Major changes to Streatham's train services from this Saturday

We have just received this notice from Network Rail about changes to train services through Streatham:

Starting this Saturday, 20 December, there are major changes to train services as Network Rail continues to rebuild London Bridge station.

We have been working closely with train operators and Transport for London to communicate these changes to passengers. We would appreciate it if you could encourage your residents to check before they travel by making this information available on your website, in emails and on social media.

From January, longer-term changes mean that some passengers may have to have their train tickets reissued in order to use alternative routes. More details can be found on our Travel Advice webpage.

As a reminder here is a summary of the service changes. 
We have been working closely with train operators and Transport for London to communicate these changes to passengers. We would appreciate it if you could encourage your residents to check before they travel by making this information available on your website, in emails and on social media.
From January, longer-term changes mean that some passengers may have to have their train tickets reissued in order to use alternative routes. More details can be found on our Travel Advice webpage.
As a reminder here is a summary of the service changes. 
Changes from 20 December to 4 January 2015

• From 20 December to 4 January there will be no Southern or Thameslink services to or from London Bridge.

• Between Monday 22 and Wednesday 24 December, trains to Charing Cross will not stop at London Bridge from 07:54 to 09:01.

• Some London Overground services will not run during this time.

• There will be changes to services across the rail network throughout the festive period, please checkNational Rail Enquiries to plan your journey.

• Full details of all the changes taking place can be found on our December 2014 and January 2015 webpage.

Changes from 5 January 2015

• From 5 January 2015 to January 2018 there will be no Bedford to Brighton cross-London Thameslink trains to or from London Bridge. A reduced off-peak service will run between Brighton and London Bridge and a very limited service will run in the peak.

• From 12 January 2015 to August 2016 Southeastern services to and from Charing Cross will not stop at London Bridge.

• Some services that currently operate to Charing Cross or Cannon Street may be diverted to an alternative London terminal, such as Blackfriars and may leave at different times. Please check the new timetable.

• The way you move around the station will change. View our updated station map to see how the station will look from 12 January 2015. 

Valid National Rail tickets will be accepted on certain routes during these changes for more information visit our December and January webpage. 
More informationWe will regularly update the information available, please keep checking for updates atThameslinkProgramme.co.uk or follow us @TLProgramme.

The truth about Streatham's Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme

Once again, it seems that Streatham's newly elected Labour councillors aren't being completely straight with local people.

This time they are saying they have "lobbied hard" for the Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme to come for Streatham (see this tweet from  Cabinet Member Jennifer Braithwaite).  See also this tweet from Cllr Amelie Trespass.

The Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme has long been promised to Streatham.  It relies on funds from external sources to the Council such as TfL (see here for more about it).  The budget for an area is usually in the region of £230,000 as the link makes clear, and is spent on environmental improvements like greenery, cycle parking, new signage etc...

But the funds for Streatham's 'new' Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme were actually already given to Streatham via the Section 106 Agreement for the Streatham Hub development. This was agreed several years ago. This was long before May's elections when Streatham's Labour councillors were elected, and had a lot to do with lobbying by local residents.

Cllr Scott Ainslie put in a Members Enquiry back in October, to make sure the Section 106 funds were in place and had been transferred as planned to the Council (as some of them had appeared to have gone missing!).  He asked in detail about all the Section 106 money from the Streatham Hub development.

This was the response on 4th November:

£250,000 toward environmental improvements on Streatham High Road

To contribute £250,000 towards Streatham NEP (Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme).

The scheme development is planned to commence in 2015/16 for implementation in 2016/17.

We circulated this Council response in its entirety to residents about a month ago - along with a breakdown of all the other funds from the Section 106 development - so local people should be under no illusions that this quarter of a million pounds is the result of "lobbying by Streatham's newly elected councillors"!

It is in fact a result of a lot of lobbying by local people prior to the Streatham Hub Development.

We'll also be keeping a close eye on the other pots of money which have already been allocated to Streatham, but which may also be claimed as a result of "lobbying for the Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme".

