Here's some (unedited, with typos) notes form the truly epic planning meeting earlier. I didnt make it to the end (but was there for 4 hours!) so don't know the final decision (it's probably still going on).
------------------------------------------
Welcome from the chair Diana Morris (Labour, Thornton Ward). Members of the committee introduce themselves. 4 Labour, 1 Lib Dem. Then council officers.
------------------------------------------
First item - declarations of interest. Cllr Brathwith child attends school related to the application. Chair has been ice-skating before. go her! Hardly a major declaration of interest though.
------------------------------------------
2 items unrelated to the ice-rink/carpark. Getting those out of the way first.
------------------------------------------
Some Tunnels in Waterloo where the council officers haven't done their homework properly. Then something about types of brick (staffordshire blue buff or something) and for Dunraven School. Looks quite nice.
------------------------------------------
OK, on to the 3 applications relating to the Streatham Hub / Brixton carpark
------------------------------------------
First up is the bit relating to a new carpark on Porden Road which is supposed to provide more parking for people using the market (in place of the multi-story).
------------------------------------------
Officers are presenting an overview, followed by something specific on Porden Road. In 2002 planning oked for Streatham hub including an icerink, a swimming pool, public square, housing, and a Tesco store. There was a 106 legal agreement which guaranteed onsite ice rink provision.
They are now proposing a temporary off-site ice rink which requires the 106 to be varied. AS well as the 106 there are 3 applications which will be taken in turn.
The officers note that Boris is not happy and is opposing the application (although acknowledge he has now power to direct them). Also Streatham businesses are happy with temporary ice rink as the Streatham Hub will happen faster. Also Sport England have objected. TfL have no objection. Various other exxtra/late comments from Friends of Brixton Market, and others.
Finally (and interestingly) Tessa Jowel contacted officers urging caution given the level of local opposition.
Council officers then show lots of pictures and maps (very slowly). Heckling from the audience when council officer gets the size of the new rink wrong (he says temporary rink would be same length, apparently he's wrong).
No direct mention of Tesco so far. They Who Must Not Be Named.
------------------------------------------
Porden Road Residents Group are up. Chair is trying to make 3 of them speak as one in 3 minutes. Audience not impressed.
Increased noise, pollution and traffic in Porden road if the temporary car park goes ahead. They say they know this because the area was previously used as a works depo when the town centre was being redeveloped. Points out that 3 years isn't very temporary!
Community safety has not been considered - only one camera - already have a problem with drug dealing/use.
------------------------------------------
John Gordon from market Traders Federation is up. Points out that the foods people buy are specialist and bulk. The committee is presented with a huge sack of rice and a huge barrel of oil. Porden Road is too far away. Most shoppers are women - invites members of comitee to lift up barrrel and sack and walk about with them. Also suggests the members borrow a child (there are several in the room) and try carrying them at the same time.
------------------------------------------
Ben Tunstall from FBM says that there is an incline on Arcre Lane; It is in a distinct area of the town centre. people will just go to Tescos.
------------------------------------------
Another resident of Porden Road is up. Point of Order that there is are discrepancies in the application - different areas and names used. Development plan makes no reference to new parking and will actively seek to reduce parking near Tesco. making the officers look a bit stupid. He's done his homework.
------------------------------------------
The applicants for Porden Road (Cllr Sally Prentice & and someone from some kind of Lambeth regeneration department) are invited to respond to the complains form traders and residents.
The council has a commitment to deliver Streatham Hub. The temporary ice-rink is a way of doing this, but needs more parking, hence Porden Road.
The committee get to quiz these two:
Q: "What guarantee that it really will be 3 years"
A: Within Brixton Master Plan; Tesco will be compelled to remove ice rink after 3 years then they will do something ill-defined else with it; Won't need car-parking so that will also go after 3 years.
They refuse to guarantee that car-park will be gone after 3 years. There could be another application in 3 years.
Cllr Palmer then points out that it will be vert hard to actually manoeuvre into the proposed car-park. Transport Officer responds that it is possible. Doesn't sound very convincing. Denies that it is on a cycle route dispute the evidence of lots of cycle signs. Sounds like a technicality.
Cllr Brathewaite asks what lighting will be available and points out hours will make it very noisy for residents. Applicants offer to close it earlier.
Cllr Edbrooke asks if the carpark will actually be used. The applicants don't really know, but say they are trying to replace POpes Road as best they can.
------------------------------------------
Part 2 - we're on to Popes Road temporary Ice Rink. Lots and lots of people queued up to speak (15 ish?).
------------------------------------------
Brixotn Society up first - points out that council change their mind on replacing carpaking, and will loose 280k a year form parking charges. Will Brixton people use it? Will they squeeze Streatham users out? Can we trust Tesco / council to stick to a new 106 agreement? Waste of energy building a temp rink. Air quality already poor in Brixton. Points out that members voted 2 weeks ago to reduce crime, this will increase it.
