Reminder: FOLSAP: Vauxhall Apple Tree Planting @ Tue 23 Feb 16:00 - 17:00

new friends wanted for Lollard Street Adventure Playground

Lollard Street Adventure Playground was created in 1954 on the site of a school that had been bombed during the war years.  It provides school-aged children with opportunities to play after school, at weekends and during school holidays, which are difficult to find elsewhere in our area.  Fenced and secure, the playground is an oasis where children are supervised by trained, professional playworkers who are always on hand to help out if needed, but also know when to stand back and let children work things out for themselves.  LSAP has quiet indoor space where children can do homework or creative arts and outdoor space with unique play structures.  Kids love it as a place where they can run about and create games, and parents know there are responsible adults at hand.  But unfortunately as government purse strings are tightened, funding for these irreplaceable areas is often the first to go! LSAP is sadly in need of investment, which the council is hesitating to provide. 

KA wants make sure Lollard Street Adventure Playground has a secure future and to this end is helping to launch a friends group.  An inaugural meeting held this month to discuss a FOLSAP initiative was very fruitful.   Both adults and children attended and discussions for the future focused on the children’s ideas for its development.   All agreed to set about forming the Friends of Lollard Street Adventure Playground (FOLSAP) with the first public meeting to be held on Monday 10^th May at 6pm in the Royal Oak PH, Fitzalan Street SE11 6QU.

Roots and Shoots have already donated a "Cellini", the 'Vauxhall Apple' tree, which will be planted in the Playground with hopes it will form the centre of a tree house which the children have asked for.  The tree will have a special meaning for the Playground as it is to commemorate Paul Hendrich, a part-time worker who was knocked off his bike in January 2008 as well as two children who used the playground, Chevlyn and Kharim.  Playground staff and children have done a mosaic ‘praying hands’ in memory of these three and it will be dedicated along with the tree planting by Kate Hoey MP at a special ceremony at 4pm on Tuesday 23^rd February.   

Lollard Street Adventure Playground

Lollard Street Adventure Playground was created in 1954 on the site of a school that had been bombed during the war years. It continues today, run by Lambeth Council, and provides school-aged children with opportunities to play, after school, at weekends and during school holidays, which are difficult to find elsewhere in our busy, urban environment.

Fenced and secure, the playground is an oasis in the middle of a densely built-up neighbourhood where children are supervised by trained, professional playworkers who are always on hand to help out if needed, who know when to intervene, but also know when to stand back and let children work things out for themselves.

Lollard Street playground has quiet indoor space where children can read, do homework or participate in creative art activities and the outdoor space, with its unique play structures, enables them to explore, experiment, and experience the wide, wonderful world around them and engage freely in play activities that a generation ago would have been taken for granted.

The children are encouraged to play a part in the ongoing design and construction of their adventure playground. This gives them the opportunity to explore, test, create, build and rebuild their play space, and encourages them to feel at home in the playground and treat it well.

All over the country sadly, and increasingly, many children are unable or not allowed to go out to play because safe outdoor spaces are hard to find, so now is the time to get involved in ensuring that this vital provision for the health and well-being of local children is preserved and developed for future generations.

A local group of volunteers has decided to form a Friends of Lollard Street Adventure Playground (FOLSAP). If you are committed to improving the community for children and could help with tasks such as administration, fundraising and management; if you would like to support the work of a committed team of playworkers and can help to advance the children’s ideas for development of their play space you are warmly invited to register your interest on the form below.

Diary Date : Charity Auction Thursday 16th September - SPONSORED BY BELGRAVE HOTEL

Dear Neighbours

Planning has already begun for this year's Charity Auction!
We are so thrilled that Belgrave Hotel has agreed to sponsor the event.

After last year's huge success,
we are looking to build this year's Auction into something even more splendid.

Once we have secured at least 100 Secret Santa parcels, and the Art School bursary, for another year,
thoughts are turning toward the needy elderly at Christmastime,
so there is even more reason to support this year's Charity Auction.

That can be by way of either donations of artwork, jewellery, pledges and promises, etc
or volunteering to work with the Charity Auction sub-group.
Be in touch and we'll let you know times and dates of our gatherings.

Best wishes
Cathy Preece
KA Administrative Assistant

A reminder from our recent newsletter:

CHARITY AUCTION ASSURES SECRET SANTA SUCCESS

The fifth Charity Auction held at the City & Guilds of London Art School in September was a huge success raising a whopping £4,080 to provide 102 Secret Santa shopping vouchers of £40 each.  These were distributed by Charmaine Clarke at the Ethelred Nursery School and Children’s Centre who told us “Many families struggle at this time of year financially and emotionally.  This gift gave them an extra lift and the feeling that someone cared for them.”  Another £1,720 was donated to the bursary of the art school to assist students needing financial support.  Special thanks to all the volunteers, especially our auction coordinator Catey Hillier, and Andrew Connolly who pulled the catalogue together with super speed!  Thanks also to those who ran the bar and assisted on the night and to all who donated work to go under the hammer.  Our local business pledges and promises were especially welcome!  Three figure bids, for example, were made for champagne dinners at local eateries - the new Amici Restaurant and the Lobster Pot, as well as pledges and donations from Cotton Tree Interior Designers, Cam Pharmacy, South London Pacific, Tesco and Alford House Club Members Fund. We are thrilled that Pauline Amphlett has bravely agreed to coordinate the next Charity Auction on Thursday, 16^th September sponsored by Belgrave Hotel.

