategy, such as the newly arrived large Portuguese community and other EU citizens, and an ageing population.

Options are now being studied with expert assistance and a proposed strategy will be put to the tenants and leaseholders later this year. The Trust is actively looking for local people with a passion for social justice and a can-do attitude to help make the new strategy happen by joining its board, which will have both tenant/leaseholder representatives and people with expert and local community knowledge.

Building a better life

The aims of the Trust are the relief of poverty, furtherance of education and the pursuit of racial harmony. With these in mind it currently runs under-fives provision, sheltered housing for the elderly, a youth club and training project. The under fives provision - Stockwell Park Early Years - has morning and afternoon sessions for 2 1/2 to 5 year olds. It is being expanded to wrap-around provision for working parents from 8.30 am to 6.0 pm in partnership with SureStart.

A skills builder training programme is provided by Bootstrap Enterprises. Monthly police surgeries with the estate's police officer have started in April. The Community Centre hosts 25 church groups, a drama group for under 8s, an Angolan dance group, a sewing class and an English as a second language class. There are two sheltered housing blocks, comprising about 100 units. The board room has been converted into Brixton Cycles in order to bring life to that part of the estate and other commercial enterprises are being considered.

Security - at a price

Apart from its refurbishment and re-building requirements, the estate faces many problems of personal security and anti-social behaviour. A comprehensive CCTV system was introduced a year ago. The capital cost was paid for by Lambeth but all continuing running costs are paid by a levy of £3.50 per week per flat for which the residents voted by an overwhelming majority in a 'referendum'. It has resulted in a 70% drop in reported crime, but the residents' major concern remains with the effects of youth unemployment and boredom - and the massive profits to be made from dealing in Class A drugs (principally crack and heroin). The youth club has been aiming at crime-diversion, but the drug trade puts immense burdens on its open-door policy.

The Trust has held many open evenings to discuss the way forward and hopes very much that those who "live up the road" would like to get more involved. Residents from the SPRA area have already attended some residents' meetings.

If you have any questions or would like to visit the estate to see what the Trust has been up to, please contact Julie Fawcett.

Stockwell looses national treasure

There can be few people in Stockwell who don't know Nancy Kershaw and have not been touched by her extraordinary personality.

Last year Nancy sailed to Antarctica

Generous, kind, charitable, indefatigable are descriptions that would embarrass her self-deprecating nature - others she might approve are mischievous, spirited and naughty.

One day I met her pulling a little luggage trolley with a heavy box lashed on, Heath-Robinson style. It contained coins to be converted to notes and given to charity. When I saw her later I asked if her mission had been successfully accomplished. Only just. The man in the NatWest bank told her they didn't accept loose change. It had to be sorted and bagged, and they didn't have the time or staff to help.

The next thing anyone knew, the make-shift money box had somehow emptied itself all over the floor. Adopting that wide-eyed, innocent expression which said "Help me I'm a mad little old lady - what shall I do?" staff and bags miraculously appeared. Nancy had it sorted. "Thank you darlings, I have no idea how that happened".

Those who know Nancy, know exactly how it happened. Little she may be, mad she most certainly is not. That unquenchable twinkle in her eyes says it all. A twinkle and a spirit that will be sorely missed by all her many friends, both those who sleep under the stars and those who have Stockwell roofs over their heads.

We all wish Nancy the very best in her new home. The residents of Groombridge had better watch out!

Dilly Barlow

Successful year for Stockwell Partnership

Stockwell Partnership is a partnership of local people, community groups, businesses and public organisations, working together to initiate improvements in and around Stockwell. Its offices are on South Lambeth Road.

This year the Stockwell Partnership has been growing in numbers to help in the delivery of Urban II fund, which is European Union money that targets areas of greatest deprivation. In addition to the director and administrator there is an interest group co-ordinator, who helps community groups create projects, find funding for them and complete application forms. There are also two new advice workers speaking a variety of languages, (with another part time post to be filled) helping a range of ethnic minority groups.

Urban II

Over half of the £6 million awarded to Stockwell in 2002 is unallocated and must be allocated by 2006 and spent by 2008. Ideas groups have just been established to enable local people to join community workers in developing Stockwell, and it is not too late to join. The groups are loosely organised around the following but there are many projects ideas that contribute to more than one subject area.

1. Employment & business support
2. New & improved community buildings
3. A more inclusive community
4. A greener & sustainable neighbourhood

It is important that the knowledge held by local people is not lost to the Urban II spending process. If you would like to join a group, the Stockwell Partnership would love to hear from you. Call Rebecca on (020) 7735 5051 or email .

Bidding for Urban II

The Stockwell Urban II Board have re-opened the bidding round with a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI). If your group wishes to access Urban II funds, the first thing to do is fill out an EOI form that asks for the following information:

1. a brief description of the project and your contact details
2. the total project cost including match funding
3. who will benefit from the project
4. which funding measure you are bidding for

For more information and to receive an Expression of Interest form contact: , the new Urban II programme manager at Lambeth Council.

