Pop Brixton (formerly Grow Brixton) Pope's Road development
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editor
hiraethified
Despite making a loss of £480,000 in the past year and receiving £100,000 in public grants and a £92,000 loan from Lambeth Council, it's nice to see that Pop Brixton still has the budget for back slapping adverts.
SpamMisery
Pretty comfortable here right under your skin
Free pickles and pickling lessons tomorrow!
SpamMisery
Pretty comfortable here right under your skin
Fondue is good. But nothing beats tartiflette up a mountain.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I was at meeting about Brixton Station road today ( local community groups, shopkeepers, market traders, Brixton BID, local police, council officers) . Pop couldn't be arsed to send some one along.
Didn't help that Council officers did usual upbeat view of Pop.
There are serious problems with drug dealing/ drug use/ ASB. Shopkeepers pointed out that part of attraction of drug dealers was demand created by Pop.
Dead silence from Council officers on this.
However Community safety Council officers said one of the ways they had been trying to stop drug use/ dealing was by removing licence to have tables and chairs outside cafes.
Which just happened to be the black owned ones. Not Craft by Beehive place.
After a lot of discussion, including from me who thought this was unfair, Council officers agreed to revisit the removal of licence. They will be discussing it internally.
It really left a bad taste in my mouth. If I hadn't brought it up it would have remained the same.
The black shopkeeper in question I know. He as he said at meeting, and police officer didn't deny this, been helping police. So as he said he had been doubly punished. Been in danger of being accused of being a po!ice informer and had the Council removing his tables and chairs licence.
When shopkeepers brought up Pop creating a demand for drugs officers stayed silent.
Says it all about how Council see Brixton.
Didn't help that Council officers did usual upbeat view of Pop.
There are serious problems with drug dealing/ drug use/ ASB. Shopkeepers pointed out that part of attraction of drug dealers was demand created by Pop.
Dead silence from Council officers on this.
However Community safety Council officers said one of the ways they had been trying to stop drug use/ dealing was by removing licence to have tables and chairs outside cafes.
Which just happened to be the black owned ones. Not Craft by Beehive place.
After a lot of discussion, including from me who thought this was unfair, Council officers agreed to revisit the removal of licence. They will be discussing it internally.
It really left a bad taste in my mouth. If I hadn't brought it up it would have remained the same.
The black shopkeeper in question I know. He as he said at meeting, and police officer didn't deny this, been helping police. So as he said he had been doubly punished. Been in danger of being accused of being a po!ice informer and had the Council removing his tables and chairs licence.
When shopkeepers brought up Pop creating a demand for drugs officers stayed silent.
Says it all about how Council see Brixton.
editor
hiraethified
Thanks for posting this up. It's such a shame that it all seems to be swept under the carpet by officials and dismissed by posters here when it clearly is an important issue.
If you fancy expanding on it a bit, I'd be very happy to run it as a feature on Buzz.
ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
Is there really a suggestion here that Pop created the demand for drug dealers? There have always been drug dealers around this area. What is the reasoning behind this theory? The Front Line was notorious 40 - 50 years ago.
editor
hiraethified
It wouldn't surprise me given the influx of freespending, boozed up partygoers (which is Pop's main audience at night) and the growth of banging DJ nights inside the 'green oasis.'
Station Road was never an area noted for dealing but that was before it became Brixton's biggest pub.
ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
I can't see it. In the 70's it was called the Front Line for a reason, in the 80's the coke and crack dealers were infamous and we've had reports on here for years about Brixton being a drug buying destination.
The Front Line was on Railton Road, then it moved to Coldharbour Lane when that area calmed down a bit and went more residential. I can believe that the dealers might have moved just round the corner to follow the market again to some degree, but this isn't anything new.
I wonder if the crime stats show an increase in drug related offences over the last 40 years.
The Front Line was on Railton Road, then it moved to Coldharbour Lane when that area calmed down a bit and went more residential. I can believe that the dealers might have moved just round the corner to follow the market again to some degree, but this isn't anything new.
I wonder if the crime stats show an increase in drug related offences over the last 40 years.
shakespearegirl
just worked out taglines
Dealers have come and gone in waves since I've lived in Brixton.
I can believe that that Pop has increased the market for street dealers of certain substances like coke and MDMA. Large groups of party kids, coming from other areas of London or abroad. When I was a party kid going to places like the Dogstar, someone always seemed to know someone to score off and it happened before people went out or dealers were called and met.
