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Lambeth's plans to demolish Cressingham Gardens and other estates without the consent of residents

Photos of outside of Rotunda this Saturday. Where Lambeth were holding a drop in "consultation" event. Cressingham Garden resident did there drawings outside the Rotunda. Also residents were outside as giving out info on there proposals/ alternatives.

Interesting to talk to the residents as they went in. None who came out were happy. The whole "consultation" process is causing a lot of anxiety and worry to people. And a lot of anger.

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Reading that, it occurs to me that a sort of Westminster gerrymander in reverse might be taking place - focusing "affordable"/social rent (whatever Lambeth are planning that to actually mean) housing on estates where the estate (and the wider) electorate already support Labour, as Lambeth Labour must be aware that a demographic change toward "the gentrifying classes" has historically meant a lessening of Labour majorities and in some cases a loss of Labour wards.
Maybe I'm being terrifically-cynical, but I could see how it could be a PARTIAL justification for this wilful stupidity.
 
Was being heatedly discussed at the craignair road bus stop this morning at 6.15am. Consensus was higher and higher density, plus breaking up the community was an invitation for increased crime

A heated discussion on a cold morning has to be commended although i'm not entirely convinced by the higher density leading to higher crime argument; although in abstract terms this is undoubtedly true
The real issue is housing, it's the only issue and it's burning holes in everything else.
 
Do you remember the 'good old days' - 1985/1986 when the Audit Commission surcharged and banned from Office 32 Lambeth Councillors? Then there was Dame Shirley Porter Leader of Westminster Council who eventually settled with the Commission in 2004 paying back £12.3 million to Westminster Council. See Wiki.
Unfortunately the Audit Commission will close at the end of this month. Check www.audit-commission.gov.uk and follow the link to find out the new powers, workings etc. on whistleblowing, "value of money of services delivered by the local government sector" and so on.
Gerlinde this stuff is way beyond my understanding. If it's useful I hope there is someone out there who can run with this or assist you.
 
A heated discussion on a cold morning has to be commended although i'm not entirely convinced by the higher density leading to higher crime argument; although in abstract terms this is undoubtedly true <snip>
This estate has consistently far lower crime rates than any other council estate along Tulse Hill. Good sightlines (including being able to see from the kitchen window who's coming to your front door), clusters of housing, and natural stopping/socialising points have gone a long way to designing out the type of crime usually expected on a housing estate.

People living here are no more virtuous by nature than elsewhere, so what else can explain the lower rate?
 
This estate has consistently far lower crime rates than any other council estate along Tulse Hill. Good sightlines (including being able to see from the kitchen window who's coming to your front door), clusters of housing, and natural stopping/socialising points have gone a long way to designing out the type of crime usually expected on a housing estate.

People living here are no more virtuous by nature than elsewhere, so what else can explain the lower rate?

I'm more convinced now.
 
A heated discussion on a cold morning has to be commended although i'm not entirely convinced by the higher density leading to higher crime argument; although in abstract terms this is undoubtedly true
The real issue is housing, it's the only issue and it's burning holes in everything else.

I did quite a bit of research into what's called "situational crime prevention" in the built environment, and the way Hollamby put this place together certainly avoided a lot of the problems that cursed other high and low-rise developments. There are lots of straight sightlines from most points on the estate, which makes street theft much harder. There are also very few choke-points for foot traffic, and few blindspots.

Now, so-called "best practice" in current design and construction should include avoiding all the old problems, but sometimes includes new ones. Something as simple as making blocks only accessible through lobbies (or estates accessible through gates, FFS! :facepalm: ), can often cause a choke-point that can be exploited by street thieves.

As for higher density per se meaning more crime, that's a function of the type of construction of much higher density housing - the old problems of subterranean car parks, elevated walkways etc, and while you can take measures - removing the walkways; making the car parks permitted-access only - you can't really do more than minimise issues. Even the old GLC estates we talked about have design problems that facilitate crime, even though most of them have electronic locks on outer access. Any place is only as secure as the laziest wanker living there wants it to be, sadly.
 