Here are a few pots already allocated a couple of years ago, but not yet spent:

1. £50,000 for Improvement to Streatham Station (see here for more on how this will be spent)
2. £124,000 for improved street lighting
3. £50,000 towards the provision of real time bus information
4. £220,000 toward the conducting of an area-wide traffic study
5. £135,000 toward the conducting of a study into the benefits of controlled parking zones

Expect that the allocated money from the Megabowl development and the council's roads programme may also be repackaged as the "Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme" in other areas of Streatham.

Why is this important? It means that Streatham is not getting the "new money" that other areas of Lambeth have received for their Neighbourhood Enhancement Programmes. It is simply getting old money, already allocated to Streatham, but now repackaged and presented as new money, so Lambeth Council can say "you've had your Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme". Once again, it seems, Streatham is being sold short.

Music for Children Christmas Presents Collection

Stay safe this Christmas!

We have received the following community safety notice with tips to stay safe this Christmas!

Burglary
Keep presents out of sight and away from windows.
Don’t advertise what you received for Christmas! Be aware of leaving packaging out with the recycling on show.
Register your mobile phone, sat nav, mp3 player or other electrical items for free at www.immobilise.com

If you are going away for the festive period: consider leaving lights and a radio on timer switches and if possible ask a friend or relative to collect your mail.

Car Crime
Always lock doors and windows and use a steering lock.
Never leave keys in the ignition and the car unattended.
Keep presents out of sight, if they can be seen they can be stolen.
Leave your vehicle in a well lit location or you could make a thief’s Christmas.
Never leave keys or valuables where they can be seen from outside (like the hall table).

Shed Alert

Lock bikes away and mark them with your post code and house number.

Secure your shed with a bolt and padlock and consider fitting an alarm.

Personal Safety
It takes seconds for a drink to be spiked and the consequences can be devastating. Never leave your drink unattended.
It’s important that people enjoy the festive season safely: When you’re out and about, ensure that you have sensible plans in place for your journey home in advance, be aware of your valuables, drink responsibly and above all, stay safe. 

In an emergency always dial 999

To report crime in a non emergency situation or for advice dial 101

If you have information about a crime but don’t want to give your name, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

For information about Policing and Safer Neighbourhoods logon at www.met.police.uk

More trees for Streatham

We have conducted another "tree audit" of St Leonard's ward and have been working with council officers to get some more trees, including some replacements around the area towards Streatham Hill.  

This is what officers have agreed to put them (before Christmas we hope!)...

• A replacement opposite number 10 (approx) Kingscourt Road where a tree was vandalised and removed.  We are also asking for more trees down this road.
• A tree in Mortimer Close on Drewstead Road. 
• Three trees in Norfolk House Road that have died and need replacing
• Mount Ephraim Lane where residents have asked for more trees (there are a few at the bottom of the lane, but none at all at the top).

Stall at Streatham Green Market

Thank you to the (over!) twenty people who helped out on the Green Party stall over the course of Saturday at Streatham Green Market. It was a great success despite the cold, crisp weather. Many hands made light work!

We collected around 500 more signatures over the 7 hours we were there for our paper petition to make the junction of Ambleside Avenue and Mitcham Lane safe. (More info on the petition here and you can sign online too here) A number of new people visiting the stall joined the Green Party too!

We also gave out vouchers to get 10% off at the Village Caffe (next to Streatham Green) as part of our support for 'Small Business Saturday'.

Special thanks to Gulnar and Becca for organising, and also to Lucy and Toby for helping with set up and decorating (as well as putting in stints on the stall!). Thanks too, to Barbara, Roger, Scott, Joe, Nicole, Robyn, Gemma, Haleem, Sarah, Leon, Adrian. Pete, Nick, Scott, Chris, David and Lisa (apologies if I have missed anyone out - let me know if so!).

Lambeth Council proposes "collecting fly-tipping less frequently"

Lambeth Council has now produced its long-awaited report to try and tackle the environmental crime in Streatham, and more widely in Lambeth.  You can read it here

Section 5 on fly-tipping will be the interesting one to many people.  It contains the surprising statement:

"Fly tipping has been a problem nationally for many years, however, from the table at 1.15 we can see that the problem is reducing in Lambeth"

There is in fact no table at 1.15. There is however a table at 1.19 which shows flytipping waste in Lambeth as follows:

Far from reducing, as residents know all too well, it seems that after a slow move downwards it has suddenly spiked and the estimate for this year will reach epidemic proportions!

