Out with the Old... Network Rail tell businesses to vacate Atlantic Road arches

[editor]

Yep. It's a fair question which, predictably, won't be answered.

That's because it is a ridiculous question that is wide open to personal interpretation and attempting to engage with it would just start a pointless argument that can never have a resolution (yes, I know, this place likes those sorts of questions).

If I said '15 years', no doubt someone would pipe up with, "Ah! So if they've only been there for 14 years and 364 days then they're not long term according to you!"

As I said before, the topic of this thread is far too important for it to be sidetracked into such a pointless rhetorical discussion.

 

[MaryC]

Interestingly Omnis is owned by Sophie Knight - daughter of Jerry Knight the owner of Lexadon. Always doing their bit to ruin the area!

 

[rich!]

Yes of course frameworks don't hold people to account by just being there - what I mean is that this can be used as part of an argument with them - as a public corporation, they would need to respond to that / justify actions against it.

which was the point I was clearly not making

 

[Tricky Skills]

Brixton Blog reports that Cllr Jack Hopkins ( Cabinet member for jobs and growth) has posted up a statement on "Future Brixton".

According to Jack its all his efforts that have got NR to back off a bit ( for now). No mention from Jack about Brixton Buzz / U75 being the first to bring this to public attention. No mention by Jack of the huge amount of people who signed the petition.

No its Jack and wonderful Lambeth Council who have got some concessions from NR.

Is Jack going to give NR a good telling off for their lack of "cooperative" behaviour? Network Rail have unilaterally pulled out of "co producing" , to use Council jargon, a masterplan for central Brixton.

NR backing off a bit is due to the shopkeepers standing together and the local community ( and beyond) kicking up a stink about this.

Oh such cynicism.

Jacko is single handedly SAVING Brixton Arches. Today is not a day for soundbites, but he has the hand of history on his shoulder. Jacko is the REAL HERO in not at all politicising this and working for the community.

Or at least that is according to Mike Warren, the 'apolitical' PA to Cllr Lib Peck.

What a wonderful Storify.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Er.... it was my point, and yes it was.

I was pointing out the fact Omnis is not the "right kind of shop" to some people as evidenced in the posts bemoaning it's existence; and that editor was saying he didn't want long term Brixton shops to close. A fair point. But my point was, how long would it take Omnis to be elevated to this position and therefore recieve the same level of support if faced with eviction.

I don't mind a few shops selling some pretty/expensive/useless things. Perhaps I might even shop in them when I have enough money to buy a useless pretty thing as a present. (though I'd probably look in Morleys, the market or maybe Joy first - not on pricipal but based on experience)
But where will we be able to shop - to buy cheese, herbs, fish, hair products, carpets, pans, veg, fabric, etc, if all the rents are hiked so high that all the traditional traders are forced out so only national/ global chains and rich people playing shop can afford to trade in Brixton?

I live here. I shop in Brixton every week. I don't bemoan the existance of Omnis (I probably wouldn't have noticed it if it hadn't featured on urb) but I love Brixton Market, and I'd hate to lose it.

 

[Gramsci]

Oh such cynicism.

Jacko is single handedly SAVING Brixton Arches. Today is not a day for soundbites, but he has the hand of history on his shoulder. Jacko is the REAL HERO in not at all politicising this and working for the community.

Or at least that is according to Mike Warren, the 'apolitical' PA to Cllr Lib Peck.

What a wonderful Storify.

I wonder if the Labour administration would have made the efforts it has if there had not been such large amount of complaints about NR action by general public.

This is interesting section from Lib Pecks email:

...I agree with your sentiments. Network Rail has been very cavalier in the way it has treated the businesses; and it is really important that those well established local businesses get a fair and good deal and a guarantee of return at a sustainable rent.

Sustainable rent and guarantee of right to return. Peck puts it more strongly that Jack Hopkins.

Will have to remember what Peck wrote and make sure Labour administration keep to arguing for this.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Oh such cynicism.

Jacko is single handedly SAVING Brixton Arches. Today is not a day for soundbites, but he has the hand of history on his shoulder. Jacko is the REAL HERO in not at all politicising this and working for the community.

Or at least that is according to Mike Warren, the 'apolitical' PA to Cllr Lib Peck.

What a wonderful Storify.

I'm afraid I succumbed to the temptation to post a reply to the story Gramsci linked to on the Brixton Blog, making it abundantly clear that the saintly St. Jackie had dropped the ball on this, and was treading on local shopkeepers and activists to do so. It seemed only fair to piss on his chips after such egregious credit-taking.

 

[editor]

Oh such cynicism.

Jacko is single handedly SAVING Brixton Arches. Today is not a day for soundbites, but he has the hand of history on his shoulder. Jacko is the REAL HERO in not at all politicising this and working for the community.

Or at least that is according to Mike Warren, the 'apolitical' PA to Cllr Lib Peck.

What a wonderful Storify.

Oh they've stolen my photo without credit too.

 

[editor]

Er.... it was my point, and yes it was.

I was pointing out the fact Omnis is not the "right kind of shop" to some people as evidenced in the posts bemoaning it's existence; and that editor was saying he didn't want long term Brixton shops to close. A fair point. But my point was, how long would it take Omnis to be elevated to this position and therefore recieve the same level of support if faced with eviction.

