Vauxhall area draft planning framework

The long awaited draft Planning Framework for Vauxhall is now available for consultation. The closing date for responses is 29 January 2010. Kennington, Oval, Vauxhall Forum will be hosting a public presentation on this, date to be announced shortly. Next scheduled Forum meeting is 19 January 2010.

Please visit the website below to read the document in full:

http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning/oapf-nine-elms/index.jsp

Lambeth Community Care Centre, Monkton St

Friends of Lambeth Community Care Centre, in Monkton St, are holding their second AGM on

THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER 2009 AT 6.30 pm

at the Community Care Centre, Monkton St, London SE11 4TX

Nibbles and a glass of wine will be available from 6.00 pm

The AGM will be followed by a presentation 'Hospitals in Lambeth, 1850-2000' by Brian Bloice, well-known local historian, Chair of Lambeth Local History Forum, Streatham Society, Vice-chair Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Society and former local history Tutor at Morley College.

North Lambeth Expo 2009

Get yourself down to the North Lambeth Expo 2009!

Saturday 10 October, noon to 4.00.
Waterloo Action Centre
14A Baylis Road
London
SE1 1AA

Free food, music, prizes, grants!

Get involved, get heard!

Win a trip on the fabulous River Thames Duck Tour!

Presented by Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum and WaCoCo

Macmillan Big Monday free coffee morning

Dear all,

Please see the attached invite as a date for your diary: You are cordially invited to attend “The Big Monday Community Cuppa”, a FREE community based coffee morning that is open to everyone in Lambeth. They are hosting a raffle to raise funds for Macmillan Charity (prizes to be confirmed closer to the event date), and attendees will also be asked for a small, but voluntary contribution (perhaps £1) which will also be donated directly to the charity.

The date is 28th Sept, 2009 in Stockwell community Resource Centre, 1 Studley Rd, London, SW4 6RA; 5 mins from Stockwell tube (map found via link

(http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&source=hp&ie=UTF8&q=stockwell+community+resource+centre&near=Lambeth,+Greater+London&fb=1&split=1&gl=uk&cid=0,0,1779117214526771293&ei=yielSpWnHaSNjAe5gI2YDg&ll=51.474367,-0.123811&spn=0.006415,0.013754&z=16).

To confirm your place, please contact Denise Cooke, Email Denise.Cooke@connaught.plc.uk . If you can think of others who may be interested in attending, please also circulate the info with them.

Living Together in Lambeth - Peace Week

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/SaferLambeth/PeaceWeek2009.htm

Living Together in Lambeth – Peace Week event.
Time 6.30 to 9pm
Wednesday 23 September
Lambeth Town Hall.

…..Join us for an evening of entertainment and learn more about our communities and their cultures. There will be an opportunity to sample food from around the world, and hear from people who want to talk about their experience of living in Lambeth. Come along and enjoy the evening with your friends, family and neighbours.
The event is free to attend.

Oval Farmers' Market second anniversary 12 Oct

Oval Farmers' Market is celebrating its second anniversary this Saturday, 12 September 2009. In addition to the normal stalls, we're promised live music, arts and crafts, special offers on the produce stalls and lots more including a free cup of summer punch (until it runs out!).

The Market is open from 10am to 3pm, in St Mark's Churchyard, opposite Oval tube station, corner of Brixton Road, Clapham Road and Kennington Park Road. Hope to see you there!

Recycling champions wanted - Vauxhall Gardens and China Walk Estates

Estate Recycling Champions Needed!

Are you interested in recycling? Do you think you could help others to get into the recycling habit? Then you could become a recycling champion!

If you are an individual or resident group, from one of the selected estates, and you are interested in getting actively involved in recycling and reducing waste in your local community, then we want to hear from you. The six selected Lambeth Living Estates are Vauxhall Gardens, China Walk, Central Hill, Weir, Cowley, and Springfield.

To take part in the scheme you must be over 18 years old and live on one of the selected Lambeth Living estates. All you need is lots of enthusiasm about recycling and the environment and be able to spare a few hours each week. We will give you all the information, materials and support you will need.

For each estate that improves their recycling there is £500 available for a project to help improve their local environment!

For more information on the scheme contact Philip O’Keeffe, Recycling Champions Co-ordinator on 020 7926 8948 or email pokeeffe@lambeth.gov.uk.

