Archive for January, 2010
EXCLUSIVE: Thornton Councillor to Bid Farewell at Next Local Elections as New Candiate Revealed
Jan 31st
Ward Councillor, Michael Hipwell
who has been part of a trio of councillors working to improve estates and areas such as Weir Estate is to step down at the next council Elections following four years as a local councillor representing the Labour Party in Thornton Ward. We can also reveal that a new candidate has been selected by the local Labour Party to run for election this year.
Michael Hipwell, who has worked closely along with the other ward Councillors on Weir Estate to bring about many changes, will step down for personal reasons following the birth of his child last year. Cllr Hipwell has been part of tackling crime and police issues across the ward as part of the Thornton Ward Safer Neighbourhood Panel.
However, a new candidate will join the team hoping to be elected in to represent the views of Residents living in Thornton Ward. Ed Davie has been confirmed as the person taking over from Councillor Hipwell who will leave his role by May 6th when the country is expected to go to the polls for both local and national elections.
Councillor Peck said of her colleague’s decision to step down and his role over many years as a councillor “I have enjoyed working with Michael who has been an effective member of our team. But I completely understand why Michael is standing down – being a councillor
takes up a lot of time and it is sometimes not possible to juggle everything. With a young baby, a full time job and a new house that needs renovation Michael will certainly have enough to be getting on with! ”
Fellow Councillor, Diana Morris who has striven to bring much needed change with Councillors Peck and Hipwell, to areas covered in their Ward also said of their new colleague ‘Ed has already shown that he’s got the energy and dynamism to be a good representative of local people. He has been out in the wind, rain, sleet and snow with us talking to local residents and getting to understand their concerns. I sincerely hope that he will be elected to be the third councillor representing Thornton in the May elections.’
Following the news WERA Chair, Dave McEvoy was full of praise for Councillor Hipwell’s contribution to supporting Weir Estate Residents Association “Councillor Hipwell has been a tremendous person to work with in the time I have been chair and I know from involvement and talking to our counterparts across the ward, he has been a valued and dedicated voice of those living in the ward”
Mr McEvoy added “We have been fortunate to have such hard working and community minded councillors who have provided us with fantastic support and involvement, we Councillor Hipwell all the very best in the future and welcome and wish Ed Davie all the very best in his ambition to become our new Councillor this year”
New Candidate, Ed Davie told of his delight at being recommended as the Ward news Councillor and relishing the role of continuing to make Thornton one of the best in the Borough “Councillor Hipwell has done, and continues to do, a great job for Thornton and Lambeth as a borough. Everyone I have talked to over the last few months has had nothing but praise for Mike and the other Thornton councillors’ efforts – so I have a lot to live up to.
I aim to build on what they have achieved by supporting efforts to improve the housing stock and leisure facilities whilst tackling crime and the effects of the recession.”
The three councillors known collectively as the ‘Thornton Ward Action Team’ have helped secure new double glazing to residents homes on Weir Estate as well as tackling individual tenant issues such as repairs along with Leaseholders and have also been supporting a new bus route to help local people get between Balham and Streatham. They are also joined by Parliamentary Candidate, Chuka Umunna.
Weir Making Headlines
Jan 30th
Weir Estate Residents Association has once again hit the headlines following a presentation to the local policing team. The story which was first published here on WERA.ORG.UK earlier this month has now been featured in The South London Press newspaper.
A framed certificate which was presented to the Thornton Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team in recognition of the effort in reducing crime on the estate as well as improvements in working with the estate’s Association.
The Metroplitian Police Service in Lambeth, have been so overwhelmed by award they requested a photo shoot with current Chair, Dave McEvoy for publications across the borough as well for internal magazine ‘The Job’ distributed to every police station across London.
The SNT who are said to be ‘proud and overwhelmed’ by the recognition from WERA along with Dave McEvoy have now been featured in the South London Newspaper, The South London Press this week, highlighting the achievement of the team and the work carried out with WERA to bring a safer and crime free estate.
WERA’s Communications Officer, Kieran Casey, explained how the current Chair, has strived to continually raise the profile of the estate and show what work can be carried by working partnerships to improve the community “Dave McEvoy, as the current WERA Chair continues to raise the profile of both the estate and the association by working with those agencies and organisations providing services to the estate and the wider community. Through these partnerships, we have seen improvements to services provided to the estate.”
He went to add “WERA is committed to working with service providers to make our local community a better place to live and work.”
WERA Asks…Val Shawcross
Jan 22nd
Can you please tell us who you are and what your position is?
