Cycling in Kennington and people on bikes

I can't believe I didn't spot this before, but somebody has started a new local cycling blog, Kennington People On Bikes. It details a recently won bid to set up a cycle hub project for Lilian Baylis (and other local) schools.  I note with interest the fact that the bike project was initially unable (see entry on 1st March) to obtain meeting space in the Sports Action Zone on the former Lilian Baylis site.  However, it appears that a meeting with the Director of SAZ resolved that... 

More recently, KPOB have turned their attention to corresponding with Princes ward councillors and candidates re. their views on cycling in the area.  If you are passionate about being on two wheels (or three!), it's a good time to be quzzing candidates on their cycle-friendly policies.  I note with interest the suggestion of bringing down speed limits to 20mph, in some areas. That would be one consideration re. reducing casualities on some of our trunk routes, and would be good for pedestrians too (although I can't see drivers being keen).  I'm often struck by the fact that Kennington (and undeniably, Vauxhall) can feel rather like a "through-route" for heavy goods vehicles accessing the rest of London.  Since we're soon to have our "bike hire" scheme bikes installed all over SE11, now is probably the time to increase the focus on road safety.  (Visions of untrained tourists hopping on to hired cycles and heading down Kennington Park Road to the Elephant roundabout fill me with dread).

The Cycling hub project may well be looking for volunteers, or have meeting times to publicise in the near future.  I'll post it as soon as I've obtained further info.

In the meantime, I telephoned TFL (8th April) to see when our new CS7 route cycle "superhighway" would be completed in SE11.  The person I contacted said it would be finished in "the next month or so".  I've no details on whether TFL have started painting the roads blue (is that the opposite of painting the town red?) and moving street furniture in deepest south London (other than a short trial stretch), so would be grateful for more info.

Oval Farmers Market and the political cakes (with photos)

Popped into Oval Farmers Market this morning for one of Lara's delicious cakes from SE11 based Cakehole.  I'd heard on Twitter that she'd baked some political cakes, and I was intrigued.  Despite being reasonably early (ok, I confess that "early" on a Saturday is about 11am for me), the political cakes were very popular, and the only flavour left was in David Cameron blueberry.   I just couldn't bring myself to buy it (obviously, that's  because I'm not a blueberry fan... I wouldn't want to betray my partiality), so I went for one of those delicious looking chocolate ones.  Nom.  Nom.  Nom.  (Just noticed, but Lara was running a straw-poll on which sold first.)

The guy in the queue in front wanted of me wanted Green party cakes, which were not part of the spectrum, so perhaps in the lead-up to the General Election, we'll see an expanded range.  As Tri Porteur and companion lazed on the grass eating cake, we were surprised to be suddenly surrounded by Labour campaigning types (so, that's where they all are...) and we made our escape.

If you've not been to Oval Market, I do urge you to go.  The weather was fantastic, and there was a great range of stalls.

Also, I'm very pleased to see that the Council have got the fountains (I never realised that's what they were) working again on that piece of no-man's land in between Kennington Park Road and the junction to Brixton Rd/Camberwell New Road.  I do think though, that that whole patch could be grassed over and cleared up.  With very little investment, it wouldn't be a bad spot for a small cafe/ice-cream seller, but right now, it just looks rather cluttered with a kind of abandoned bandstand/circular bench thing and a lot of concrete bollards and pieces of hedge:

One reader tells me that the fountains represent the site of public hangings.  More on Wikipedia.  The 1984 Oval Fountains were apparently designed by architect Georgina Livingstone.

Vauxhall Cyclists: Don't get squashed tonight or this weekend - Shard concrete delivery

The helpful London Cycling Campaign (LCC) have published an article warning that the concrete for the foundations of the Shard building in London Bridge is to be delivered this weekend.  The monster trucks will start their drop-off during rush hour this evening and the concrete delivery will last all weekend.  It affects Vauxhall cyclists because half of the concrete is being delivered from Battersea, and we're on route.

This will apparently result in an additional 700 return lorry-trips in the area (does that mean 1400 trips total?  I'm not sure).  In our patch, it will particularly affect Nine Elms, Vauxhall Cross, Albert Embankment, Lambeth Bridge and Lambeth Palace Road, but obviously if you are planning on cycling to Battersea, I'd take a look at the LCC article so that you can avoid the route in question.

