Kennington Association

16:24:06 o'clock BST

The Postmaster of Vauxhall Street Post Office and Kate Hoey MP have called on everyone to come along tomorrow (Wednesday) for a photo call with the SLP at 12.00 noon at the Post Office to celebrate the announcement that the Lambeth Walk/Vauxhall Street post office is to be saved from closure.

 

Kate Hoey said “This is wonderful news for the community and is down to the well organised and thoughtful campaign by us all to tell the Post Office that our Post Office is greatly needed and valued by everyone. Thanks to the whole community - just as we once saved Vauxhall primary school from closure we have now saved the Post Office". Please come along tomorrow.

The Post Office’s decision on Lambeth Walk and the other Post Offices can be found at

ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/po/London_decision_booklet.pdf

Post Office® Lambeth Walk branch
The main concerns expressed by respondents during the local public consultation in relation to our proposal to close this branch related to the potential impact the proposed closure could have on the community in general and, in particular, local elderly customers, some of whom live in sheltered housing. Respondents also highlighted that transport links in the area are limited and raised concerns in relation to the queues at alternative branches. A petition was also submitted during the local public consultation, opposing the closure and respondents highlighted local developments, including a new development framework from the local council.
Post Office Limited has considered all responses to local public consultation and has conducted a review of this proposal. Post Office Limited recognises that there is a significant amount of sheltered accommodation in the surrounding area as well as a residential and business regeneration project.
Further, there is no direct bus route between the Post Office® Lambeth Walk branch and Post Office®
Kennington Park branch and both the suggested alternative branches are in areas with limited shopping facilities and are therefore unlikely to be the natural destination for customers from Post Office® Lambeth Walk branch.
In light of these and all other relevant factors, including the needs of its vulnerable customers, Post Office Limited has decided not to proceed with its proposal to close this branch. Post Office® Lambeth Walk branch will therefore remain in the Post Office® network.

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13:03:47 o'clock BST

Kennington Association

Chairperson: Angus Aagaard                                               C/- 235B Kennington Lane

Deputy Chairperson: Anna Tapsell                                                    London SE11 5QU

Secretary: Diane Kavanagh                                                                     T: 020 7793 0268

Treasurer: Gareth Adamson                                            E: KenningtonAssn@aol.com

Friday, 11th April 2007

Dear Neighbours,

Spring is here – and summer’s coming! Much has happened since we were last in touch – read all about it here. There is plenty coming up over the summer too.

Our Chair puts pen to paper

Once again KA has been busy on a variety of fronts in our community with the aim of representing the interests of those who live and work here.  I am grateful to everyone who has helped KA grow from strength to strength as an association that aims to inform you of issues that our community faces.  A good example of how everyone pulled together was the recent Downing Street petition we organised in response to the threatened closure of Vauxhall Street post office.  We continue to pay close attention to the development plans for the future use of land and certain buildings in our area, not least the Beaufoy building and old Lilian Baylis site, amongst others. We are committed to ensuring that KA's voice is heard and your views represented.

Annual General Meeting

Getting the not-so-boring stuff out of the way, we held our well-attended AGM in early December upstairs in The Dog House pub. It was a great opportunity to meet up face-to-face and we had a full and lively discussion. KA Members will find the minutes enclosed, as well as a copy of the accounts for last year.

Secret Santa

When we last wrote, we were about to put Secret Santa on hold for lack of a partner organisation to deliver the parcels thereby ensuring that this part of the project was entirely anonymous. However, we put a call out for a volunteer coordinating team and Voila! Octavia Wiseman and the Kennington & Vauxhall Parents’ & Carers’ Network stepped forward and made it happen! Octavia writes: “The KVPC Network held a successful community Christmas Party for local families, with children under five. There was face-painting, hair-braiding, handprint calendars, a magician, food, music and, of course, Secret Santa. The KVPCN gives special thanks to Talisman Charitable Trust who supported the party with a generous donation of £300, and to the individuals who donated gifts for the children. The party was organised entirely by local parents.” The next step was to deliver 50 Secret Santa parcels. Octavia writes: “The KVPCN thanks everybody at the Kennington Association so much for raising the money and making Secret Santa possible again. We are proud to be associated with this great project. Thanks also to Michael Hewstone, Trading Manager at Tesco's, for donating Christmas cards and chocolate coins, and to Hilary Marrinan for contributing so many lovely books. Most of all we are grateful to the providers who worked with us to choose the families and deliver the parcels during a very busy time of year. One provider said: 

