Help Restore the Stockwell War Memorial!

Can you help restore the painted rotunda in the Stockwell War Memorial Gardens?

Stockwell Memorial Rotunda Volunteer Day 9:00am – 5:00pm SATURDAY 23 MARCH – 9am to 4pm

The rotunda next to the Stockwell War Memorial will be repainted following a campaign by the Friends Group and local councillors.

In order to prepare for the re-paint, the Friends of Stockwell War Memorial and Gardens in association with the London Mural Preservation Society have organised a special volunteer day.

If you can spare some time – even if it’s just for an hour or so – please go along and lend a hand.

The Friends will provide all the equipment and there will be sandwiches and soft drinks for volunteers.

No special expertise needed.

For more information, email stockwellmemorialfriends@gmail.com or call 07525 244337

New Temporary Surgery Venue

Owing to the temporary closure of the Stockwell Community Resource Centre for refurbishment, Stockwell Councillor's surgeries will now be held at the Stockwell Partnership (155-157 South Lambeth Road,  SW8 1XN), until further notice.

Surgeries are held on the first Thursday of the month at 6pm and the third Saturday at 11am.

Or you can contact your Stockwell councillors via phone or email.

Stockwell Festival 2012

The Stockwell Festival is coming to town. Put the date in your diary now - 22nd September from midday in Larkhall Park.

The festival has a different format this year, as well as dance groups and choirs there will be an Adults Zone with a bar and comedy tent and a Carnival Kids area with entertainers and a bouncy castle mini village.

The South Lambeth Market will be laying on three zones: a Foodies Market (for cold foods and gourmet treats), Arts, crafts and retro clothing, and a bric-a-brac table top sale.

The organisers are looking for volunteers to get involved - specifically local dance groups, ballet dancers, karate groups, choirs, steel drummers, artists, musicians, crafts and food, and 'Stockwell enthusiasts'!

For more details, contact the organisers below.

Twitter: @Stockwell2012
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StockwellFestival2012

Getting involved: To take a stall in the South Lambeth Market areas contact Ian at southlambethmkt@btinternet.com by Friday 10 August 2012.

For all other enquiries (including hot food stalls) contact tristan@thecavendisharmsstockwell.co.uk

'Boris Bikes' come to Stockwell

Following a petition signed by hundreds of residents, and a campaign by local Labour councillors, the TFL bike scheme (also known as [ahem] Boris Bikes, although a certain Labour mayor came up with the project) is coming to Stockwell.

Before:

After

The extension will include 12 new sites, with at least one being within 300m of Stockwell Underground either on Clapham Road near Linhgam Street or on Binfield Road ‘island’. TfL’s preference is for the Lingham Street site but we are pressing for the Binfield Road site.

The stations should be ready in 2013.

 Priority sites:

1. L83 Union Grove, Wandsworth Road

2. L86 Landsdowne Way Bus Garage

3. L89 South Lambeth Library, South Lambeth Road

4. L91 Clapham Road, South Island Place

5. L95 Heathbrook Community Hall

6. L97 Wandsworth Road, Silverthorne Street

7. L98 Wandsworth Road, St Rule Street

8. L100 Teversham Lane, South Lambeth Road

9. L101 Courland Grove

10. L106 Jeffreys Road, Clarence Walk

11. L109 Oasis Garden, Larkhall Lane

12. L112 Clapham Road, Lingham Street

Contingency sites:

13. L85 Hartington Road

14. L90 Albert Square

15. L84 Thessaly Road, Wandsworth Road

16. L99 Wandsworth Road, Allington Court

17. L111 Binfield Rd Island

Thanks to Tradescant Road blog for the map.

More 

Pictures of the Clapham Library

If you haven't yet been to the new Clapham Library, it's worth a visit. The building has been inspired by the Guggenheim, and inside a central atrium has a children's library as it's central focal point, with rows of books running around the walls accessible via a spiral ramp. Off the main walkway are small rooms for quiet reading, studying or using a computer.

