Have your say on air pollution monitors in Streatham

Lambeth’s Sustainability team are currently developing plans to install new micro air quality monitoring stations across the borough and we need your help in identifying suitable locations for these. 

As air pollution in Lambeth continues to reach dangerous levels, Green councillors have been campaigning for the installation of these monitoring stations which will measure Nitrogen Dioxide, PM10, PM2.5, Ozone, Temperature and relative Humidity in order to provide accurate data on hyper local air quality conditions.

St Leonard’s Green councillors now want to hear your suggestions for where the monitoring stations should be located to provide the most useful and reliable air quality data for Streatham’s residents.

Suggested monitoring station locations should be:

·         In close proximity to sensitive receptors (schools/ hospitals/ public spaces)

·         In air quality focus areas and sources of pollution (Town centres/ main roads/ major    developments)

·         Easily accessible on public land (preferably lamp posts on the highway)

Please send your ideas to Councillor Jonathan Bartley on jbartley@lambeth.gov.uk

Please note the monitoring stations will need a permanent power source. If you can provide as much of the following information as possible when submitting locations that would be great:

-          Google earth screen shot/link

-          Photograph of power source location 

-          Street name and post code (where applicable)

-          Justification for inclusion i.e outside x school

One collision every three days on the A23 in Streatham - and 14 serious injuries in one year

Cllr Nicole Griffiths takes part in Community Roadwatch

Provisional statistics from Transport for London show there was at least one collision every three days on the A23 in Streatham in 2017 - and, on average, every month one collision or more resulted in life-changing injuries.

In total, on Streatham Hill and Streatham High Road between the South Circular and the boundary with Croydon, there were 133 collisions in the 12 months to December 2017; 14 of these were seious - resulting in life-changing injuries. Thankfully, for the second year running, there were no fatalities.

Have our say on future planning priorities in Streatham

Lambeth Council is asking for people's views on priorities for future developments in housing, transport and the environment in Streatham - and Lambeth as a whole.

Consultation ends 11pm on Monday 4 December.

The Local Plan - which sets out guidelines for local council officers and decision makers over the next 15 years - is an important document, which will affect where developers can build, the density and height of new housing blocks, transport decisions, and how much importance will be given to issues such as traffic congestion and air pollution.

Before drawing up a review of the existing Local Plan, the council wants to understand the priorities of existing residents. It asking for a views on 12 topics through an online survey, here.

Green MP calls for 'emergency summit' over rail chaos

Caroline Lucas has called for an 'Emergency Summit' between key stakeholders including Government, Southern Rail/ Govia Thameslink and Network Rail.

It follows another day of rail chaos effecting Streatham stations.

The Green Party MP is demanding an 'emergency response' to the train crises gripping Streatham and covering much of Southern England.

Yesterday there was serious overcrowding and people were stuck on trains for long periods in the baking heat.  

The MP wants the Government to step in and call an urgent summit immediately. 

Caroline Lucas MP said: “This is an emergency situation which requires an urgent response. I'm seriously worried that someone could be injured or worse. The Government must immediately call an emergency summit between all key stakeholders including Network Rail, the train company and Ministers”

“I’ve heard reports of passengers fainting and being stuck on sweltering trains on an extremely hot day. The failures yesterday were caused by a combination of problems with Network Rail, some of which were unavoidable, plus the usual delays on the service. 

“I’m doing all I can to meet with the Minister responsible for trains later today to demand action to repair this failing service. Passengers have suffered for many months now and, with a new Government in place, it’s time for real action to address the multiple problems with this service. As a start the Minister should signal his intent by taking the service into public hands so Government can truly get a grip on it.”

You can sign the petition to strip Southern Rail of its franchise here

List of Streatham constituency general election hustings meetings

A few people have asked for a list of the hustings that are happening in Streatham, so I thought I'd do a post with them all on, and try and keep this page updated as new ones are arranged...

3rd Feb - Organised by Keep our NHS Public, Streatham Library

12th March - Organised by United Nations Association, Dunraven School,

25th March - (7.00pm) - Organised by Streatham Action, Heart Streatham, Save the Children. 38 degrees, at The Hideaway, Streatham High Road

7th April - (7.00pm) Age UK Lambeth (Streatham Library)

9th April (2.00pm) Wavel Court, 10-12 Leigham Avenue, Streatham, SW16 2PU

9th April (4.00pm) Lambeth Disability Forum Election Question Time 3rd Floor, 336 Brixton Road, London SW9 7AA

14th April - Organised by Love Streatham, Streatham Baptist Church, 7.00pm, 20-22 Lewin Road, SW16 6JR

16th April - (1.30pm) Organised by Lambeth College, at the Clapham Campus

23rd April - (7.30pm) Interfaith Hustings, at the South London Liberal Synagogue, Prentis Road

1st May - Organised by Hyderi Islamic Centre, Estreham Road, SW16

5th May - BBC Daily Politics BBC 2 Live TV Debate (not Streatham, but I'll be going up against Iain Duncan Smith (Con), Rachel Reeves (Lab) and Steve Webb (Lib Dem) in an hour long live TV debate on Welfare)

5th May - 8.00pm Hustings, White Lion, Streatham High Road, SW16

Where do Streatham MP candidates stand on privatisation of the NHS?

The Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) campaign, will be outside the Streatham Odeon this Saturday (28th March) between 11am  and 1pm  - to hold candidates to account for their pledges for the NHS in the General Election.

At the hustings last week, they distributed these "score cards" (see left) marking candidates in Streatham over NHS privatisation.

Their three "asks" are:

- Repeal of the Health and Social Care Act
- The NHS (Reinstatement) Bill
- Keeping Health out of TTIP

I have been very happy to support all three, as the Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Streatham. Green MP Caroline Lucas tabled the NHS Reinstatement Bill in Parliament, and I am completely opposed to TTIP.  All these are crucial in order not just to stop the ongoing marketisation and privatisation of the NHS under successive (Labour and Conservative) Governments, but also to reverse it.

I also believe that it is wrong as a MP to take money from companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), who are involved in the privatisation of the NHS.

The current MP, Labour's Chuka Umunna, supports only the first one.  He is in favour of TTIP and opposed to a NHS Reinstatement Bill as the campaigners point out on their scorecard.  He also takes donations from PwC.

Lambeth KONP have promised a very colourful banner and leaflets displaying their views, and postcards people can send to candidates standing in Streatham about their voting intentions.

Mapping air pollution in Streatham

Cllr Scott Ainslie (pictured) and I were out today in Streatham, putting up diffusion tubes to measure the pollution in the Streatham area.

Deaths related to pollution in Lambeth are over 100 a year according to Public Health England (over 10 times the number of road casualty deaths).

We asked Lambeth Council if they would monitor air quality around local schools, but sadly Labour councillors voted against it.  So we made a bid to the initiative Mapping for Change, which was successful, and got funding to do a community project.

The tubes have been placed in the local area to measure NO2 emissions.  After four weeks they will be sent off for analysis, and we'll be able to identify pollution  levels, and hopefully the hot spots which need to be dealt with.

Email to Streatham Labour Party members about tonight's transport meeting

It does seem that the Labour Party are viewing tonight's transport meeting at Streatham library as part of their political programme.

See this which has been circulated to local Labour Party members:

It was confirmed last night that representatives from other political parties have not been invited to sit on the panel for the meeting.  This is despite the clear wishes of local people expressed at the public meeting last year, that improvements to transport in Streatham should be taken forward on a cross-party basis.

Streatham's Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme update

After last night's council meeting it came to light that Streatham Hill appears to have been excluded from Streatham's Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme (NEP).  (HT to @shoutstreatham )

Instead the council leader's ward of Thornton has been included.  We are seeking clarification that this is the case, and if so, why.

It has previously been highlighted that the NEP will include money already promised and allocated to Streatham.  If Thornton Ward is now getting a slice of money that should have benefited people in Streatham negatively impacted by the hub development - a lot of local people will feel very upset.

In December we had it confirmed by the Council where the money for the programme is coming from:

"The budget for the Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme (NEP) in Streatham is £800k over two years, comprising £572k LIP funding and the remainder being s.106 developer contributions"

The £572,000 Local Implementation Programme (LIP) funding is money from Transport for London given for the implementation of the London's Mayor's transport strategy. The remaining £228,000 is the Section 106 contributions from the hub development.  On this basis not a penny is coming from Lambeth Council.

In a further twist, £250,000 was actually allocated from the hub development for the NEP.  So it seems that £22,000 Section 106 money from the hub development allocated for the NEP in Streatham has also gone missing. 

You can read about the Section 106 money from the Streatham hub development here.

The latest information (in the picture above) states a figure of £1.2m for Streatham's Neighbourhood enhancement programme.  It implies £200,000 for each ward, as our information in December also confirmed.  But this adds up to £800,000, not £1.2 million.

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 )

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,

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.

St Leonard's Ward councillor surgeries

Your Green Party councillors hold surgeries three times a month in St Leonard's Ward, so residents can raise any issues with which they need help.

The surgeries take place on the first, second and third Saturdays of the month 10-11am at Streatham Library.

However we also realise that these times or location may not be convenient for everyone, so we are also very happy to come to you!

Our "mobile surgeries" can come to a location that suits you and at a more convenient time too.  Let us know when and where!

Please get in touch with us if you would like to make an appointment for our Saturday surgeries or another time: ngriffiths@lambeth.gov.uk, jbartley@lambeth.gov.uk, sainslie@lambeth.gov.uk.