  'The response from the families chosen to receive the gifts from the Kennington Association has been very effusive and thankful. One parent even cried and hugged me! It's a fantastic gesture from the Community and worth doing again as it clearly makes a difference.'

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13:03:05 o'clock BST

Bazaar

We are delighted to have made £588.79 at our bazaar in February and thank everyone for their kind donations. Bazaar Coordinator, Margarita O’Malley, writes, “Many thanks to the team of workers who gave their hard work and time so generously as always, and congratulations on the total amount raised. It was great to see all our regular helpers and lovely to have some new faces. Thanks to Wendy, who has returned to reclaim the tombola.”

The next Bazaar is on Saturday 1st November 2008 in St Anselm’s church hall. 

Welcome Pack

What a good response we have had from local groups to the invitation to share information in our Welcome Pack, which will be distributed all around so those who are new to this super area of London will get a warm, informative welcome. Thanks to everyone who returned the Welcome Pack Input Questionnaires too. The information provided is excellent and much appreciated by the Working Group. The list of volunteer compilers continues to grow as well, so it is all coming together nicely. One glitch though is that a funding application to cover printing of the pack was not successful so we need to re-think how we are going to cover those costs. Any ideas? The Welcome Pack Working Group has been holding regular meetings; the next being upstairs at The Dog House PH at 7pm on Tuesday 15th April. If you can identify any gaps in the enclosed list of topics to be covered in the Welcome Pack and would be interested in volunteering, do come along to find out what is involved – and meet fellow neighbours at the same time. All Welcome!

Sports & Fitness ProjectS

Volleyball

The Ecuadorian volleyball games (i.e. three-a-side) continue to be a great success attracting around 40 players. We are hoping the weather will improve by the end of this month so we can move to the outside courts. Not having to hire the sports hall involves a considerable saving. We are considering seeking funding to cover the venue costs for the future. All KA members are free to join in; just turn up on Fridays - Sundays and Bank Holidays from 3pm to 8pm at the old Lilian Baylis school site, Lollard Street, SE11. For info, contact KA committee member Galo Espin on 07985 603189.

Tai Chi – Thursdays 2pm til 3pm

Thanks to a grant by Capital Community Foundation’s Lambeth First Community Chest, the free Thursday Tai Chi class has moved back to Kennington Park (near the Café) for our fourth summer. Please note the new time of 2pm from Thursday 24th April. The classes attract a good mix of ages and abilities - loose-fitting clothes and sensible shoes are all you need to participate. In the event of bad weather, this class will take place in the Kennington Park Community Centre nearby. Please let Christine Eames-Jones, our Thursday Tai Chi Coordinator, have contact details so you are up to date, or else call the instructor, Michael, on the day on 07956 913437.

Tai Chi – Combat-style at the Brit Oval (Lambeth Hall) - Saturdays 2.30pm til 3.30pm

Thanks to George Foster, Community Manager at Surrey County Cricket Club, the free community Tai Chi class on Saturdays will continue over the summer at the new time of 2.30pm in the Lambeth Hall at Brit Oval (enter by the Alec Stewart Gate). Out of term time and during international cricket matches, the classes will move either to Kennington Park or to Kennington Park Community Centre, so please be sure that Kevin Rimmington, our Oval Tai Chi Coordinator (07790 260802 or kevin@rimmingtonvian.co.uk), has contact details so you are kept informed.