I’m the London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark. I sit on the London Assembly at City Hall. Part of that job is that I am also a member of the Fire Authority (the Committee that runs the Fire Brigade) and I am currently Deputy Chair of the Assembly’s Transport Scrutiny Committee.
How long have you been doing this role?
I was elected here in 2000. I spent the first 8 years as Chair of the Fire Brigade but now we have a Conservative Mayor he gives the key roles to Conservative members. Technically I’m in opposition.
More >
‘Weir Windows is Biggest Achievement’ Says Ward Councillor Peck
Jan 13th
Thornton Ward Councillor, Cllr Lib Peck has told of her sense of achievement at being one of three councillors who helped bring the new Windows and doors to Weir Estate in the recent Lambeth Life ‘Around your way’ Interview.
Labour Councillor Peck has told in an interview with the Lambeth Life how helping to get the windows on Weir and Thornton stands out as her biggest achievement as a councillor.
WERA has consistently been supported by the three ward councillors who have helped change the face of Weir Estate for residents as well as working closely with the association. Councillor Peck who is also the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, set about tackling the problem two years ago along with WERA Chair Dave McEvoy after residents were left with age old windows that had been in place since the estate was built in 1952. The metal double-glazed windows are currently being installed into homes, making them safer and most importantly warmer. This follows the hard work and dedication of the ward councillors, who have fought tirelessly to represent the needs of residents across the ward.
When asked what her biggest achievement was Councillor Peck is quoted saying ‘It’s very hard to pick out one thing… But if I have to pick one it would be the getting the aged old windows, onto two estates in our ward, Weir and Thornton Gardens replaced.’
Councillor Peck and colleague Councillor Diana Morris also tackled complex and time consuming leaseholder issues as well supporting Weir Estate Residents Association to make its case for urgent replacement of the windows.
Two of the ward’s councillors were presented with a large bouquet of flowers at the end of 2009, to thank them for their hard work during the year and the resulting success of getting the new Windows as well as many other aspects of change on the estate.
Councillor Peck has also praised the work of WERA and its committee for its work on improving the estate “WERA is an extremely effective organisation – it represents the concerns of tenants and leaseholders on the Weir estate and Anfield Close very clearly and determinedly. The previous year has been a particularly good and significant one for WERA – a lot of hard work has gone into ensuring first that the windows programme happened and that it has gone as smoothly as possible.”
She added “Through close monitoring on the estate, WERA has ensured that there have been improvements to some of the basics – the bins and to the cleaning on the estate. And this year, there are exciting plans for a community garden.
As local councillors we enjoy working with WERA, attending their regular meetings and taking up case work for residents. We were delighted to finally see the new windows coming in after much joint work by WERA and the three of us.
Finally, WERA continues to attract new residents at its monthly meetings ensuring that it is welcoming to newcomers. The new snazzy website provides a lot of information and news to residents while the Christmas party, a first for the estate, was a genuinely lovely occasion.”
The ward councillors hold regular monthly surgeries as well being frequently seen around the ward listening and taking up community concerns and issues, with good affect.
Dave McEvoy, current Chair of WERA said of the ward Councillors “We have been incredibly lucky on Weir Estate to have such hard working and determined as well as community minded Councillors. They have been a pleasure to work with and have achieved and succeeding in more than we could of ever have asked for. WERA see’s our councillors more as friends than politicians, which in today’s society is incredibly rare and that says how good and important they are to us as an estate and the wider community across the ward. We are very fortunate on Thornton and hope they can continue to bring about the changes our community needs.”
One of the councillors at least attends WERA’s meetings every month to hear views and concerns of residents as well taking up individual cases of those residents who have experienced housing repairs issues.
The team known as the Thornton Action Team, has also been joined by Ed Davie who assists the councillors in tackling issues around the ward.
Click Here to open the Lambeth Life which contains the article, and interview. This is a large PDF File, and may take a few minutes to load.
Chill Puts Freeze on WERA AGM Due to Safety Concerns
Jan 9th
Weather which has seen many parts of the UK in the last few weeks covered in thick snow and ice, has put pay to WERA’s 2010 Annual General Meeting, resulting in its cancellation due to safety concerns of residents and guests getting to and from the meeting without slipping on the estate’s now icy roads and pavements.
WERA were due to hold their Annual General Meeting at the Weir Link on Tuesday 12th January 2010, however following further snow fall and reports suggesting even more freezing conditions predicted by the Met Office, for the days leading up to the AGM and on the day the meeting was to be held, Association Chair, Dave McEvoy has taken the decision to call off the meeting.