KAPF: Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Opportunity Area Planning Framework (VNEB)

Preliminary comments on the Framework from our Planning Group (KAPF)

Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Opportunity Area Planning Framework (VNEB)
 Nov 2009 Consultation Version

Comments and Unresolved Questions for the Planners, from the Kennington Association Planning Forum

The Framework

1 The final version of this document from the Mayor of London will set the framework for the next 20 years for the new town of 40,000 or so, with 27,000 new jobs and many tall towers, planned to be developed on our doorsteps from Albert Embankment down to Battersea. As it stands, we think the framework is unsatisfactory, and begs many questions, and this is our initial view, with questions on it for the planners and local councillors.

Why should Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall be concerned?

2 At para 7.3 VNEB recognises that neighbouring communities, like Lambeth, are extremely deprived, and that “New development must make a contribution to support and enhance education, health, skills and training, open space and public realm within and beyond” the VNEB area. If so, how? In Lambeth, only 32% of Lambeth jobs go to Lambeth residents, and 20 % of Lambeth residents of working age have no qualifications (25% in Prince’s ward).

·         Will those on Lambeth’s housing lists be able to afford any of the new housing? (the “affordable” housing requirement is being watered down, and the Battersea Power Station developer is proposing none at all)

·         What happens to the existing jobs? Will Lambeth jobseekers have the skills to do any of the new jobs proposed? How will these developments help to upskill them? What is the expected skills profile of the new jobs?

·         The Vauxhall Gyratory equates, for most Vauxhall residents, to the equivalent of one of Dante’s Circles of Hell. Does TfL have the bottle to level with the community, face to face, about whether anything will come out of VNEB to mitigate its impact? Or does Vauxhall need to develop another heart south of the railway?

·         What will be the permanent effects in our areas on traffic and public transport from 40,000 additional residents and tube users, on top of the extra already committed via developments at Elephant and Castle?

·         What will be the impact on public services in neighbouring parts of Lambeth, eg schools and health services?

·         Are we going to be cut off from the river by a palisade of tall buildings?

·         Will we neighbouring communities have to suffer 20 years of construction traffic while VNEB builds itself, while the river lies unused (and unconsidered in VNEB) as a construction highway?

Chapter 5 - Land Use Strategy

3 VNEB lacks an adequate “before and after” analysis of land use and employment, to allow us to judge it properly. There are

·         complications of shared oversight by Wandsworth and Lambeth, and historic problems of equitable sharing between the boroughs

·         20 ha (hectares) (with 1 hectare equal to 10,000 sqm or approx 2.2 acres) or so of existing  social housing to be retained,

·         escalating densities in existing planning applications and

·         doubts whether adequate provision is being made within the VNEB area for social infrastructure.

4 So we need a proper breakdown, for the existing uses and for the Framework’s preferred option 5 modified, of the 192 ha of the VNEB area, between, for each borough

·       existing housing;

·       new housing; 

·       mixed use residential/employment;

·       retail;

·       office;

·       other employment;

·       open space;

·       existing social infrastructure (inc schools and doctors);  and

·       new social infrastructure,

together with the resulting housing and employment yields per hectare.

5 Without this, there will be an active sense that everything is not being revealed, eg whether the developments are to be “social infrastructure lite”, relying on neighbouring areas, and how the residential density calculations are being struck.

Chapter 6 - Development Capacity

6 Option 5 is labelled as having a density of 255 dwellings per ha, equating to 65.7 ha to accommodate 16,750 dwellings, but is illustrated only by the example of Tabard Sq, which is repeatedly shown as having a density of 477 per ha, or 87% higher (and incidentally, higher than the 405 per ha indicative upper limit for such areas in the Mayor’s Plan). Tabard Sq is a slab like, inward focused, fortress development, with its only greenery on the inside, in manicured raised beds, and is frankly oblivious to the public realm (see actual pictures, attached). You get the sense that children have been designed out, in the interests of high density and financial return. So we regard development in this Tabard Sq form, at these densities, as completely unacceptable, and incapable of creating a demographically sustainable community. How have you struck your density estimate of 255? Have you averaged over the existing social housing and the proposed open space/linear park?

7 So far, for residential development in areas with good public transport, the highest acceptable densities we have seen, that combine interesting built form with green edges, high levels of family friendly and affordable accommodation, and respect for the public realm, are around the 230 per ha level (cf the Southwark development on the former Braganza old peoples’ home, Ref Southwark 09-AP-2388).  On this basis, and with this built form only, the 65.7 ha might support 15,000 dwellings, and then only if the transport infrastructure was massively improved.