It would seem that this was so embarrassing to somebody that a no mark decided to tear down all the roadside banners (except the "not for sale" one) and the laminated captions. It was deliberate, and not done by the people who put them up - the cable ties were left intact. I haven't checked the parkside yet, but it's to be hoped that they're intact.

Not that it really matters, more will go up. And will keep going up.
'nother photo of the Tulse Hill banner, with added explanations.

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Do you remember the 'good old days' - 1985/1986 when the Audit Commission surcharged and banned from Office 32 Lambeth Councillors? Then there was Dame Shirley Porter Leader of Westminster Council who eventually settled with the Commission in 2004 paying back £12.3 million to Westminster Council. See Wiki.
Unfortunately the Audit Commission will close at the end of this month. Check www.audit-commission.gov.uk and follow the link to find out the new powers, workings etc. on whistleblowing, "value of money of services delivered by the local government sector" and so on.
Gerlinde this stuff is way beyond my understanding. If it's useful I hope there is someone out there who can run with this or assist you.

A "Formal Objection" sent into the external auditors has been accepted... will have to wait and see if they take the council to court.
 
RIght, I'm now well enough to do this as long as I wrap up, so hope to see you this afternoon or tomorrow afternoon.

Captions are back up on the road side of the estate.
Glad the banners are back. I'm aiming to be standing next to the Cressingham Gardens gate (on the park side) from 1 pm tomorrow (Sunday) with copies of the petition and clipboards. Didn't go today as I was at the Lambeth consultation event on the future of funding for parks in the Karibou Centre. Hoping it won't be quite so cold tomorrow - forecast is sunny intervals. If it is, will hang around until 2.30 to 3.
 
Glad the banners are back. I'm aiming to be standing next to the Cressingham Gardens gate (on the park side) from 1 pm tomorrow (Sunday) with copies of the petition and clipboards. Didn't go today as I was at the Lambeth consultation event on the future of funding for parks in the Karibou Centre. Hoping it won't be quite so cold tomorrow - forecast is sunny intervals. If it is, will hang around until 2.30 to 3.
That'd be great. Good on you for getting to the event at the Karibu centre, couldn't get there, but I got a couple of pages of signatures.
 
Gniewosz ref. audit-commission, I'm sure you were onto this a long time before it came to my mind. Preparing and presenting a case is a lot of digging and data mining. Well done
 
Parkside banners down. Okay, if that's how you want to play it. *shrug*
Was planning to do some petitioning on the park side this pm, but not sure about this now if the banners are down (so passers by won't be stopping and looking and so easier to approach). Could someone let me know when the banners are back up? BTW I have a collection of cable ties which I can bring along.
 
Was planning to do some petitioning on the park side this pm, but not sure about this now if the banners are down (so passers by won't be stopping and looking and so easier to approach). <snip>
If you don't turn up, fair enough. If you (or anyone else ) are there, even better. :)

Personally, I have far more enjoyable things to do with my weekend, and should still be resting and staying warm, but needs must. I'd rather physically wreck myself than worry myself sick at what might be done but isn't.

I will be out there for another few hours. And the laminated stuff will be going back up today. Have pavement chalk too.

BTW yes I'm fucking angry, but these things happen. Help or do not help, your choice. I'm even angrier at the those who are happy enough to use this estate as a shortcut to the park but don't care that it's in danger of first becoming a building site and later unsafe to walk through. <and breathe>
 
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If you don't turn up, fair enough. If you (or anyone else ) are there, even better. :)

Personally I have far more enjoyable things to do with my weekend, and should still be resting and staying warm, but needs must. I'd rather physically wreck myself than worry myself sick at what might be done but isn't.

I will be out there for another few hours. And the laminated stuff will be going back up today.
Good. I'm just about to set out with a clipboard, petitions (coming out of the printer now) and some spare cable ties. I'm a 20 minute walk away, so should be by the gate around 1 pm
 
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