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13:01:40 o'clock BST

Flower boxes and baskets

We have had an enthusiastic response to our idea for flowering the streets of Kennington; however, when Toucan Employment’s funding circumstances changed they had to withdraw from the project. All other partners are keen for the project to to go ahead, and Lady Margaret Hall Settlement is hoping to take on the coordination of the project, with the support of the North Lambeth Town Centre Office. Roots & Shoots suggested that once we get the go-ahead, they could begin growing plants and Walworth Garden Farm is keen to install and plant up the boxes. The next step will be to invite local businesses to sponsor flower boxes, by contracting to cover maintenance, watering, and seasonal replacement of plants. Sponsors are able to nominate a spot where they would like their baskets and boxes to be placed – either outside their own premises or in key residential areas where clients are based. Beautifying the area will make it more pleasant and will doubtless impact on property values and the likely further investment into the area. Sponsors will also be supporting three local well-deserving charities (so read “tax deductible” here!). When we have progressed this further we’ll be back in touch.

‘Tree of hope’ lights
KA committee member, Jeffe Jeffers, writes: “We are now in negotiation with the road network management unit of TfL’s Streets for London to secure programmes to light up the tree.  Lambeth planners have no objections and the church has agreed to provide the power supply.  We have looked at a wide variety of lighting sources but the proposal that has most support is to use strong blue light points threaded extensively through the branches, along the lines of those used by LBC in Larkhall Park on the Southbank.  The budget is more than adequate to fund this and we hope to agree a final specification by mid-April / early-May for installation.

Kennington Village Fete, Cleaver Square – Sunday 1st June 2008

Fete organiser, Margarita O’Malley, writes: ‘The event will be wonderful for families with lots of kids’ activities (magic show, Punch & Judy, human fruit machine, etc). Winkworth will be the main sponsor and local causes will be the recipients of the proceeds. Two volunteers are needed to help with the preparations, hanging posters, setting up tables, etc. Please get in touch with me on 07970 863000 or margarita.omalley@nitor.uk.com. Tables are available to public traders on a first-come-first-served basis at £35 each.

Art Auction at The City & Guilds Art school - Thursday 18th September

Good news: we now have a date agreed with our new host, the City & Guilds Art School on Kennington Road, as we’d outgrown our restaurant venue. So put a date in your diary for autumn and be first in the queue to place bids on works by local artists and exciting up-and-coming talent, plus lots of original bargains. Viewing will take place on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th (exact times to be confirmed). The aim of the auction is to fund the Secret Santa scheme as well support a student crisis fund for the college: this way we are able to support the young people in our community. We will be sending out details of the collection point for donations in due course. Catey Hillier, Art Auction Co-ordinator writes: “We are pulling together a working party of enthusiastic locals and students. So please come along if you would liketo get involved – All Welcome - The Dog House on Tuesday 6th May at 7pm.”

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13:00:28 o'clock BST
Local Planning Matters

Elizabeth Scott reports on behalf of the KA Planning Sub-Group:

Hampton House, Albert Embankment

The proposed redevelopment of an existing office site is to provide three blocks between 13 and 27 storeys high to accommodate commercial units, a 167-room apart-hotel and 242 residential units of which only 32% would be affordable housing when the Mayor’s target is 40%.  We met representatives of the developer and heard that Section 106 had been agreed by them with the Council, (i.e. a financial contribution to projects identified by the Council) without reference to the local community who would be most affected by this development.  Members of the Planning Sub-Group drafted a response which went to the Planning Committee, the local councillors, and MP, stating that though this planning application was generally acceptable, these high towers along the river set a precedent and that an early warning system was desirable so that there could be a more trusting relationship between the effected community and the Council.

Section 106 Planning Obligations

Lambeth Council sent outa consultation document, which indicated how moneys could be spent under the Lambeth Local Development Framework (LDF), which was studied and commented on.