8 We are fundamentally opposed to the expulsion of employment from the eastern end of the VNEB area mandated by the Framework, particularly given the presence of the railway embankment spine, and its railway arch workspace, which can only have employment generating uses. This misses an opportunity in real sustainability. 40,000 increase in population and activity will lead to a large increase in servicing requirements – white van man comes in from Herts (over the bridges) and from Kent or Essex (South  Circular)  and then through Brixton and Kennington – and an Arterial Road will only concentrate the problems at both ends.  The missed opportunity is to seek to return key services industries to Nine Elms from which they can service all of inner London – significantly reducing inward traffic flow, pollution, improving service times and reducing costs as well as creating skilled employment for local people. The projected increase in industrial space at Stewarts Road is insignificant both in jobs and as an environmental impact.

Chapter 7 - Social Infrastructure

9 So far, pending its S106 study, VNEB is silent on the financial and land demands of the social infrastructure required to service such a large new development. But given the risk that escalating transport costs will eat up all the S106 money, and more, and dump social infrastructure costs on neighbouring boroughs and their council tax payers, we think it worth making cockshy estimates now, for key elements, based on the official assumption, that in a balanced community, 25% of the population are children. These are:

·         schools -  3 primary at £8m and 2.5 ha each, 2 secondary at £27m and 5 ha each - £78m and 17.5 ha

·         health – 14 GPs at 2,800 patients per GP, £1,000 per dwelling and 0.1 ha per GP - £16m and 1.4 ha

·         libraries – 30sqm per 1000 inhabitants at £3,000 per sqm – say £4m and 1.5 ha

·         community centres – 10 at £750,000 and 0.1 ha each – say £7.5m and 1 ha

·         fire service contribution - £77 per head - £3m

·         police - ?

10 So, for these key elements only, the total is on the order £108.5m and 21.4 ha, depending critically on whether developers are allowed to design the developments as “children lite”, and thereby successfully argue for a lower assumed child %age, and on whether developers successfully off load social infrastructure land requirements, and with them costs of provision, onto the neighbouring communities. Are you going to let them do this? What are your estimates? How much VNEB land does your plan allocate for new social infrastructure?

Chapter 8 - Transport

11 A number of the assumptions are questionable:

·         The “borough balancing” assumption (p 78, para 8.2) is that for transport planning purposes future growth from elsewhere in the two boroughs is reallocated to the VNEB area, to “ensure that this study remains consistent with the London Plan forecasts” , ie that growth and transport demand elsewhere will be correspondingly less, as jobs and housing in VNEB increase. This  seems wholly implausible, given the “Klondyke” nature of VNEB for developers, and the different time horizons of the borough plans and strategies and VNEB, and the overlap of VNEB into two boroughs. (This assumption eg makes the model predict, in the absence of a Northern line extension, a reduction of passengers at Kennington Tube station over time).

·         Para 8.3 says that the intensification of employment in VNEB scenarios leads to “significant increases in inbound as well as outbound morning peak public transport trips”. So what assumptions are being fed into the model about what proportion of VNEB jobs are going to VNEB or neighbouring residents, whose journeys to work would have much less impact? Are these standard assumptions or are they tailored to a combination growth of housing and employment in the same area?

12 The Framework’s “Get out of Jail” card to bring the transport accessibility in the middle of the VNEB area up to high levels, (permitting developer friendly density levels under the Mayor’s Plan guidance) is an extension of the Northern Line from Kennington. Such extensions are notoriously difficult to cost, and often overrun timetable and budget. Eg, while developers were initially to pay for a large part of the Jubilee line extension to Docklands, in the end they paid less than 5% of the total cost of £3.5bn. A cockshy estimate of 4.3 extra kilometres of tunnel, at between £180m to £260m a kilometre, based on 1994 London Underground costings for tunnelling in the Battersea area, uprated for increases in earnings, suggests a cost of between £770m and £1.1bn. These costs dwarf other social infrastructure costs (above) and seem beyond the reach of “normal” S106 charges. What is your preferred route and cost estimate?

Chapter 9 - Public Realm

13 Lambeth is the fifth densest populated borough in the country. It is already deficient in public open space, with levels set to fall from 1.54 ha per thousand population to 1.44 ha, against a national target of 2.4 ha. And Lambeth’s attenuated target for new developments is 1.6 ha per thousand, which would yield a target of 64 ha under the VNEB preferred option for dense housing. Against that, we are offered 14.9 ha of mostly linear park! We conclude that VNEB and Lambeth residents are being seriously short changed by the VNEB proposals for open space, even if you supposed that the River Thames counted for half the requirement (and not even planners have yet learnt to walk on water).

14 Furthermore, the St George’s Sq comparison made in the Framework is flawed – given the built forms, the ratio of breadth to visible height of the 5 storey sides to the square is 4, giving a spacious sense, while the proposed linear park, with 8 to 10 storey sides at minimum, narrows at times to no more than 2.5, giving a more canyon like effect. As regards the built forms, one inward looking, gated Tabard Sq would be bad enough, 33 would be intolerable, leaving perhaps only the American Embassy, which seems to need a 35 m free fire zone around itself, as the only major building which has a green edge.

