Brixton news, rumour and general chat - August 2014

[buscador]

There's a quite nice gatefold table (containing fold-up chairs) outside c.15 Spenser Rd if anyone wants to get a wiggle on and claim it.

 

[Crispy]

I saw some up Morrish Road the other day and wondered whether Freshview had done them. Waste of time considering how tatty that street is. Someone really needs to have a word with the council/shops/whoever's responsible for all the rubbish along that stretch as I reckon it's one of the filthiest side streets off Brixton Hill

What I want to know is how the hell someone ever got away with building that warehouse extension on the pavement

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

What I want to know is how the hell someone ever got away with building that warehouse extension on the pavement

Wasn't that always there? Was it the stables?

Yeah, it is annoying, having to get around there. You either have to stick to the other side of the road or walk in the road

 

[leanderman]

I saw some up Morrish Road the other day and wondered whether Freshview had done them. Waste of time considering how tatty that street is. Someone really needs to have a word with the council/shops/whoever's responsible for all the rubbish along that stretch as I reckon it's one of the filthiest side streets off Brixton Hill

Depressing - but true.

Which is a reason why I regularly question those who trumpet the 'community'. A lot of people don't care about where they live.

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

Lots of Brixton in this video and I like what they've done

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Depressing - but true.

Which is a reason why I regularly question those who trumpet the 'community'.

That's probably the Sulina Road residents. I have a friend who lives there

 

[editor]

Lots of Brixton in this video and I like what they've done

I like it too although all the swearing means that it may not reach as many people as it could. I'll do my bit and give it a plug on B Buzz though!

 

[Gramsci]

Walton Laundry Tuesday morning. Sad to see it go.

 

[Gramsci]

The "Spectra" from Mansions roof.

http://www.artangel.org.uk/

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

I like it too although all the swearing means that it may not reach as many people as it could. I'll do my bit and give it a plug on B Buzz though!

I assume that it was the rap that they wanted to write rather than the rap that would be best for promoting the work of Kids Company. I see what you're saying of course but I think that it's really supportive and positive of Kids Company not to censor it because it may offend but just to give them a creative outlet.

You could also mention their 'see the child' campaign as they have been really trying to get more signatures and promote it so I'd bet they'd appreciate a mention

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

Dexter Deadwood responded to some texts I sent earlier, he says he's alright.

I'm ok and apologise for causing concern. It is a challenging year for me, the worst year of my life but i i am ok.
I think i have coped with it all very well so far apart from some drunken posts that i would have posted anyway.

 

[Smick]

What I want to know is how the hell someone ever got away with building that warehouse extension on the pavement

leanderman I haven't been to Water Lane in a while. Any update on the pavement obstruction?

 

[Winot]

leanderman I haven't been to Water Lane in a while. Any update on the pavement obstruction?

It's still there.

 

[OvalhouseDB]

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?

Enraged by the letter and even more enraged by the prospect of my details being sold I called the Lambeth Electoral Services office this morning. You can get confirmation that you are not and will not be put on the open register. I asked how such a letter could have been sent out and was told that the the letter comes from central government and they are required to send it out.

Better call my elderly parents - if they have received the same letter in their area it will have them in a state.

 

[Rushy]

Enraged by the letter and even more enraged by the prospect of my details being sold I called the Lambeth Electoral Services office this morning. You can get confirmation that you are not and will not be put on the open register. I asked how such a letter could have been sent out and was told that the the letter comes from central government and they are required to send it out.

Better call my elderly parents - if they have received the same letter in their area it will have them in a state.

So shit. I read it and understood that I would not be put on the marketing list if I did nothing further so binned it. Infuriating.

 

[Rushy]

Enraged by the letter and even more enraged by the prospect of my details being sold I called the Lambeth Electoral Services office this morning. You can get confirmation that you are not and will not be put on the open register. I asked how such a letter could have been sent out and was told that the the letter comes from central government and they are required to send it out.

Better call my elderly parents - if they have received the same letter in their area it will have them in a state.

I just called, myself. Apparently there are two different letters. One for those who are already opted out - offering to opt them in. The other is to those who are not opted out already - explaining how to do so. I was already opted out.

 

[Greebo]

I just called, myself. Apparently there are two different letters. One for those who are already opted out - offering to opt them in. The other is to those who are not opted out already - explaining how to do so. I was already opted out.

I'm another one who had opted out - do I need to call the buggers to remain opted out or not?

 

[Rushy]

I'm another one who had opted out - do I need to call the buggers to remain opted out or not?

I was told not.

 

[OvalhouseDB]

I had the contradictory letter - the one that says 'to be added to the Open Register please contact us'
then
'your name and address will be included... unless you ask for them to be removed'
and then 'you do not need to take any further action'.

But they said I was already opted out.

Do the government not have a focus group of real people to test these letters for clarity before sending out millions of them? Or even someone with common sense who can proof read and say 'this is confusing!'.

