Stockwell Festival - Fun day out for all

Local Labour Councillors Pete Bowyer, Tina Valcarcel and Rachel Heywood, along with Stockwell action team member Alex Bigham joined the Mayor of Lambeth, Christopher Wellbelove at the Stockwell Festival today.

This year's festival was combined with the first ever Stockwell Expo, a chance for people from our diverse communities to come together, and have their say in how local services are run.

But it wasn't all the serious business of democratic engagement course. People flocked to the event, held in Larkhall Park and organised by the Stockwell Partnership to enjoy tasty food, great music and the perenially popular pineapple parade.

Cllr Pete Bowyer said "It was great to meet and talk to so many people from Stockwell and elsewhere. It's brilliant to see the community standing up for itself, as well as enjoying a fun family day out."

Alex Bigham said "As well as listening to some fantastic music and enjoying the festival atmosphere, this was a great opportunity to meet some of our hard working public servants including the local NHS, the police, Lambeth council and charities. Congratulations to all the organisers from Lambeth and the Stockwell Partnership for another great event."

187-191 Clapham Road update: Planning Hearing, 29 September

A local resident on Clapham Road writes to says that Lambeth have called a 4-day Planning Hearing regarding Lidl/Crest Nicholson’s plans for 187-191 Clapham Road, which starts at 10am on 29 September at Lambeth town hall, in front of a government planning Inspector. We have a number of concerns on this blog about the development.

"Anyone wishing to speak to the hearing must be present when the hearing opens.

As you may recall, Lidl and the developer Crest Nicholson want to demolish the existing buildings on the site and build five storeys with a supermarket on the ground floor and 68 fats above, with 30 parking spaces for Lidl customers and 2 disabled parking spaces. Lambeth rejected the application but Lidl/Crest Nicholson are appealing, hence this hearing.

You are entitled to see documents relating to the appeal held by Lambeth; contact Gavin Chinniah at Lambeth Panning Division, Phoenix House, Wandsworth Road (by the Vauxhall bus station and St George Wharf development at Vauxhall Cross) or on 020 7926 1257.

If you would like to receive a copy of the Inspector’s decision, you have to ask in writing for one to be sent to you: quote reference APP/N5660/A/09/2105472 and write to: The Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/19, Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN."

More activities to tackle youth crime

Labour has doubled spending on youth services in Lambeth to give more young people things to do this summer. Labour’s summer programme is the biggest ever seen in Lambeth with a range of activities on offer including dance, sport, design and computers.

All this in comparison to the Lib Dems – who had the worst funded youth service in London – and as a result the highest level of youth crime. Under the Lib Dems, youth clubs were closed at weekends, while under Labour there have been extended hours for youth clubs.

Labour’s Florence Nosegbe said: “The Lib Dems were wrong to starve youth services of investment. They left teenagers to hang around on the streets where it’s far too easy for them to get into trouble with gangs. Now Labour’s put that right with a summer of activities that will help keep young people busy and out of trouble.”

Examples of activities include dance classes at the YMCA on Stockwell road, the Stockwell Skate Park and basketball at the old Lilian Bayliss school in Kennington.

To find out what’s on offer for young people, Labour has set up http://www.younglambeth.org/

There’s more information about sports in the area for all ages at http://www.thesportactionzone.org/

Labour Action on Jobs

Your Labour action team has been out on the doorstep talking to residents, and we know that unemployment, or the fear of being unemployed is a big concern for everyone.

Labour is taking action to save jobs and get the unemployed back to work fast. Thanks to Labour, three new skills trainging centres will open across Lambeth – including one locally in Kennington. Labour councillors have won over £17 million from the Government to fund improvements to local homes, roads and schools. The jobs will be prioritised for local people.

Sadly, Lib Dems and Tories provoked fury when they told residents that unemployment would NOT be a priority if they ever grabbed control of the council again. Here’s hoping they don’t.

Lambeth First (the borough’s strategic partnership) has funded an open day for jobs in Waterloo on 1st October. As many as 800 new jobs will be available in the new Park Plaza hotel near Westminster Bridge.

Positions available include in: concierge, food & beverage, front of house, housekeeping, kitchen, maintenance, meetings & events, security, and stewarding.

Details: Thursday 1 October 2009, 2pm – 8pm. Join one of the Information Sessions which run every hour, starting at 3pm. Last session at 7pm. Venue: Lilian Baylis Community Hub, Lollard Street, SE11 6PY. On bus routes: 3, 59, 159, 344, 360. Nearest tubes: Lambeth North, Kennington. Free refreshments

Book your free place, by phoning Waterloo Job Shop on 020 7926 8760 Or drop in to 114-118 Lower Marsh (Opening hours: Monday 9.30am – 4pm, Tuesday to Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm)

More information at http://www.lambethfirst.org.uk/

Massive boost for GCSE results in Lambeth, Stockwell Park tops the leaderboard

GCSE results in Lambeth are up by a staggering nine per cent from last year - and for the first time ever they are now higher than the national average.

The percentage of pupils with five or more A* to C grades has soared from 62.3 per cent in 2008 to 71.1 per cent this year. Pupils' achievement at GCSE level in Lambeth has risen for the past twelve consecutive years, and is now four per cent higher than the national average which has seen 67.1 per cent of pupils from across the country achieve five or more A* to C grades.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families indicator which shows the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and Maths, reveals a substantial increase in Lambeth from 47.1 per cent in 2008 to 53.5 per cent this year.

The improvement, with English and Maths included, shows Stockwell Park High School to be the most improved at 21 per cent.

Lots to do during Peace Week in Lambeth

Peace Week in Lambeth runs from 19 to 26 September. Throughout the week there will be events to help address issues that affect us all.

The aim of the week is ‘‘to challenge all Londoners to make a positive change in their communities by engaging in a community safety agenda for London.’’

Lambeth is the fourth most densely populated council area in the country with a population of over 270,000 that speak between them over 130 languages in their homes. It is a diverse community and highly mobile. Our neighbourhoods and communities are ever changing as members of very different communities choose to make Lambeth their home be it for a short time or longer. The resulting diversity is rightly noted and celebrated.

Peace Week in Lambeth has been designed to bring our communities together, celebrate our differences and work together to address issues which affect us all. In particular, we know that tackling anxieties linked to actual and perceived crime are of priority for everyone.

You are invited to join any of the events. Bring along your family members, friends and neighbours and meet up with people who are delivering initiatives which help bring communities together and make Lambeth a safer borough.

On Saturday 26th September there will be a drop in Police Surgery for Spanish and Portuguese communities at the Wyvil School on South Lambeth Road from 12 noon to 3pm. From 12 noon to 6pm there will be a Safer Communities Zone at the Stockwell Festival in Larkhall Park.

Peace Week highlights include:
• a skate park jam
• a multi-faith peace picnic
• Safer Neighbourhoods police team talks
• a 'Living together in Lambeth' event
• a domestic violence seminar
• a young people's question time
• the Safer Communities Zone at Stockwell's Expo.

For more details about Peace Week, email activecommunities@lambeth.gov.uk
or visit www.lambeth.gov.uk/PeaceWeek or call 020 7926 2681

Your chance to quiz the Mayor

Mayor Johnson will be taking questions from the public on Monday 9 November, 7 - 9pm, Brixton O2Academy.

Tickets are free, but are available on a first come, first serve basis - so don't delay.

To apply email peoplesquestions@london.gov.uk including your name, address, postcode, daytime phone number and the number of tickets you require (max 6 per application) OR call 020 7983 4762.