Exhbition re former LFB HQ

You might be interested in attending an

EXHIBITION RE FUTURE OF EX-LONDON FIRE BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS
Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 June Thu 4pm-8pm; Fri 3pm-6pm; Sat 10am-1pm at

Lambeth Fire Station, 8 Albert Embankment

Find out about plans by Native Land and Lifschutz Davidson
Sandilands to redevelop the former headquarters of the
London Fire Brigade on Albert Embankment.
Info & map: http://www.London-SE1.co.uk/whatson/event/7247

Calling Marketing / Communications people in Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall

North Lambeth Expo 2009 – People & Places
Invitation to Tender
Marketing

Waterloo Community Coalition (WaCoCo) is a coalition of not for profit organisations in the Waterloo Area and in this tender representing Bishops Ward. Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum represents residents, business and community groups in Prince’s, Oval and that part of Bishops ward south of Lambeth Road. Together, we are jointly funded to project manage the North Lambeth Expo 2009 in partnership with the London Borough of Lambeth.
The North Lambeth Expo 2009 will take place from 12 noon to 4pm on Saturday 10th October 2009 at the Waterloo Action Centre, 14 Baylis Road, SE1 7AA.
The event is designed to bring together as much of the community as is possible and to celebrate the diversity of both the people and places of our local area. ‘People and Places’ is to be the theme of the Expo. The event will also give North Lambeth community organisations an opportunity to show what they do and invite participation. It will give local people the chance to investigate their service providers (Police, NHS, Fire, Council etc) and meet their councillors, who we hope will be offering surgeries during the Expo. The event will feature free food, entertainment, community grant giving, a market place with interactive stalls and a question time session at the end, all with the aim of attracting people who do not normally participate in community meetings or local consultations.
A contract for innovative and environmentally sustainable marketing of this event is now sought, particularly to promote the event to those who are not already linked in to the usual networks. KOV and WaCoCo have their own websites which will also advertise the event. SE1 Direct and the Kennington Association have large distribution networks which may circulate news amongst active residents. The successful organisation will demonstrate an excellent knowledge of North Lambeth and the voluntary sector within the area and will utilise the voluntary sector, local schools and other organisations and facilities to maximise attendance at the event. The contractor would be expected to propose and agree with WaCoCo and KOV a marketing and outreach strategy leading up to the Expo. The contractor would be responsible, within the budget, for design and printing as required of all marketing materials, advertising and distribution.
The maximum budget for the marketing work is £1,500.
If you would like to tender for this project please submit your proposal to the Waterloo Community Coalition, 14a Baylis Road, London SE1 7AA or by email to admin@wacoco.org , stating what you are able to offer within the budget, your commitment to equal opportunities and your previous experience of delivering such a marketing project by Friday 19th June 2009 not exceeding 2 sides of A4.
Yours sincerely

On behalf of KOV and WaCoCo
David Fisher

Calling North Lambeth caterers!

North Lambeth Expo 2009 – People & Places
Invitation to Tender - Catering

Waterloo Community Coalition (WaCoCo) is a coalition of not for profit organisations in the Waterloo Area and in this tender representing Bishops Ward. Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum represents residents, business and community groups in Prince’s, Oval and that part of Bishops ward south of Lambeth Road. Together, we are jointly funded to project manage the North Lambeth Expo 2009 in partnership with the London Borough of Lambeth.
The North Lambeth Expo 2009 will take place from 12noon to 4pm on Saturday 10th October 2009 at the Waterloo Action Centre, 14 Baylis Road, SE1 7AA.
The event is designed to bring together as much of the community as is possible and to celebrate the diversity of both the people and places of our local area. ‘People and Places’ is to be the theme of the Expo. The event will also give North Lambeth community organisations an opportunity to show what they do and invite participation. It will give local people the chance to investigate their service providers (Police, NHS, Fire, Council etc) and meet their councillors, who we hope will be offering surgeries during the Expo.
A contract for providing food for this event is now sought. The successful organisation will be expected to have an excellent knowledge of North Lambeth and its enthnicity. It is anticipated that approximately 200 people will need to be provided for reasonably, in accordance with the diverse requirements of the community and different dietary requirements. The contractor would be expected to propose and agree with WaCoCo and KOV, a menu suitable for all to be able to eat standing. The contractor will be responsible, within the budget agreed, for design and printing of menus, (WCDG will assist), provision of cooked food, hot and soft drinks, eating utensils, setting up and clearing away. A kitchen and serving area will be provided on site outside of the catering budget, from 9am to 5pm on the day.
If you would like to tender for this catering contract submit a proposal of not more than 1 A4 plus a sample menu to; Waterloo Community Coalition Registered Office: 14a Baylis Road, London SE1 7AA or by email: admin@wacoco.org, by the Friday 19th June 2009, with what you are able to offer within the budget, evidence of training or qualifications in food safety and hygiene, your commitment to equal opportunities and details of your previous experience of delivery such a catering project including qualifications in food safety and hygene.
The maximum budget for the catering work is £1,000.
Yours sincerely
On behalf of KOV and Wacoco