The report suggests that this is because of the new bin policy.  This is interesting because Lambeth Council have previously denied that the increase in fly-tipping has been down to the new bin policy.

But the really interesting part is in the report's recommendations.  In particular:

"Trucks will no longer travel around the borough on a daily basis looking for fly tipped waste" 

and...

"Collecting fly tips less frequently"

The background to all this, as the report makes clear, is budget cuts.

It's going to be an interesting meeting on 11th December in Streatham, when the report is discussed.  Do go along and have your say!

(Hat-tip to @jason_cobb for flagging this up here )

Petition to resurface Kingscourt, Norfolk House, Brancaster, Blakemore and Moorcroft Roads

After a request from local residents, we have launched a petition to resurface a collection of local roads which need some serious attention!

• Kingscourt Road
• Norfolk House Road
• Brancaster Road
• Blakemore Road
• Moorcroft Road

Two of these are on the council's resurfacing list, but are well overdue for some TLC!  And with a another winter coming, and the surface breaking up, they will become another hazard for cyclists and motorbikes, as well as damaging cars. 

You can read more and sign the petition here

Another fatality on Streatham High Road

There was another fatality on Streatham High Road last night, near the bus garage at Streatham Hill.   This picture was taken by a local Green Party member who lives nearby.

Once again, it is too early to say what happened, and we will have to wait for the police report, but eye witnesses suggested that a car spun and hit a bus.

It follows the tragic death of a 60 year old woman pedestrian at the junction of Mitcham Lane and Ambleside Avenue on Friday and the death of another pedestrian at the end of May at the St Leonard's junction on Streatham High Road, at the junction with Mitcham Lane.

To put this in context, the average number of fatalities on the roads in a year per inner London borough due to traffic collisions is four.  We have had three in a six month period, in just one section of Lambeth (Streatham).

The situation in Lambeth as a borough has been getting progressively worse.  The latest figures show that Lambeth had the highest number of fatalities (7) of any London borough, and the second highest number of serious injuries.  You can see the figures here.

With regard to the High Road, we have previously looked at the very high number of collisions and deaths, and the main factor in it which appears to be the speed of traffic.

One way of tackling the issue is a 20mph limit down the High Road (which would also help tackle air quality).  But the block at the moment on this happening is Lambeth Council. Even though Transport for London have responsibility for Streatham High Road, they say they won't act until Lambeth introduces its 20mph borough-wide limit on other roads in the area.

Lambeth Council have been dragging its heels on a 20mph borough wide-limit for years.  After a lot of campaigning, they finally committed to doing it almost two years ago.  But they still refuse to set a timetable.  And while they continue to dither, more people will be seriously injured and some will die.  

MP's office told Streatham wasn't being considered for Bakerloo Line extension in 2011

A quick update on the tube...

It's now emerged that Transport for London told Chuka Umunna's office that Streatham wasn't being considered for a Bakerloo Line extension in 2011.  You can read the correspondence here.

It does seem to contradict the sudden "surprise" and "alarm" Chuka Umunna expressed in the Evening Standard a couple of months ago that Streatham wasn't being considered.  (read the article here)

It also begs the questions why:

(i) According to TfL the Streatham MP didn't meet with TfL for three years after this, and

(ii) Why there appears to be no other record at TfL of any other correspondence on the Bakerloo  Line for three years after this...

...if he was really trying to get a Bakerloo line extension for Streatham?

The only Parliamentary questions tabled on the subject are from 2010, and after we challenged him over it in 2014.

It does seem very much that there has been no lobbying at all to get the tube here, despite the Streatham MP being elected on a promise to "build up a head of steam" on it.

We already know that he didn't respond to the Crossrail 2 consultation.   We also know that, according to TfL:

Crossrail Ltd have not met Chuka Umunna in his capacity as the local MP for Streatham, nor to discuss route and station proposals for Crossrail 2.

( See here for more details)

All very disappointing.  Streatham deserves better,

Fatality at the junction of Mitcham Lane and Ambleside Avenue

I spoke with police last night about the tragic collision at the junction of Mitcham Lane and Ambleside Avenue. This was the scene.

It must be emphasised that the details are still unclear. However it has been reported that a woman died after being hit by a bus, and the driver was arrested.

