Public meeting at Tate South Lambeth Library, Wed 8 Aug, 6-8pm

Friends of Tate South Lambeth Library are hosting a public meeting on Wednesday evening, 8 Aug, 6-8 pm in the library, South Lambeth Road, SW8, to seek views and proposals on the use of library funds.  These are due to be reduced by one-eighth next year. 

The meeting is a drop-in event with one-to-one discussions with Council staff.

All welcome!

'Garden Open Today' - Garden Museum- until 24 June

‘Garden Open Today!’on at the Garden Museum until 24th June. It tells the story of 300 years of garden visiting and includes pictures of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens on loan from the V&A and private collections. Adults £7.50. Concessions £6.50. Art Fund £3 (and full time students), Special offer 2-for-1 entry members of the National Trust www.gardenmuseum.org.uk

Digital Bazaar at Tate South Lambeth Library Saturday 23 June

Saturday 23rd June, Digital Bazaar at Tate South Lambeth Library 10am to 12 noon - the popular drop-in session where beginners and experts share tips on getting the best out of the internet, mobile phones, digital cameras... Just drop in.

An Alphabetical Adventure in North Lambeth Wednesday 20 June

Wednesday 20th June, meet at 6.45pm for a 7pm departure to end around 9.30pm An Alphabetical Adventure in North Lambeth (part of Lambeth Cyclists' Bike Week events). Playfully riding from A through to Z, this ride introduces you to 26 (and a few more) curious places, famous people and odd facts from the Mesolithic era to the present day between Vauxhall and Waterloo. Discoveries along the way will include circus and music-hall, pleasure gardens and drugs, gin and the underground, the true centre of London and, if fortune smiles upon us, the fastest creature in the world. We'll gently twist and turn our way to cover a dozen flat miles, taking two to three hours, to work up a thirst for a lager at the end of the ride. Meeting point: outside Lassco, Brunswick House, 30 Wandsworth Road, SW8 2LG (on Vauxhall Gyratory by the start of Nine Elms Lane - don't worry we're not cycling on the road there). FREE, just turn up with your bike or a Barclays one. http://kenningtonpob.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/alphabetical-adventure-in-north- lambeth.html http://www.lfa2012.org/events/view/an-alphabetical-adventure-in-north-lambet h-324

The Sugar Girls at Tate South Lambeth Library 18 June

Monday 18 June, Tate South Lambeth Library, doors open 6.45 pm; Talk on the Sugar Girls by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi. Tales of hardship and love in Tate and Lyle’s factories in Silvertown during the 1940s and 1950s. FREE entry, light refreshments available with a suggested donation to Friends of Tate South Lambeth Libraries

ARTS LAV - Friends of Kennington Cross AGM Thursday 21 June

The Friends of Kennington Cross have been working for many years to re-open this wonderful Victorian gents lav as a small arts venue. They are very close to achieving this. Could you help? Come along to the AGM, find out what the Friends have achieved and have a rare chance to visit the lavs themselves. The AGM is on Thursday 21 June, 6.30 to 7.30 pm at 181a Kennington Lane (opposite the Dog House pub). All welcome. For more info, call 07976 935 986

