Monthly Archives: December 2013

5-storey building proposed on Blenheim Gardens opposite Windmill pub

Posted on by
1

IMG_1206A planning application has been lodged with the Council for a new building on the empty site on Blenheim Gardens opposite the Windmill pub.

A 5-storey building is proposed, to create 13 studios/offices (Use Class B1, i.e. as offices but not for any industrial processes) and 9 residential units together with cycle parking and refuse and recycling storage areas. As a location of employment opportunity, it would be expected for there to be work units or offices – the developer claims that the residential element is to make the development stack up financially. Full details and documents are here. Continue reading →

White Sands on Brixton Hill refused licence

Posted on by
1

south-beach-bar-2At the meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee last night, councillors refused to grant White Sands – formerly known as South Beach Bar – a licence to become a function hall and restaurant.

The venue on Brixton Hill, owned by Mr Khan of Khan’s Restaurant on Brixton Water Lane, had applied to have live music, sell alcohol and have late night refreshment. Councillors heard from Mr Khan and then from a series of local residents who expressed concern that White Sands would operate as it had previously – a shoddy bar that had attracted criminal behaviour and nuisance to neighbours. Residents also cited a lack of experience by Mr Khan in running such venues. Councillors turned down the application.

Mr Khan promised ‘yoga and poetry readings’ as part of the mix of events at the venue. Given these are activities that don’t require a licence, it is to be hoped that the owners can indeed commit to at least use the site as a new community hub and be an asset to the area without late opening, sale of alcohol or loud music.

Lisboa Grill apply for later hours and live music

Posted on by
Reply

chickenLisboa Grill, the long-standing Portuguese takeaway and restaurant previously known as The Gallery on Brixton Hill, has applied for a variation to its licence to open longer hours and to have live music.

Citing increased competition in the area, the restaurant at 246-248 Brixton Hill is keen to expand its activities. This is now subject to an application to Licensing and residents have until 2 January 2014 to make representations. The application can be downloaded here. Continue reading →

Ed Miliband visits Brixton Hill to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela

Posted on by
Reply

RuachCityChurchLabour’s Leader Ed Miliband joined local MP Chuka Umunna and hundreds of worshippers this morning at Ruach City Church on Brixton Hill in a service that paid tribute to Nelson Mandela as his funeral took place in South Africa.

Ed and Chuka were introduced by Bishop John Francis of Ruach before both addressed the congregation, which also included Lambeth Council Leader Cllr Lib Peck and local councillor Martin Tiedemann.

Ed Miliband spoke to LBC 97.3 after the service and said, “There’s a special relationship that [Mandela] had with the people of Brixton. He came here in 1996, he wanted to come here to say thank you to people here in Brixton. I think there’s a lot of emotion today as people remember Nelson Mandela but a lot of inspiration as well as people think about what he showed in his life was possible, the courage he showed, the hope he instilled in people, the spirit of reconciliation he showed… it’s been a really really inspiring service this morning.”

Ed Miliband talked in his speech about the ‘hills still to climb’ – the challenges that continue to face Brixton and the world that Mandela’s example showed we can overcome, such as economic opportunity for young black people and racial injustice.

The full LBC interview can be heard below.

Martin Tiedemann writes to Boris Johnson about road safety on Brixton Hill

Posted on by
2

IMG_1169Brixton Hill councillor Martin Tiedemann has written to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, about issues of road safety on Brixton Hill. Specifically he has raised the lack of measures taken to improve the junctions with Brixton Water Lane and with Josephine Avenue, despite these two junctions being identified as among the top 100 in London prioritised for improvement. In the Mayor’s latest announcement, only 33 of the 100 have been allocated funding.

Councillor Tiedemann also raised the need to improve cycle lanes along Brixton Hill and pedestrian crossings following concerns raised by Corpus Christi Primary School.

The letter is reprinted below. We look forward to the Mayor’s response with the support of local Assembly Member Val Shawcross. Continue reading →

Brixton Hill schools among top performers in league table

Posted on by
Reply

In the league tables of primary schools published this week by the Department for Education, the four primary schools in Brixton Hill ward all performed strongly, in the context of excellent results for Lambeth as a whole. While league tables have clear limitations, these results indicate the improvements local schools have shown in recent years and the excellence we have here in Brixton Hill.

