Petition in favour of Brighton Terrace Drug Treatment centre

[Bob]

A petition for those in favour of the drug treatment centre on Brighton Terrace can be found here

Just click 'edit' and add your name and rough location.

Basically the arguments in favour are:
It's in a very accessible location both from the point of view of where the drug users are and public transport - so this increases the chances of people succesfully getting treated

The police & NHS are in favour of this location and think it will reduce problems in central Brixton rather than increase them.

Nobody has any viable alternative centre.

 

[kea]

Basically the arguments in favour are:

 

[Bob]

Sorry - fucked up the list function. Rapidly re edited now.

The key thing is that even on Brighton terrace itself the centre is likely to reduce problems - partly because there will be increased attention paid to Brighton terrace and there would be a dedicated warden from the police for Brighton Terrace.

 

[kea]

ah i see - sorry

 

[netbob]

Everyone knows there is a major problem with crack and heroin in central Brixton. As I see it there are 3 options:

1) Do nothing
2) Displace the problem into another area (mostly likely the estates)
3) Remove the demand by treating users

If this centre doesn't go ahead we are going to be saddled with one of the first two.

 

[netbob]

There's a printable copy here please distribute wide and far.

Apparently the planning people are meeting on Tuesday 29th November to decide its fate.

 

[RushcroftRoader]

Everyone knows there is a major problem with crack and heroin in central Brixton. As I see it there are 3 options:

1) Do nothing
2) Displace the problem into another area (mostly likely the estates)
3) Remove the demand by treating users

If this centre doesn't go ahead we are going to be saddled with one of the first two.

I agree that a treatment centre is a very good idea and should be supported.
However drug users are going to keep heading to Brixton while the area is renown for its "softly softly" approach to drugs.
Anyone who lives in Brixton knows that turning a blnid eye to cannabis dealing leads to dealers handing out rocks of crack like they are sweeties.
I feel the priority in dealing with the problem of crack in Brixton is to to persuade the police that the softly softly approach has to go!

 

[tarannau]

Anyone who lives in Brixton knows that turning a blnid eye to cannabis dealing leads to dealers handing out rocks of crack like they are sweeties.
I feel the priority in dealing with the problem of crack in Brixton is to to persuade the police that the softly softly approach has to go!

Er no. I've lived in Brixton for nearly all my life and I would say that's almost entirely untrue. People don't go to a street dealer for weed and come away with a Haribo style booty bag of smack and crack.

Different market. You may still get the occasional Clapham-style drug tourist looking for weed on the streets, but they're generally a whole world apart from the more desperate unfortunates searching for smack and crack in the early hours.

 

[netbob]

Er no. I've lived in Brixton for nearly all my life and I would say that's almost entirely untrue. People don't go to a street dealer for weed and come away with a Haribo style booty bag of smack and crack.

Different market. You may still get the occasional Clapham-style drug tourist looking for weed on the streets, but they're generally a whole world apart from the more desperate unfortunates searching for smack and crack in the early hours.

I'd agree with that.

There is some more subtle overlap though. Some crack users do support their habit by selling weed (or what they pretend to be weed) to skunk tourists, and some dealers seem to use weed dealing as cover for crack dealing.

 

[maximilian ping]

what is the latest on the decision over the centre? last i can find is SLP saying Hoey was against it but the green light was about to be given on Sept 6 and then nothing..

 

[netbob]

what is the latest on the decision over the centre? last i can find is SLP saying Hoey was against it but the green light was about to be given on Sept 6 and then nothing..

Basically none of the members of the planning committee were willing to second the proposal because of a campaign against it by people on Brighton Terrace and Trinity Gardens and the lack of any concerted campaign in favor of it.

Most councilors now say they agree with the centre in principle but refuse to put their name to a site. Kate Hoey is proposing a site on Acre lane already turned down by the NHS and Lambeth Drug Action Team and, conveniently, is just outside her constituency.

So unless the centre passes at the next meeting the whole thing will be dead until long after the local elections.

More info here:

http://www.mybrixton.org/doku.php?id=brighton_terrace_drug_treatment_centre

 

[maximilian ping]

fuck me. one of the shit sides of democracy. politicians, councillors too scared to put their name to anything involving that evil word D R U G S so the centre gets knocked back (i've seen on the SLAM document that this is about the 12th location attempted) and drug users have less of a chance to stop using and that means more crimes are committed by drugs users.

it's such a simple equation but no-one can see past the exaggerated folklore that all drug users are murderous burglars and muggers.

this happens all over the country on an almost weekly basis and it might be a good idea for me to write about it soon...something i've been meaning to do for a year

 

[Bob]

fuck me. one of the shit sides of democracy. politicians, councillors too scared to put their name to anything involving that evil word D R U G S so the centre gets knocked back (i've seen on the SLAM document that this is about the 12th location attempted) and drug users have less of a chance to stop using and that means more crimes are committed by drugs users.