We have been campaigning alongside local people since 2012 to make this junction safe, and highlighted how buses have been jumping the lights.

We were told that there would have to be another fatality of serious injury before action was taken.

So we launched a campaign which included a demo with parents and children from St Leonard's Primary School who use the crossing, after a number of near misses on the crossing at the junction. It received some press coverage which you can read here.

We have since continued to record and highlight the collisions there and met with Transport for London to press for action and highlight the urgency.

We eventually won a review of the junction in 2013.

However, it then seemed that the Mayor of London was backtracking on his plans to make changes to dangerous junctions, as he scaled down his 'Better Junctions Programme'.

So we continued to push and TfL until they made some promises. Progress has however been delayed by TfL and the Mayor. We have asked for another urgent update and meeting.

Please do show that you want the junction made safer by signing the petition here.


For more on this junction see the following:

http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/campaign-to-make-junction-at-mitcham.html
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/kids-demo-at-junction-of-ambleside.html
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/children-have-near-misses-at-junction.html
http://www.streathamguardian.co.uk/news/9977414.Parents_call_for_junction_to_be_made_safe/?ref=mr
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/another-collision-at-junction-of.html
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/review-won-at-junction-of-mitcham-lane.html
http://streathamnews.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/countdown-crossing-at-ambleside-avenue.html
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/make-the-junction-of-mitcham-lane-and-ambleside-avenue.html

A chance to get your questions answered about fly-tipping, dumping and cleaning up Streatham!

Streatham appears to be in the grip of a fly-tipping and dumping epidemic. Meanwhile the latest annual figures (released last week) show Lambeth Council's recycling rate has fallen below 2006 levels, and Lambeth is sending its waste out of borough for incineration, contributing to deadly air pollution.

Lambeth Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee is coming to Streatham Library to discuss these and other issues on Thursday 11th December. All residents are able to attend. Officers and councillors will be available from 6.00pm to answer individual questions, before the formal committee proceeding take place between 7.00pm amd 9.00pm.

The address is: Streatham Library, 63 Streatham High Road, Streatham, London SW16 1PN

Leigham Court Guerilla Gardening Sat 22nd November

Support sheltered housing residents fighting to keep their homes

Leigham Court is an award winning council-run sheltered accommodation in Streatham. It used to have a brilliant garden that was much appreciated by its residents. Now Lambeth Council are neglecting the garden, and campaigners say is part of a plan to run down the site while they prepare to demolish the building and sell the site to property developers. 

Volunteers for Lambeth Housing Activists want to clean up the garden as an act of solidarity with all those residents in Leigham Court fighting to save their homes from demolition and who deserve to have their homes maintained properly.

Join them - Saturday 22nd November 10am – 1pm

269 Leigham Court Road, SW16 2SB

http://saveleighamcourt.wordpress.com

Streatham Action's Annual General Meeting - Saturday 22nd November

The local community form Streatham Action, really need people to get involved.  If you would like to find out more, come to Streatham Action's Annual General Meeting...

Streatham Action's Annual General Meeting

on

Saturday 22 November at 2pm

Streatham Tate Centre, 

Streatham Library, 

63 Streatham High Road,

SW16 1PN

Streatham Action is an active group of local volunteers, who together seek to improve life, work and play in the area. To find out more please visit www.streathamaction.org.uk

Find our more about Streatham

Become a committee member

Elect committee members

Help shape Streatham Action's plans for 2015

If you are interested in 

becoming a Streatham Action committee member 

please email Anna for a nomination form and send it back to office (at) streathamaction.org.uk by 4pm on Friday 21 November or join us at the AGM and hand in your form to Anna or another Streatham Action representative on the day.

Sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands...

This morning, I went with Cllr Scott Ainslie to visit a resident on the Nuneham Sheltered Housing Estate at the corner of Garrad's Road and Prentis Road.

Her story was all too familiar. She is a vulnerable resident and Lambeth Council and Lambeth Living have let her down with repairs. She was being ignored, treated abysmally, and living in dreadful conditions because of the Council's neglect, and there was no accountability.

Part of the problem was a leaking roof, and after two botched repairs it was still leaking water into her bathroom. Paint was pealing off the ceiling, and more damage was being done every time it rained, which would cost more and more money to fix. A patch of plaster in the ceiling that had been repaired weeks ago, was still wet to the touch.

