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Brixton news, rumour and general chat - August 2014

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Rushy

Rushy

basically a scrotum
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(July 2014 thread here)
 
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Not specifically Brixton but it looks like the government is to relax planning restrictions on shop units to make it easier for businesses to move around whilst introducing a specific requirement for a full planning application for change of use of any building to a new betting or pay day loan shop. This sounds good.

ETA: or more accurately: the government intends to make changes to the General Permitted Development Order 1995 to remove the existing permitted development rights to the A2 use class. Most uses currently described as A2 will be moved to A1, with the exception of payday and betting shops, thereby requiring a planning application for a change of use from any other use to a betting shop or pay day loan shop.
 
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I'm allowed to have a girlfriend even if you think i'm gay and you lack a sense of humour.
I'm allowed to ride my bike through a water feature in a local square during one of the hottest summers of any century without you asking am i unemployed.
I'm allowed to object to the way you flaunt your money over food when i have little to eat.
Do it over food, keep doing it over food because the fools are so stupid they won't notice the other stuff you stole.

I have to put you on hold, i'm too busy dealing with the DWP.
 
I'm sure you're all busting to hear my pub/club experiences from last night, so here goes:

Effra Social: great rock'n'roll DJ on the vinyl. Quite quiet in the bar but pleasant vibes
Albert: Not a mad night - friendly and chatty with a handful of the usual 'offbeat' regulars
Grosvenor: Really busy, great live folk music, banging rave at the back and apart from a couple of extremely insensitive posh types who had turned up at the death of the pub to tell me about their property developer business, everything was absolutely lovely.
Electric Brixton: Like stepping back into the 90s, full on thumping trance with a crowd that was absoutely, make-no-mistake intent on having a fucking incredible time
Dogstar: Busy but not as crazy as some nights and alright for a last one.
 
Joy left, now they're back to cash in on the new money in Brixton. Feel a bit mean saying that, as they were here for years, in fact, the Brixton store was where it all started, but why did they leave in the first place, only to come back?
 
shygirl said:
Joy left, now they're back to cash in on the new money in Brixton. Feel a bit mean saying that, as they were here for years, in fact, the Brixton store was where it all started, but why did they leave in the first place, only to come back?
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That's more than a bit unfair! They left because their lease wasn't renewed as their old building is being used as part of the hotel build.

Unlike some of the Johnny come lately nu-chains who are quick to claim Brixton connections, Joy started here 15 years ago so I don't begrudge them coming back.
 
editor said:
That's more than a bit unfair! They left because their lease wasn't renewed as their old building is being used as part of the hotel build.

Unlike some of the Johnny come lately nu-chains who are quick to claim Brixton connections, Joy started here 15 years ago so I don't begrudge them coming back.
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Fair enough, I posted without finding out the facts first. :oops:
 
editor said:
In other Brixton news, all fresh off the press this morning:
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From the link to Hopkins blog:
My challenge to you is find out what’s going on, make sure your voice is heard or sit back and let it pass you by. It’s your future.
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As Jason in the Brixton Buzz article says Carlton Mansions did take part in Council consultations. Then got evicted by the Council. The Council refused to look at any alternatives to eviction of long standing community who were prepared to work with the Council.

At recent consultation on the Brixton Central Masterplan I was told by a consultant that housing for sale on the market ( rather than social housing) would be good for Brixton as it would attract people with higher disposable income. Which , according to the consultant hired by Council , would be better for Brixtons economy.

Is it any wonder that people get cynical? And I am someone who has track record of contributing to Council consultations.
 
editor said:
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Another gem from Cllr Hopkins:

. If ‘gentrification’ means cleaner streets and safer estates then I’m all for it.
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Cleaner streets and safer estates has nothing to do with gentrification. What does Hopkins think of people on Council estates? That they do not want them to be safe? Its the Councillors job to work with residents to keep an area safe and clean.
 
editor said:
In other Brixton news, all fresh off the press this morning:
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Cllr Hopkins:

But, there is a deafening silence from those who stand to benefit most; people in need of affordable housing, access to jobs and business opportunities, safer public spaces and more culture and leisure.
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I do not understand this sentence.