Chapter 10 - Tall Buildings

15 Now that the planning authorities have opened Pandora’s box, planning applications for tall buildings are coming thick and fast, with eye watering residential densities, and under par private amenity space (cf the recent appeal win at 81 Black Prince Road at a density of 1263 per ha and 23 storeys, and the recent revised application for the Vauxhall Sky Tower at a density of 1285 per ha and 36 storeys, a density up by a third on that of the previously granted permission). Unless the indicative heights and “no palisade” principle in the VNEB are turned rapidly (probably in a very early separate planning document just for that purpose) into material planning rules, the game is lost, and Vauxhall and the Albert Embankment will turn into tall building forests, with the early developments paying well under the odds in S106 payments.

16 In addition, some rule will be needed to limit how much of the 16,000 dwellings can be provided at these excessive densities (perhaps no more than 3%), else instead of VNEB development at 255 per ha, with corresponding infrastructure, we shall start at the 477 per ha of Tabard Sq and accelerate rapidly upwards, with an inhuman public realm, with gated inward looking family unfriendly blocks.

17 The Framework expresses lots of concern for how towers will affect views from London Bridges – what about our views of Big Ben from Imperial Court or the Ethelred Estate?

Chapter 12 - S106 Contributions

18 Plainly, the indicative £400m for S106 yield sketched in the Framework is quite inadequate to pay for the Northern Line extension, and the tariff would need to be 3 or 4 times higher at least. Here are our suggestions:

·       make sure that the other social infrastructure is a first call on the fund, not the last;

·       why not tier the charges, so that floor space above 30 metres from the ground pays at an escalating rate, given the extra demands it makes on public amenity and services (eg fire rescue);

·       common experience with grand developments is that at some stage developers go bust, the authorities panic, and allow the enticing community and green trimmings previously promised to go by the board in desperation to see something built: so make the S106 promises also bind the land through land obligations, so successors in title to the land are equally bound by the enticing promises accepted from their predecessors.

Questions for Councillors

1 Do you accept VNEB development at these Tabard Sq densities and forms?

2 Do you agree with the meagre allocation of open space?

3 How will you ensure enough affordable housing?

4 How do we keep jobs in VNEB that our jobseekers can do, and skill them up to get new VNEB jobs?

5 How are you going to stop Lambeth council tax payers and voters having to pick up the tab for the social infrastructure of schools, doctors etc needed by these dense VNEB developments?

6 What are you and your planning colleagues going to do about the rush of tall tower planning applications?

7 How is Lambeth Council going to respond to this consultation?

Kennington Association Planning Forum

4 February 2010

--

Volunteer sought: INVITATION TO VISIT TRINIDAD

INVITATION TO VISIT TRINIDAD

 

Playing and listening to steel pans is a popular thing to do for many young people in Kennington.

 

As you know from our newsletter last May (see excerpt below), the KA initiated links in Trinidad 'the home of steel pan playing' and we have now been invited to send a small group over there to witness Panorama, the 'greatest steel band competition the world', and learn more about the culture there.

 

The group has been offered accommodation and hospitality by a local parish there; the only cost for us is in finding funds for the travel.

 

Do you have spare time to help us raise funds by assisting in seeking out charities that may help us and help submit application forms as appropriate.

 

Angus says, "This would be a fantastic opportunity for a few of our local young people, who rarely get the chance to travel far, to learn, first hand, about the rich culture and musical heart of Trinidad."

 

If you are interested, then tea and support are offered by the Vicar!

Please contact him - angus.aagaard@googlemail.com.

 

KA Newsletter May 2009:

"STEEL PAN BAND INITIATIVE

Angus recently visited Trinidad, with support from KA, to make contact with groups playing steel pans. This form of music, which began in Trinidad & Tobago, is played in several groups and schools in our neighbourhood and has recently become very popular. Last year Archbishop Sumner Primary School steel band played for us at the Fete. In Trinidad each year before the start of Lent a huge steel pan band competition is held. It culminates in Panorama, a battle of the bands that forms part of Carnival.  If sufficient funds can be raised, it is hoped that a group of young players from Kennington can go to Trinidad next year for Panorama to visit the roots of music they have come to know and play.  The planning for this project is still in the very early stages and one of the first steps, of course, will be to look for some kind of corporate sponsorship or funding. If you would like to support this initiative, please contact Angus on 020 7735 3415 or angus.aagaard@googlemail.com."

Kennington Business Network to kick off

Kennington Business Network to kick off
Following on from initial discussions and meetings last year, things are shaping up nicely for the Kennington Business Network with two events organised for next month. The first will be an evening social at 6pm on Wednesday 3rd February at Amici Café, 310-312 Kennington Road to engage in informal discussions about the membership structure, fees and general terms of reference. On the following Wednesday 10th February, there will be a breakfast meeting (7.30am cost £5) at Amici Restaurant 205-209 Kennington Lane to finalise and ratify the decisions made at the previous meeting. There will then be an inaugural general meeting in March to elect the board.