The Beaufoy Institute, Black Prince Road

Jeffe Jeffers writes, “At a recent meeting Lambeth Council welcomed the two proposals for the future use of the Beaufoy site.  Lady Margaret Hall Settlement has established a partnership with the The Prince's Charities and The Young Foundation to create an artisan school for three hundred 13-19 year olds to be trained in high-level hand skills. In May, proposals will go to the government, which will release the funding to develop this proposal, which is supported by Lambeth Education who joined the committee.  The next steering committee meeting will be in May in Clarence House. The Council have also agreed to support the proposal to create a museum of the Arts and Crafts movement on the site, bringing together a group of collections from around London.  The school and the museum hope to develop close joint working. The site will also house workshops for well-known craftsmen.”

The proposed closing of the Lambeth Walk Post Office in Vauxhall Street

We received a call for help from KA member, Oladapo Habeeb, of Lambeth Walk post office on Vauxhall Street, to say that the PO was one of the many ear-marked for closure. We had just six weeks to campaign to save it with the consultation period ending on 2nd April. The Vauxhall Gardens Estate TRA organised a public meeting on 12th March where we were joined by representatives from Postwatch and Royal Mail, and our MP Kate Hoey. The KA Planning Subgroup wrote a letter to Post Office Ltd listing commercial reasons for our objection to the closure. We circulated photos of long queues outside the Kennington Road post office before the threatened closure of our Vauxhall PO! Along with hardcopy petition signatures that Habeeb was gathering at the PO, we set up an online petition to appeal to Downing Street, which was signed by more than 200 neighbours, thereby ensuring it be passed to officials for a response from government. As the South London Press reported, (“Lambeth Walk appeal”) ‘now it’s in the lap of the gods, or maybe the Prime Minister’.

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11:47:55 o'clock BST
 

Dear Neighbours

 

Tomorrow marks the end of the consultation period regarding the threatened closure of our Lambeth Walk Post office at 34 Vauxhall Street, London SE11 5LG.  PLEASE ACT NOW!!

 

The quickest way to take action is to sign our petition to Downing Street!  We need at least 200 signatures to ensure a response.  We are nearly there and with your help we can make a difference.  Do PLEASE SIGN it, and pass on the link around your own local networks.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/POLambethWalk/

 

As a reminder, please see below photos of the queues that not only filled the inside of the post office on Kennington Road but spilled out onto the pavement!  That's before the threatened closure of our Vauxhall PO!

 

We have sent in our own letter opposing closure, and hope you will also take the trouble to write.  The email address is consultation@postoffice.co.uk.

 

We have also drafted up a Lambeth Walk PO Petition.doc that can be downloaded and printed out for those not on email.

 

Best wishes

Cathy Preece

KA Administrative Assistant

 

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11:40:06 o'clock GMT

Dear KA Members

 

We wanted to copy you in on the below letter that the KA Planning Sub-Group recently submitted to Lambeth Council.

 

Best wishes

Cathy Preece

KA Administrative Assistant

 

Kennington Association

Chairperson: Angus Aagaard                                             C/- 235B Kennington Lane

Deputy Chairperson: Anna Tapsell                                   London SE11 5QU

Secretary: Diane Kavanagh                                                T: 020 7793 0268

Treasurer: Gareth Adamson                                               E: KenningtonAssn@aol.com

 

KAPlanning@aol.com

Tuesday, 18th March 2008

FAO:  Clive Fraser

Lambeth Council    
Planning Implementation Team
1st Floor
Phoenix House
10 Wandsworth Road
London SW8 2LL

Section 106 Agreements

With the designation of Lambeth North as a major development area for high rise development, the changes facing the local community are considerable. The area already divides neatly into 2 sectors - the historic sector across Kennington Road and the Public Housing sector between Kennington Road and the railway.

The redevelopment of the area between the river and the railway, with largely high rise residential towers blocks, will lead to a strong growth in the availability of Section 106 monies. It will also create a new third area in Kennington.

The arguments for the impact these developments will have on the area have been advanced in our response to the supplementary planning document. The argument here is how do we gain the maximum community benefit from what is essentially a one off payment.