People I chat to around Brixton want more affordable housing for example. Its an issue that keeps coming up at Council run consultations. So what does Cllr Hopkins want? How many times does a Labour Council have to be told this?

The response from the Labour Council is that they are unable to do much about this due to government cuts in housing grants and changes to how "affordable" housing is defined. This is what happened when Barratts applied to change the affordable housing element to the the Brixton sq development. The Labour Council view was that there was nothing they could do about that.

What I want to know from Cllr Hopkins as a member of the Labour party is when will the Labour party nationally campaign on issues such as committing to building Council housing ( with truly affordable rents and secure tenancies).

On a local level when will Lambeth Cllrs start supporting / campaigning on issues such as affordable housing? The "deafening silence" is imo from the Labour party. Both nationally and locally.

IMO a lot of the time its residents at loggerheads with Lambeth Labour Council. Cressingham Gardens for example.

Another thing Cllr Hopkins forgets is that a lot of ordinary people are struggling to just get by. They do not have time for consultation all the time.

Issues such as affordable housing do not need any more consultation. If the Council have not got the message then I give up. They should just get on with it.
 
Gramsci said:
On a local level when will Lambeth Cllrs start supporting / campaigning on issues such as affordable housing? The "deafening silence" is imo from the Labour party. Both nationally and locally.
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Agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments - but I think Hopkins is supposed to be non-Housing regeneration, whereas the Cabinet Member "responsible for delivering the council’s housing priorities, to build more affordable homes for local people, overseeing an improved housing management service for residents and engaging with tenants, leaseholders and local housing groups. Leads on: * Affordable homes and housing growth" is Cabinet Member for Housing - Councillor Matthew Bennett. (from Lambeth's new non-navigable website).

Incidentally Cllr Matthew Bennett has a day job - whilst not being a Lambeth council cabinet member drawing £39,000 in allowances, he is also apparently office head for Steve Reed MP (Croydon North) - who will no doubt be familiar to readers on Urban!
 
CH1 said:
Agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments - but I think Hopkins is supposed to be non-Housing regeneration, whereas the Cabinet Member "responsible for delivering the council’s housing priorities, to build more affordable homes for local people, overseeing an improved housing management service for residents and engaging with tenants, leaseholders and local housing groups. Leads on: * Affordable homes and housing growth" is Cabinet Member for Housing - Councillor Matthew Bennett. (from Lambeth's new non-navigable website).

Incidentally Cllr Matthew Bennett has a day job - whilst not being a Lambeth council cabinet member drawing £39,000 in allowances, he is also apparently office head for Steve Reed MP (Croydon North) - who will no doubt be familiar to readers on Urban!
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Point taken. Its that Hopkins made it an issue in his blog as (correctly ) part of regeneration and growth.

According to his blog entry he is:

In May 2014 I was reelected to Oval ward and became the cabinet member for Jobs and Growth. Supporting existing and attracting new businesses, employability, entrepreneurship as well as development, planning and regeneration
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So their is some overlap between the posts. I do not like the way that the new posts have been set up. Issues like planning and housing cover both Cllrs.
 
While we are on the subject of Lambeth Councils notable incompetence, I received a letter from them today about the electoral roll and voter registration.

It clearly states that I am not on their open register (the commercial bit of the register which they sell to companies) and if I wish to be added (why would anyone want to be on this?) I have to contact them.

The letter goes onto say that I will be automatically added to the open register unless I request not to be.

It also says that no further action is required.


So which is it?

Is the office manned by Kafka and schroedinger?
 
editor said:
In other Brixton news, all fresh off the press this morning:
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Just emailed Cllr Hopkins this email:

Dear Jack,
I am emailing you about your recent blog entry.

Jason Cobb did a piece on it for Brixton Buzz

I have commented on it on Urban75 (on this page)

I take issue with your blog entry. The following in particular:


"My challenge to you is find out what’s going on, make sure your voice is heard or sit back and let it pass you by. It’s your future."

As Jason in the Brixton Buzz article says Carlton Mansions did take part in Council consultations. Then got evicted by the Council. The Council refused to look at any alternatives to eviction of long standing community who were prepared to work with the Council. This is not something that is going to be written out of Brixtons history by Lambeth Labour. I am making sure of that. People see what the Council does and think why should they bother. One local resident said to me last week that "The Council does what it wants whatever people say".