Vauxhall City Farm History Weekend! 30 June and 1 July

What’s it all about? The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG), a charity which supports and creates opportunities for local communities to grow, has been awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to record a new oral history around the growth of the UK’s city farms and community gardens. A landmark project to coincide with the 30th anniversary celebrations of the FCFCG (and no doubt the 35th anniversary of Vauxhall City Farm!), this record is the first of its kind in documenting the growth of this pioneering movement from its origins in the 1960s. How is Vauxhall City Farm involved? Vauxhall City Farm has been selected as one of the city farms to be included in the project. The goal is to capture as much ‘eye witness’ information as possible from all those associated with the farm over its 35 years: members, volunteers, allotment holders, Trustees, local community groups, staff and visitors . What will happen? The research will be carried out mainly through group discussion sessions and one-to-one interviews. All contributions will be captured in audio, video and photographic formats (of course subject to your consent), of which participants will be offered free copies as a token of our thanks for taking part in the project. The Farm will also be running a drop-in History Desk during this weekend so that, if you are unable to attend specific sessions or they are fully booked, someone will be on hand to capture your experiences and views on the farm: the highs, the lows and your expectations for its future! Timetable Saturday 30 June Venue: Vauxhall City Farm classroom Sessions facilitated by the FCFCG History Project Manager: Tracy Craggs 12 noon – 1.15pm Witness Seminar A (up to 10 people) 1.15pm – 2.30pm Witness Seminar B (up to 10 people) 2.30pm – 3.00pm BREAK 3.00pm – 3.30pm 1:1 interview 3.30pm – 4.00pm 1:1 interview 4.00pm – 4.30pm 1:1 interview 4.30pm – 5.00pm 1:1 interview Venue: Vauxhall City Farm rain temple/ recycled hut depending on weather 12 noon – 5pm Drop in sessions: short video interviews, paper-based surveys and referral to an online survey Sunday 1 July Venue: Vauxhall City Farm classroom Sessions facilitated by the FCFCG History Project Manager: Tracy Craggs 9.00am – 9.30am 1:1 interview 9.30am – 10.00am 1:1 interview 10.00am – 11.15am Witness Seminar C (up to 10 people) 11.15am – 12.30pm Witness Seminar D (up to 10 people) Venue: Vauxhall City Farm rain temple/ recycled hut depending on weather 9.00am – 1pm Drop in sessions: short video interviews, paper-based surveys and referral to an online survey What happens next? Following the Vauxhall City Farm History Weekend, all recollections will be submitted to the archive that is being created to bring together all the findings of the FCFCG’s work. A full summary of the findings will be placed on the FCFCG website at the end of the project and a celebration event will take place at the Museum of Bristol to mark the collection. Get involved! This is a unique chance to capture your memories and views surrounding the history (and indeed future) of Vauxhall City Farm, so we hope you can join the farm by getting involved. If you are interested in taking part in a ‘Witness Seminar’ or one-to-one interview, please ring Katherine on 0207 582 4204 or drop her an e-mail at katherine@averygoodcompany.org to book yourself into a session. Otherwise, feel free to drop-in and see the farm on the day http://www.vauxhallcityfarm.org/p/about-us_16.html. We hope to see you soon! from Vauxhall City Farm (and Trevor the turkey)

Jubilee Party Monday 4 June in Vauxhall

A Jubilee Party is being held for all residents in Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall on:

Monday 4 June

12 noon to 6.00 pm at the

Carmelita Centre,

41 Vauxhall Walk SE11 5JT (corner of Jonathan St). 

Music, food (BBQ ... and more), bouncy castle, face painting, cake competition – judged by Harry of the Tea House Theatre, loads of games and of course loads of prizes. 

Food and drink will be available for a small donation to support Vauxhall Gardens Estate Residents Tenants Association (VGERTA). Please bring something simple to eat and share. 

To hire an indoor or outdoor stall to sell items, email vgerta.secretary@gmail.com or call 07532 012 614.  Please also visit www.vgerta.org.uk

The party is hosted and organised by VGERTA and sponsored by KOV Forum.   Other supporters: Tea House Theatre, Alford House, Friends of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, PJ Frankland of 6 Jonathan St.

This  one can't be missed!

KOV's AGM 20 June 6.30 for 7.00pm (Note date change - NOT 21 June)

KOV's AGM will take place, at 6.30 for 7.00 pm, on Wednesday 20 June (please note NOT 21st June as originally advertised) at the Carmelita Centre, 41 Vauxhall Walk SE11 5JT (corner of Jonathan St). In addition to electing a new Board which will be in position till June 2013, local organisations will be providing brief presentations on their activities and projects. Thames Water have confirmed they will attend and outline how their proposals for a tunnel might impact on the Albert Embankment Foreshore. If you would like to either stand yourself, or nominate someone else, for election to the Board, please email forumkov@gmail.com. Please use the same email address to book a slot to promote the activites of your organisation. ALL WELCOME, FREE refreshments!

