Out with the Old... Network Rail tell businesses to vacate Atlantic Road arches
- Thread starter :-D
- Start date
After all the talk from Network Rail about having a commitment to maintaining a mix of independent traders etc it became very clear their only doing this as a money making exercise and deep down couldn't care less about Brixton and the effect it will have on people's lives ! Lambeth Council are their ' bed fellows ' and will get a redevolopment for very little of their own money
editor
hiraethified
Yep. It's all about the money and that always wins in then end. But let's fight it to the bitter end. You can count on my support.
editor
hiraethified
Here's Jack Hopkins take on things. I presume he only likes the Blog because he never includes us in his tweets and it's not like we're the biggest Brixton site by far or anything. 
https://jackhopkins.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/network-rail-show-us-the-figures-give-us-the-details/
https://jackhopkins.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/network-rail-show-us-the-figures-give-us-the-details/
Manter
Lunch Mob
So the answer to 'what are they going to do' is 'hold meetings where significant numbers of interested parties are not allowed to attend and key questions aren't answered'Here's Jack Hopkins take on things. I presume he only likes the Blog because he never includes us in his tweets and it's not like we're the biggest Brixton site by far or anything.
https://jackhopkins.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/network-rail-show-us-the-figures-give-us-the-details/
Glad he's cleared that up for us.
:-D
Peas & Cues
Jacks post on FUTURE BRIXTON 23 feb.
There’s been considerable progress around many of the issues on and Network Rail have undertaken personal visits to each of the businesses to see what their needs are and how they can be accommodated.
The right to return is now a firm commitment for those businesses who want to come back which is a really important offer that I have been lobbying for from day one. However the terms under which they can come back is unclear at the moment. The phrase ‘affordable rent’ has been used by Network Rail, again a positive step, but there is no exact figure which makes it very difficult for the Council or the businesses themselves to judge whether it is fair.
Furthermore a number of the businesses were concerned that this subsidised rent will only last for 9 years, and whilst they accept that they will pay more once they move back, it is unclear whether businesses will pick up significantly enough to cover market rent in the future. The Future Brixton programme which will see more people shopping in Brixton should help traders to do more business but there is a question about whether that will happen in time.
At the moment Network Rail are working out how much the refurbishment and structural work will cost, and this will have implications on how much rent they need in order to pay for the work. Again it is helpful that they are now talking about affordable rent for some businesses at some locations and full blown market rent in other units. However at the moment there is no detail on how much this is. Businesses and the Brixton community need clarity. Hopefully the meeting I am hosting with businesses and Network Rail tomorrow can provide that.
Just a few points i take issue with
How Jack has managed to identify the issues,without speaking to the leaseholders is amazing. I will have to start wearing my tin foil hat to bed again or soon he'll have the family recipes for Hummus and Taramasalata
Define DAY ONE. TDTSHTF ?.....very proactive for someone who knew of the situation 4 months prior.
A company of this scale has no costings worked out for a development that they themselves brought forward by a year? .....and Jack is ok with this.
But worry not shopkeepers Jack's lobbying is paying dividends, Network Rail can have until MAY to do their sums and present them to us....that will leave aprox six weeks to sort ourselves out before we start receiving our Notices. Oh Joy!
My rent has been paid, in full, on time for 25 years. that's what i signed up to. Network Rails obligation is to maintain these arches. They have already collected from us sufficient funds to do any work, why are we being asked to pay for for this work again?
Jack hasn't questioned this. I suspect because he is not thinking along the lines of ensuring the long term futures of small businesses in Future Brixtons Masterplan. Rather, he is busy thinking of ways that they can be more profitable to ensure they can meet the inevitable tripling of rents.
Can't wait to see the synopsis of this meeting,
There’s been considerable progress around many of the issues on and Network Rail have undertaken personal visits to each of the businesses to see what their needs are and how they can be accommodated.
The right to return is now a firm commitment for those businesses who want to come back which is a really important offer that I have been lobbying for from day one. However the terms under which they can come back is unclear at the moment. The phrase ‘affordable rent’ has been used by Network Rail, again a positive step, but there is no exact figure which makes it very difficult for the Council or the businesses themselves to judge whether it is fair.
Furthermore a number of the businesses were concerned that this subsidised rent will only last for 9 years, and whilst they accept that they will pay more once they move back, it is unclear whether businesses will pick up significantly enough to cover market rent in the future. The Future Brixton programme which will see more people shopping in Brixton should help traders to do more business but there is a question about whether that will happen in time.
At the moment Network Rail are working out how much the refurbishment and structural work will cost, and this will have implications on how much rent they need in order to pay for the work. Again it is helpful that they are now talking about affordable rent for some businesses at some locations and full blown market rent in other units. However at the moment there is no detail on how much this is. Businesses and the Brixton community need clarity. Hopefully the meeting I am hosting with businesses and Network Rail tomorrow can provide that.
Just a few points i take issue with
How Jack has managed to identify the issues,without speaking to the leaseholders is amazing. I will have to start wearing my tin foil hat to bed again or soon he'll have the family recipes for Hummus and Taramasalata
Define DAY ONE. TDTSHTF ?.....very proactive for someone who knew of the situation 4 months prior.
A company of this scale has no costings worked out for a development that they themselves brought forward by a year? .....and Jack is ok with this.
But worry not shopkeepers Jack's lobbying is paying dividends, Network Rail can have until MAY to do their sums and present them to us....that will leave aprox six weeks to sort ourselves out before we start receiving our Notices. Oh Joy!