According to the LCC, lorries are involved in over half of cyclist deaths on London roads, even though, compared with other vehicles, there aren't that many of them on the road.

I doubt that the 700 additional return lorry trips are going to do much for the air quality at Bondway, but at least we've been given advanced warning.

So, please be careful cyclists (and Vauxhall pedestrians) because it's not worth risking a speedier route, just to get accidentally squashed this weekend.

More on the Island site owners and development in Vauxhall

The good KOV folk have asked for more details on the company that owns the Island site in Vauxhall where two new tall towers are planned. I briefly posted the location of the site itself, here a few days ago.

The site is in the process of transfer from from Walford Maritime Pension Fund to development company, Kylun Ltd. Kylun Ltd. sent some representatives to KOV, who were apparently astonished to hear about the requirement to provide social housing, but they're only at the early planning stages!

According to their blurb, Kylun Ltd is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and the Island site will be its first project in the UK. Fal Oil company, an established and successful, private United Arab Emirates oil trading and bunkering company, is providing the financial backing for Kylun’s development operations in the UK. Squire & Partners have been appointed by Kylun as architects.

If planning permission is granted, Kylun will identify a development partner to deliver the scheme.

Kate Hoey's new HQ

This is Kate Hoey's campaign headquarters for Vauxhall constituency.  It's located on the site of the old Amici in Kennington, SE11 (which makes me wonder whether the old restaurant is no more).  It's a bit dark as the photo was shot at night.  I promised, "more later", so now I feel obliged to write something!

This shop is an astonishing declaration of intent, in the heart of Kennington.  I'm lead to wonder whether any of the other parties have the budgets to set up shop front offices in central locations, such as these.  Indeed, I feel the stirring of an impassioned rant about the weaknesses of first past the post voting systems emerging.  I've no objection, per se, to campaign headquarters, but I sometimes wish that the platform for political expression was more level because I hardly think the Lib Dems or Greens could afford to do the same.

On the other hand, prominent campaign headquarters are certainly preferable to all of those nasty estate-agent style Tory boards that have appeared on Kennington Road and some of the squares in the area (photo taken by Labour's Jack Hopkins):

2010 Election - Oval Ward Candidates

Oval Ward Candidates

Conservative - Oliver Campbell - SE11

(No photo. Can't find info. although he's mentioned on the Conservative Action Paper)

Conservative - Michelle Imperi - SW8

(No photo.  Can't find further info.)

Conservative - Nicholas Timothy - SW8

(No photo.  Can't find further info.)




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English Democrats - Issam Ebarek-Rmiki - SE11

(No photo.  No further info. anywhere at all)

English Democrats - Jose Navarro - SW8

(Photo from his website, pointed to me by English Democrats)

English Democrats - Michael Perry - SE11

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Green Party - Charles Boxer - SW8

(Photo supplied by candidate.  One reader notes that Charlie runs the delicatessen on Bonnington Square)

Green Party - Samuel Low - SW8

Green Party - James Staunton - SW8

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Labour - (Angela) Jane Edbrooke - SE24

(Photo taken from Labour East Hampshire PPC page)
(On Twitter as @JaneinLondon)

Labour - Jack Hopkins - SW8

(Photo taken from Twitter, where he's quite active)

(On Twitter as @JackHopkins_Lab)

Labour - Karim Palant - SW9

(No photo that I can see.  I can only find snippets of info.)

(Former National Chair of Labour Students)


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Liberal Democrats - Ishbel Brown - SW8

(Photo taken from Oval News blog)

Liberal Democrats - Claudette Hewitt - SW8

(Photo taken from Oval News blog)

Liberal Democrats - Andrew Sawdon - SE5

(Photo taken from Lambeth Council website)

(Current Oval Ward Councillor - in position since 1994)

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This is a rather sorry state of affairs.  You'd think that some of these candidates didn't want anybody to vote for them.  They're not even listed on their own party websites.  If I've missed anybody that does have a public profile, just leave a comment and I'll add the individual in question.

Of the current Lib Dems councillors, Cllr Faye Gray is moving from Oval and standing in Vassall ward, just next door.  I'm not sure whether Cllr Robert Banks is taking a break as he has nominated candidates, but isn't standing himself.  Edit: It appears Cllr Andrew Sawdon has been an Oval Councillor on and off since 1978, but not all for Oval Ward.  Even still.  Seriously impressive.