Community Fun Day - 7 July 2012 on Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

Local organisation Lighthouse Education Service are hosting a Community Fun Day on Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, 9.00 am to 9.00 pm on 7 July. To book a stall, email your details to Hayley: hwilliams@l-e-s.org

Thames Tunnel and Albert Embankment Foreshore - Public Exhibition 18 and 19 June

Thames Water have made some changes to their plans for Albert Embankment in response to comments made during their second phase of consultation, which ended in February 2012. Information about these changes wil be available on their website www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk from 6 June 2012. A drop-in session will be taking place to find out what they are proposing for Albert Embankment, as follows: Public Exhibition 18 and 19 June, 2.00 - 8.00 pm Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel 18 Albert Embankment SE1 7TJ This consultation closes on 4 July 2012 at 5.00 pm

Working it out. A 16 week volunteer programme for young people aged 16-19

Are you aged 16 - 19? Are you ready to do something different? Join WORKING IT OUT and: * Learn new skills * Improve your CV * Help the community * Buid your confidence * Meet new people * Prepare for a job Expenses and travel costs paid INTERESTED? Call or text Tommorow's People on 020 7928 7232 / 07971 969 133 Email Leila Best: lbets@tomorrows-people.co.uk Eligibility details: * Aged 16 - 19 and can provide proof of age and NINO * Actively seeking employment, training, education or further development * Available weekday mornings Course content: * Teambuilding and leadership skills * Practical and crative volunteering in the community (in groups or individually) * Communication skills (verbal and written) * Confidence and motivation * CV production and job search support * Interview training, practice and feedback * Mentor support from business professionals * Work experience opportunities Regular 1-2-1 target setting Benefits Weekly expenses and travel paid Reference supplied when applying for jobs Tomorrow's People - Making Life Work

Does Lambeth understand the impact of Vauxhall developments on demand for our local library? Public meeting Monday 28 May 6.15 to 7.45 at Tate South Lambth Library

Has Lambeth understood the impact of Vauxhall’s development on demand for our local library? That is the question that Friends of Tate South Lambeth Library will put to Adrian Smith, the director of cultural services at Lambeth Council, at a public meeting at the library on Monday May 28th, from 6.15 to 7.45pm. Why is this an issue? The current proposals for the future of the library service in Lambeth involve a cut of near one half in money spent on Tate South Lambeth Library over the next two years (a cut that is much higher than the average for the whole library service). This will inevitably result in a reduction in the service provided – most likely, and immediately, through slashing the number of hours it is open. Its future as a small and under-resourced library must be in doubt – whatever the statements from Lambeth representatives that they do not intend to close any library. Yet over the next two years – and beyond- the population living in the Vauxhall area is due to rise massively as the result of ongoing and planned investment in residential housing there, as part of the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea development. Does the proposal make sense? Lambeth Council representatives, at the two public consultation meetings held at the library in April, claimed that they have consulted Greater London Authority figures for population in Vauxhall before setting the funds available for the library. How up-to-date are Lambeth’s figures? Have they taken account of high-rise development in the future? The meeting on May 28th is your chance to raise these – and other – questions. Come along to Tate South Lambeth Library, 180 South Lambeth Road.