KA Newsletter - New Year 2010

Friday, 29^th January 2010

Dear Neighbours,

FROM THE CHAIR

Last year was a busy one for the Kennington Association!  Amongst other activities, we continued our support for the tai chi classes and Ecuadorian volleyball, and we provided £40 Tesco vouchers to over 100 local families through our Secret Santa initiative.   We also helped lay the plans for two new local ventures:  a Kennington Business Forum and a friends group for Lollard Street Adventure Playground.   And we welcomed new members to our committee:  Matina Gialama is our new treasurer and Nasser Mirza has agreed to help Matina and serve as auditor.   We also have an energetic new leader of the Planning Forum, David Boardman.

As many of you know from our AGM in October, the KA is a loosely structured organisation and all work is done by volunteers.  And though we have over 100 willing people we can call on as the need arises, we could still use some dedicated help.  Most pressing is our need for a membership secretary to track and remind people to renew their memberships and a press secretary.   Additional publicity would really pay off by making the most of the tremendous amount of work that goes into our bazaars and charity auction.  And we could really use a writer/editor for this quarterly newsletter!  You would not work alone, but be part of an active group that works hard and plays too!  If you would like to volunteer for any of these posts, please send an email to KA at the above address.  Thanks to all for your continuing support.

Anna Tapsell

NEWS

CHARITY AUCTION ASSURES SECRET SANTA SUCCESS

The fifth Charity Auction held at the City and Guilds of London Art School in September was a huge success raising a whopping £4,080 to provide 102 Secret Santa shopping vouchers of £40 each.  These were distributed by Charmaine Clarke at the Ethelred Nursery School and Children’s Centre who told us “Many families struggle at this time of year financially and emotionally.  This gift gave them an extra lift and the feeling that someone cared for them.”  Another £1,720 was donated to the bursary of the art school to assist students needing financial support.  Special thanks to all the volunteers, especially our auction coordinator Catey Hillier, and Andrew Connolly who pulled the catalogue together with super speed!  Thanks also to those who ran the bar and assisted on the night and to all who donated work to go under the hammer.  Our local business pledges and promises were especially welcome!  Three figure bids, for example, were made for champagne dinners at local eateries - the new Amici Restaurant and the Lobster Pot, as well as pledges and donations from Cotton Tree Interior Designers, Cam Pharmacy, South London Pacific, Tesco and Alford House Club Members Fund. We are thrilled that Pauline Amphlett has bravely agreed to coordinate the next Charity Auction on Thursday, 16^th September sponsored by Belgrave Hotel.

Tree of Hope Lights up!

Several years ago, some members of our community proposed we establish a lighted Tree of Hope in the centre of Kennington to show our concern and sympathy for several local young people who had been involved in or victims of violence.  Bringing this dream to fruition led to an incredibly long slog of working with local authorities, TFL and some agencies we hadn’t even heard of!  But on the evening of 10^th November, the long-awaited tree-lighting ceremony took place outside St Anselm’s Church at Kennington Cross.  Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall, performed the switch on, Archbishop Sumner Primary School’s brass band did the entertaining, and Kennington Tandoori and Spectrum Radio provided the refreshments.  Huge thanks to all involved.  And a special salute to the Kennington Village Fete team, Winkworth’s, Princes Ward Purse, Bircham Dyson Bell Charitable Trust and other local organisations who provided funding.  

SPORTS AND FITNESS

Tai chi has moved back indoors for the winter. You are welcome to come and join us on either Thursdays at the Kennington Park Community Centre from 2pm to 3pm or Saturdays in the Lambeth Hall at the Brit Oval (entrance through Alec Stewart Gate) from 11am to 12 noon.  Classes are open to all. No previous experience is necessary.  We have recently received the second tranche of a Grass Roots Grants from the Capital Community Foundation, which we are pleased to say will enable the Thursday tai chi class to continue for the next few months.  News is expected shortly from Surrey County Cricket Club regarding future funding for the Saturday class.

Ecuadorian volleyball (Ecuavolley) continues happily in the sports hall at the Old Lilian Baylis School on Friday 6pm to 9pm, Saturday 3pm to 9pm and Sunday 4pm to 9pm.  Anyone wanting further details should contact Galo Espin on 07985 603189.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kennington Business Network to kick off

Following on from initial discussions and meetings last year, things are shaping up nicely for the Kennington Business Network with two events organised for next month.  The first will be an evening social at 6pm on Wednesday 3^rd February at Amici Café, 310-312 Kennington Road to engage in informal discussions about the membership structure, fees and general terms of reference.  On the following Wednesday 10^th February, there will be a breakfast meeting (7.30am cost £5) at Amici Restaurant 205-209 Kennington Lane to finalise and ratify the decisions made at the previous meeting.  There will then be an inaugural general meeting in March to elect the board.

new friends wanted for Lollard Street Adventure Playground

Lollard Street Adventure Playground was created in 1954 on the site of a school that had been bombed during the war years.  It provides school-aged children with opportunities to play after school, at weekends and during school holidays, which are difficult to find elsewhere in our area.  Fenced and secure, the playground is an oasis where children are supervised by trained, professional playworkers who are always on hand to help out if needed, but also know when to stand back and let children work things out for themselves.  LSAP has quiet indoor space where children can do homework or creative arts and outdoor space with unique play structures.  Kids love it as a place where they can run about and create games, and parents know there are responsible adults at hand.  But unfortunately as government purse strings are tightened, funding for these irreplaceable areas is often the first to go! LSAP is sadly in need of investment, which the council is hesitating to provide. 