Snippets from KOV - tall towers, Thames Tideway, KOV hustings, giant Charlie Chaplin and guerrilla gardening

I sent my spies along to the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall forum last night, and here are the highlights:

1. There are proposals (but nothing written or concrete) to erect two large towers in the middle of the Vauxhall roundabout. I think that these are planned for the section where the advertising hoarding is currently placed, bounding Parry Street and Bondway, and looking on to the wrong side of St George Wharf, as below. Consultation will take place in May, and I'll try to obtain more info. but this is all I have for now:

2.  There is some concern that the long-time-planned Thames Water Tideway project will need an area the size of two football pitches (or maybe slightly less) to go tunnelling under the Thames to extend London's sewerage capability.  This will be a London-wide project and there will need to be holes all over the place, but we've no more details on potential sites in Vauxhall just yet.

3.  Kate 'I have a splendid majority' Hoey was jumpy about the planned KOV hustings on 29th April 2010 (put the date in your diary), but relieved when it was explained that these would be local hustings, rather than national hustings!  There should be a chance to quiz candidates from Princes and Oval wards about their plans for the area.  It should be a good evening, and KOV is usually generous with provision of biscuits.

4.  The Cinema Museum have suggested erecting a giant see-through Charlie Chaplin model (similar to the one currently in their museum here) and have proposed several sites in Kennington where this might be possible so that the legacy of Chaplin in the area is not forgotten.

5.  The Onionshed have an ambitious plan to Beautify the Beaufoy site by asking residents to adopt a bag of soil and grow things.  More info. here and some photos here.  It's not clear whether or not they've gained permission to access the site (or whether this will interfere with the "advanced stage" Lambeth school proposal, but why let such a small obstacle get in the way?  I'm presuming that the Lambeth Regeneration department wouldn't stand in the way of Lambeth Council's Green Community Champions.  Here's hoping for some guerrilla-vegetable growing action :-)

2010 Election - Bishops Ward candidates

Bishop's Ward Candidates

Conservative - Edward Blain - SE11
(No photo - possible record on Linked In, but no firm evidence linking to Bishops Ward)



Conservative - Edward Jones - SE11
(No photo - can't find any info)



Conservative - Rickard Jonsson - SE11
(No photo - have found info. but cannot be sure whether it's for the correct Rickard Jonsson)


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Green Party - Colin Kavanagh - SE1
(No photo - can't find any info)



Green Party - Jonathan Stone-Fewings - SE24
(Photo taken from Wikipedia and cropped)
(A celebrity!  I think this is the actor, with wikipedia page here.  I was wondering why he was standing in  Bishops Ward, whilst living in SE24, but he appears to spend a fair amount of time at the Old Vic!)


Green Party - James Wallace - SE1
(Also stood as Green candidate for Bishops Ward in 2006 - no further info)




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Labour Party - Kevin Craig - SW4
(Photo taken from Political Lobbying & Media Relations)
On Twitter as @kevindcraig
Secretary for Vauxhall Labour Party

Labour Party - Jennifer Mosley - SE1
(No photo or info - not sure whether surname spelling is correct on candidate paper)


Labour Party - Jack Sutcliffe - SW8
(Photo taken from Twitter)
On Twitter as @JackSutcliffe

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Liberal Democrats - Diana Braithwaite - SE11
(Photo taken from Lambeth Council website)
(Current Bishops Ward Councillor - in position since 2006)
(Deputy Leader of Lib Dems)


Liberal Democrats - Gavin Dodsworth - SE11
(Photo taken from Lambeth Council website)
(Current Bishops Ward Councillor - in position since 2006)




Liberal Democrats - Peter Truesdale - SE11
(Photo taken from Lambeth Council website)
(Current Bishops Ward Councillor - in position since 1994(!))

Two timing politicans

Is there some kind of new expectation amongst London politicans that an unyet invented teleportation device will soon be available?  Why are so many of our local candidates standing in two wards/constituencies at the same time?  Why are they all being unfaithful, and two-timing London?  Don't we deserve more than that?  Is there so little casework involved in being a good local councillor that they feel they could sit in parliament as well as on Lambeth Council?

