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

[Manter]

Got to say this petition is getting wide traction on my Facebook from people I know with no real connection to the area - but with obvious general sympathies with the plight of the traders

People from outside Brixton and outside London on my friend list are starting to sign- eg The Northerner's (northern) family have signed as they all love Brixton's mix, enjoy visiting and have no desire to see it become a mini anywhere-else.

 

[Pickman's model]

Lucy c here's the thread you seek for your story

 

[Lucy c]

Cheers! Id be interested in interviewing anyone who has an opinion on National a Rails actions for a piece I'm writing to show to the community. Anyone who this is going to impact on, shop-owner, community member, please get in touch with me and send me a message, I'd appreciate any written or recorded interviews. Im particularly interested in how this will impact on the Brixton community. Please get in touch or post below!

 

[clandestino]

If the ITV news item does appear online, can someone post it on here please?

 

[editor]

Cheers! Id be interested in interviewing anyone who has an opinion on National a Rails actions for a piece I'm writing to show to the community. Anyone who this is going to impact on, shop-owner, community member, please get in touch with me and send me a message, I'd appreciate any written or recorded interviews. Im particularly interested in how this will impact on the Brixton community. Please get in touch or post below!

I would have thought it would just be easier for people to post up their opinions here, to be honest.

 

[Dan U]

If the ITV news item does appear online, can someone post it on here please?

Am on phone but think it's up thread somewhere.

 

[footballerslegs]

When my son was three days old my husband took him out and proudly introduced him to his friends out and about in Brixton – at Ferndale Leisure Centre, O Cantinho, and of course, everyone at the local, before taking a turn down Atlantic Road.

I’ve always said it takes my husband longer to get home from shopping than it does for him to actually do the shop as he chats to everyone that will humour him on his trip. For example, he’ll stop at Marios and debate Chelsea with the (I think) father and son team, with their dry senses of humour and forearms the size of ham hocks. And then onto Mash, to have a conversation on how to cook a piece of fish, before moving onto a general chat about the need to keep wives happy (ahem). Before, of course, popping into A&C Continental Deli to talk about, well, whatever comes up. To give you an idea of the possible breadth of conversation, I once found my husband buying a DVD of The Professionals to drop off there because ‘the guy (Jose) from A&C told me he liked it’.

Anyway, it was just before Christmas and my husband and baby were taking the tour and eventually made it to A&C. Jose, possibly at a loss on how to cope with a clearly emotional feller, did what any generous, community-loving, kind person would do, and gave my husband a huge panettone as congratulations. I’d never had panettone before and it was delicious – I think we lived on it for a couple of days as we tried to survive the early chaos. So when my baby turned one we bought another panettone and said that each year that would be his birthday cake. I told this to Jose’s wife Anabella and she said that she did the same for her son each year for his birthday, pressing deep grooves into the soft sponge with her fingers and filling each hole with fruit and sweets to decorate it. I hoped this would become a long term tradition we could all enjoy.

I can’t begin to put in words how sad I feel at the idea that these shops, these people – our friends - are being forced out of their businesses and their working and living communities. Which is why I wrote this overly sentimental piece. Forgive the indulgence and humour me, but this is what Brixton, and Atlantic Road means to me.

 

[Dan U]

Great post, no indulgence forgiving required.

 

[T & P]

I'm very encouraged by the massive response and action this shocking news has provoked so far from the community. Well done everyone!

 

[gaijingirl]

That's a lovely post footballerslegs - I feel similarly about it being something that will be lost to not just me but to my kids. We use the Rec a lot and then eat/shop in the arches shops. My older daughter says it's her favourite place - the music pumping out, the huge variety of colours, sounds, people - it is always a joyous experience and we always bump into someone. It's not just shopping/consuming/spending - it's interacting, laughing, making friends - living!

I can assure you she doesn't feel the same about Bromley High Street...

 

[:-D]

I've just been interviewed for ITV News. It'll be on the 6 o'clock news. I really don't like doing TV (especially when I'm sporting a curious stitch on my hooter!) but A&C asked me to do it, and I'm happy to support them.

The angle they seemed keen to pursue was "is this the end of Brixton's vibe?" I won't be watching but please be kind - I did the best I could!

Thank you so much Mike. I hardly noticed the stitch

 

[Gramsci]

I was not thinking of you in particular or referring to anything you have done on this matter. I brought it up because it has happened before and is a common theme in this board and I felt it was worth saying. Like you say, it it's important that people are united in their determination. I'm glad that we agree.