KA wants make sure Lollard Street Adventure Playground has a secure future and to this end is helping to launch a friends group.  An inaugural meeting held this month to discuss a FOLSAP initiative was very fruitful.   Both adults and children attended and discussions for the future focused on the children’s ideas for its development.   All agreed to set about forming the Friends of Lollard Street Adventure Playground (FOLSAP) with the first public meeting to be held on Monday 10^th May at 6pm in the Royal Oak PH, Fitzalan Street SE11 6QU.

Roots and Shoots have already donated a "Cellini", the 'Vauxhall Apple' tree, which will be planted in the Playground with hopes it will form the centre of a tree house which the children have asked for.  The tree will have a special meaning for the Playground as it is to commemorate Paul Hendrich, a part-time worker who was knocked off his bike in January 2008 as well as two children who used the playground, Chevlyn and Kharim.  Playground staff and children have done a mosaic ‘praying hands’ in memory of these three and it will be dedicated along with the tree planting by Kate Hoey MP at a special ceremony at 4pm on Tuesday 23^rd February.   

men needed for march BAZAAR!

The KA Bazaar is one of our main sources of funding.  We have a grand team (some in their eighties and nineties) and the work is great fun, but very physical and done to a tight schedule.  We urgently need male volunteers starting at 6pm on Friday night to set up tables and shift bulky items.  We also need strong bodies to dismantle stalls on Saturday afternoon.  The November Bazaar took in £750 (50% up on May), raising £560 for our funds.  Special thanks to Pimlico Plumbers who provided a van to transport goods. The next Bazaar is on Saturday, 6^th March at St Anselm’s Church Hall from 11am to 1 pm.   This is a good chance to re-cycle some unexpected Xmas gifts – who needs twenty pairs of socks?   Please bring saleable items to the hall from 6pm to 8pm on the evening before or from 9am to 10am on Bazaar day.  If you need help collecting goods, please email kenningtonassociation@gmail.com.

PLANNING

Elizabeth Scott, who has long been the guiding light of our Planning Forum, has recently been joined in leadership by David Boardman who has agreed to chair the subgroup.  Last year, in the name of the KA, the planning subgroup submitted opinions to the Council regarding lights at the Oval and crowd control during test matches and 20/20 matches.  They also monitored various proposals for the old Lilian Baylis School and helped make sure the Council provides an exchange facility for the Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre whose current venue is being razed for new development.  This year will be even more challenging as the council tries to dispose of the Old Lilian Baylis School as quickly as possible and tries to push through a Lambeth Local Development Framework (son of UDP) that currently ignores Kennington altogether.  Watch out for fireworks when we make our case at the public enquiry later this year! Our heartfelt thanks to David who has also studied the Mayor’s draft plan for Battersea, Nine Elms and Vauxhall in great detail with a view to forcing it to acknowledge the huge effect riverside development in Battersea, Vauxhall and Albert Embankment will have on the streets and transportation in our neighbourhood.

HAVE A LOOK AT THE NEW KA WEBSITE:

http://sites.google.com/site/kenningtonassociation

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR THE NEXT

KENNINGTON ASSOCIATION AGM

MONDAY 4^TH OCTOBER 2010

Tai Chi Thursdays 2pm-3pm Kennington Park Community Centre

Dear Neighbours

Tai Chi has moved back indoors for the winter.

You are welcome to come and join us:

Thursdays 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

Kennington Park Community Centre

Classes are open to all.

No previous experience is necessary.

We have recently received the second tranche

of a Grass Roots Grant from the Capital Community Foundation,

which we are pleased to say will enable the Thursday Tai Chi class

to continue for the next few months.

Best wishes

Christine Eames-Jones

KA Tai Chi Coordinator

‘U-turn on church’s plan for school site’

As a follow up to our open letter to

Jo Negrini

Divisional Director of Enterprise & Regeneration

Lambeth Council

Dated:

Monday, 29^th June 2009

Link here:
http://kaplanning.blogspot.com/2009/07/plans-for-old-lilian-baylis-school.html
there is an article in Tuesday’s South London Press

‘U-turn on church’s plan for school site’

It does not appear to be available on their website, so I have copy typed it below.

Best wishes

Cathy Preece

KA Administrative Assistant

‘U-turn on church’s plan for school site’

By Chief Reporter

GREG TRUSCOTT

A TOWN HALL has U-turned over controversial plans to sell a former school site to a church.

Labour-run Lambeth had planned to sell the former Lilian Baylis School grounds in Kennington to All Nations Church (ANC).