Winners of the best Community Partnership Award

The Stockwell Partnership won the Best Community Partnership Award at the Mayor of London's Planning awards for the creation of its masterplan for Stockwell, which has brought considerable sums of money to the area for environmental improvements. It helped attract match funding from the DTLR for improving a long stretch of the Wandsworth Road including the entrance into Larkhall Park. Some new infrared detector puffin crossings and lamp columns are currently being installed, and the park entrance landscape scheme is about to be approved.

Community Warden Scheme

The Partnership is looking for funds for a detailed and priced scheme implementation plan for community wardens to patrol an area centred on Stockwell tube station. This covers most of the SPRA area, with the current boundary running along Sidney Road, and down Stockwell Park Road to the Clapham Road.

Two TfLs

Stockwell Partnership brought together Transport for London and Trees for London to agree a tree planting scheme along the local red routes: Clapham Road, South Lambeth Road and Brixton Road.

Stockwell Refugee Women's Centre

In October 2003, the Partnership, together with Lambeth Somali Community Association, opened the Stockwell Refugee Women's Centre. It aims to provide a space for women from Stockwell's large refugee and asylum seeker population to meet and socialise and to access training. It is supported with funding from Urban II and Larkhall & Stockwell Sure Start. Anyone interested in finding out more can contact: .

South Bank University

The South Bank University site in the Wandsworth Road has been sold for redevelopment. Karen Alcock from Four Communications PLC is keen to hear what local people want and can send you a questionnaire if you are interested. Telephone her on 0870 420 3265 or FREEPOST NAT 14099, WE1 8BR.

Lucy Annan

Stockwell Park Summer Festival

Saturday 19th - Sunday 20th June 2004

In aid of local charities

Come and enjoy the Summer Festival celebrating the

Stockwell Park area and do bring your friends

Concert

Saturday 19th June, 7.30pm, St. Michael's Church

A programme of light and classical music by talented local musicians, including the Stockwell Choir, will begin this year's Festival in aid of local charities.

Tickets: £7 at the door. Children and concessions £5. Interval refreshments.

Family Flower Festival at St. Michael's

Saturday 19th June, during concert interval

and Sunday 20th June, 3.00 - 5.00pm

Try your talents with flowers!

Novices and experts alike - all ages welcome to fill a vase with flowers

- children especially, with their own theme.

Details later and/or meanwhile please contact Jean Orr (020) 7733 6771

St. Michael's Church Service

Sunday 20th June, 10.00am

A special service at which the Church will be filled with flowers

Gardens Open Day

Sunday 20th June, 3.00 - 5.00pm

A selection of local gardens will be open

Planning applications - will they blight or benefit us?

11-15 Stockwell Park Crescent

The former Lambeth Health sheltered hostel at 11-15 Stockwell Park Crescent was bought at auction in December by a private owner developer, Lexadon, who submitted a planning application to convert the building into 7 flats - 4 one-bedroomed and 3 two-bedroomed. The conversion proposed involved substantial extensions to the rear and over part of the one storey section on the left frontage of the present building. The developer also proposed a legal agreement under which none of the prospective occupiers would be able to have residents' car parking permits. The outcome of the application is awaited. In the meantime, professional house-sitters have moved in to look after the property and prevent vandalism or squatters.

The site at 11-15 Stockwell Park Crescent

14-24 Stockwell Park Crescent

The estate agents, FPDSavills, previously indicated that sale of the site of the former old people's home, Somerville Hastings House, had been agreed. However they are not now prepared to make any statement about a sale, which leads one to speculate that it is either delayed or may indeed have fallen through.

David Tomlinson

Scott's garage site put up for sale

The site of the old Scott's garage, now home of the Zingo taxi-call company, at 187-191 Clapham Road was put on the market after the owners, Unite PLC, withdrew their planning application to build an ugly, seven storey block of student accommodation.

The Unite application, which had attracted widespread opposition, was due to go before the Lambeth Council Planning Committee earlier this year and several residents had prepared detailed representations opposing the plans, when Unite withdrew the application at the last minute. In February, the site was put up for sale through Jones Lang LaSalle and we are not yet aware if a sale has been agreed.

Clapham Road residents Marc Ennals and Graham McKerrow asked the vendor, via the agents, to delay the sale to give time to explore the possibility of buying the site for Stockwell Park High School, but the vendors refused the request.

Tim Foster warned that putting the site on the market could be a ploy because it can be easier to get planning permission if the owner can demonstrate that there are no buyers willing to develop a site within the Council's specifications. One developer told us that a sale might be difficult to arrange because Unite paid more than the market value for the site and will be reluctant to sell it at a loss.

Unite's planning application was opposed by more than 20 local residents, two reports by Council officials, Stockwell Park High School, the City Learning Centre, local councillors from the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties (Cllr Pete Bowyer and Cllr Marcus Mayers) and Transport for London.