I'd say it's very unlikely that Omnis wil be around in ten years, but the kind of local businesses that tend to get the biggest support from the local community are the ones that cater to a broad cross section of them.

 

[MissL]

What is Omnis?

It's one of those shops where you look through the window and cannot fathom what they sell. I walk past it every day and I've never seen a soul in there.

 

[Mr Bim of Bar]

It's one of those shops where you look through the window and cannot fathom what they sell. I walk past it every day and I've never seen a soul in there.

It's a lifestyle shop selling a range of beautiful things. Well that's what their website says.

 

[CH1]

Interestingly Omnis is owned by Sophie Knight - daughter of Jerry Knight the owner of Lexadon. Always doing their bit to ruin the area!

Funnily enough the meter seems to have run out. I get "This website has expired" (assuming Google have correctly identified what everyone is talking about http://sophie-knight.squarespace.com/index/).

 

[ViolentPanda]

I'd say it's very unlikely that Omnis wil be around in ten years, but the kind of local businesses that tend to get the biggest support from the local community are the ones that cater to a broad cross section of them.

Unless Daddy Jerry is happy to continuously fund his offspring's flirtation with real life for another 10 years, anyway.

 

[editor]

Funnily enough the meter seems to have run out. I get "This website has expired" (assuming Google have correctly identified what everyone is talking about http://sophie-knight.squarespace.com/index/).

They're more Instagrammy than websitey.

 

[equationgirl]

Oh they've stolen my photo without credit too.

I hope you're following that up with them, the cheeky fucks.

 

[MaryC]

Unless Daddy Jerry is happy to continuously fund his offspring's flirtation with real life for another 10 years, anyway.

Well it's in a building that he owns so you have could be forgiven in thinking he is not charging her rent.

Although I suppose it's better than their normal MO. Lexadon do seem to have a habit of saying that parts of a building will be used for a certain purpose in order that they can get planning permission and then not using them for that purpose at all. For example the Angel Pub that is totally unusable with a 45K PA rent, the offices on Valentia Place that are now been used as residential lettings or the shop space below The Viaduct that is actually used as a storage and admin space for Lexadon's building and maintenance team.

 

[Gramsci]

I was giving out posters to some of the shopkeepers around Brixton.

Ended up with several of them also saying that the rents for their shops had been going up a lot over the in recent years. That they did not know how long they could stay in Brixton. And these were shops that I use that had been around for a long time.

 

[CH1]

I was giving out posters to some of the shopkeepers around Brixton.

Ended up with several of them also saying that the rents for their shops had been going up a lot over the in recent years. That they did not know how long they could stay in Brixton. And these were shops that I use that had been around for a long time.

On my quick spin this morning to get a paper the only posters I saw up were in Wahaca (who had 2 in different windows so you couldn't miss).

 

[Winot]

On my quick spin this morning to get a paper the only posters I saw up were in Wahaca (who had 2 in different windows so you couldn't miss).

Good for them.

 

[editor]

On my quick spin this morning to get a paper the only posters I saw up were in Wahaca (who had 2 in different windows so you couldn't miss).

Yes, it was good to see them putting the posters in such a prominent position.

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

Noteworthy nice coffee and cheerful service at Balance Cafe on Ferndale Rd this morning. Recommended.

They also have an anti eviction poster in the window.

 

[DietCokeGirl]

I was giving out posters to some of the shopkeepers around Brixton.

Ended up with several of them also saying that the rents for their shops had been going up a lot over the in recent years. That they did not know how long they could stay in Brixton. And these were shops that I use that had been around for a long time.

One of the problems with this is the short term leases handed out. 3 month and six month leases that are the norm offer no security, and you sign on the understanding there's no guarantee of renewal or that it'll be on the same terms and conditions.

 

[Gramsci]

Lastest statement from Network Rail

Entitled:

Network Rail works with community to improve Brixton property

No they do not.

As someone said to me this statement is to be read with caution.

 

[Gramsci]

On my quick spin this morning to get a paper the only posters I saw up were in Wahaca (who had 2 in different windows so you couldn't miss).

Well I did give some shops in Atlantic and CHL the posters. Not all put them up so far. Not that they were against them. More probably never got around to it.

 

[editor]

Lastest statement from Network Rail

Entitled:
As someone said to me this statement is to be read with caution.

I'm posting up a slightly cynical piece first thing about this on Buzz.

 

[BigMoaner]

the thing is, it's in property owner and landlords' interests that interesting lively areas are not turned into all looking like fucking bond street.

 

[sleaterkinney]

I'm posting up a slightly cynical piece first thing about this on Buzz.

Basically, they're listening but not going to change their plans at all.

 

[Pickman's model]

It's one of those shops where you look through the window and cannot fathom what they sell. I walk past it every day and I've never seen a soul in there.

have you ever read conrad's "the secret agent"?

 

[Pickman's model]

Basically, they're listening but not going to change their plans at all.

so they're not listening

 

[Pickman's model]

the thing is, it's in property owner and landlords' interests that interesting lively areas are not turned into all looking like fucking bond street.

do you think so?
would you agree that more money changes hands on bond st than any single st in brixton?