The tube based skunk dealers of my early days in Brixton don't seem so prevalent.
The early morning hours Brixton Hill crack dealers still seem to be in residence, I've seen an increase since the weather has improved recently, as I go to my early morning gym classes or go to work at ridiculous o'clock.
I can believe that that Pop has increased the market for street dealers of certain substances like coke and MDMA. Large groups of party kids, coming from other areas of London or abroad. When I was a party kid going to places like the Dogstar, someone always seemed to know someone to score off and it happened before people went out or dealers were called and met.
The tube based skunk dealers of my early days in Brixton don't seem so prevalent.
The early morning hours Brixton Hill crack dealers still seem to be in residence, I've seen an increase since the weather has improved recently, as I go to my early morning gym classes or go to work at ridiculous o'clock.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
More pertinently what's fundamentally the problem with drug use and drug dealers? Are we on urban75 or the daily telegraph comments section?
editor
hiraethified
Perhaps when Pop Brixton was being fluffed up as an opportunity for the local community, they meant the local drug dealers
ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
The lack of capitalisation in your second sentence has had me spitting out my crack cocaine covered crunchy nut cornflakes, and if that isn't worthy of a strongly worded letter to the Telegraph I don't know what is.
shakespearegirl
just worked out taglines
I don't have a problem with drugs, think they should all be legalised.
that said I struggle with the street crack dealers on Brixton Hill preying on desperate people and behaving violently towards them.
Aware I may be being hypocritical!
Rushy
basically a scrotum
Interesting that up until Feb this year Cllr Jack Hopkins was CEO of Night Time Industries Association NTIA.
On Jack's LinkedIn page he describes the NTIA as "the main trade body which supports, protects and enhances clubs, festivals, street food outlets and late-night entertainment... We are changing how the nighttime is seen by decision-makers, changing licensing, planning and regulatory policy at a local level and fighting for stronger and more cooperative relationships."
According to its website, the NTIA "seeks to influence the decisions of policymakers and ensure that the nighttime economy continues to flourish". One of their stated aims is to "challenge the unfair treatment and attitudes currently being imposed upon the nighttime industry."
More specifically the association "promotes clarity with regard to crime statistics and shines a light on vague terms such as "antisocial behavior" whilst reminding everyone that the nighttime industries is the UK's fifth-largest sector and an enormous success story."
*planning
On Jack's LinkedIn page he describes the NTIA as "the main trade body which supports, protects and enhances clubs, festivals, street food outlets and late-night entertainment... We are changing how the nighttime is seen by decision-makers, changing licensing, planning and regulatory policy at a local level and fighting for stronger and more cooperative relationships."
According to its website, the NTIA "seeks to influence the decisions of policymakers and ensure that the nighttime economy continues to flourish". One of their stated aims is to "challenge the unfair treatment and attitudes currently being imposed upon the nighttime industry."
More specifically the association "promotes clarity with regard to crime statistics and shines a light on vague terms such as "antisocial behavior" whilst reminding everyone that the nighttime industries is the UK's fifth-largest sector and an enormous success story."
*planning
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Tricky Skills
Well-Known Member
Jacko was also the Cabinet member who signed off the Event Lambeth parks strategy that paved the way for Field Day.
Fancy that.
Fancy that.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
This and past governments failed policies on drugs has led to situation where criminal elements are involved.
The problem isn't drugs. Its the fact that failed government policies means that its criminal activity. Like prohibition in USA criminalising drugs just causes other problems.
Its a joke for you and just another way to have a go at Urban it's not so funny for shopkeepers on Brixton station road who have to deal with dealing directly outside there shops. Most of whom are sole sole traders. Not big stores with security.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I checked my post and it does say part of the attraction. Ie not the whole reason.
You are right drug dealing has always been around. Without going into detail my impression is that dealing on Brixton station road is ongoing issue. The perception of it for the remaining shopkeepers on Brixton station road has been that it has been made worse recently.
The blighting of the road because of Network rail closing down arches imo has made it worse. When all the arches were open it felt safer for shopkeepers. Now only a few shops are left they feel more vulnerable. This is my opinion from listening to them.
I personally think its a case of remaining shopkeepers worrying they are losing control of the space.