Weir Estate roads have been left like many other side roads and Housing Estates in Lambeth, covered in a dangerous level of ice covering the road, it was felt that residents particularly the elderly and vulnerable would be at risk from the slippery surface and the falling temperatures.
The meeting would have seen elections for 2010 Association Executive Officers and Committee Members, as well as a recap of what was achieved in what has already been hailed a truly successful year for the estates residents with thanks to the efforts of WERA, will now be rescheduled for February 2010 as this will hopefully give time for the weather and conditions to improve.
Chair Dave McEvoy explained the decision to cancel the AGM, which would have been the first meeting of the New Year “We have been monitoring the weather forecasts and have waited as late as possible to postpone the meeting but following more recent snowfall and the constant adverse low temperatures, we are concerned about the safety of residents walking on estate roads and therefore feel this is the best choice to postpone the meeting until things improve.”
Much of Britain has been blitzed by snow and ice with some parts of the country dropping to temperatures matching the South Pole.
Locally, main routes such as Weir Road have been gritted but due to shortages in grit Estate roads have not and are not routinely cleared of ice which has seen parts of the Estate becoming almost impassable by foot and making driving conditions difficult.
WERA have issued a cold weather warning on their website asking residents to take extra care on the estate and look out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours during the cold snap. Mr McEvoy who has not revealed whether he will re-stand at the delayed AGM in February added “This is particularly unusual for us in London and hope it will soon pass, however we have made attempts to make the roads safer by requesting attention to the roads and once again are receiving support in this from our local councillor, Diana Morris, the AGM is a very important meeting and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Current elected Officers will remain in post until the new AGM is held.
Residents living on the estate will now have more time to nominate either themselves or others to take up vital positions to keep the association operational or as a supporting committee member.
The cold weather and ice is anticipated to last until the middle of next week.
Thornton Ward Policing Team Honoured with WERA Award
Jan 5th
Officers from the Thornton Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team have been presented with an ‘Award of Recognition, and Certificate of Thanks’ by WERA’s Current Chair Dave McEvoy at their base, Cavendish Road Police Station.
The framed certificate was presented to the full team who police Weir Estate and Thornton Ward. The team have been praised for their efforts during the course of 2009 to improving the relationship with WERA and Weir Estate Residents, which, thanks to the outstanding efforts of officers on the team, has seen Weir Estate consistently having the lowest crime rate throughout Thornton Ward; as well Thornton Ward consecutively being among the lowest crime figures throughout Lambeth.
Despite a few differences during the course of 2009, WERA now has a designated Liaison Officer in PCSO Karen Rose and regular patrols from Police Constable, Rob Wood and other PCSO’s Carl McLean and Lucy Feeney on a regular basis. The team patrol both on foot and by bike giving the opportunity to cover a wider area and respond quicker to incidents in the area.
WERA has recognised the team effort to make Weir Estate safer as well understanding and tackling the concerns of residents to a high standard. In presenting the award to the SNT, Chair Dave McEvoy praised the improvements in communication and mutual understanding “We have seen many great changes over the past few months even from the beginning of 2009, specifically towards the end of last year, the team responsible for keeping our Estate safe and free from Crime has been tremendous. I hope this certificate goes someway to recognising the achievement and effort put in by our Safer Neighbourhood Team and hope this will continue in 2010, WERA are grateful to our policing team for the effort they have put into working with us.”
The team which is made of three police officers, Sergeant Ashok Patel, PC Rob Wood and PC Joy Murden are also supported by four PCSO’s, Carl McLean, Karen Rose, Lucy Feeney and Phil Hodsdon, who routinely patrol the estate and local community tackling everything from Anti Social Behaviour to Burglary as well as meeting with local residents to understand their concerns and attending Association meetings.
Following the presentation Sergeant Patel said “We have made great inroads into reducing crime on Weir Estate, with such strategies as appointing a single point of contact and working closely with WERA as well as regular patrols. We are very proud of this Award and the teams Achievement. It shows that as an SNT we are highly committed to making Thornton Ward a safer place to live and work”
The current team have over come many changes in the past year with shortage of officers as well as restoring the confidence of the community after the loss of its SNT in 2007, as well as loss of confidence by WERA in 2009, which has now been fully restored following a drastic improvement in relations and the relationship between the association and the team’s officers.
Dave McEvoy specifically singles out PC Wood and PCSO Rose along with the other PCSO’s for their hard work in the latter part of 2009.
Members of the local community set the area priorities for the officers to pursue at a panel meeting held every three months. The team successfully meet these priorities on Weir Estate as the crime figures for the area show and remain low on consistent basis.