I noticed that the deli shopkeeper said this is about gentrification. Small long standing business like hers "face does not fit" in with the Nu Brixton. She thinks that Lambeth Council and Network Rail want to get chains in who will pay enormous amounts to have an arch.

Gentrification is a common theme that I encounter people in Brixton remarking on who do not post on these boards.

So you will not be having a problem with peaceful opposition to this further gentrification of Brixton?

 

[:-D]

I can't remember my landlord helping during the riots, rats, leaks or drugs. We had to get on with it and we did.

It's the same story with every other Tennant Ive spoken to. Absent landlords for years. I think they only began doing annual structural safety surveys around 6 or 7 years ago.

 

[Gramsci]

. This makes a complete nonsense of the Future Brixton community consultation process, and I deeply resent the time, energy and commitment taken by myself and many other citizens to protect community interest in the Central Brixton Master Development Plan.

Regards

What I would like to know is what senior officers in Regeneration knew about this. As the shopkeeper in the deli reckoned the Council knew about NR plans.

I agree, as someone who attends Future Brixton consultation meetings, that I resent the time I have put into it.

I remember at one of the Future Brixton consultation meetings the Council consultant told me I was a cynic.

This is quote from FB website

Local people are working with the two major landowners in the area, Lambeth Council and Network Rail, on long-term plans for the area that includes the former ice rink site, the train station, Brixton Station Road and the land in-between the tracks off Valentia Place. We call this project the Brixton Central masterplan.

Well that’s a load of bollocks now.

Network Rail have also torn up the timeline for the masterplan:

Next steps
January 2015
Lambeth Council and Network Rail will use your feedback to prepare a development brief to give to future development partners.

Mid-late 2015
We expect to begin looking for development partners in Spring 2015. There will continue to be opportunities to help shape the proposals as they develop, as well as inform future management arrangements.

During 2015 we will hold more workshops with young people, market traders, local businesses and residents.

2016
Planning submission.

2017
Start on site.

Network Rail attended all the Brixton Central Masterplan meetings. They new about Future Brixton. Now Network Rail have unilaterally decided to proceed with no consultation with local community.

 

[T & P]

The ITV piece was shown 10 mins ago on ITV1, so it'll be shown at 11.36 pm on ITV1 +1.

 

[:-D]

When my son was three days old my husband took him out and proudly introduced him to his friends out and about in Brixton – at Ferndale Leisure Centre, O Cantinho, and of course, everyone at the local, before taking a turn down Atlantic Road.

I’ve always said it takes my husband longer to get home from shopping than it does for him to actually do the shop as he chats to everyone that will humour him on his trip. For example, he’ll stop at Marios and debate Chelsea with the (I think) father and son team, with their dry senses of humour and forearms the size of ham hocks. And then onto Mash, to have a conversation on how to cook a piece of fish, before moving onto a general chat about the need to keep wives happy (ahem). Before, of course, popping into A&C Continental Deli to talk about, well, whatever comes up. To give you an idea of the possible breadth of conversation, I once found my husband buying a DVD of The Professionals to drop off there because ‘the guy (Jose) from A&C told me he liked it’.

Anyway, it was just before Christmas and my husband and baby were taking the tour and eventually made it to A&C. Jose, possibly at a loss on how to cope with a clearly emotional feller, did what any generous, community-loving, kind person would do, and gave my husband a huge panettone as congratulations. I’d never had panettone before and it was delicious – I think we lived on it for a couple of days as we tried to survive the early chaos. So when my baby turned one we bought another panettone and said that each year that would be his birthday cake. I told this to Jose’s wife Anabella and she said that she did the same for her son each year for his birthday, pressing deep grooves into the soft sponge with her fingers and filling each hole with fruit and sweets to decorate it. I hoped this would become a long term tradition we could all enjoy.

I can’t begin to put in words how sad I feel at the idea that these shops, these people – our friends - are being forced out of their businesses and their working and living communities. Which is why I wrote this overly sentimental piece. Forgive the indulgence and humour me, but this is what Brixton, and Atlantic Road means to me.

X

 

[nagapie]

This makes me feel sick. I really hope the community can come together and do something.

 

[Rushy]

So you will not be having a problem with peaceful opposition to this further gentrification of Brixton?

In the context of my posts on this thread I'm really not sure what point you are trying to make with this question. Is it even worth elaborating?

 

[Mr Retro]

I was away working until last night and just catching up. Can't believe this.