Lambeth’s Labour leaders had selected the Kennington-based church as its ‘lead partner’ to run the site – which provides sports facilities to young people, a nursery and children’s centre.

But after long negotiations it has emerged that the council now intends to ‘decommission’ the project.

In a report to the borough’s cabinet, a council officer has stated that the proposed offer from the ANC was too low.

It states: ‘The offer proposed by ANC entailed a substantial discount below market value, which the council could not justify through demonstration of public benefit.’

The report states that the council will continue to run the site at an annual cost of £380,000 until a suitable new buyer is found who will agree to keep the community facilities of the site.

It has been estimated that investment of up to £10million is required to bring the buildings – close to the Ethelred Estate – back into full use.

The proposed council and ANC partnership had been the subject of criticism from some groups.

Earlier this year chairwoman of community group the Kennington Association Anna Tapsell wrote to the council urging them not to enter into an agreement with the church.

She said: “The stated beliefs of All Nations are based on a very literal ready of the Bible and include the statement, ‘We believe in the utter depravity of human nature, the necessity of repentance and regeneration and the eternal doom of the finally impenitent’.

“These beliefs will not lead them to engender a sense of worth amongst young people who are disaffected and need to feel encouraged and loved, not ‘evil’ and ‘sinful’.

“And we are concerned about potential intolerance to minorities, such as gays and lesbians.”

An ANC spokeswoman said no one was available to comment.

greg.truscott@slp.co.uk

KA AGM DRAFT Minutes Monday, 5th October 2009

Kennington Association

Draft Minutes from Annual Meeting

7pm, Monday, 5^th October 2009

Captain’s Room, Kennington Oval

Present

Les & Jo Albrecht, David Boardman, Tim Boxall, Christine Eames-Jones, Marilyn Evers, Sylvia Goodman, Kate Hoey MP, Maureen Johnston MBE, Diane Kavanagh, Veronica Ledwith, Mary Mathewson, Mrs Jean McCarthy, Rodney & Ursula Ovenden, Michael Poole-Wilson, Cathy Preece, Sue Bruno & Angela Rayner, Elizabeth Scott, Betty Severn, Mrs Arfa Shah, Penny Sinclair, Anna Tapsell, Julie & David Tisdall, Kevin Rimmington.

Apologies

Kingsley Abrams, Charles & Sarah Kennedy, Jill Johnston, Margarita O’Malley, Priscilla Baines, Kevin Moore, Katherine Camp, Marie Bradley, Caroline Pidgeon, Jo Hykin, Oladapo Habeeb, John Roberts, Mark Harrison, Ann Carey.

Report from the Chair

Chair Anna Tapsell called the meeting to order, welcomed everyone and explained briefly how the KA functions. We are not too prescriptive or formal in our structure, but the organization and the Committee expand and contract as issues arise. We exist to serve the people of Kennington and raise money for children’s activities and outings as well as coming to the rescue of all kinds of neighbourhood groups if they run short of funds or need a bridge loan in between sponsoring grants. We also serve as a catalyst, helping new community groups reach out to potential members through our mailing lists and funding contacts, etc.

For example, when the Ethiopian Millennium celebration event found at the last minute they needed more money to cover security, KA came to the rescue with funds. KA also works with the organizers of the Fete in Cleaver Square to provide “official” stuff to be done which keeps them in operation. The free Tai Chi classes that meet in Kennington Park are another example of an activity that is covered by a charitable grant, but relies on KA sponsorship to apply for and receive the funding and occasional bridge loans.

Funding for KA expenses comes primarily from two sources: membership and the three bazaars that are held each year. All donated money is used for community activities. As soon as we take money in, it usually goes out. No one draws salary or funds except to cover documented expenses.

Following is a brief summary of some of the activities the KA has carried out in the past year:

Welcome Pack: This is an on-line (www.welcometokennington.org.uk) source of information where residents can find out about our MPs and MEPs, local authorities, gardens, parks, healthcare for people and animals and local LGBT resources. There is also information about food shopping, places to eat, music, schools, shops & services, places of worship, pubs and clubs, staying safe, local theatre and youth & play activities. Gathering, editing and posting this information was a monumental task and we owe a special debt of gratitude to Angela Rayner and Mavis Mate for bringing it to fruition.

Planning Group: Elizabeth Scott has been the guiding light of the planning group and it is one of the most difficult briefs. The Council and various commercial interests have been gradually pushing residents of Kennington further and further from the river, allowing the construction of tall buildings of luxury flats and businesses that block older communities from both river views and access. The planning group monitors the myriad of planning applications that are put before the council, drafts a position they believe is in the best interests of a majority of our members, and brings these drafts before the full committee for discussion and approval before views are sent to council. Naturally, this also involves trying to weigh the opinions and interests of divergent groups within our community and sometimes communicating bad news back to residents. This has been particularly difficult in the past year when it came to voicing opinions on the Oval lights, crowd control during test matches and the 20/20 crowds. KA, through the Planning Subgroup and Tim Boxall, was also instrumental in ensuring the Council provides an exchange facility for the Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre whose current venue is being razed for new development.