Sudbourne and Corpus Christi schools did particularly well according to the league tables, coming second and third respectively in the ranking of Lambeth schools. Richard Atkins and Christ Church schools also out-performed the national average. We congratulate pupils and staff on their achievements.

Lambeth schools were also among the best in the country at closing the gap for disadvantaged pupils.

Lambeth College announces plans for new education campus on Brixton Hill

Posted on by
5

collegeLambeth College has announced its plans for its site on Brixton Hill that will see a major redevelopment underpinned by the Department of Education, who will buy the land from the College, an independent incorporated organisation. This should put to an end misinformation about ‘privatisation’ or ‘sell-off’.

The proposal will see a programme to create a brand new facility for Lambeth College as part of an education campus for Brixton. This will enable Lambeth College to continue to offer further education from its current site in Brixton.

Mark Silverman, Principal and Chief Executive of Lambeth College, said: “I am delighted that the site is going to be retained entirely for educational use, being completely redeveloped to create a modern learning campus for Brixton, including a brand new college building. It represents a major investment in education, learning and skills, not just for Brixton but also for the whole of Lambeth. This will allow Lambeth College to develop a high quality provision for adults and the community in what will be a modern, attractive learning environment.”

Streatham MP, Chuka Umunna, said: “In and outside of Parliament I have long campaigned for the provision of high quality further education, which is vital to expand opportunities for Lambeth residents and vital for our economy.  So it is fantastic that Lambeth College will be able to continue to offer further education on their current site in Brixton and I look forward to the development of the modern learning campus. I appreciate all the hard work that has gone into securing this positive future for the Brixton site and would like to thank all those involved for their efforts in making this happen.”

Councillors will now be working to ensure that local residents are involved in the construction phase and disruption is minimised. We understand that the re-development programme will be completed by September 2015.

White Sands – formerly South Beach Bar – has licensing hearing next week

Posted on by
Reply

south-beach-bar-2White Sands, the venue on Brixton Hill formerly known as South Beach Bar (and before that as the camping shop), is up before the Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee next week on 17 December.

The venue’s owner, Mr Khan, has already refurbished the premises and has applied for the ability to serve alcohol each night until 11pm and show films, plays, dance and sport and have live music each night until midnight, as a space for functions and events.

The hearing is being held because of objections to the application by the police and local residents. The former South Beach Bar had a reputation for anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance and criminality and was eventually closed after a serious incident. Residents and the police are understandably concerned that this does not repeat itself. The owners have already agreed to a series of conditions by the Council’s noise team but councillors will want to see that the Sub-committee consider whether this location is appropriate for such a venue at all, and how the owners intend to address the serious concerns residents have.

The meeting will take place at 7pm on Tuesday 17 December in Room 8 of the Town Hall. The background papers for the meeting can be seen online.

Have your say on Sudbourne School’s expansion

Posted on by
Reply

SudbourneLogoSmallFollowing outline planning permission granted earlier this year, the Council are now consulting on the detail of the proposals to expand Sudbourne Primary School using the vacant site on the other side of Sudbourne Road.

The proposed expansion would enable Sudbourne School to expand from the current 1.5 form entry school, to a 3 form entry school.  This would mean that from September 2015, the new school would open its doors, and would be able to admit 90 children in each year group, instead of the current 45.  Eventually, Sudbourne School would be able to accommodate 630 pupils from Reception up to Year 6; twice the current number.

Brixton Hill’s councillors and Lambeth’s lead on education, Cllr Rachel Heywood, have been working with the school to ensure the expansion maintains the current school’s ethos and way of working.

Now local residents have a chance to have their say on the plans on Tuesday December 17. Proposed designs will be on display at a drop-in session at the school between 2-8pm and people will be able to comment on them and speak with the designers.

Councillor Florence Nosegbe welcomed Sudbourne’s proposed expansion earlier this year: “More and more people are choosing to send their kids to local schools which is good, but bad because there’s not enough space. As one of the only councillors who went to primary and secondary school in Lambeth, I know how important it is for local children to get access to local schools.”

Planning application for housing on former nursery on Lyham Road

Posted on by
Reply

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 13.48.44A planning application has now been received by the Council for the former nursery site on Lyham Road. The proposal is for three three-bedroom and one two-bedroom homes. The houses will be sold commercially but there is an expectation of additional community benefit via Section 106.

These plans were displayed a few weeks ago by the developers at the Methodist Church on Lyham Road.

The plans can be viewed, commented upon or objected to on the Council’s Planning website.