The building was funded through a private-public partnership, with new homes built above the library. A smart way to fund public services at a time when money is tight.

Sadly, the miserly Lib Dems have attacked the new library, calling it a 'flop'. Wouldn't it have been nicer if they could have welcomed it?

More details on how to access the library are here: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/LeisureCulture/Libraries/LocalLibraries/ClaphamLibrary.htm

Despite swingeing cuts from the Tory-Lib Dem Government, The Tate South Lambeth Library will remain open, and will have a new wifi service installed soon.

Nine Elms website launched

It's a bit full of PR gumf, and needs a lot more information adding to it, but it's a start - there is a new website that covers the *Vauxhall* Nine Elms development - http://www.nineelmslondon.com

Great Result for War Memorials

Following a petition signed by hundreds of local residents, Labour Lambeth Council has announced approval of £200,000 funding to refurbish five war memorials, including the Stockwell War Memorial.

Stockwell Councillor Alex Bigham said "It is fantastic news that this money has been provided to ensure that our memorials are fit for heroes.

"Many modern heroes such as Naomi Klein and Sheila Dartnell have campaigned for years to ensure these memorials get the recognition and funding they deserve. We look forward to working with them on plans to restore and imporve the memorial and surrounding gardens."

Councillor Paul McGlone, Lambeth council’s Finance cabinet member, said: “Capital funding is very tight, but all Lambeth councillors agreed that the £200,000 funding had to be allocated to honour our responsibility to our war memorials in memory of those who have fallen.

“We also owe a debt of gratitude to local people like Naomi Klein, a Stockwell resident, who wrote a book, ‘These Were Our Sons’ to commemorate the memory of the 574 local men whose names are inscribed on Lambeth official War Memorial at Stockwell, as well as the Friends of Stockwell Memorial [and Gardens] for their important role in raising the profile of the need for investment.”

The other memorials that will benefit from the funding include:
•Holy Trinity Church, Clapham Common
•St Mark’s Church, Oval
•The London Regiment memorial in Kennington Park
•Streatham War Memorial

The Friends of Stockwell War Memorial said: “We are very pleased that Lambeth’s war memorials, including of course the major memorial at Stockwell, are receiving the attention they deserve. We have been working with Lambeth co-operatively over the past year on plans for improvements to Memorial Gardens and hope to see the results shortly.”

The works are due to be completed early next year.

Stockwell road sweeper gets honour

Anthony Cleland, a street cleaner from Stockwell has been awarded a British Empire Medal for a quarter of a century of service cleaning the streets of Lambeth.

He was nominated by Kate Hoey MP and the Stockwell Communiny Resource Centre.

As Stockwell News reports,  Mr Cleland is a widower, and the father of two children and a grandfather-of-three.

He said: “I am very proud and I think it’s great that the BEM has been brought back, it shows that ordinary people deserve to be recognised as well. My children are over the moon about it and my colleagues think it’s great that a road sweeper is being honoured. I lost my wife a few years ago but I am sure she will be up there, looking down on me when I receive the medal.”

Congratulations to Anthony from all at Stand up for Stockwell!

Cycling to Brighton

A formidable team of Lambeth councillors and residents, including Stockwell's Cllr Pete Bowyer took part on a long cycle from London to Brighton last Sunday to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

If you would like to donate, you can do so at www.tinyurl.com/lambethriders

Stockwell the Movie

Garreth Carter has sent me an amazing video of Stockwell at night time - some beautiful images and moving shots of people in the best neighbourhood in London. Hope you enjoy as much as I did.


Stockwell By Night from Garreth Carter on Vimeo.

Christmas Update

Firstly, apologies for the lack of blogging over the past couple of months. It has been a busy few weeks in Stockwell and the town hall. You can keep up with our latest activities by following us on Twitter - @labourstockwell, @alexbigham, @imogenwalker and @cllrpetebowyer.

Normal blogging service will resume in January, but until then here are a few things that your local Labour team has been up to since September...