 

[Winot]

I just called, myself. Apparently there are two different letters. One for those who are already opted out - offering to opt them in. The other is to those who are not opted out already - explaining how to do so. I was already opted out.

Thanks for checking - I did the same as you and binned it. Glad to hear all is OK.

 

[Greebo]

I had the contradictory letter <snip> Do the government not have a focus group of real people to test these letters for clarity before sending out millions of them? Or even someone with common sense who can proof read and say 'this is confusing!'.

You know the probable answer to this: Their is nothing wrong with relying on a spell chequer, and paying staff to read (let alone think) costs extra money.

 

[Crazy Squirrel]

Neat. Before I lived in Brixton I lived in Leytonstone, which has a South African contingent in its population, and was amused to discover that there are a couple of places named after it in South Africa too.

I was born in Newcastle, South Africa, which back then was a tiny one horse town. Practically everything there is named after places here, including a city that's called 'East London'!

When I was growing up in SA, Brixton was known for its violence and crime, and for the crack police squad based there during apartheid era SA... Die Brixton Moord en Roof Eenheid (Brixton Murder and Robbery Squad). They were disbanded in around 2002, probably because they were found to be worse criminals than the murderers and robbers. There's now a band called Die Brixton Moord en Roof Orkes.

Brixton's also known for its giant communications tower, which is pretty much the only interesting silhouette on an otherwise very bland skyline.

Apparently it's a very interesting place these days. A friend of mine from Brighton went to SA recently on holiday and stayed with friend Brixton, and yes it may have been gentrified, but now there are families (of all colours) living there peacefully, whereas 30 years ago it was a pretty scary place.

 

[elmpp]

You know the probable answer to this: Their is nothing wrong with relying on a spell chequer, and paying staff to read (let alone think) costs extra money.

Spell chequer. Sorry, but classic

 

[gaijingirl]

and "their" - so I think it's probably deliberate!

 

[snowy_again]

My Lambeth Living letter quote of the day:

"It has been brought to my attention that you have been throwing all kinds of rubbish from your windows"

I've written back asking for clarification as to whether she actually means me, and if so whether she understands libel.

 

[Greebo]

and "their" - so I think it's probably deliberate!

They were - my accidental typos tend to get letters in the wrong order.

 

[Black Halo]

all kinds of rubbish

All kinds? Like every single kind from sweet wrappers to containers of industrial waste? I hear they frown on that kind of thing, especially the sweet wrappers ...

I know it's an expression but they could at least make an effort to sound like professionals.

 

[snowy_again]

Indeed. I might just stock pile some larger things; sharks, black holes etc. to throw out in the future.

The closing line which says; "If you continue with this behaviour we will be forced to take further action against you"

Actually in bold was what tickled me, what are they going to do? Access my flat and batten down the windows?

I've just got an out of office with this at the bottom too: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/EmailDisclaimer.htm which leads to a dead page on the Lambeth website.

 

[Rushy]

Indeed. I might just stock pile some larger things; sharks, black holes etc. to throw out in the future.

The closing line which says; "If you continue with this behaviour we will be forced to take further action against you"

Actually in bold was what tickled me, what are they going to do? Access my flat and batten down the windows?

I've just got an out of office with this at the bottom too: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/EmailDisclaimer.htm which leads to a dead page on the Lambeth website.

It seems that "vague" is their way. I received a letter last week telling me to cut back "the tree or bush overhanging the highway which is causing a nuisance within 14 days" or action would be taken. It is not an entirely unreasonable request except that there are several overhanging the highway and I wasn't sure which was causing a nuisance. They responded saying "the one overhanging your wall" - which obviously all those overhanging the highway do. I have again asked for clarification and pointed out that, as I am in a conservation area, the trees are all protected so the council requires an application to be submitted including a specific description of proposed works to each tree, followed by a six week consultation period. Failure to do this is a criminal offence as well punishable by a £20,000 fine. I asked whether, if I did works as requested within the 14 day deadline, they could indemnify me from any prosecution. I've not heard back.

 

[Winot]

It seems that "vague" is their way. I received a letter last week telling me to cut back "the tree or bush overhanging the highway which is causing a nuisance within 14 days" or action would be taken. It is not an entirely unreasonable request except that there are several overhanging the highway and I wasn't sure which was causing a nuisance. They responded saying "the one overhanging your wall" - which obviously all those overhanging the highway do. I have again asked for clarification and pointed out that, as I am in a conservation area, the trees are all protected so the council requires an application to be submitted including a specific description of proposed works to each tree, followed by a six week consultation period. Failure to do this is a criminal offence as well punishable by a £20,000 fine. I asked whether, if I did works as requested within the 14 day deadline, they could indemnify me from any prosecution. I've not heard back.

You misunderstand - it's just a grammatical error. They have been watching your trees and bushes and tracking their growth rates. They have worked out that one of them is going to cause a nuisance within 14 days, and they want you to take pre-emptive preventative measures to ensure that nuisance doesn't happen. Now you've just got to work out which one.

All perfectly reasonable imo, don't know what you're complaining about.