Art Auction: The Art Auction in September raised over £4,000, which will be used for the Secret Santa fund as well as a Student Bursary for the City & Guilds of London Art School. This SS fund purchases £40 vouchers, redeemable at Tesco that are given at Christmas to families in need as identified by the Ethelred Nursery School & Children’s Centre. Although a large group of people contributed to the success of this endeavour, special thanks go to Catey Hillier for once again coordinating the event and Andrew Connolly who ensured printing of the catalogue. A large debt of gratitude is also owed to all the individuals and local businesses who contributed artwork, items of interest and everything from cleaning services to restaurant meals for the auction.

Business Forum: A new venture, just started in the last few months is the Kennington Business Forum. This is a group of local business owners and directors who have come together to work for their common interests and the interests of the whole community to improve the services and business climate of Kennington. KA Committee Member, Oladapo Habeeb, manager of the Vauxhall Street Post Office (which KA was instrumental in keeping open), is the KBN Liaison and we expect the Business Forum to function as a separate unit with KA backing and support once it is fully operational. Issues they are looking at include recycling, decorations, care and control of pavements and negotiating with TfL.

Lollard Street Adventure Playground: Just last month, KA was asked to help set up a Friends group for the playground. This facility was promised money by the Council, which was later dropped as the Council deliberates the future of the Lilian Baylis Old School which is seen as part of the same site. As a result, a badly-needed refurbishment has not taken place. A Friends group will be able to put pressure on the Council and restore proper funding.

Business Meeting

Minutes from the previous AGM on 27^th October 2008 were accepted without amendment.

Treasurer’s Report: In the absence of a treasurer, the financial report was circulated in writing and discussed. A question about the Trinidad fund was answered satisfactorily by Cathy Preece, Administrative Assistant. The accounts as presented were approved.

Committee: All current members of the Committee and executives were confirmed for another year. Mary Mathewson was accepted as an additional member of the Planning Forum.

Old Business: Last year, the matter of dangerous dogs was raised by a member.

Discussion: Anna, who meets regularly with police in her CPCG role reported that much has been done to address this problem as part of the Safer Neighbourhoods programme. There is now a phone number (Lambeth 020 7926 4000; Southwark 020 7525 5777) * people can call to report dangerous dogs. Police are now removing many of these dogs from the street, but they cannot destroy them without court action and meanwhile are spending thousands of pounds per year on kennelling fees which the police, not the owners, are responsible for. Local vets have also reported they see more injured dogs that have obviously been involved in fights, but the dogs are frequently brought to the surgery by mothers and girlfriends of the owners and discovering the legitimate owner is difficult.

Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall noted that the public is now much more aware of the problem and helping the police. Most of the dogs seized are eventually put down because they are unsalvageable. Police have also identified hotspots, such as the Ashmole estate of Clapham Road where they recognize a serious problem.

One proposal has been that there be mandatory chipping of dogs owned by residents of council accommodation so that it is easier to trace the owners of dogs that are seized.

All Other Business

Ursula Ovenden, head of Archbishop Sumner Primary School asked how families can be nominated by teachers, etc. to receive a voucher under the Secret Santa scheme. Cathy said all suggestions should be sent to Charmaine Clarke of the Ethelred Nursery School.

Ursula also pointed out that the Garden is open for all to enjoy.

Maureen Johnston brought to members’ attention the North Lambeth Expo which is to be held at the Waterloo Action Centre.

Rodney Ovendon asked if KA had considered becoming a charity so that we would be eligible for gift aid.

Kevin Rimmington, deputy chair of KA, explained that we had looked into this option but decided for the present at least, we were better off without charity status because we are eligible for some funds that we couldn’t receive as a charity. We are trying to establish a KA Fund that would be administered by Capital Community Foundation and that would enable us to get match funding for whatever KA raises for charitable purposes.

Tim Boxall reported that the application for a convenience store in the old Bingo Hall at Kennington Road and Black Prince Road has been rejected, but it will probably be resubmitted in a slightly different guise. Although this space was originally intended for community use, the developers want too much money so the space has been empty since conversion of the building into flats.

Betty Severn brought to people’s attention the KA Ladies Who Lunch and Kennington Companions groups. These groups (which include men!) are made up of active volunteers of KA and meet from time to time for socialising.

Sylvia Goodman asked about the Arts Lavatory project that was mentioned in the Minutes of last year’s AGM. Maureen Johnston explained this is a conversion of the old Lavatory at Kennington Cross into a venue for a small arts centre and broadcasting site and has had interest from City and Guilds Art School and Morley College.

Kate Hoey informed us that the Friends of Spring Gardens wants to officially change the name to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, as it was known in the nineteenth century. They hope for community backing for this change.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8:20 pm

*

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/CommunityLiving/CrimePrevention/AntisocialBehaviour/AntisocialBehaviourContacts.htm

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/CommunitySafety/reportingcrime.html

Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs)

http://www.met.police.uk/teams/lambeth/

http://www.met.police.uk/teams/southwark/index.php