One of the good sides of democracy is that if enough of us sign the petition and generally put pressure on the councillors then maybe they'll vote the right way. So get on mybrixton.org and sign the petition - and email a few mates to do so if you want to make a difference.

We have until 29th November.

 

[Bob]

I agree that a treatment centre is a very good idea and should be supported.
However drug users are going to keep heading to Brixton while the area is renown for its "softly softly" approach to drugs.
Anyone who lives in Brixton knows that turning a blnid eye to cannabis dealing leads to dealers handing out rocks of crack like they are sweeties.
I feel the priority in dealing with the problem of crack in Brixton is to to persuade the police that the softly softly approach has to go!

a) Welcome to the boards.

b) I'm sure you'll agree though that a drugs treatment centre can only be a good thing - so signing the petition would be a very good use of a minute of your time.

 

[Bob]

Over 20 people so far so going quite well. And we have a vicar.

If you've signed it and want to help more then emailing / pming Lambeth friends who might want to sign would be very helpful indeed.

 

[IntoStella]

Good stuff

I can't edit doku wiki files from my mac/outlook combo but as soon as I can get on a pc, I will sign.

 

[IntoStella]

WAAAAA! I tried it on a friend's PC and it comes up with

"This document has not been created yet"

Can somebody who knows my name and the street I live on please put me on there?

 

[colacubes]

WAAAAA! I tried it on a friend's PC and it comes up with

"This document has not been created yet"

Can somebody who knows my name and the street I live on please put me on there?

No probs - I've done it for you.

 

[IntoStella]

No probs - I've done it for you.

Thanx darlin'.

Why don't we take the paper petition round the Albert when it's busy? Friday night?

We'll have to ask Pat first, though.

 

[Bob]

Thanx darlin'.

Why don't we take the paper petition round the Albert when it's busy? Friday night?

We'll have to ask Pat first, though.

Good idea.

 

[pooka]

Just to say I know a couple of people who've told me they have added their name but they're not there. I don't think every one is techy savvy. (I'd put an instruction at the bottom of the page but someone's talen it off again!)

 

[Bob]

Just to say I know a couple of people who've told me they have added their name but they're not there. I don't think every one is techy savvy. (I'd put an instruction at the bottom of the page but someone's talen it off again!)

You could always add them in yourself if you know their names / addresses.

Petition is growing nicely - almost at 40 people now - if people could ask friends/ colleagues/ flatmates etc. who live anywhere in Lambeth to sign that would be ideal because it will help us get far more people. Obviously Brixton is best, but the councillors who will make the decision come from all over Lambeth.

 

[IntoStella]

Are we going to do this in the Albert tonight then?

 

[Bob]

Are we going to do this in the Albert tonight then?

I won't be around tonight - but good luck to you. I've been emailing PMing people for a few days and got a fair few people on there - so I'm feeling a bit smug.

39 people so far

 

[IntoStella]

I won't be around tonight - but good luck to you. I've been emailing PMing people for a few days and got a fair few people on there - so I'm feeling a bit smug.

39 people so far

Hey, where are memespring and nipsla?

I wasn't volunteering to do it on my own.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I'll help. btw, you are definitely on that petition IS

 

[IntoStella]

I'll help. btw, you are definitely on that petition IS

Errrrrr, it appears I am going out after work in Hammersmith. I may be some time.

PS, Yeah, nipsla put me on the petition.

 

[netbob]

Hey, where are memespring and nipsla?

I wasn't volunteering to do it on my own.

I'm out tonight (mates birthday obligation) but might make it for closing though.

If not Saturday night? I might even take it to the Trinity.

 

[IntoStella]

I'm out tonight (mates birthday obligation) but might make it for closing though.

If not Saturday night? I might even take it to the Trinity.

Yeah, OK. That sounds more like it. No idea what time I will be back tonight.

 

[clive diedrick]

General Planning Guidance, for Residential and Non-Residential Drug Treatment Centre

Regarding paragraph/section: 8:LOCATION REQUIREMENTS A suitable location for a service will depend on exactly what service is to be offered and how it will be used. If clients are to attend daily, easy accessability will be a key factor. A resdentail facility will also need to be relatively accessible. Consider the security of the users and staff. Locating drug service in an area with an active drug market may put your service users at risk. The anonymity of the service may also be an important factor for your service users. Areas that already have a predominance of mixed uses including commercial industrial leisure and residential are more likely to be appropriate. (From TOWN+COUNTRY PLANNING+REGULATIONS 1988/1995) To all councillors involved in the Brighton Terrace fiasco...I feel you should consider the above section 8 as this clearly states that Brighton Terrace is not just a good location, but an exceedingly good location, (after my favourite cake, "Mr Kipling").Instead of feeling bitter, might we not feel sweet? But seriously. It seems that someone has gone to considerable time and effort to produce this document. So why is it that the councillors are not adhering to the rules/procedures regarding the Brighton Terrace situation? Clive D.Stockwell Project User Group