At recent consultation on the Brixton Central Masterplan I was told by a consultant that housing for sale on the market ( rather than social housing) would be good for Brixton as it would attract people with higher disposable income. Which , according to the consultant hired by Council , would be better for Brixtons economy.

Is it any wonder that people get cynical? And I am someone who has track record of contributing to Council consultations.

"If ‘gentrification’ means cleaner streets and safer estates then I’m all for it."

Cleaner streets and safer estates has nothing to do with gentrification. What do you think of people on Council estates? That they do not want them to be safe? Its the Councillors job to work with residents to keep an area safe and clean.


"But, there is a deafening silence from those who stand to benefit most; people in need of affordable housing, access to jobs and business opportunities, safer public spaces and more culture and leisure."

I do not understand this sentence.

People I chat to around Brixton want more affordable housing for example. Its an issue that keeps coming up at Council run consultations. How many times does a Labour Council have to be told this? I was at the recent Brixton Masterplan consultation meetings and also at the stall in Brixton market and at the Country Fair. At all these people commented about affordable housing being a priority and protecting the market. That they did not want Brixton to be "gentrified". They are concerned that "growth" will not benefit them.

The response from the Labour Council is that they are unable to do much about this due to government cuts in housing grants and changes to how "affordable" housing is defined. This is what happened when Barratts applied to change the affordable housing element to the the Brixton sq development. The Labour Council view was that there was nothing much they could do about that.

What I want to know from you, as a member of the Labour party, is when will the Labour party nationally campaign on issues such as committing to building Council housing ( with truly affordable rents and secure tenancies).

Recently a local resident said to me all the parties/politicians are the same. There is cynicism that is due to the legacy of the last Labour government. If people are not going to be cynical they need a Labour party that represent Labour.

On a local level when will Lambeth Cllrs start supporting / campaigning on issues such as affordable housing? The "deafening silence" is imo from the Labour party. Both nationally and locally.

Thirdly what concrete ways can you specify to make sure that "regeneration" will not displace existing small business and market traders?

Fourthly will the Council ensure new large development projects where development partners are used will deliver truly affordable housing (on site) with secure tenancies and target rent? How will Council stop developers using "feasibility" to reduce affordable element? Council guidelines are 40% affordable on schemes without grant funding.

Another thing you forget is that a lot of ordinary people are struggling to just get by. They do not have time for consultation all the time.

Also Richard raises some interesting points in a comment at the end of your blog entry.

"In central Brixton, we have had 20-30 restaurants open without planning permission. Our streets and doorsteps are being used as toilets, there are people taking their drinks from Market Row and sitting about on Electric Avenue, there is noise 6 days a week until midnight, it is not unforeseeable that the market as a retail destination may go forever."

How do you answer this? I agree that the market as retail is threatened. That Brixton residents were never asked about this. That the Council does nothing to respond to central Brixton residents complaints about these issues. ( The Council can come down heavy on people when it wants as in the case of Carlton Mansions) It also contradicts your comments about gentrification bringing cleaner streets.​
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​
 
simonSW2 said:
While we are on the subject of Lambeth Councils notable incompetence, I received a letter from them today about the electoral roll and voter registration.

It clearly states that I am not on their open register (the commercial bit of the register which they sell to companies) and if I wish to be added (why would anyone want to be on this?) I have to contact them.

The letter goes onto say that I will be automatically added to the open register unless I request not to be.

It also says that no further action is required.


So which is it?

Is the office manned by Kafka and schroedinger?
Click to expand...

I've got one of these in my official capacity as Head Of Household. :D

The bit about being added to the open register is just part of the explanation of the difference between the open and electoral registers. Derrick Anderson, or whoever writes his letters for him, might have made it more obvious though.
 
Hi

Can anyone tell me whether the secondhand furniture place up brixton hill (on the right up around the prison) is still going? It was in an industrial unit by a garage set back from the road (rather than a shop). Moved away a year ago an don't want a wasted journey, thanks!
 
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