Fracking update: Sunday Times confirms fracking plan

Today's Sunday Times reports that National parks and commons are to be opened up for fracking.

The article specifically mentions Steatham, and underlines the intention expressed by Boris Johnson last year, that fracking takes place in the London area.

It reports that the Department for Energy and Climate Change is about to issue a new round of licences. One license covering the south of Streatham has already been issued. As we have previously reported, the consultation on a licence covering the rest of Streatham finished at the end of March.

It is also becoming increasingly clear that planning laws may not be enough to stop fracking taking place. That is why Lambeth Council needs to identify what powers it has to stop it.

A very disappointing response about exploratory fracking in Streatham

We were hopeful that the campaign asking Lambeth to follow the example of other boroughs like Brent and Waltham Forest and declare itself a "No Fracking Zone" would be cross party. We said as much publicly. We were also very careful not to criticise the council, or the Labour Party which run it, but to encourage them to make a positive response. However, today Lambeth Labour Party put out a press release attacking Streatham Green Party.

The background to the issue can be found here. In summary, a licence has been issued by the Government which would allow exploratory fracking in the South Streatham area. The Government is also consulting on another licence covering the rest of Streatham (the consultation ends on 28th March). You can see if your home is in the area by visiting this website and entering your postcode.

No site has been identified, and consent would be required from Lambeth Council for it to go ahead, and that is why we launched a petition asking the Council to take action. The Government only issues licences on the basis that exploration will go ahead. With Government offering money to local councils, and London Mayor Boris Johnson saying he wants fracking to take place under London, we think Lambeth should rule fracking out now as other local authorities in London have done (see Brent's reasoning here which involves a commitment to look at the powers it might have to stop fracking in the future).

The petition launched a week ago has already gained a lot of local support.  Initially the signs were good that this would be a cross-party campaign. Streatham Labour party acknowledged that:

"There has rightly been growing concern amongst residents that fracking could come close to – or even effect – urban areas, including Streatham."

They rightly pointed out, as we did, that a number of criteria would need to be met for fracking to go ahead - including Local Authority consent.  They also claimed that Lambeth Council had ruled it out. Good news, we thought.  We had been straight with both the council and local people, and we hoped the Council had responded accordingly.   We asked for the source of the information - a policy paper, council decision or document, anything in fact - but nothing was forthcoming.

It was at this point that it emerged that the Council had known for months about the licence. It also emerged that no discussion had ever taken place in committee, council, or anywhere else. There was no "policy" after all.  This was a just a comment made to a journalist by a council member.  There was no official statement or other documentation.  Fracking hadn't actually ever formally been addressed.

Whether this was a source of embarrassment to Lambeth Labour Party isn't clear.  Labour Councillors may have suddenly realised that they had disclosed commercially sensitive information to their Party (that Lambeth might try to ban fracking) before any discussion in council or committee had taken place, and before any official Council statement on the subject had been made.  A political row would certainly distract from this. Or it may just be that Lambeth Labour were embarrassed by the fact that they had failed to tell local residents about something so important.  We just don't know.

Whatever the reason, many questions still remain unanswered:

1. Can Lambeth Council provide any official documents at all to show that it has assessed the possibility of fracking and its potential impact in Lambeth?

2. Has Lambeth Council made any assessment of what sites might be considered for exploratory fracking?

3. Has Lambeth Council taken any legal advice about how it might block fracking?

4. Why won't Lambeth Council follow the example of other boroughs and declare Lambeth a "Frack-Free Zone" ?

5. Why didn't Lambeth Council inform local people about the licence? Why hasn't it also, even now, told local people about the consultation concerning the new licence covering the rest of Streatham?

6. Why hasn't Lambeth Council told local people that the Government only issues licences on the basis that exploration will take place?

7. Does Lambeth Labour party no longer consider that Streatham residents are right to be concerned about the impact of fracking in Streatham?

8. Has Lambeth Council had any contact with Northdown Energy who own the licence covering the South of Streatham, or Alamo Energy their partner?

One thing is absolutely clear. The response of both Lambeth Council and Lambeth Labour Party has been a shambles, and will do nothing to reassure people in Streatham (without publication of both a proper council policy and legal advice).  Councillors should be straight, open and transparent with local people, stop playing politics with fracking and table a formal council motion to declare Lambeth a 'Frack Free Zone'.

Sign the petition to stop Streatham being fracked

Jean Lambert MEP came to Streatham last weekend, following the astonishing news that a license allowing exploratory fracking which covers the south of Streatham, has been issued by the Government.

The information is contained in the latest House of Commons briefing note on fracking issued in January.

The Government is also currently consulting on issuing a licence covering the rest of Streatham as part of its 14th licensing round. The consultation ends on 28th March.