Celebrate your Library! Tate South Lambeth, Wednesday 9 May

Celebrate your Library! Wednesday 9 May, 7.00 pm at Tate South Lambeth Library 180 South Lambeth Road SW8 1QP South Lambeth Library is surrounded by great writing talent and Lambeth Libraries, together with the Friends of Tate South Lambeth, invite you to an evening showcasing the work of local authors. From children’s writers and illustrators to non fiction and the thrills of the novel, we’ll have it all for one night only. Come along and share your writing, come along and enjoy the writing of Vauxhall and Stockwell people. All welcome. Please book on 020 7926 1075 or email: readersandwriters@lambeth.gov.uk See www.lambeth.gov.uk/readersandwriters

Localism and Neighbourhood Planning - Public meeting 24 April

Brixton Neighbourhood Forum presents a public meeting on Lambeth, Localism & Neighbourhod Planning

Date: Tuesday 24 April 2012
Time: 7.00 to 9.00 pm
Venue: Lambeth Accord, 336 Brixton Road, SW9 7AA
(500m from Brixton Sation/Bus stop Villa Road 3, 59, 133, 159, 415)

* Is this really when the Co-op Council meets community-led planning policy for your area?

* Did you know that any group of people now has the right to become the local body that Lambeth could be obliged to work with to develop local planning policy?

* Are you interested in having a real say in how your area develops in the future?

The Brixton Neighbourhood Forum is hosting a special borough-wide meeting on seeing that these groups are representative of all Lambeth communities and that Lambeth communities get the best out of the new opportunities from the Localism Act.

Speakers/main guests:

* From Department of Communities and Local Government
* Biljana Savic, Urban Programme Manager, Prince's Foundation
* Alison Young, Divisional Director of Planning, Regeneration and Enterprise, Lambeth Council

* Come and hear how this is all supposed to work
* Get your questions answered
* Start engaging with how to make this work in your area

All welcome

The Brixton Neighbourhood Forum is a formally constituted open-access body made up of an association of existing community groups and individual members. It is designed to take on the role of neighbourhood planning under the Localism Act. This meeting is open to all and free of charge. Contact: apiperbrix@aol.com

Our Wishes for Vauxhall (from Workshop in June 2008)

The following notes are from a workshop about needs held at our AGM in June 2008. We think our wishes then, though sometimes contradictory, are still very relevant today

Transport

Alternative to gyratory system
Better management for cycle routes
Improved pedestrian access to all sations
Improved access to North and West side to underground
Install lifts to Rail station platforms
Ticket office better manned
Improved pedestrian route signage
Bus station weather proof for passengers
Clearer indications at bus stops
Introduce facilities for taxis

Tall Buildings

Alternatives to tall buildings?
Anything! But perhaps high density, low rise
More human scale development

To make them acceptable?
High quality, with architectural merit and not too many - necessary to have good community space, halls, swimming pool and sports facilities
More trees, especially on traffic island and small corners

Where
Not all along the river (view of the river is an important and historical asset)
Least impact next to river (away from traditional residential buildings)

Overall comment
Vauxhall is lacking any "town centre" and too many high buildings will completely destroy any feel of a "Town Centre". More facilities such as an art gallery needed to attract people into the area.

Housing - tackled by three groups - combined results, some overlap with Tall Buildings group

Wish List
Additional Housing
Family housing with space for children
Also need development by Nine Elms Lane
Need gardens and Square for family use, bicycle parks
Improved public housing
Balance of all types, eco friendly on a human scale
No concentration of tall buildings in bus area
Not toohigh on island sites at Vauxhall Cross
Reduce road capacity and reintroduce two way streets
Developments must maintain riverfront for local people
Replace Tesco/Sainsbury car park with housing

Community Facilities

Wish List
London-wide national facilities
e.g. Specialist sports centre
Large swimming pool
Section 106 must stay locally
New facilities to be built away from immediate development
Play facilities for chldren/childcare places
Sports/Youth facilities
Small scale facilities which work
School places needed
Cinema

Shopping Wish List

Small independent shops (Lambeth Walk)
Occasional Markets (Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens)
Shopping in town centre environment (Vauxhall Town)

Streets, Parks, Open Space Wish List

Pedestrian path along whole of river frontage (railway and viaduct streets in general)
Better lighting and signage of East-West arches
Unblock streets e.g. Whitgift St
Remove speed bumps in Black Prince Road

Parks & Open Spaces

More rubbish bins
More public toilets

Digital Bazaar at Tate South Lambeth Library on Saturday 21 April 2012

The next Digital Bazaar is taking place on Saturday 21April between 10 and 12 noon at Tate South Lambeth Library, 180 South Lambeth Rd

Just drop in!