------------------------------------------
Person from the Warewolves special needs hockey team are up. Transport links for users with special needs, in a busy town centre, with heavy equipment, drop off point for users with special needs is not good enough. Have the council looked at the equality impact.
------------------------------------------
A mother who is involved with one of the clubs says they are taking her job away, she has devoted herself to keeping the club running. Promises to be a pain in the arse if it goes through.
------------------------------------------
Another parent points out that some parents are disabled and need spaces to park.
------------------------------------------
Ben Tunstall from Friends of Brixton market again. The next 3 years is critical for Brixton Market. Indoor market landlord is increasing rent. Shoppers are down because of the carpark. The market is Dying on it's feet. Do the comitee want to be responsible for a massive insertion of change at this time?
------------------------------------------
James Gardener - skater at the rink since 1975. Runs the (redskins) hockey team. Loosing a party room and cafe as well as an icerink. Popes Road is smaller. Worried about postcode gangs - parents won't send their kids. Streatham 1200 spectator seats, Brixton 400. At a recent game there were 88 cars in the carpark. Kids will get their kit nicked.
------------------------------------------
Mike Dwyer - from another special needs hockey club. No store room for recycling kit. No free parking. Too many cars in the market, children nearly run over during the site visit. Cost of parking doubles the cost for parent up to £360 per season. Even then no guarantee for parking.
------------------------------------------
John Gordon from Brixton market Traders. Brixton has to compete with Peckham market, Lewisham and Tesco (which sells similar food). The council acknolage the importance of parking in various master plans. 464k square feet of retail in Brixton, based on Tesco that works out as 3,399 free spaces. Porden Road will be £3 an hour. Brixton is surrounded by controleed parking zones.
------------------------------------------
Rosie from Rosies Deli. Lives in Peckham were parking is 80p. It takes hours to get your nails done, costs too much in Brixton.
------------------------------------------
Coach of under 12's team. He's at the rink 3 days a week coaching. His children and wife figure skate. So he is there a lot. This isnt a compromise, it's a surrender. Streatham is still standing. Kids need to know that their community represent them. Cardiff is using a temporary rink 5 years later. Brighton and other places have lost theirs. Tesco is Monty Burns, don't be is Smithers!.
------------------------------------------
10 minute break and then it all starts again - shed loads of people to get through.
------------------------------------------
Man form Save Skating in Streatham - the survey of Streatham ice rink missed loads of stuff, didnt even notify the management of the visit so couldn't access all areas. Not an equivalent facility, particularly in terms of parking. The clubs won't last the 3 years. Tesco should honor their original agreement.
The secretary of state has sent some kind of letter as places a high burden on the committee.
------------------------------------------
Welcome from the chair Diana Morris (Labour, Thornton Ward). Members of the committee introduce themselves. 4 Labour, 1 Lib Dem. Then council officers.
------------------------------------------
First item - declarations of interest. Cllr Brathwith child attends school related to the application. Chair has been ice-skating before. go her! Hardly a major declaration of interest though.
------------------------------------------
2 items unrelated to the ice-rink/carpark. Getting those out of the way first.
------------------------------------------
Some Tunnels in Waterloo where the council officers haven't done their homework properly. Then something about types of brick (staffordshire blue buff or something) and for Dunraven School. Looks quite nice.
------------------------------------------
OK, on to the 3 applications relating to the Streatham Hub / Brixton carpark
------------------------------------------
First up is the bit relating to a new carpark on Porden Road which is supposed to provide more parking for people using the market (in place of the multi-story).
------------------------------------------
Officers are presenting an overview, followed by something specific on Porden Road. In 2002 planning oked for Streatham hub including an icerink, a swimming pool, public square, housing, and a Tesco store. There was a 106 legal agreement which guaranteed onsite ice rink provision.
They are now proposing a temporary off-site ice rink which requires the 106 to be varied. AS well as the 106 there are 3 applications which will be taken in turn.
The officers note that Boris is not happy and is opposing the application (although acknowledge he has now power to direct them). Also Streatham businesses are happy with temporary ice rink as the Streatham Hub will happen faster. Also Sport England have objected. TfL have no objection. Various other exxtra/late comments from Friends of Brixton Market, and others.
Finally (and interestingly) Tessa Jowel contacted officers urging caution given the level of local opposition.
Council officers then show lots of pictures and maps (very slowly). Heckling from the audience when council officer gets the size of the new rink wrong (he says temporary rink would be same length, apparently he's wrong).
No direct mention of Tesco so far. They Who Must Not Be Named.
------------------------------------------
Porden Road Residents Group are up. Chair is trying to make 3 of them speak as one in 3 minutes. Audience not impressed.
Increased noise, pollution and traffic in Porden road if the temporary car park goes ahead. They say they know this because the area was previously used as a works depo when the town centre was being redeveloped. Points out that 3 years isn't very temporary!
Community safety has not been considered - only one camera - already have a problem with drug dealing/use.