Firstly we have to make recommendation about who should benefit and how. The Council have proposed a tariff system based on departmental agendas, tailored to fit the rules of S106. This includes, for instance, a percentage going to education, which is a capitation change. This of course does not make sense. Such a one off capitation charge has no durable effect on the problem addressed. Similarly it is hard to see how many of the proposed road and street furniture improvements are perceived as real recognizable improvement to community life. They represent in particular departmental problems which should be mainstream programme funded. Similarly current training funding seems to fund generic council programme with little or no local impact. Putting community use of S106 on a tariff system without significant changes in how community partners are chosen can simply mean that departmental agendas are externalised; giving monies to friends of Parks schemes simply covers what should be the main programme spending. The second key question is who should benefit from S106?

The first and main beneficiary must be the local community and they must be seen to benefit from a system that is transparent and fair. We recognise that this would mean that most of the benefit would in Lambeth, stay in the North of the Borough and could lead if prolonged, to an imbalance in social provision and divisiveness.

We therefore propose that S106 monies should be allocated on a percentage basis with the major figure going to the affected area and another percentage into a general pot for the rest of the borough. 

This would mean that each area would benefit from S106, but with most funding on the basis of hardship and social and economic impact going to the affected area, we do not believe there should be main programme items submitted except in special circumstances.

The second major problem is openness and equity. How are beneficiaries chosen? The Council have suggested a project bank and this approach has merit. Projects are fed into a pool and measured against an appraisal process; but who makes the decision and how?

We propose a locally elected committee chaired by a councillor, be used as the decision making body.

This would need servicing to enable evaluation to be carried out and the spend monitored.  Developers could be invited to participate in decision being made on their particular S106 agreement.

In this way a body of knowledge and codes of practice could be build quite quickly and if the proceedings were open to scrutiny, fairness would be built in. This structure would also create a forum in which developers could test their proposals before going to committee. It would take much of the tension and aggression out of the planning process and probably speed it up. It would set a framework within, which they could plan more easily.

Finally the other major problem with Section 106 is the nature of the spend. We recognise that a significant percentage of the spend will be taken up supporting social housing objectives. We support this. However a major failure of the current system is that most expenditure is capital based. This can leave voluntary sector beneficiaries with a new asset they cannot sustain as they have weak revenue streams. As sustainability is now a key requirement in all developments and social projects, it is essential that S106 be used to provide supporting revenue streams. This is particularly the case where voluntary sector organisations are finding significant reductions in both local and national government grant, and where major charitable giving is becoming more prescriptive and shorter term. A local example in Kennington is the Capital Community Foundation in Kennington Lane.

Summary 

1.      We propose a base allocation system be established for the whole borough with a weighing system for each development to additionally benefit the host community.

2.      That monies are allocated against a project bank in each area to which projects and groups can apply.

3.      The decision process is transparent – led by a local committee chaired by a councillor and involving the development partner.

4.      A percentage based on a local appraisal process should be set aside to fund supportive revenue needs.

5.      Council mainstream programme applications be discouraged.

6.      The process is serviced by officers and spend is monitored - each S106 paying a fee to LBC for this service.

7.      The process is driven with the aim of creating a more structured relationship between council, community and developers.  

 Yours faithfully

Angus Aagaard                                               Anna Tapsell

Chairperson                                                      Deputy Chairperson

For and on behalf of the Kennington Association

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14:01:01 o'clock GMT




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17:28:12 o'clock GMT

Dear Neighbours

 

Finally, confirmation has been received that our petition to Downing Street is live!

 

Do PLEASE SIGN it, and pass on the link.

 

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/POLambethWalk/

 

Very many thanks

Best wishes

Cathy

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12:54:48 o'clock GMT

Dear Neighbours

 

Please note the new time for the Saturday Tai Chi class at the Brit Oval, funded by Surrey County Cricket Club.

 

Best wishes

Cathy

 

 

 

Tai Chi

2.30pm-3.30pm Saturdays

Lambeth Hall,

Brit Oval SE11

(Entrance: Alec Stewart Gate)

Free! - All Welcome

Info: Kennington Association T: 07790 260802 E: KenningtonAssn@aol.com

Funded by