David Fisher

Planning application for 42 story building at Bondway, Vauxhall

We heard tonight at KOV Forum that an application has been submitted for a 42 storey building at Bondway, Vauxhall. The reference no is 09/01520/FUL. You may be able to view it at the Tate South Lambeth Library in South Lambeth Road, and certainly at Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Road, SW8. The Lambeth Planning Department dealing with the application can be reached on 020 7926 1208. Comments need to be sent in to Lambeth Council by 24 June.

Our draft response to Lambeth Council's consultation on the Local Development Framework Draft Core Strategy

Draft response to consultation on LDF Draft Core Strategy from the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall (KOV) Forum

The following is the draft response of Kennington Oval & Vauxhall Forum to Lambeth Council’s consultation on the Local Development Framework Draft Core Strategy. Please tell us what you think on E: kovblog@gmail.com – the final version has to be submitted by 18 May.

The KOV supports the six key themes of the Core Strategy. We also support Item 17 Page 100, “support the regeneration and renewal of the London Plan Opportunity Areas at Waterloo and Vauxhall/Nine Elms/Battersea to reflect their role in central London, working in close partnership with all key stakeholders” with the caveat that our purpose is to ensure that there is no inappropriate development, that sufficient high quality and sustainable infrastructure is in place before any residential accommodation is occupied and that tall buildings should not put other accommodation into shade. In addition, applications for sites need to be scrutinised to ensure that impact is either positive or strictly limited.

KOV also supports the recognition of heritage, historic assets, community identity, the contribution of local artists to this local economy. We also support Lambeth support for Business Improvement Districts and would welcome one for KOV area. How does this link in with the Core Strategy?

The draft raises questions of accuracy, interpretation and intention. There are statements in the daft which appear inaccurate or on which further explanation is required to be clear as to what is meant so that an informed and constructive comment can be made. We would like to be assured that questions from consultees will receive responses so that sensible, well informed comments may be made.

We have asked some questions in this response for clarification.

As an example of where we need clarity, the geographical boundary of an area may be relatively clear (for instance separate consultation was undertaken on the Vauxhall area), however, those reading the Draft in isolation, would have no indication as to what the boundaries are. Is the boundary for Oval as referred to in the draft the ward boundary of that name? Kennington Lane is mentioned but does this extend as far as the Beefeater site?

Vauxhall

Policy PN2 First paragraph last sentence states

“Overall, development can provide at least 3,500 new homes and 8,000 new jobs in the Vauxhall area by 2026 and appropriate community and public transport infrastructure improvements will be sought.”

This policy statement needs strengthening. The commitment to improved community and public transport infrastructure should be in place before any development takes place.

Whilst KOV approves of the intention to create a permeable pedestrian and cycling environment, including creating public spaces, seeking the removal of the one way traffic system, car free developments, etc, etc, we remain concerned that, once again, the strategy is not sufficiently robust and does not constitute a delivery strategy for achieving these objectives as required by the DCLG. A piecemeal approach is unlikely to produce the desired changes and could result in more homes and more jobs without the infrastructure to support them and an even more hostile traffic dominated environment.

A clearer, coordinated, more radical and ultimately, more effective strategy is essential.

(a) ... with a mix of uses including Central London Activities – What are Central London Activities?

(b) ...that access to a high quality riverside walk is maintained

(c) Seeking the removal of the one-way traffic system should dominate this paragraph – needs reinforcing. Every consultation has highlighted this as the number one desired improvement in Vauxhall.

(d) Respecting strategic views – this needs strengthening so that views from Kennington Road, Lane towards the river should also be respected in relation to tall buildings.

(e) KOV do not support tall building anywhere but of all the Vauxhall quarters identified, the Vauxhall Heart might be considered the least inappropriate.

IN FACT

We do not support tall buildings and believe that any reference to them in any area should emphasise the need to ensure they do not cast other accommodation or open space or retail areas into the shade.

Para 8.10 – The Vauxhall area contains some good areas of active frontages. We believe this should be limited areas of active frontages.

