Brixton news, rumour and general chat - June 2015

[se5]

Several references to the Brixton branch protests in the article on Foxtons in today's Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/17/is-foxtons-the-estate-agent-london-deserves

 

[editor]

The Frontline 2015: Double artisan hipster beard action + iPhones + expensive curated hipster shop.

 

[Greebo]

The Frontline 2015: Double artisan hipster beard action + iPhones + expensive curated hipster shop. <snip>

 

[cuppa tee]

back to the future

 

[happyshopper]

In my day (yawn) applications had to be made before doing something. Retrospective applications were almost always rejected.

In your day you clearly weren't paying attention. There have been retrospective planning applications since the dawn of time and planning authorities have never been able to refuse retrospective applications just because they are retrospective. They have to be considered on their merits, in accordance with established planning policies.

 

[CH1]

In your day you clearly weren't paying attention. There have been retrospective planning applications since the dawn of time and planning authorities have never been able to refuse retrospective applications just because they are retrospective. They have to be considered on their merits, in accordance with established planning policies.

Au contraire - a lot of these applications were for things that were not appropriate to grant. Which is presumably why they didn't apply in the first place.
There are still old school councillors around who could confirm what I'm saying (Dickson, Gentry to name but two)

 

[Rushy]

Au contraire - a lot of these applications were for things that were not appropriate to grant. Which is presumably why they didn't apply in the first place.
There are still old school councillors around who could confirm what I'm saying (Dickson, Gentry to name but two)

To be fair in your day no one bothered with retrospective. Because it was never challenged. They just eventually got lawful certificate.

 

[CH1]

To be fair in your day no one bothered with retrospective. Because it was never challenged. They just eventually got lawful certificate.

That was if nobody noticed what had been done. Remember that Lambeth Planning had a full cohort of permanent beady-eyed officers in those days - not ones draughted in from Queensland at short notice on self employed contracts. Not to mention some belligerent Councillors on the planning committee!

 

[CH1]

Is it possible that people might be interested in what Lambeth Council's pension fund gets up to?

http://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/documents/s74772/3 London Borough of Lambeth Pension Fund - BG Presentation June 2015 Print.pdf

I find it ironic that one of their best performers this year is "Royal Caribbean Cruises" (a cruise ship company Baillie Gifford informs us)
Ethnic cleansing at home, and ethnic tourism for the pension pot?

 

[editor]

Here's the new bar details: Ekcovision late night cafe/cocktail bar to open up in Brixton Arches on 25th June

 

[Winot]

Here's the new bar details: Ekcovision late night cafe/cocktail bar to open up in Brixton Arches on 25th June

Dreadful name, but good to have an option for later nights. Do they get a late licence because there is precedent in that location?

 

[editor]

Dreadful name, but good to have an option for later nights. Do they get a late licence because there is precedent in that location?

I guess so. There's been a late licence there for as long as I can remember.

 

[CH1]

I guess so. There's been a late licence there for as long as I can remember.

It was more "Brixton" when it was Taco Joe's - and had no license at all. Talking early1990s here. Taco Joe's just carried on serving till all the customers had gone - a bit like Railton Road used to be 10 years before.

 

[Gramsci]

Not to mention some belligerent Councillors on the planning committee!

ex Cllr Palmer is sorely missed. I am not LD supporter but it was only Liberals on planning who would ask the awkward questions.

I was at the planning committee meeting this week to decide the last phase of the Guinness Trust development. Apart from one lone Tory ( Gentry) all the other Labour members just followed the lead from the Chair ( Labour). Depressing. Some of the Labour lot looked like they were there to just make up numbers.

 

[Gramsci]

Weather does not look great but there you go.

Meet around 11 am at Windrush sq. The march is from Bank of England to Parliament sq

 

[kikiscrumbles]

https://www.facebook.com/events/1572616432958919/

Info on the main march

I have heard the Brixton meet up point is Windrush sq at 11am.

Thanks for this - I'm currently making banners but was hoping to find out details - plus whether or not and Urbs might be attending [not that I know what you look like!]

 

[Gramsci]

Here's the new bar details: Ekcovision late night cafe/cocktail bar to open up in Brixton Arches on 25th June

What I do not understand is how this goes ahead when Network Rail is insisting on vacant possession of the other units. If this unit can be done separately undermines NR argument about complete clear out of the other units.