All welcome, from beginners to the very experienced, who want to try out a new programme or pick up new tricks. As usual, a wide range of subjects is on offer. The final menu is still to be set, but, to whet your appetite, support recently on offer includes:

How to use the online e-resources offered by Lambeth Libraries including:

Downloading electronic books and subscription geneology sites
Learning foreign languages using the internet
Getting the best from your mobile phone, including iPhone
Effective internet searching
How to set up a free blog
Using Facebook and Twitter
Online shopping including flights and holidays
Using Microsoft Word to write letters and documents
Enhancing your photos with Photoshop - bring your own if you wish
Using Excel to make spreadsheets and manage your money
How to make free calls with Skype

There will also be a chance to try out an I
iPad tablet or a Kindle e-reader

If what you need is not on the menu, just ask the trainers on the day - there is usually someone who knows the answer.

Please feel free to bring in your own laptop, mobile, camera or other equipment if there are things you don't know how to use. Remember to make sure your battery is charged and/or bring your power cable, and an extension lead if you can. Power points in the library are limited.

Please encourage everyone in Vauxhall or Stockwell who might enjoy the DIGITAL BAZAAR to attend, and to bring friends and neighbours. For more information, please visit www.digitaltuesdays.co.uk

Open Day at the Fire Station Social Centre (Rear block, 8 Albert Embankment)

The Fire Station Social Centre in Rear block, 8 Albert Embankment, in Whitgift St) has been occupied, and the occupants 'We, the People', Free Ideas Require Everyone (F.I.R.E.) are inviting all locals to an open day on:

Thursday 12 April 2012
between 2 and 8 pm

Puppets Workshop 13.00 - 16.00
Kids Club 14.00 - 16.00
Afro Capoeira 18.00 - 20.00
Bicycle Workshop 18.00 - 22.00
Performance and Projections 18.00 - 22.00
Juggling Workshops from 19.00 - 20.00
Video Art Preview Exhibition 19.00 - 21.00
Fire Show 20.00 - 22.00
DJ Workshop all day
Fine Art Exhibition all day
SWAP SHOP all day + Tue to Fri 17.00 - 20.00

FREE HOT DRINKS AND SNACKS IN THE CAFE

There is a court case pending, this might be the only open day and opportunity to see the Lambeth community hub in action, inside. Visitors are also welcome to drop in on between 17.00 and 20.00 on Tues to Fridays

Workshop on Neighbourhood Planning, 18 April 2012

A FREE workshop will be held on neighbourhood planning on

Wednesday 18 April at 7.00 pm sharp at
Montgomery Hall, 58 Kennington Oval, SE11 5SW
Facilitated by Richard Lee of Just Space and sponsored by London Civic Forum it will cover:

* What could Neighbourhood Planning mean for our area?
* Who needs to be involved?
* Are the priorities agreed at an earlier KOV workshop for Vauxhall still valid?
* Next steps

Please book your place by email forumkov@gmail.com or text 07506 072 307 if possible.

Next Forum meeting Wednesday 11 April 2012

The next Forum meeting will be held at

Montgomery Hall
58 Kennington Oval
SE11 5SW

at 6.30 for 7.00 pm
on Wednesday 11 April 2012

To be discussed:

Community Hubs and what they could mean for our area - Cllr Lorna Campbell
The Olympics and how they could affect you - Ian Baker, Lambeth Traffic Manager
Eastbury House redevelopment proposals

All welcome, FREE refreshments with a social break and a glass