- The Portuguese Speakers' Community Centre project have found a permanent home in Kennington at 1 Othello Close (just opposite the tube station). This is great news for the project and will help them deliver services and activities for the Portuguese speaking community. The centre will officially open on 13 December. Email Cllr Alex Bigham if you want to know more.

- The Friends of Stockwell War Memorial has been officially established thanks to the work of Naomi Klein and Sheila Dartnell. They have held a number of meetings and are busy organising work to publicise the much needed restoration of the memorial. The Friends group laid a wreath along with Councillors and the Mayor of Lambeth on Remembrance Sunday.

- We have held a number of consultation meetings with the Stockwell Forum and other residents groups on the plans to develop the Vauxhall - Nine Elms area. You can read Labour's draft manifesto for the area here. There is also now a masterplan being developed to turn the Vauxhall gyratory into a far more pleasant, pedestrian friendly 'town centre' with new residential, retail and office buildings.

- We continue to campaign to bring the TFL bike hire scheme to Stockwell. The Mayor has now promised there will be bike docking stations in Stockwell by 2013, but we will keep up the pressure. A huge number of residents signed the petition which we presented to the Mayor, and you can still add your name here: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39225.html.

- In other news, the much loved Annie McCall hospital site was put up for sale recently. However, Cllr Imogen Walker continues to work closely with the Stockwell Studios, run by local artists to ensure that any development of the site protects space for the artists to use.

- Finally, we continue to work closely with our hard working London Assembly Member, Val Shawcross. Your Labour team of Ken, Val and the Cllrs in Stockwell have been campainging for a farer deal for residents - a 7% reduction in bus and tube fares, along with reversing Boris Johnson's cuts to police numbers in London. The only way to make sure this happens is to come out and vote Labour in May next year.

Until the new year, have a very happy Christmas, and a peaceful holiday.

Cllr Alex Bigham, Cllr Imogen Walker, Cllr Pete Bowyer
Labour Team for Stockwell.

Labour in Lambeth reveals plans to transform Vauxhall Nine Elms

New community funds, better public services, parks and transport schemes are planned

Lambeth’s Labour Councillors have unveiled their plans to transform the Vauxhall-Nine Elms-Battersea area to ensure local residents get the maximum benefit from the regeneration proposals.

In a draft manifesto, Labour has pledged that they “will ensure that the necessary infrastructure and public services will be provided for local residents affected by the developments.”

One of the highlights is the plan to develop a new ‘Community Endowment Fund’ of at least £1million which will provide an annual pot of money for local groups to ensure that the benefits of the regeneration continue after the building has finished. In addition, funding that comes from new developments for improving the community will be ring fenced so it can’t be used to subsidise any overspend on the planned Northern Line Extension.

Labour’s Leader in Lambeth, and Co-chair of the VNEB Strategy Board, Cllr Steve Reed said:
“We are getting ahead of the curve in announcing these pledges for local people – the first political party to set out a manifesto for Vauxhall Nine Elms. With 16,000 new homes coming to the area we need to be sure that our public services meet the demands of our existing and new residents. We will be engaging with our communities, so they can tell us what they want. ”

The draft manifesto will go out for consultation over the next two months. Labour Councillors will be discussing the plans with local people, community groups, residents’ associations, and other key stakeholders.

To improve transport, Labour pledges to support:
· An extended Northern line to run from Kennington to Nine Elms and Battersea
· New bus services along Wandsworth Road and Nine Elms Lane.
· A cycle bridge at Pimlico, new boat services, walkways and improved access to the river.
· The extension of the TFL bike hire scheme further South
· Traffic calming measures and improvements to prevent ‘rat runs’ through residential areas.

To improve our open spaces, Labour pledges to:
· Preserve and improve Vauxhall Park, Spring Gardens and Larkhall Park.
· Lobby TfL to remove the Vauxhall gyratory to improve the area for pedestrians and cyclists.
· Ensure that any new tall buildings do not significantly overshadow parks and homes.