The Government only issues licenses of this kind on the understanding that exploration for oil and gas goes ahead.

If you want to see whether your address is in the potential fracking area you can visit this website here and enter your postcode.

Northdown Energy, a company based in Wimbledon, has been given the UK Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (PEDL) number 245, which covers the south of Streatham and an area around it. The geological area the license covers is in the north of the ‘Weald Basin’, described by Alamo Energy as “hydrocarbon prolific”.

Two other companies - Eurenergy Resource Corporation and Celtique Energie – have announced plans to drill for shale gas elsewhere in the same Basin.

Director of Northdown Energy Alexander MacDonald previously worked in the North Sea for both Conoco and Chevron. The company has formed a partnership with Alamo Energy, a US based company with several large scale fracking projects across the US.

No site has yet been identified to frack, which is why Lambeth should be declared a frack-free zone now. Planning permission would be required for the fracking to go ahead, so the local authority has the power to block it.

The pressure to frack is only going to grow. Boris Johnson said in July last year he wanted fracking to take place under London (it already takes place around cities in the US) and the Government is introducing business rate subsidies to encourage local authorities to back it.

There would be little (if any) benefit to Streatham, but potentially huge disruption and harm if fracking goes ahead.

Fracking is an industrial process requiring hundreds of lorries, millions of gallons of water and thousands of chemicals, with huge threats to air quality and water contamination. Dangerously high levels of cancer-causing benzene has been found in the air of towns in Dallas near drilling wells. An average of 400 tanker trucks are required to carry water and supplies to and from the site. Not only does this lead to a huge increase in traffic but it also causes significant damage to roads. It would also likely scupper any chance of bringing the tube to Streatham.

People have no rights to benefit financially from the hydrocarbons under their land. There is a growing consensus that it won't bring about significant cuts in energy prices either, despite all the initial hype.

Please sign the petition urging Lambeth Council to declare Lambeth a "Frack-Free Zone" here.

Streatham's Got Talent at The White Lion

We attended a couple of meetings at the White Lion on Streatham High Road two weeks ago, to see how it can be better used as a community space. One of the outcomes is the 'Streatham's got talent' competition.

The idea is to encourage skills and confidence in young people around the streatham area. They will then be mentored by experienced and qualified workshop practitioners.

You can like the facebook page here.

And spread the word out to anyone who maybe interested

Open to all ages up to 21

Auditions will be held at

The White Lion, Streatham, 233 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BB

and will take place on

Saturday 21st July from 12pm-4pm

Saturday 28th July from 12pm-4pm
Sunday 29th July 12pm-4pm

there will then be a week of mentoring workshops taking place at The Stables Workshop Space, at the back of The White Lion, Streatham

Workshops will be held from

Monday 30th July - Friday 3rd August

Heats will then take place, the following weekend

Saturday 4th August from 12am-4pm
Sunday 5th August from 12am-4pm

and

Saturday 11th August from 12-4pm
Sunday 12th August from 12-4pm (Quarter Final)

with the semi-final and final on

Saturday 18th August from 12pm-4pm (Semi-Final)
Sunday 19th August from 12pm-4pm (Final)

Report: Shop accessibility on Streatham High Road

We have just completed a survey of shop/ business accessibility on a the section of Streatham High Road which is the focus of change in the next two years. Our report is below, but among the findings are that two thirds of shops are inaccessible. Not only is this an issue of social justice, it also has significant implications for Streatham's local economy.

Survey of Accessibility on Streatham High Road

Streatham Peace Festival 2012

We are really pleased to be supporting the the Little Big Peace Event - a week long free festival in Streatham - which runs this year from September 17th - 23rd.

The little big peace event sets out to explore the culture and concept of peace in an inspiring and open-minded atmosphere. It aims to draw in the local and wider community, both as participants and event goers, with the idea of inclusiveness and acceptance, and that peace is both political and personal.

It was inspired by 'Peace One Day'.

This year's events will include:

- A screening of Peace One Day's film "The Day After Peace"

- An evening of talks and workshops led by John Paul Flintoff (author of "How to change the world").

- A lantern procession along Streatham High Road, followed by an evening of choral singing with The London Bulgarian Choir.

- A music & entertainment night

- A day of complimentary therapies (meditation, yoga, reflexology, alexander technique, reiki, shiatsu etc)

- An Evening of Music and song plus short film at the Hideaway jazz cafe, featuring Prem Rawat, globally renowned Ambassador of Peace.

- Workshops in local schools

- " Seeding the future": an evening of talks with an inspirational panel of speakers. How we can support young people and create an atmosphere of trust in our community.

- A football match - kids v/s celebs, on Streatham Common on September 21st.


All events are free. More infor at www.littlebigpeace.com for regular updates and on Twitter: @littlebigpeace