I went to the rather depressing LJ Neighbourhood Planning meeting last Thursday.
Two main topics. The LJ road/ public realm improvements and the GLA funded project for the Farm site.
It appears the recent consultation on the plans for the road improvements are all joe public going to get. I did point out the plans were vague and the questions were general stuff about what one feels about the Junction.
The results of the survey ( at meeting shown the draft report). People were asked :
- What do you love about your area?
- What would you change?
- Are there any changes you do not want to see?
( I must say at the consultation I avoided answering these questions. Im to wary of consultation to be keen to answer vague general questions like this. )
Top three priorities were ( from the results of the recent consultation events.)
- Streets and roads. Improving crossings and general look and feel of the area.
- Nature. More trees and greenery
- Identity. Local art work for bridges, celebrating "vibrancy" of the area.
Three changes not wanted:
- Narrowing the road and wiggling the road by the Farm.
- Making the area look like anywhere else in London and damaging the current atmosphere and sense of community
- People wanted to see improvements to cycling infrastructure and not convinced that the ideas shown would create a significant impact. ( To make it clear. This was something people wanted and was lacking in the plans shown)
In full this response:
"Clear themes in response to "What do people love about LJ" were the vibrancy and community feel of the area. There was genuine concern that this work alongside other projects in the area, could damage this. "
I take the above comment as concerns that LJ could eventually go the way of Brixton and be gentrified ( for want of a better word). Its what I have heard more than once from LJ locals. Goes along with the comment about not wanting the area to become anywhere else in London. I have a lot of sympathy for these concerns.
A lot of the comments at the meeting ( from me) were that there was nothing for cycling in the plans at this time. Im also concerned that the officer basically said that due to lack of time from now the final plans will be worked up by the Steering Group only. They will then be put to TFL for agreement. Im not clear if TFL will do there own consultation. I did ask if the TFL funding did expect the improvements to improve things for cyclists and pedestrians. Answer is yes from the officer in charge ( who is ok imo. Talked to him at the consultation event. He did say this is the most difficult one he has done.)
Not happy at all about how this is turning out.
But the consultation finding that people wanted improvements for cycling was an interesting one. I wonder how this will be dealt with.
The Farm site/ GLA project.
One of the officers in charge of it who has worked at Pop re the jobs side of it ( not a good sign imo) was at the meeting. The now have a social enterprise interested in the food ( that is making) side of it. Idea being there will be an equipped kitchen alongside the farm element where people can experiment with food "ideas". Looks like Tree Shepherd will also be involved giving training on setting up business.
As this was one of my better days and I was on good form I queried this as creating lasting sustainable employment for people leading to secure well paid employment.
The officer from Lambeth who had worked with Pop said they had done research on the Estate. That many of the women there were "NEETs" - not in employment, education or training. And were often long term unemployed. That when asked the one thing they had some knowledge of it was cooking. So idea of a kitchen on the Farm site as part of this GLA funded project appealed to them.
I said encouraging people to develop food "ideas" and set up there own business would not lead to the route out of poverty the officer claimed.
Several people from the estate came up to me after the meeting and said I was right to say that this would not be route out of poverty. One said this was not real training.
Secondly I said it would be better (for example) if women on the estate could be encouraged / given confidence to take other training such as in construction. Non conventional jobs for women. Raising there horizons. To be fair the officer said she saw the point of what I was saying on this.
Forgot there was another topic- LJ and possible conservation area. Will do that later.
) are this company: 