I agree with everybody who is saying this needs to be well coordinated and united in the goal that the shop keepers want to achieve. If this is treated like a well run project it will have a successful outcome. Tactical reactions will cause an overall failure here.

A strategy is needed that the shopkeepers have agreed and it has to be put into action with maximum efficiency. Getting agreement on this strategy might be difficult but it is essential.

All protest efforts, dealing with network rail, the council, the media, legal response, online responses, etc etc everything should be part of this strategy. A steering group with roles as above, properly defined, who can make decisions in their area should be set up. The goal is getting the shopkeepers what they want in the end. Single mindedness and focus and a fucking load of passion and this will turn out ok. Anything else will be a disaster.

 

[editor]

I was away working until last night and just catching up. Can't believe this.

I agree with everybody who is saying this needs to be well coordinated and united in the goal that the shop keepers want to achieve. If this is treated like a well run project it will have a successful outcome. Tactical reactions will cause an overall failure here.

A strategy is needed that the shopkeepers have agreed and it has to be put into action with maximum efficiency. Getting agreement on this strategy might be difficult but it is essential.

All protest efforts, dealing with network rail, the council, the media, legal response, online responses, etc etc everything should be part of this strategy. A steering group with roles as above, properly defined, who can make decisions in their area should be set up. The goal is getting the shopkeepers what they want in the end. Single mindedness and focus and a fucking load of passion and this will turn out ok. Anything else will be a disaster.

The shopkeepers are all meeting on Sunday morning and I'm going to be going down every day to keep up to date and hopefully offer some useful input.

As you say, it's crucial to get a strategy and that means being patient which can be difficult when so much is at stake and passions are high.

 

[critical1]

Jack Hopkins knew & knows of all plans for Brixton, guess what his job is..
@JackHopkins_Lab
Labour Cllr Oval, Lambeth & Cabinet Member for Jobs and Growth. You really need to read his personal page here and maybe make a copy of it before he takes it down-- https://jackhopkins.wordpress.com, He's having a laugh talks the talk but does not walk the walk...

Extremely critical

 

[editor]

I've published the Brixton pound statement on Buzz:
Brixton Pound speaks out about the Brixton arch evictions – and offers a practical solution

 

[Mr Retro]

As you say, it's crucial to get a strategy and that means being patient which can be difficult when so much is at stake and passions are high.

Exactly, an agreed strategy is something to fall back on when passions are high, also when spirits are low after inevitable bad news that will come during the process.

It helps avoid the "what the fuck do we do now", allows the campaign to pick itself up again and keep going.

I have experience in this area, I'd be happy to do anything that's needed in helping to draw something up.

 

[editor]

Exactly, an agreed strategy is something to fall back on when passions are high, also when spirits are low after inevitable bad news that will come during the process.

It helps avoid the "what the fuck do we do now", allows the campaign to pick itself up again and keep going.

I have experience in this area, I'd be happy to do anything that's needed in helping to draw something up.

It's clearly not up to me, but I have suggested that once they have worked out what is (legally/practically) possible from this situation, then it would be good to ask people with the appropriate expertise to step in and give them a hand. And this place would seem as good a place as any to ask.

 

[editor]

 

[quimcunx]

Good to see this taking off.

I would just advise to avoid emphasising corporate/chain side of things. I don't know who, if anyone, they have their sights set on as new tenants but if I worry that if we go in saying 'Argh corporate, urk chains' then they will most likely counter with a 'no, no, no. We're looking to attract diverse businesses, artisanal this, independent that, blah blah'.

 

[editor]

Good to see this taking off.

I would just advise to avoid emphasising corporate/chain side of things. I don't know who, if anyone, they have their sights set on as new tenants but if I worry that if we go in saying 'Argh corporate, urk chains' then they will most likely counter with a 'no, no, no. We're looking to attract diverse businesses, artisanal this, independent that, blah blah'.

Good point. Truth is it would be more likely to be 'independent' businesses backed by old money or 'small' bars/eateries that are actually owned by a big parent company.

 

[Ms T]

I've published the Brixton pound statement on Buzz:
Brixton Pound speaks out about the Brixton arch evictions – and offers a practical solution

Binki is a friend and neighbour of mine and A Good Thing.

 

[editor]

Binki is a friend and neighbour of mine and A Good Thing.

It's great to see the Pound being so proactive and opinionated here. So has anyone heard much from the Brixton Bid?
Zero on their website.

 

[editor]

I've just sent a tweet to Brixton Bid asking if they're going to make a statement about this. I'm sure the shopkeepers would appreciate some support.