Jason Cobb already helpfully pointed out that the Labour Oval ward candidate, Jane Edbrooke, is standing as a candidate for Oval ward, and as a parlimentary candidate for East Hampshire!  (Hopefully, both sets of constituents will be unimpressed).

One of Twitter's Labour supporters, @Kieran Casey helpfully pointed out, as was already noted, that Joseph Healy is standing as a Green candidate for Princes Ward, and as a parlimentary candidate for Vauxhall!  (At least there's some geographical similarity there, but sadly the Vauxhall greens don't yet seem to have local policies in place for Princes/Oval, so chances of success are slim...)

But I wonder whether Kieran should have checked with his own party before pointing out the folly of others because, to top it off, Cllr Steven Morgan (current Labour incumbant in Princes ward) is now re-standing for Princes ward as well as standing as a parlimentary candidate for Orpington.  Of course, if you have the misfortune to dwell near Orpington, you'll know that you could pin a blue rosette on a monkey in that area, and everybody would still vote Conservative. However, if you've a long memory, you might remember that one of the blog's esteemed readers, Sid Boggle, raised this issue in the by-election here, when he said:

"I suppose the local party apparatchiks will be grooming their next 'second coming' to replace Steve Morgan, who I assume will stand down next year so he can fight Orpington."

No such luck... It seems it's acceptable these days to presume that voters will seriously consider candidates standing in two geographically distinct locations.  It's fine.  After all, Cllr Morgan's mum lives in Orpington, so she can probably tell him about important local issues.

Cllr Morgan responded to Sid Boggle, "Thanks for your view of my political future. I really am delighted that you think I am such a great campaigner that I will go to Orpington and take the Labour Party from 4,914 votes to over 26,718 votes to become the next MP."

Look out Orpington!

2010 Election - Princes Ward Candidates

I'll soon be publishing Oval and Bishops wards as soon as I've had a chance to find all of the photos.  (I'm afraid I've had a nightmare with the formatting - it's a Blogger issue, sorry.)

Princes Ward Candidates

Conservative - James Bellis - SW9
(Photo taken from Conservative Kennington Action Team newsletter)

Conservative - Michael Poole-Wilson - SE11

(Photo taken from Conservative Kennington Action Team newsletter)

(He was a candidate in the 2009 Princes Ward by-election)

Conservative - Richard Rajgopaul-Hicklin - SE11

(Photo was sent to be direct from candidate who states that he has been involved with Vauxhall Conservatives for 5 years)

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English Democrats - Alfredo Cordal - SW9
(Photo taken from Exiled Writers)

English Democrats - John Dodds - SE1
(No photo available - the one I posted is apparently a different English Democrat John Dodds)






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Green - Emily Butterworth - SE11
(Photo taken from King's College website.  Emailed candidate to confirm identity.)

(Resident in Kennington for 4 years)

Green - Joseph Healy - SE5
(Photo taken from Green MP for Vauxhall)
(He was a candidate in the Princes Ward 2009 by-election)




Green - Marcus Letts - SE11
(No info, no labelled photo and no mention of him anywhere on Green Party literature)



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Labour - Lorna Campbell - SE1
(Photo taken from Lambeth Council website)
(Current Princes Ward Councillor - in position  since 2006) 




Labour - Mark Harrison - SE11
(Photo taken from Lambeth Council website)
(Current Princes Ward Councillor - in position since 2009) 



Labour - Stephen Morgan - SE11
(Photo taken from Lambeth Council website)
(Current Princes Ward Councillor - in position since 2006) 


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Liberal Democrats -  Gloria Gomez Canal - SW12
(Photo taken from Aculco Radio)




Liberal Democrats - Sandra Lawman - SW2
(Photo taken from Linked In, which also has more info. about the candidate's history)
(She was a Lambeth Councillor for 11 years, between 1990 and 2002, Edit: representing Princes Ward)



Liberal Democrats - John Munro - SW9
(No info, and no mention of him  anywhere on Liberal Democrat literature.  Photo provided by Lib Dems)




As already noted by @SE11 (Cllr Mark Harrison), none of the Liberal Democrats are local.  One of them lives in Streatham.  I'm not impressed by that at all.  How is a Streatham resident meant to be fully engaged with the issues that affect residents in Princes Ward?  Perhaps there aren't any Lib Dems left in Princes ward...  Are they admitting defeat already?