Further news on this site will be posted at: www.lumpstockwell.com

Graham McKerrow

More children enjoy Adventure Playground

Spring, with the Easter holiday playscheme, is always an exciting time, apart from our vast version of the grasscutting task faced by every gardener. This year we had hoped to have the new dedicated under-8s area and structures ready for the holidays but, by the time the funding (from Living Spaces and Lambeth Endowed Charities) was confirmed, John and Grant who had built our other brilliant new structures and swings and have worked with the children to design these, were caught up in work on other adventure playgrounds. It will all be in place for the summer holidays.

The number of children using the playground seems to grow in every holiday, and since Slade Gardens won the Adventure Playground of the Year award, we have had visitors and groups of children coming from across the country. Unfortunately, not for the first time, cash-strapped Lambeth Education Department had less funding available for the holiday playscheme than we hoped for and needed, so we have one fewer member of staff than we planned, ruling out off-site trips. Core funding for salaries remains the hardest to raise, as everyone in the voluntary sector knows.

But in the early summer the playground will start opening on Sundays, and hopefully on Saturdays in school holidays. So many children and parents have asked for that to happen.

Lambeth Children's Fund has included Slade Gardens in its Sports, Arts and Play project for the remaining two years. We are also developing closer links with local schools, encouraging school groups to make use of the playground's space and facilities during school hours, starting with Lansdowne School.

During this summer we are losing Rita Skinner who is taking a well earned retirement and moving out of London. As our senior playworker since the Adventure Playground's 'rebirth' in 1999 Rita has guided and led it through huge improvements in difficult times. We are looking for someone equally wonderful to replace her - to make the adventure playground a place for local children to find ever more fun and enjoyment, and at the same time to manage our progress through ambitious longer term development plans. The first step is to complete the negotiation of a proper lease with Lambeth, which is almost done.

Veronica Plowden

Second phase of church repairs

The renovated church hall at St Michael's continues to be well used by local people, including newly formed Brownies and Guides groups on a Tuesday night. It has been very popular for children's parties on a Saturday afternoon which is usually a free time and so available for bookings.

The second phase of the church repairs began on April 26th. It will all be rather mundane but essential work, repairs to the back vestry roof and north side roof, some repointing and replacing stonework and a check for the spire. Altogether costing £90,000, we have found this sum thanks to English Heritage, the church congregation and the generous help of people in the community.

Canon Andrew Grant

Marvellous meat and fabulous fish

Two excellent local suppliers support SPRA's fundraising by giving prizes for the Christmas raffle, proceeds of which go towards our annual donations to local charities and we thank them for their support.

Butcher M Moen & Sons supplies free range and organic meat in a cornucopia of a shop on The Pavement in Clapham. It's the sort of butcher you rarely find these days, supplying a wide range of meat and game, curing and cooking their own hams and hand making a delicious range of sausages. There is a delicatessen too and they sell vegetables.

Condon Fish Mongers at 363 Wandsworth Road is a proper old-fashioned fishmonger, selling beautifully fresh fish and smoking their own. The side of smoked salmon which they donate to us is much sought after.

If you haven't tried them, we'd suggest you do.

New street lights for Lorn Road

The Clapham and Stockwell Area Committee allocated £10,000 of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding to improve street lighting in St. Michael's Road, St. Martin's Road and Burnley Road. The money has been used to replace the weak orange lighting with stronger white lighting on all 18 columns in these streets.

The North Lambeth Area Committee awarded £50,000 of Neighbourhood Renewal Funding to improve the lighting in Lorn Road to tackle this crime hotspot, providing the residents could agree on a lighting design that was both in keeping with the character of the area and cost effective.

The council wrote to all residents of Lorn Road offering them to choose one of three options. These were:

1. 1. Do nothing now but upgrade under the long-term PFI scheme
2. 2. Upgrade using standard lamp columns
3. 3. Upgrade using conservation-type lantern and column embellishments

The Residents' Association called a meeting on January 29th and invited everyone living in the conservation area to attend, not just the residents of Lorn Road, to hear council officials explain each of the three options in detail. Extending the consultation process in Lorn Road would probably set a precedent for lantern and column replacements for the whole area.

There was a widely held consensus at the meeting that option 3 should be chosen. This was reflected in the responses from Lorn Road to the council's consultation exercise. 112 letters were issued of which 26 responded, giving a response rate of 23%. Nobody was in favour of option 1, 2 were in favour of option 2 (8%) and 24 in favour of option 3 (92%).

The council has placed the orders for the conservation-type lanterns and columns and the work should be carried out quite soon in Lorn Road.

Simon Doff

Baby-sitting

Friendly and responsible persons available to baby-sit in the evenings and at weekends. Please contact:

Carlos & Emma
29 Stockwell Park Crescent

Tel: (020) 7274 3722 Mobile: 07973 777 924