There is self policing. When all the shops and cafes were there no one would take the piss. If you see what I mean. A few people might smoke a spliff. But it was within bounds.
What got me was the removal of license for tables and chairs from the black owned business. It smacked of racist profiling to me. Black owned cafe. Well they hang outside. Causing drug dealing. It stands to reason.
Where as when Pop was mentioned no response from officers. Also Craft pub didn't get there tables and chairs license removed. That is full of nice white people.
I think a lot of this is about perception.
The sense I got was that Pop isn't seen as asset by existing shopkeepers. Pop couldn't be arsed to send someone to meeting or give apologies for absence.
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Rushy
basically a scrotum
Productive tests.plumbing?
editor
hiraethified
Craft seems to have been gifted a vast swathe of Station Road and Beehive Place for their sprawling empire of tables and chairs catering to the 'right' sort of street drinker - despite some earlier concerns from certain posters regarding supposed health and safety issues/wheelchairs being able to get past etc.
ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
Thanks for clarifying. I don't believe drug dealing is any more rife than it already was, but I can see that they woud have taken advantage of the closed down arches to move closer to their customers now that focus has in part shifted to Pop.
teuchter
je suis teuchter
I agree it's government policy that's the problem. However its not unusual for the reality of issues on the ground to be over-hyped, and for drug use and dealing to be made out to be something more sinister and dangerous than it really is. Hence my reaction to your comment -
which sounds like something you'd read in the telegraph. What exactly are the serious "drug use" and "ASB" problems? Drug use and therefore by necessity dealing have always been part of the scenery in Brixton, indeed it's inevitably part of the scenery anywhere with an active nightlife. If people don't want to see it happening in Brixton then Brixton needs to be sanitised as somewhere where people come for a nice dinner out and and not somewhere with late opening pubs and clubs.
Having said all of that, if small traders on station rd are starting to have more problems then I don't want to dismiss that and no, it's not a "joke". What kind of anti-social behaviour is going on? It's causing problems in the daytime?
Finally I totally agree with you that if some of the smaller traders have had pavement licences revoked on the basis of drug-related ASB, but not the Craft Beer place, then that doesn't sound right and you are right to question it. At the same time it's an alarmist response to drug "problems" that often leads to those kinds of measures being taken, that don't actually solve the issues and hit the wrong people.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
I don't really think my stance on drugs would go down well in the Daily Telegraph.
I also have a lot of knowledge of central Brixton due to living in it for many years and I personally know some shopkeepers and stall holders.
Nor do I think my concern of racial profiling in relation to licensing issues would find much sympathy with the average Telegraph reader.
Yes I'm fully aware that drug dealing is part of Brixton scenery. The street next to me was used by drug dealers. Selling crack to addicts at all times of day. I remember having to try to persuade the poor addicts not to tip our rubbish all over the pavement. When asked why they did it they said they were looking for stuff to sell for drugs or any food. They were very thin and wasted. I somehow don't think this is the experience of most Telegraph readers.
But as you say this was all just part of Brixton scenery. Adding colour that should not be sanitised out of Brixton.
My position once again is that all drugs should be decriminalised or legalised.
I don't have much to add what I posted up to Ringo in #7163
Living in central Brixton there are boundaries. If you deal or do drugs directly outside my house I am going to complain.
This is the case with the shopkeepers. Ive seen it myself. It also affected the Rec. I've seen the ramp entrance being used. It was crossing the unwritten boundary and becoming a problem.
My position was and is that this should be treated as a policing problem. Oh and as I used to live in central Brixton a long tradition has been police moving on the drug problem to somewhere else. In response to complaints.
I don't think it's Telegraph like to see that shopkeepers don't want this going on directly outside there shops. Its starting in afternoons. That's when I see it. If it was just night time it would not be a problem so much. Its with NR evictions and Pop that shopkeepers have been starting to complain. Not before.
I say a policing problem as what's happened is this. Police don't have resources to deal with it. They said so.So it ends up with Council deciding to "design out crime" as officer said. I have real problems with this. It is how it could end up being sanitised. Let's remove all seating ( but not from the nice new places) to discourage the wrong sort of people to hang out. Police action on drug dealing problems isn't new. Using planning and licensing is newish. And it's a blunt instrument.
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SpamMisery
Pretty comfortable here right under your skin
Pop looking resplendent in today's sunshine