On a related note, why is Lorna Campbell standing in Princes Ward and not Bishop's Ward (where she lives)?  Is there some historical reason for it?

I am quite impressed that the Green party managed to field two local candidates.  I think many people would be more prepared to consider voting for a local candidate than a paper candidate, but it is tricky to know how to vote when there is so little information available about some of the candidates.  Whilst everybody has a right to privacy, it's hard to know why to vote for somebody when they've not made public any information  about their role locally.

Oooh, I forgot to add that Jason Cobb has done a great post on the candidates in the wider area.

Lambeth Council pull out of Beaufoy Institute deal, losing £11.4 million central government money

I've been sitting on this story for months now, but have finally got the go ahead from my source to release it. I'm afraid the story rather long and complicated, so I'm going to simplify what I've been sent as much as possible. See the sections in bold for particularly bad behaviour on the part of Lambeth Council.

Background:

Since 2000, the Beaufoy Institute building on Black Prince Road has been empty, despite a succession of proposals for use that have come to nothing.

Timeline:
2005 - Lambeth Council invited local groups to submit proposals for the Beaufoy Institute. Lady Margaret Hall Settlement (LMHS) and Riverside Community Development Trust (RCDT) put forward a proposal for an artisan-based vocational school to train local young people, which was rejected by the Council.

2006 - LMHS made contact with the Young Foundation who were developing the concept of studio schools across the UK and together put forward the idea of such a school at the Beaufoy Institute. The Settlement also made contact with the Prince of Wales’s private office and initial discussions were held about the concept.

2007 - LMHS then made contact with the De Morgan foundation and added the possible connection of an Arts and Crafts Museum to the Artisan School. De Morgan were introduced to Lambeth Council Regeneration Department and proceeded to negotiate a possible occupation of the Beaufoy with them. The Council Regeneration department refused to engage with the concept of the school and ideas based on an arts community.

Late 2008 - Lord Adonis, the Minister responsible for academies, approached Prince Charles seeking Royal sponsorship for an Academy. The Prince expressed interest in the Studio Schools concept and in the Beaufoy Artisan School. In December a meeting was held on site between the Prince’s Charities, The Young Foundation, LMHS, RCDT and De Morgan and it was agreed to work together to take the concept forward. It was also agreed to seek the participation of Lambeth Council. A steering committee was formed.

2009 - The Young Foundation had for some time been in negotiation with Department for Children School and Families about a national programme for studio schools, with 7 other local authorities already on board and were preparing their submission to the government. It was necessary therefore to move quickly to fit the Artisan School within the time frame. Lambeth produced a first draft which met no one’s objectives and after long discussions a new draft was agreed and submitted. Negotiations on the final draft submission were left largely between the Young Foundation and Lambeth Council. The steering committee continued to meet and two sticking points were identified: the methodology of work placement and the timetable. The Steering Committee rejected the Council’s proposed timetable.

Lambeth Council then proposed that the Studio School became a specialist in hospitality skills which the community groups found not to be an acceptable alternative to artisanship. Work continued between the Young Foundation and Lambeth Council and the difficulties were apparently cleared. The Young Foundation shared their views and experience of these negotiations with LMHS, but Lambeth Council continued to refuse to engage. (The community groups only received Lambeth’s first draft submission 10 weeks after it went to government and only after repeated demands from Sir Hayden Philips, the Steering Committee chair.) It was at this time it became clear that De Morgan had no realistic strategy for raising the money to convert the old building. De Morgan left the Steering group and the views of the government were sought on whether they would agree to the incorporation of the Institute buildings into the school instead of a new building on the site. This was accepted and a new scheme drawn up.

Lambeth Council and the Young Foundation (now called the Studio Schools Trust) continued to work on the final submission. In July 2009 the Prince’s Charities chaired the last steering group in anticipation of the final submission going to government almost immediately, to keep the Artisan School within the programme going forward for ministerial approval. At that last meeting John Wotherspoon (representing Lambeth Council), at the insistence of Sir Hayden Philips (Steering Committee Chair) agreed to send LMHS a copy of the Council proposals. In September 2009 LMHS were approached by the Young Foundation/Studio School Trust to help then get responses to key questions from Lambeth Council. However LMHS received no response and to date have still not received the promised copy of the Council’s proposals. LMHS had previously met with Cllr McGlone and received assurances that everything was going ahead. Shortly afterwards LMHS and Cllr McGlone met with Kate Hoey MP to express concern at the Council’s sudden failure to engage with the proposal.