In public services and culture, Labour pledges to:
· Create extra school places, doctors, and ensure hospital services are not adversely affected.
· Ensure police are not diverted by protecting the new US Embassy.
· Develop new cultural provision in the area, provide extra sports pitches and leisure centres

To support local businesses and jobs, Labour pledges to:
· Ensure developers offer apprenticeships for young residents and the unemployed.
· Work to provide new spaces for retail outlets and street markets.

The consultation on the draft manifesto will run until 15 November.
To download the manifesto, click here.
To comment on the plans, you can email vnebmanifesto@gmail.com

Stockwell Festival this coming weekend

The annual jamboree that is the Stockwell Festival is upon us again. It is being held on:

Saturday 17 September 2011

1pm–6pm

in Larkhall Park

Courland Grove
London SW8 2PX

Stockwell Labour Party will have a stall with information on our campaigns and a chance to talk to your local councillors.
This year the Stockwell festival will be spread across five sites: Larkhall Park and Playground, Oasis Nature Garden, Go Kart track and Adventure Playground, and it is a joint project by Stockwell Partnership and Oasis Play.

The theme this year is Peace, Inclusion and Cohesion.

On the Pineapple Stage there's a vibrant line-up with hillbilly bluegrass from the Glenbuck Cherry Pickers, jazzy blues from Marcina Arnold and the Love Rats and steel panners Southside Harmonics. Plus dance moves from Dance Starz, acrobatic cheerleaders Fyer Flyz and Confusion.

Don't miss the famous Pineapple Peace Parade, face painting, arts and craft workshops, magic and circus workshops, interactive drumming workshops, the Bureau of Silly Ideas Pineapple Car, local artists, an opporunity to paint messages of Peace on the Giant Peace Wall, Stockwell stories and songs from local residents.

Services on site include Dr Bike who will give you advice and mechanical know-how on your bike. Friends of Larkhall Park exhibit the latest park developments.

If you’d like to volunteer on the day, please contact Anna at agodsiff@hotmail.com or call 07973 71117.

Follow Stockwell Festival on Facebook and Twitter @stockwellfesty or visit http://www.stockwell.org.uk/

Reminder: Stockwell War Memorial meeting

A quick reminder that the first Friends meeting for Stockwell War Memorial is on Wednesday 14 September at 7pm at the Stockwell Resource Centre, Studley Road (behind the tube).

Come and find out about this fascinating building and how you can help be part of the push to ensure its future is a bright one.

All welcome!

New Market in Stockwell...

A new market opens next weekend (Saturday 17th September 2011, 10am – 4pm) at The Cavendish Arms on Hartington Road SW8 2HJ. The market will then be open the 2nd Saturday of the month.

Outside there will be stalls for foodies and plant lovers while inside in the ballroom there will be arts, crafts, clothes and gifts.

Some of the highlights so far are: -
· Di Lieto Bakery (ex South Lambeth Road) are returning to the area to trade from the market
· Mimosa Delicatessen (from the October market)
· Wildflowers plants and cut flowers
· Blueberry Hill Cakes

There will also be hot food in the form of savoury and sweet freshly made crepes, a Mediterranean BBQ and fresh Chorizo rolls, so you can come and have brunch, lunch or afternoon tea. The bar in the Cavendish is open from 11am.

Inside you will find: -
· Fein & Cooper Homewares (as seen in Liberties) selling homewares from vintage fabrics and vintage inspired lace curtains
· Moseley Giftware
· Retro and Designer Second-hand Clothing
· Upcycled furniture
· Hand printed bags, aprons and lavender bags

The majority of traders are local from Stockwell, Vauxhall and South Lambeth, so the market has a real community feel. Trade local and support your local community.

You can keep up to date with the market and the traders who will be there by following them on Facebook or Twitter, or visiting http://www.southlambethmarket.com/

Congratulations to Ian Beever and the rest of the market team on this great initiative!