My rent has been paid, in full, on time for 25 years. that's what i signed up to. Network Rails obligation is to maintain these arches. They have already collected from us sufficient funds to do any work, why are we being asked to pay for for this work again?
Jack hasn't questioned this. I suspect because he is not thinking along the lines of ensuring the long term futures of small businesses in Future Brixtons Masterplan. Rather, he is busy thinking of ways that they can be more profitable to ensure they can meet the inevitable tripling of rents.
Can't wait to see the synopsis of this meeting,
:-D
Peas & Cues
sleaterkinney
Well-Known Member
Have the Brixton traders been in contact with the Herne Hill ones?. Network rail are doing the same there.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Here's Jack Hopkins take on things. I presume he only likes the Blog because he never includes us in his tweets and it's not like we're the biggest Brixton site by far or anything.
https://jackhopkins.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/network-rail-show-us-the-figures-give-us-the-details/
Looking at his twitter he does only include blog in his tweets not Brixton Buzz or Urban75 where this first came out.
The Labour Cllrs do not like U75/ Brixton Buzz much. Or they pretend it does not exist/ is of no consequence. I know they like the Blog.
Surprised he mentioned Brixton Buzz at all. But then he only mentions Buzz to put it down. Considering Buzz has been doing very good and extensive coverage of the traders plight even a Labour Cllr cannot ignore Buzz this time.
I see Cllr Jack has reverted to his cajoling people mode:
Was it really necessary to say this? Like I as a resident need to be reminded by Cllr Jack to use these shops?
I find this very irritating.
Its almost comes across to me that he is irritated by the number of people and the support the shops have got.
I tell u what Jack. I turned up to the consultation meetings on the Brixton Central Masterplan. I want to show my support so can you set up a meeting where residents can come and make there feelings known to Network Rail?
Looking at what Cllr Jack says I wonder if he has been reading this thread. As some of the points he raises have been posted up here. ie NR being a public body.
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Gramsci
Well-Known Member
From Cllr Jacks blog
My emphasis.
The Brixton Central Masterplan consultation was still taking place on late 2014. With consultation officially closing on 8th December
Why did the Council encourage NR to delay?
Why did Cllr Jack assume they would proceed in a better way?
Network Rail attended the consultation meetings. So did Cllr Jack.
If residents had known about this I am sure they would have had a lot to say about it.
I can only think that the Council did not, in there eyes, want the consultation "disrupted" by residents questioning NR about plans for arches.
Technically yes but I was under the impression that Council , NR and residents were working together.
From Future Brixton website:
So during the consultation two parties ( NR and Council) knew about proposals to evict the arches but us residents who attended the consultation meetings were kept in the dark.
My emphasis.
The Brixton Central Masterplan consultation was still taking place on late 2014. With consultation officially closing on 8th December
Why did the Council encourage NR to delay?
Why did Cllr Jack assume they would proceed in a better way?
Network Rail attended the consultation meetings. So did Cllr Jack.
If residents had known about this I am sure they would have had a lot to say about it.
I can only think that the Council did not, in there eyes, want the consultation "disrupted" by residents questioning NR about plans for arches.
Technically yes but I was under the impression that Council , NR and residents were working together.
From Future Brixton website:
So during the consultation two parties ( NR and Council) knew about proposals to evict the arches but us residents who attended the consultation meetings were kept in the dark.
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
Once again - not according to Mike Warren, the 'apolitical' servant of Cllr Lib Peck.
Tell It Like It Is.
CH1
"Red Guard"(NLYL)
A spring-board for a northern seat in the general election after next no doubt.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Right up until it catches up with them, and they notice that footfall has dropped significantly because people have stopped using Atlantic Rd etc, because there's no longer any independents there, just faceless chains whose products are the same as those sold by the other faceless chains.
Not that the likes of Hopkins gives a toss- as CH1 says, this is a stepping stone for him and his ilk. All he's interested in is mouthing the correct party lines and making himself look good. he only cares about Brixton as and when what happens here furthers his career, the grinning twat.
:-D
Peas & Cues
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
But the Council did stand idle. It knew about this in November.
It only started lobbying NR in reaction the the public outcry about this.
That was a good read.
"The chance to live in an area that is gritty, genuine and real. But this reality is always kept at arm’s length. Gentrifiers have the income to inoculate themselves from how locals live. They plump for spacious Georgian semi-detached houses on a quiet street away from the tower blocks. They socialize in gastro-pubs and artisan cafés. They can do without sure start centers, food banks and the local comprehensive."
Never will they face the grinding monotony of mindless work, the inability to pay bills or feed their children, nor the feeling of guilt and hopelessness that comes from being at the bottom of a system that blames the individual but offers no legitimate means by which they can escape.
This partial experience is deliberate. Because with intimate knowledge of how the other half live comes an ugly truth: that middle-class privilege is in many ways premised on working class exploitation. That the rising house prices and cheap mortgages from which they have benefited create a rental market shot with misery. "
All of the above, the working class know already. The gentrifiers are essentially cultural/geographical imperialists. Enough is a dirty word to them. I would go so far as to call them a social nuisance. Maybe we could have AGBO's - anti gentrification behaviour orders.
Omnis - Oh My! Note Indicating shut.
Twattor
Well-Known Member
gone skiing?
Long weekend? Nice work if you can get it.
:-D
Peas & Cues
Here's Jack Hopkins take on things. I presume he only likes the Blog because he never includes us in his tweets and it's not like we're the biggest Brix e by far or anything.
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