LMHS heard from a private source that Lambeth Council had sought a meeting with the Department for Children, Family and Schools to propose that the monies be reallocated for a new Lambeth proposal which they were preparing. This was refused and Lambeth then informed the Ministry they were withdrawing from the Studio Schools’ Project which the Minister had been due to sign in two days time. At this point Lambeth Council resumed contact with the Young Foundation to advise them of their decision. LMHS / RCDT were not informed and apparently nor was Cllr McGlone. At this point LMHS / RCDT attempted to meet the leader of the Council, the Chair of Education and the Chief Executive to seek an explanation for the withdrawal, and to see if a way ahead could be found. Local councillors were asked to intervene. Only Cllr Stephen Morgan replied.

January 2010 - LMHS / RCDT met with the Young Foundation (Studio Schools Trust) to verify the timeline and reasons for Lambeth Council withdrawal from the Artisan School. It was agreed that the local friends of the Beaufoy group would now take the lead in pursuing a campaign to get an Artisan School on the site. The Studio Schools Trust agreed to continue working with this group.

February 2010 - the local groups met again with the Studio Schools Trust who confirmed that Lambeth Council had lost the £11.4 million from government. There continues to be no direct contact with Lambeth Council.

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Issues regarding LBC’s claims as to why the Studio Schools proposal was unsuccessful:

* Lambeth Council claim the loss of the Museum in the project meant that the Prince’s Charities withdrew. This is not true. The Prince’s Charities agreed to host the steering committee until Lambeth Council assured us the process was almost complete.

* Lambeth Council claim that the Department for Children, Families and Schools did not agree to proceed with a solvent tenant for the old building. In fact DCFS agreed to house part of the school in the old building and Lambeth architects drew such as scheme.

* Lambeth Council claim that the DCFS did not accept the basic tenets of the Studio Schools Trust and Lambeth could not then proceed. In fact two days after Lambeth’s withdrawal, the Minister approved the other seven schools and supported the concept in a key note speech. (The DCFS website initially included Lambeth in the announcement.)

* Lambeth say the Studio Schools Trust withdrew – this is also not correct. Right up to a few days before ministerial approval the Trust was still trying to get answers from Lambeth Council. The Department response was to not answer emails, telephone calls or letters.

* Lambeth Council say they had strong educational/philosophical differences with the Studio School model, in particular citing differences on curriculum and work placement. The Studio Schools proposals were "not suitable for Lambeth Young people". At no point did the department explain to the steering committee what made the work placement impossible for Lambeth Youth but clearly acceptable to those of seven other Councils. Beyond a verbal request from John Wotherspoon on timetabling no substantive differences were ever expressed or presented.

Glasshouse Walk gang attack on 5th April in Vauxhall

A resident has left a comment on my post about local gangs that that deserves mention in its own post. 

Unfortunately, the commentator and a friend were attacked in SE11 on Easter Monday, after returning at 11pm from an evening out.  They were followed by 3 youths and then kicked, beaten up and mugged by a total of 6 youths, on Glasshouse Walk.  The police suggested that the incident may be a gang initiation.

I feel very sad having to report this incident because I don't think it's behaviour that is representative of the area, but I think it's worth highlighting so that everybody is extra vigilent at night.  If you heard or saw anything on Monday night, I suggest you contact Kennington Police station.

I do wonder whether we need to work out a way to have some "entire community conversations" and think about some strategies for preventing this kind of senseless crime.  Ultimately, CCTV (of which we have plenty) is always pointing the wrong way or doesn't have film, or doesn't work at night.  The police are often not in the right place at the right time (which isn't their fault).  What would be good would be if we could be a little more imaginative as a community, and think about ways that we could better look out for one another, get to know our local youth and neighbours, and maybe think about neighbourhood watch.