------------------------------------------
John Gordon from market Traders Federation is up. Points out that the foods people buy are specialist and bulk. The committee is presented with a huge sack of rice and a huge barrel of oil. Porden Road is too far away. Most shoppers are women - invites members of comitee to lift up barrrel and sack and walk about with them. Also suggests the members borrow a child (there are several in the room) and try carrying them at the same time.
------------------------------------------
Ben Tunstall from FBM says that there is an incline on Arcre Lane; It is in a distinct area of the town centre. people will just go to Tescos.
------------------------------------------
Another resident of Porden Road is up. Point of Order that there is are discrepancies in the application - different areas and names used. Development plan makes no reference to new parking and will actively seek to reduce parking near Tesco. making the officers look a bit stupid. He's done his homework.
------------------------------------------
The applicants for Porden Road (Cllr Sally Prentice & and someone from some kind of Lambeth regeneration department) are invited to respond to the complains form traders and residents.
The council has a commitment to deliver Streatham Hub. The temporary ice-rink is a way of doing this, but needs more parking, hence Porden Road.
The committee get to quiz these two:
Q: "What guarantee that it really will be 3 years"
A: Within Brixton Master Plan; Tesco will be compelled to remove ice rink after 3 years then they will do something ill-defined else with it; Won't need car-parking so that will also go after 3 years.
They refuse to guarantee that car-park will be gone after 3 years. There could be another application in 3 years.
Cllr Palmer then points out that it will be vert hard to actually manoeuvre into the proposed car-park. Transport Officer responds that it is possible. Doesn't sound very convincing. Denies that it is on a cycle route dispute the evidence of lots of cycle signs. Sounds like a technicality.
Cllr Brathewaite asks what lighting will be available and points out hours will make it very noisy for residents. Applicants offer to close it earlier.
Cllr Edbrooke asks if the carpark will actually be used. The applicants don't really know, but say they are trying to replace POpes Road as best they can.
------------------------------------------
Part 2 - we're on to Popes Road temporary Ice Rink. Lots and lots of people queued up to speak (15 ish?).
------------------------------------------
Brixotn Society up first - points out that council change their mind on replacing carpaking, and will loose 280k a year form parking charges. Will Brixton people use it? Will they squeeze Streatham users out? Can we trust Tesco / council to stick to a new 106 agreement? Waste of energy building a temp rink. Air quality already poor in Brixton. Points out that members voted 2 weeks ago to reduce crime, this will increase it.
------------------------------------------
Person from the Warewolves special needs hockey team are up. Transport links for users with special needs, in a busy town centre, with heavy equipment, drop off point for users with special needs is not good enough. Have the council looked at the equality impact.
------------------------------------------
A mother who is involved with one of the clubs says they are taking her job away, she has devoted herself to keeping the club running. Promises to be a pain in the arse if it goes through.
------------------------------------------
Another parent points out that some parents are disabled and need spaces to park.
------------------------------------------
Ben Tunstall from Friends of Brixton market again. The next 3 years is critical for Brixton Market. Indoor market landlord is increasing rent. Shoppers are down because of the carpark. The market is Dying on it's feet. Do the comitee want to be responsible for a massive insertion of change at this time?
------------------------------------------
James Gardener - skater at the rink since 1975. Runs the (redskins) hockey team. Loosing a party room and cafe as well as an icerink. Popes Road is smaller. Worried about postcode gangs - parents won't send their kids. Streatham 1200 spectator seats, Brixton 400. At a recent game there were 88 cars in the carpark. Kids will get their kit nicked.
------------------------------------------
Mike Dwyer - from another special needs hockey club. No store room for recycling kit. No free parking. Too many cars in the market, children nearly run over during the site visit. Cost of parking doubles the cost for parent up to £360 per season. Even then no guarantee for parking.
------------------------------------------
John Gordon from Brixton market Traders. Brixton has to compete with Peckham market, Lewisham and Tesco (which sells similar food). The council acknolage the importance of parking in various master plans. 464k square feet of retail in Brixton, based on Tesco that works out as 3,399 free spaces. Porden Road will be £3 an hour. Brixton is surrounded by controleed parking zones.
------------------------------------------
Rosie from Rosies Deli. Lives in Peckham were parking is 80p. It takes hours to get your nails done, costs too much in Brixton.
------------------------------------------
Coach of under 12's team. He's at the rink 3 days a week coaching. His children and wife figure skate. So he is there a lot. This isnt a compromise, it's a surrender. Streatham is still standing. Kids need to know that their community represent them. Cardiff is using a temporary rink 5 years later. Brighton and other places have lost theirs. Tesco is Monty Burns, don't be is Smithers!.
------------------------------------------
10 minute break and then it all starts again - shed loads of people to get through.
------------------------------------------
Man form Save Skating in Streatham - the survey of Streatham ice rink missed loads of stuff, didnt even notify the management of the visit so couldn't access all areas. Not an equivalent facility, particularly in terms of parking. The clubs won't last the 3 years. Tesco should honor their original agreement.
The secretary of state has sent some kind of letter as places a high burden on the committee.
