Question Time comes to Norwood

Lib Peck visiting new leisure & health centre construction site

People in West Norwood have the chance to quiz new Lambeth Council leader, Cllr. Lib Peck on Thursday, April 18th from 7pm-8.30pm  at Elmgreen School in Elmcourt Road SE27 9BZ.

Cllr Peck, who’s been leader of the council for just three months said: “ I want to get out and meet people face to face as much as possible. The success of Lambeth depends on us working together so I want to hear what people are doing locally, what they’re concerned about and how we can collaborate to make the borough even better.”

To reserve a ticket and submit a question email  dpacker@lambeth.gov.uk or phone 020 7926 7758.

Doors will open at 6.30pm.

Over 400 local families affected by “bedroom tax”

The government’s new rules on housing benefit start this month. Many families will have their housing benefit cut if they have too many bedrooms. Children aged under 10 must share a room and children of the same gender must share a room up to the age of 16. (The bedroom tax does not apply to  pensioner households.)

The council has estimated over 400 families will be affected by this bedroom tax in the three Lambeth wards in the neighboourhood of Norwood  (out of 3,000 affected families across the whole borough).

For advice see: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/AdviceBenefits/Benefits/BenefitsAreChanging/BigChangesHappeningToBenefits.htm

and

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/changes_to_local_housing_allowance/bedroom_tax_from_april_2013

Norwood Foodbank, operating from St Lukes church on Tuesdays and Fridays, is expecting a rise in referrrals as more households struggle with rising rent, fuel  and food costs. Donations of non-pershable food to the Foodbank  can be made at Floral Hall 370 Norwood Road SE27 9BQ  - and at St Lukes church, Knights Hill SE27 0HS  Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 3pm or  Sunday service 10.30am . More information at: http://norwood.foodbank.org.uk/

Cheviot Gardens

Plans to rebuild Cheviot Gardens as specialised homes with a community centre & gardens for older people are on  the planning applications database. To see the plans input  reference 12/03809  on http://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/online-applications

Free home insulation in Lambeth

The RE:NEW scheme offers free insulation and energy advice – just ring free phone number 0800 652 7206 for a home check.

The Mayor of London and Lambeth Council are working with Climate Energy to help everyone live in energy efficient homes. The recommended thickness of loft insulation is now 270mm and any homes built between the 1930s and mid 1980s are likely to need cavity wall insulation.

But do hurry –  this scheme runs out by the end of November 2012!!

New homes for older people in Cheviot Road

The council is  working on plans with residents of Cheviot Gardens sheltered housing and  Notting Hill Housing Trust to replace the unsuitable current homes. The new scheme incorporates gardens,  restaurant, hairdresser, laundry with a mix of homes built to “extra-care” standard for  people aged over 55 to rent and some to buy.

To see the plans drop in at Cheviot Gardens SE27 0SU ( next to the Tennis club) on Wednesday 29^th August between 1pm and 8pm . Designers will be there to answer questions & hear your views.

A planning application will be made soon and this will give a further chance to comment on the proposals.

Final Cheviot Gardens Flyer_PRINT

New housing plans for tennis club

Developers are making a third attempt to get their plans approved for housing on the West  Norwood Tennis club site.

Their latest plans are for a 6 storey building on Knights Hill with 52 new homes and 5 parking spaces. This time the plans will retain the tennis club with  2 courts and rebuild the club house & squash courts as part of the housing block  24 homes will be “affordable” home for rent and 28 homes for sale. The proposal is for 21 flats with  1 bedroom , 23 with  2 bedrooms and 8 with 3 bedrooms.

To see the detailed plans look at the web pages for the Planning Applications Database on Lambeth Council’s web site http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/HousingPlanning/Planning/PlanningApplicationsDatabase.htm quoting planning application ref 12/02129.

Paper copies of the plans can be seen at Brixton library SW2 1JQ. By the end of this week there should be copies in the temporary West Norwood library at 16 Knights Hill SE27 0HY.

If you want to comment on the plans the closing date is Friday 3rd August. Email any comments to planning@lambeth.gov.uk quoting the planning application ref 12/02129

Centre 70 wins Community Award 2012

Centre 70,  West Norwood’s local free advice service, won Lambeth’s  Commitment to the Community Award 2012. Mark Batten  and Brian Foxley were at the Lambeth Business Awards event to accept their  award – pictured with local councillor and Lambeth Deputy Leader, Jackie Meldrum.

Based at 16 Knights Hill near West Norwood station,  Centre 70 provides a wide range of advice & counselling services including debt and housing. For details of their opening times see:

http://centre70.org.uk/

Double eviction of squatters

Our local police team, in partnership with  Lambeth council, evicted squatters that were illegally occupying two addresses in Knights Hill on  27th February. Up to 50 people were residing at  210 Knight’s Hill  previously used by the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. Squatters were also evicted from a  privately owned home.

Knight’s Hill SNT had received complainants of disturbances and anti-social behaviour from both the addresses where the squatters had held late night parties.

Officers exercised their powers under section 12a of the Criminal Law Act 1977 to remove them. The council  sought the high court order and local police officers accompanied the bailiffs to enter the addresses during an early morning raid. No arrests were made.

Inspector Bruce Whitter  said: “After listening to the concerns of the local community and by working in partnership with the council we have managed to evict those members peacefully and return the property to the rightful owners.”

If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour in your area please contact your local Safer Neighbourhood Police Team. They are ready to listen and assist. http://content.met.police.uk/Team/Lambeth/KnightsHill

New fire station for West Norwood to go ahead

Squatted building at 210 Knights Hill

The London Fire Brigade has been granted  permission for its plans for a brand new 3 bay fire station on Knights Hill. The independent planning inspector listened to arguments from local people and councillors but decided “ in a finely balanced decision… the need for a replacement fire station… outweighs  the loss of residential accommodation and the projected additional noise levels”.

The building at 210 Knights Hill is owned by Maudsley Hospital and is currently squatted. The building will be demolished to make way for the new fire station.

We will post any further news on the timetable and plans for the existing fire station on Norwood Road as soon as we get it.

For details of the planning application quote ref 10/02504 on Lambeth Council web site‘s planning pages .

Cheviot Gardens rebuild

Cheviot Gardens sheltered housing scheme needs  to be rebuilt to provide comfortable & modern homes for older people. Architects have  worked with residents of Cheviot Gardens on ideas for the rebuild and now  neighbours are invited  to see and comment on the plans drawn up so far .

Cheviot Gardens SE27 0SU (close to the tennis club on Cheviot Road)  will be open on the evening of Thursday 9^th February 7pm – 9pm.

In a few months time a planning application will be made for the rebuild of Cheviot Gardens – and then there will be an opportunity to formally comment on the plans.

Plan of the Sheltered Housing