Does anybody have any ideas?  Recommendations?  Is there anything our councillors can do?  I believe that if we can take an innovative stand in North Lambeth, and network more effectively so that we're not strangers, we should be able to reduce the numbers of random violent attacks.  Gangs cannot function well if people recognise their members as neighbours!  How about a community meeting for all concerned local residents?  Does anybody have strategies for how violent crime has been reduced in other areas?

Doing the Lambeth Walk 2010 style

I'm still failing to get excited about the up and coming election. I will try harder, I promise.  In the meantime, there are still large sections of people in the Lambeth community that have been let down and are continually neglected by politicians of all stripes. One such abandoned section of SE11 is Lambeth Walk. It's a location I'm quite interested in, partly because I think it has huge potential to be reinvigorated as a community hub. It just needs some care and attention, and a little investment.

There are still some small shops and businesses on Lambeth Walk, but the area is really a shell of what I imagine it might once have been in the 1930s. I'd love to see a vibrant street market returned to it. Anyhow, I'm not the only one who thinks it has suffered. Hot off the press, I've found a local musician, Ecarlo who is working on a 2010 version of the Lambeth Walk, and you can watch the "behind the scenes" of his recent shoot.  (It looks to me as though it might have been recorded in one of the Vauxhall arches... Let me know if you  recognise the studio.):



In case you can't view the video, at at about 2 mins 44 seconds, Ecarlos gives his take on the Lambeth Walk:

"Let me give you a brief history. I'm from Lambeth Walk which is the Kennington area... It has a rich history. Back in like the 1930s, there was the song called The Lambeth Walk that came out which was sung by the Cockneys, and basically it was really like a big movement, but over the years, like obviously, Lambeth Walk has kinda been demolished a bit where there was like a market place and where there was loadsa stuff going on from dancing down to shopping and what not. So basically what I decided to do was bring it back 2010 style, give it that new energy and kinda reintroduce it to the world and maybe they'll remember it. So me being from Lambeth, I thought it was my duty to do that. At the same time, I thought it was a good way to introduce myself and let them know what I'm about".

Red Lion pub to become Old Grey Lion and more on new Tesco

It seems as though there are some rather slow changes afoot on the northern section of Kennington Park Road. Perhaps this is spurred by the road's proximity to the long-awaited Elephant and Castle social-engineering project regeneration.

I mentioned yesterday that I'd heard a rumour about a proposed new Tesco on Kennington Park Road. I was getting confused, and thinking that this referred to the store opposite to the tube at 62 Kennington Park Road. That's the current site of Payless Food & Wine, who appear to be thriving as a result of not quite living up their name. However, upon further investigation and a helpful tip from a reader, it seems that the shop that has closed/is closing is actually at 38-40 Kennington Park Road (Right Price Food & Wine). I've walked past the site, and it hardly strikes me as large enough for a Tesco, even a Metro-sized one, but perhaps it goes back further than I remember.

Even more intriguing is a pub related piece of news that I learned of only in the past few days. Apparently the adequate, large, but somewhat characterless Red Lion pub (42 Kennington Park Road) is to become The Old Grey Lion! It has been purchased by Antic-Ltd who have it listed on their site here. No more info. about that refurbishment at present, but you'll read it here first (hopefully)!

Confusingly, there is another pub, named The Mansion House (46-48 Kennington Park Road) to the South of the Red Lion/Old Grey Lion that has been closed and derelict for some time. I'd like to know what's happening with that, because in the current climate, I doubt the road can sustain two pubs next door to one another! And just because I like to highlight small and under-publicised services in SE11, you might also be interested to know that to the right of Priceright / proposed Tesco is a small gateway that leads through to an organisation named Shaka Services who work mainly with London's African, Carribean and Asian population to provide sexual health / AIDS / social care, housing and immigration services. As far as I know, they're still operative, but I can't find any recent information confirming their status. 38-40 Kennington Park Road is also listed as a needle-exchange. I hope the rumoured Tesco proposal won't jeopardise such vital services.

Tesco expanding their empire in Kennington?

Somebody on Twitter has passed on a rumour that there is a Tesco opening on Kennington Park Road, near Kennington tube station. It's apparently in the place of a 24 hour supermarket that has closed down (although last time I checked, the 24 hour supermarket was still operative).

Does anybody have any more info?