We arranged to meet the latest contractor who had been appointed to do the job. He arrived and insisted there was nothing wrong with the roof. He said it was just damp under the felt that needed to dry out after the last repair. He suggested waiting a few more weeks for it to dry out. We said there were drips. He said that there weren't any. So we showed him the drips. He said they came from the wet plaster that we had just pushed. And so we went backwards and forwards with no resolution.

Finally he said he would come back when it was raining again.

There was no way we were going to let him leave and "come back when it was raining". This is exactly the same thing that has been happening in Cressingham Gardens in Tulse Hill with the leaks there. Contractors say they can't see a leak and say they will have to come back when it's raining. And then when it rains, they say they can't go on the roof "for health and safety reasons", and so nothing ever gets done.

So Scott climbed on the roof and I passed him up buckets of water. Five buckets later, sure enough, the water began to pour down the walls inside. Finally the contractor was convinced, he agreed to go up on the roof and found he leak. He is booked into repair it tomorrow. It shouldn't be this hard. But sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands to get things done.

But while we were there, we also got rid of some ash trees that were breaking up through her patio at the back, but which Lambeth Council and Lambeth Living said was not their responsibility to clear.

The resident asked us to tell this story.

Streatham Youth and Community Trust win award!

Further to the campaign to get much-needed funding for Streatham Youth and Community Trust we just received the following message:

Dear Friends

I am delighted to let you know that we came first in the Lloyds Community Fund Award and we have won £3,000. I would like to thank you all for your support and votes. Believe me your support made the win possible as we were competing against very good projects.

Just for your information, there were 4691 votes cast and we took 31% of the vote, with the next nearest with 27% and the other two making up the rest. I am pleased with the result because at the half way stage we were in last place! It was your support which really brought us back.

Once again, many thanks for all your support.

Yours

Anne MacArthur

Streatham Youth and Community Trust, 16 Wellfield Road, London SW16 2BP - 020 8769 5884 - www.syct.org.uk

We emailed our congratulations and got the following back:

Hi Scott and Jon

You were our greatest supporter! So yes your tweeting and blogging made a big difference. Thank you so much for that. I would be happy to be quoted for your blog J We also made it down to Streatham Green for the Farmers Market as well.

We need to get you down to the John Corfield Centre on Conyers Road to see our work in action and what your support has achieved.

Once again thanks for your support.

Yours

Anne

We will certainly be heading down there soon!

Accessibility at Streatham Station confirmed

Further to our report a few weeks ago, Green member of the House of Lords Jenny Jones very kindly tabled a question in Parliament so we could get confirmation that the funding to make Streatham Station accessible was secure, and where the matched funding would be coming from.

It seems that the £50,000 Section 106 money from the hub development for Streatham Station will be used after all (as we pushed for) as matched funding funding.

This is the response in full (also online here):

Streatham Station

Question

Asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to make funding available under the Access for All programme to make Streatham overground station accessible; whether matched funding has been promised; and if so, by whom.[HL2395]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Access for All funding will be made available to provide Streatham station with an accessible route to each platform by April 2018. There is £50,000 in match funding available from Lambeth Borough Council.

Respond to the Bakerloo Line consultation to keep Streatham's transport links on the agenda

Following a successful local campaign, Streatham has been cited by Transport for London as the area with the greatest demand for improved transport links in the Crossrail 2 consultation report.

This is great news and comes after the Green Party brought together experts at a public meeting to address Streatham’s poor transport.

It has become clear that both the Crossrail 2 project and Bakerloo Line extension won't be coming to Streatham. Sadly many local politicians, including Chuka Umunna, didn't even respond to the Crossrail 2 Consultation, and haven't been pro-active in pushing transport links up the agenda (see here for details).

There is an opportunity now however, to keep Streatham's much-needed transport links on the agenda, by responding to the Bakerloo Line Consultation and making it clear that Streatham needs improvements.

The amazing response to the latest Crossrail 2 consultation got TfL to sit up and take notice. We need to keep up the pressure for better transport links otherwise we will continue to be overlooked. Responding now to the Bakerloo line consultation means we can make the case for extending the Victoria line and improving existing links by getting better, low emission bus links between our rail stations.