 

[kikiscrumbles]

Thanks for this - I'm currently making banners but was hoping to find out details - plus whether or not and Urbs might be attending [not that I know what you look like!]

*any Urbs*

 

[Gramsci]

Thanks for this - I'm currently making banners but was hoping to find out details - plus whether or not and Urbs might be attending [not that I know what you look like!]

Hope to see u there.

I may meet at Windrush sq and cycle up. So will have my cycle gear on. But not sure yet.

 

[Gramsci]

Thanks for this - I'm currently making banners but was hoping to find out details - plus whether or not and Urbs might be attending [not that I know what you look like!]

I did put it up on Brixton Noticeboard as well.

Maharani says will be there.

 

[kikiscrumbles]

I may meet at Windrush sq and cycle up. So will have my cycle gear on. But not sure yet.

Ey, cool - hope to bump into you [will probs also have a bike in tow, plus home-made banners!]

 

[editor]

Photos – Brixton campaigners assemble in Windrush Square ahead of the London End Austerity March

 

[kikiscrumbles]

Photos – Brixton campaigners assemble in Windrush Square ahead of the London End Austerity March

Thanks, Ed, for recording this. Brixton may be changing in [to me] a deeply unpleasant direction - but it's still a Top Place where we can still protest in the hope of better futures for all. And - so nice to meet Gramsci in the crowd! and CH1! to put faces to names etc etc. Anyway - thanks, Mike.

 

[happyshopper]

The ever excellent Diamond Geezer points us to the new tfl figures on passenger numbers at London stations. His blog is here and the figures for the Underground are here.

Brixton LT stations is the third busiest Underground station outside Zone 1 but it's the growth that is really extraordinary. The annual figures for entries and exits since 2007 are as follows:

Year Million
2007 20.6
2008 20.9
2009 20.9
2010 21.3
2011 22.5
2012 24.8
2013 27.2
2014 29.4

That's a 43% growth over seven years but 38% growth over the last three. I guess the 2015 figures will be affected by the escalator work, although the determination of large numbers of people to use Brixton, whatever the difficulties, shouldn't be underestimated.

 

[brixtonblade]

The ever excellent Diamond Geezer points us to the new tfl figures on passenger numbers at London stations. His blog is here and the figures for the Underground are here.

Brixton LT stations is the third busiest Underground station outside Zone 1 but it's the growth that is really extraordinary. The annual figures for entries and exits since 2007 are as follows:

Year Million
2007 20.6
2008 20.9
2009 20.9
2010 21.3
2011 22.5
2012 24.8
2013 27.2
2014 29.4

That's a 43% growth over seven years but 38% growth over the last three. I guess the 2015 figures will be affected by the escalator work, although the determination of large numbers of people to use Brixton, whatever the difficulties, shouldn't be underestimated.

Interesting stats. Don't think that's 38% in last 3 years though.

 

[Belushi]

Doesn't surprise me, my station (Totteham Hale) is up 54% from 2009-2014. The Victoria line really is running at full capacity nowadays.

 

[brixtonblade]

Doesn't surprise me, my station (Totteham Hale) is up 54% from 2009-2014. The Victoria line really is running at full capacity nowadays.

And Brixton not even in top 10...

London's ten tube stations with the biggest percentage increase in passengers (2009→2014)
1) Heathrow Terminal 4 (+333%) 2) Stratford (+120%) 3) Chesham (+90%) 4) Canons Park (+58%) 5) Tottenham Hale (+54%) 6) Royal Oak (+54%) 7) Kensington (Olympia) (+53%) 8) Blackhorse Road (+52%) 9) Wembley Park (+51%) 10) Farringdon (+51%)

 

[Ms T]

Doesn't surprise me, my station (Totteham Hale) is up 54% from 2009-2014. The Victoria line really is running at full capacity nowadays.

It really is bonkers. If I finish work at 6pm, there's a pretty good chance when I get to the tube (Oxford Circus) it will be closed due to overcrowding.

 

[happyshopper]

Interesting stats. Don't think that's 38% in last 3 years though.

You're right - four years.

 

[prunus]

Interesting stats. Don't think that's 38% in last 3 years though.

No, 30.7%, but still, that's huge.