Para 8.11 – Whitgift Park, Pedlers Park are little more than Greens.

Para 8.12 However, public transport capacity is currently limited. It is at capacity!

Oval

In the Draft Core Strategy, the character of the Oval area is too heavily focussed on the cricket ground. This places too much importance on the ground in comparison with the other features of the area which give it character and which represent the area, its community and their aspirations.

The wording in PN7(a) particularly needs clarification. It refers to Harleyford Street in the following terms:-

“... improving the relationship of the stadium with the adjoining area particularly the quality of the linkages with the centre along Harleyford Street, by improving the attractiveness of the public realm, the creation of appropriate public spaces, interesting features and promoting active frontage uses along the route. “

Please identify what is meant by the “centre” in the above statement.

This route has a street frontage to the north consisting of the boundary wall of Blades House and Lockwood House and on the other side of the road junction with Kennington Oval, there is the boundary wall of the Oval cricket ground itself.

The best opportunity for the creation of appropriate an public space was lost when the Planning Applications Committee agreed to the Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC)’s planning application for the area in front of the SCCC pavilion. In the event that the application is approved by the Secretary of State, the area will become private space enclosed by turnstiles. There is otherwise little opportunity for creation of appropriate public spaces along that side of Harleyford Street/Kennington Oval. On the other side of the road is the underground station, a private block of flats and the Oval House Theatre. LBL will be aware how dangerous the bend in the road is at that particular point and, therefore, how inappropriate that location might be for public open space.

Where is the opportunity for LBL to promote active frontage uses along the route . Are you considering the redevelopment of the Oval House Theatre. For many reasons it is unlikely that major or minor retailers will wish to locate themselves at this point on a very busy main road with no parking and with Tesco and Sainsburys in relatively close proximity.

Paragraph 8.57 states

“The major issues for the area are how to derive more benefit economically and for the community from the use and events at the Oval stadium, which included many conferences and a proposed hotel “ We question how?

Before it is possible to comment constructively on this statement, it is important to know exactly what it is intended to mean.

In our view the local, the residential community has derived few benefits from activities at the Oval over the years. Please refer to the submissions made by the local community (United Friends of Oval, UfO) to the Planning Applications Committee in early 2008 and to the submissions made by UfO to the Planning Inspector at the end of 2008. The evidence contained in these submissions demonstrates clearly that the events held at SCCC not only do not benefit the community, but give rise to disturbance and detriment to the community. It would be most desirable to derive more benefit economically and for the community from the presence of SCCC in our midst. One-off conferences and one or two day cricket match per week in summer will be staffed by an agency and there will be few , if any, opportunities for employment of local people.

Apart from the possibility of a few local jobs it has been impossible to identify the benefits to be derived from the proposed hotel development. Indeed there will be a detrimental effect on those residing locally from the continuous noise and disturbance from deliveries to the hotel plus staff arriving and departing. Could your draft Core Strategy please clarify what exactly benefits means in this specific context. Please check with the local community that we acknowledge what is identified is a benefit to the community),then set out clearly in what way real, tangible benefits are to be delivered.

Finally

Section 3, Key Stages & next steps: “ At each stage the Core Strategy is revisited to ensure that comments received have been addressed.”

How will those who have commented be informed that comments have been addressed?

That's it for now. Please let us know if you have points to add.

K O V Forum Website

The new KOV Forum website is currently under development.
We are hoping that it will be ready to launch by the next AGM, 9 June 2009.

Please check back to see how the progress is coming along.

Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum

Hello and welcome to Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum's blog. We're proud to have amongst our members the Kennington Association, Riverside Community Development Trust, Friends of Spring Gardens, Friends of Kennington Park, Friends of Durning Library and many more local groups in the SE11 SW8 area. Individuals and local businesses are welcome to join too.

We're now independent of Lambeth Council (although we have some funding from their Active Communities Unit for running costs). Our members believe we can achieve far more by working together than we can working separately. We'd like even more local community groups and individuals to join us. Currently we're drafting a response to Lambeth's draft Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework and we want your views before we finalise it. It will be posted within the next couple of days.

We're next holding a public meeting for everyone on 9 June at Centenary Hall, Cottington St SE11 4RZ - 6.30 for 7.00 pm and hope you'll join in. We'll be considering the draft Core Strategy - what happens next - and also we hear there's a alcohol free zone being proposed for the Vauxhall area - we want to find out more about that too. To receive papers for the meeting, contact info@kovforum.org.uk . See you there!