Streatham Station may be accessible by June 2017

We have now received an update on the proposals to make Streatham Station accessible. (This is something we have been working on for several years - see the history here)

There was £50,000 set aside for Streatham Station as Section 106 money from the Streatham Hub development, but this was not used to follow the proposals that we made with regard to accessibility, so the next option looked to be Access for All funding, which we pursued. Earlier this year it was announced that the Station would indeed get Access for All funding.

Plans have moved on, and it seems that the proposal is to install two lifts (rather than pursue a potentially cheaper option of using the level access that exists from either side of the platforms) and that the scheme could be delivered by June 2017.

However, there seems to be a question mark over whether the funds will be available from the Department for Transport, so we will be pressing the Government to reaffirm its commitment that the Access for All funding is available to make Streatham Station accessible.

This is what Network Rail have told us:

We have launched the project now and have approval from the DfT to complete an option selection report which we are hoping to complete by the end of March 2015. Once this is completed the DfT will review the report and decide whether further funding will be released. This will be down to whether there is a viable option at an affordable cost.

We have been out with Southern Railway and their Access for All Manager to look at the works required. Its likely two lifts will be installed to give step free access to the platforms. Due to the station layout and platform widths this will not be a simple or cheap scheme to deliver. We will be holding a Value Management 1 exercise in the next few weeks to look at the possible options. We will carry out stakeholder consultation in the new year and we are proposing to put up some indicative drawings in the station lobby for people to review. We will also keep the local MP and council up to date with progress.

If a viable option is found and I believe we will have one it then comes down to cost and that’s a decision for the DfT. If we complete the Option Selection Report by the end of March 2015 then we would expect a decision by the DfT by June 2015. If funds are available I would then suggest we are likely to be able to deliver the scheme by June 2017 but that needs to be firmed up and completely depends on the solution agreed on.

Yellow lines won't be reinstated on Conyers Road

We have received confirmation from Lambeth Council following a request we passed on from residents in September, that the yellow lines will not be resinstated on Conyers Road.

Full question and response as follows:

Q2) The yellow lines at the Potters Lane end of Conyers Rd were meant to be temporary for Network rail work. Are some of the parking spaces to be reinstated, as the flats on the corner of Gleneagle are nearly finished, and there was a move to add new yellow lines futher up and on Fairmile, further reducing spaces?
A2) I am informed by Ian Baker our Delivery Lead that after his discussions with Network rail he can now confirm that we will be resurfacing this carriageway this week  and will ensure the yellow line line is not replaced.

Improvements to piazza area next to Streatham Green

Local Green Cllr Scott and Ainslie and I met with officers yesterday at the new piazza area by Streatham Green (next to the Manor Arms and between Babington Road and Mitcham Lane).

We got confirmation that the two trees would be put in to the new tree pits by 18th October.

We also looked at ways of discouraging traffic from driving across the piazza, which is supposed to be a pedestrian area.

It looks as if we will be able to put two more fixed chairs and an extra tree in there, which will as well as preventing cars from driving across will also provide more seating and greenery.

We also looked at the issue of the weeds growing in the tree pits. There is presently no maintenance contract to deal with shrubs/ flowers/ weeds and general maintenance of the area around the trees. We have asked if this job can be added to the contractors who maintain Streatham Green itself.

Something else we are exploring is how we can support local businesses, like the new Village Cafe, to get tables and chairs out onto the piazza area more - particularly when the new market is happening.

Resurfacing of Conyers Road, Potters Lane, Fairmile Avenue and Stanthorpe Road

Residents of Conyer's Road, Potters Lane, Fairmile Avenue and Stanthorpe Road, should have received notification from Lambeth Council about the resurfacing due to take place over the next few weeks.

The planned dates for the resurfacing are as follows:

8-13th October Conyers Road

14th October Potters Lane

15-17th October Stanthorpe Road

20-21st October Fairmile Avenue

If residents have any questions about the resurfacing or experience problems please do get in touch with Cllr Scott Ainslie: streathamgreenparty (at) gmail.com

Streatham Hill Bridge works update - 9th Oct reopening

For those wanting an update about the Streatham Bridge works, we have been told that the "top deck" works are now expected to finish on Drewstead Road a day early - on 9th October, with the road re-opening. The works (that don't involve road closure) at platform level will then be carried out until  15th December (estimated)

This what we have been told:

Works carried out to date:

Top deck works are nearing completion with the following carried out:

·         Removal of the existing waterproofing with associated concrete deck repairs
·         New spray applied waterproofing system to Bridge deck
·         New footway and Carriageway surfacing
·         New Ducts for cathodic protection system for deck mounted control cabinets
·         New buried bridge joints
      Most likely top deck works will be completed on Thursday  09^th October and open carriageway for vehicles and footway for pedestrians ( 1 day ahead of schedule)

Future Works ( No Road Closure)
Works will be carried out on Streatham Hill Station platform level

The next phase of works is concrete repairs and cathodic protection to structure below bridge deck level(within rail environment) .The planned works take place within hoarded green Zone areas within platform limits and comprise:

• Removal of all chemically and mechanically defective concrete using hydro demolition

• Replacement of any defective reinforcement

• Installation of impressed current cathodic protection anodes and cabling

• Reinstatement of concrete to maintain original structure geometry

• Final connection of CP system to top deck mounted cabinet

• Commissioning of cathodic protection system

Estimated completion date 15^th December

Streatham Hill and Streatham High Road resurfacing begins this weekend

Transport for London (TfL) (via contractors CVU Colas, VolkerHighways and URS) are to carry out carriageway resurfacing works on the A23 Streatham Hill and Streatham High Road between the junctions of Christchurch Road and Pendennis Road.

The scheme has been arranged into phases to try to reduce the amount of disruption caused, and maintain traffic flow.

The works will be carried out between Sunday 5 October 2014 and Wednesday 12 November 2014, Sunday to Thursday nights only, weather permitting, or until the work is completed. The working hours will be between 21:00 and 06:00.  They say that 'every effort' will be made to ensure that noisy operations are completed before midnight but that "vehicle reversing warning beepers are essential safety devices to protect operatives."

TfL say that any vehicles parked during the suspended hours, will be moved to a nearby road. 

Pedestrian crossings will be closed during certain phases of the works to enable safe working.  

Traffic management will be put in place to along A23 Streatham Hill and Streatham High Road to allow work to progress. Directional closures will be used and there will be associated side road closures.

New 'emergency' changes to parking following Streatham Hill bridge closure

Councillors have today (52 minutes ago) been emailed the following notice regarding new temporary parking restrictions, following on from the congestion to do with the bridge closure between Drewstead Road and Sternhold Avenue behind Streatham Hill station. The restrictions came into force yesterday.

TEMPORARY PARKING, WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS IN BLAKEMORE ROAD, BRANCASTER ROAD, DE MONTFORT ROAD AND MOUNT EPHRAIM ROAD

1.    The Council of the London Borough of Lambeth hereby gives notice that from Wednesday 24^th September 2014 for a period of up to 21 days vehicles will be banned from parking and waiting (including waiting for loading or unloading purposes) at any time in:-

         (i) Mount Ephraim Road:

              (a) the north side, between the eastern boundary of No. 6 Mount Ephraim Road and De Montfort Road;

       (b) the south side, (i) between a point 7 metres east of Blakemore Road and a point 6.5 metres west of Blakemore Road; and (ii) between a point 7.5 metres east of

            Brancaster Road and a point 11 metres west of Brancaster Road;

 (ii) Blakemore Road, (a) the east side between Mount Ephraim Road and a point 16 metres south of Mount Ephraim Road; and (b) the west side, between Mount Ephraim Road and a point 16.8 metres south of Mount Ephraim Road;

(iii) Brancaster Road, (a) the east side, between Mount Ephraim Road and the southern boundary wall of No. 29 Mount Ephraim Road; and (b) the west side, between Mount Ephraim Lane and the party wall of Nos. 2 and 4 Brancaster Road;

(iv) De Montfort Road, the east side, between Mount Ephraim Road and the common

      boundary of No. 24 Mount Ephraim Road and No. 25 De Montfort Road.

2.     It is necessary for the above parking/waiting restrictions to come into force without delay to enable the safe flow of traffic on diversion because of the temporary closure of the bridge over Streatham Hill train station (the un-named road linking Drewstead Road and Sternhold Avenue) while structural works to that bridge are being carried out and will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

3.    While this notice has effect, the provisions of the Lambeth (Waiting and Loading Restriction) Order 1997 shall have effect as though (a) the length of road specified in paragraph 1 above is a restricted street specified in Schedules 1 and 2 to that Order; and (b) the prescribed hours and restricted hours relating to that length of road are at any time.

4.    The bans will continue by virtue of this notice for 21 days or until the works have been completed, whichever is the sooner.  If this is not possible within the period of 21 days, the Council may issue another notice or they may make a temporary order under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, so as to continue the closure for a further period of time.

Dated 23^rd September 2014

Abu Barkatoolah

Head of Transportation

Cycling improvements and countdown crossing at Ambleside Avenue/ Mitcham Lane Junction

We have continued to ask Transport for London to address the ongoing safety issues following repeated collisions (and fatalities) at the junction of Mitcham Lane and Ambleside Avenue.  This included a campaign which began in 2012.

This resulted in a review of the junction and proposals for changes and we have now received the following email from TfL (via Green London Assembly Member Darren Johnson's office):

Our proposals for this junction are currently at the preliminary design stage. The anticipated completion date for this early design work is  November 2014. The principal objectives of the scheme include the provision of:

·      Cycling improvements on all arms of the junction, including the installation of Advanced Stop Lines

·        Installation of Pedestrian Countdown

Furthermore, we are investigating light levels at the junction to ascertain whether any upgrade in this area is required, and we are also looking at the possible provision of a red light camera.

We will be consulting on our proposals with our stakeholders, and expect delivery of the scheme to take place July – September 2015.

Streatham Youth and Community Trust needs your vote!

Streatham Youth and Community Trust has been shortlisted for the Lloyds Bank Community Fund 2014 in Streatham.

By encouraging the public to vote Streatham Youth and Community Trust has the chance to be awarded a grant of up to £3,000 from Lloyds Bank to enable it to continue to work with children, young people and their families.  

Voting runs 2 Sept – 10 Oct 2014.  This grant would go towards its adult support group.

The Trust has asked for the local community to get behind their bid -  through Twitter, website, e-zines etc and also of course voting for them!

The vote is now open and runs until 10 October 2014.  To voteTweet  #COMMFUND TMF or visit this page: https://lly-cf.co.uk/TMF   

A bit more about Streatham Youth and Community Trust...

In addition to  work with children and young people, it also runs an adult support group called Just Like Us. The group provides a place of respite for people with heavy responsibilities.  Many have caring duties which means it is difficult to get out of the house or take part in social activities leaving hem isolated and without friendship networks.  They are financially disadvantaged because caring can leave them unable to work or can disrupt career plans.  They can express feelings of depression, poor health, despair and worry about finance.  They feel unable to cope with life's issues because of poor mental health.  

The group meets for three hours once a week to take part in a planned programme of activities.  These include pottery, cooking, exercise, sewing and outings.  We also provide advice and referrals to other support agencies. It is one of the few respite drop-in groups in the area.  Members have described the group as a refuge or oasis.  It is a space where they can have time for themselves.

Email to Lambeth residents regarding the increase in terrorism threat level

The following email has been sent to inform Lambeth residents about the increase in the terrorism threat level, by Tony Hirst who Chief Inspector of Operations in Lambeth for the Metropolitan Police:

You may be aware that the UK threat assessment level in relation to International terrorism has been raised to 'Severe', below are some key points that can be shared with communities and partners.

1.    The threat level to the UK from international terrorism has been raised to SEVERE: an attack is highly likely.

2)      This is related to the developments in Syria and Iraq where groups are planning an attack in the UK, not to specific communities.

3)      UK policing has a variety of operational tactics that are regularly used to prepare and protect the public.

4)      People can expect to see an increase in high visibility police activity around a variety of sites, sectors and communities.

5)      Communities defeat terrorism. The public are urged to report suspicious activity. We are particularly concerned about those might be intending to, or who have returned from, fighting in Syria and Iraq.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me or your other Lambeth police contacts.

Could you each forward this message to other members of your respective organisations as you see fit.

Many thanks

Tony

Tony Hirst Ch.Inspector | Operations - Lambeth Borough.