The SNT has also received applause by members at WERA meetings following the improvement in local policing and the way crime is tackled. ‘We are very grateful now to have this relationship with the Safer Neighbourhood Team and we look forward to this continuing to grow throughout 2010” added Dave McEvoy.
Mayor of Lambeth’s Praise for WERA in Online New Year Message
Jan 2nd
Mayor of Lambeth, Christopher Wellbelove who recently attended WERA’s end of Year Celebrations on the 29th December 2009 has heaped praise on the Estates Association for setting a ‘Fantastic example of communities coming together’.
At the end of 2009, Mayor Wellbelove recorded his online video message posted on popular video sharing website, YouTube. The Mayor also praises the volunteers across the borough who work tirelessly for Residents groups ‘often without receiving a single penny or even simply a word of thanks’ also goes onto to encourage residents to make a new resolution in 2010 to get involved and support their associations.
Mayor, Councillor Wellbelove who was elected at the Council’s Annual General Meeting and is also a resident of Lambeth representing Clapham Town Ward since 2006 as a Councillor after living in the area for Twelve Years pledged ‘during my year as Mayor I hope to encourage others to make a difference too.’ encourages residents during his online message that residents will consider ‘making a new years resolution for 2010 to include getting involved in the local area and Associations.’
In his New Year message the Mayor praises the efforts of those working on Weir Estate to bring about changes to the way the estate is managed and maintained for the benefit of those living in the community. “I am here on the Weir Estate and it is a Fantastic Example of where the community come together and leads a project that brings together things like this fantastic Centre (The Weir Link). This is a fantastic example of things that are going on all over the Borough.”
Mayor Wellbelove who also makes use of other online websites and resources such as social-networking sites, Facebook and Twitter as well as blogging in order to be more accessible to residents goes on in his New Year Message to say “I would like to congratulate those on Weir Estate who have worked hard to bring this together but everyone across the borough”
Mayor Wellbelove also thanks officers like Chair, Dave McEvoy and Treasurer Sue Cranmer on behalf of Lambeth and the people of Lambeth for their ‘Hard Work.’
The Mayor attends many community functions throughout Lambeth as its First Citizen was impressed with the work and changes that had been made to Weir Estate by having a thriving association which has brought new Windows and safer roads as well many other benefits to the lives of those living on the estate.
The Mayor finally adds “For Everyone across Lambeth, a very Happy New Year”
If you would like to get involved and support your association, please feel free to contact us.
WERA Website Makes Front Page in Area News
Jan 2nd
Wera.org.uk, Weir Estate Residents Association’s website, has made front page news this month for the Clapham Area Newsletter sent to all Lambeth Living properties in the housing area of Clapham.
The acclaimed website which was set up in June 2009 has been featured on the front page of the Clapham Area Newsletter sent out across the area following a successful first year.
WERA’s website has received much praise for its appearance and content by loveclapham.com and Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate, Chuka Umunna who have praised the site as an ‘Essential Site’ and ‘A model for best practice for all TRA’s’ has also featured exclusive fortnightly interviews with many across the borough’s services including Lambeth Living Chief Executive, Cathy Deplessis and Lambeth’s new Borough Commander Nick Ephgrave as well as many other front line officers.
The website which was featured in the Winter edition of the Clapham Area News is designed to make it easier for residents and anyone wishing to keep up to date with the latest news, contacts and interviews. Wera.org.uk has continued to break its visitor records on a month by month basis much to the delight of website developer Kieran Casey, “The website was set-up to keep residents on the estate informed, but it has now shown that it can be used to communicate to a wider audience.”
With a political month promised before the elections in 2010, residents will have the opportunity to read what makes the Candidates for MP to represent the area tick and find out more before making their choice at the ballot box at the expected General elections in May 2010.
The website has also been praised by many other people and is being used as a model to encourage other associations to enter into the digital era of having an association website.
Mr Casey who has developed and manages the design and content of the website explained the importance of having the site for residents and local people to visit “The website is a quick and easy means of keeping residents informed, with the touch of a button, you can read the latest news which otherwise would not be communicated to residents for some time.”
WERA also distributes a monthly bulletin to cater for those residents who do not have internet access at home or for elderly residents who prefer a hard copy of the Associations latest news. Kieran added “It was a great joy to see the website featured on the front page of the Clapham Area News, and hopefully the continuing year will see the website continue to grow, and visitor numbers continue to be broken month-by-month”
WERA is also on social networking site, Twitter just another way the association is striving to improve the way its residents are being kept informed and has provided a way of relaying all the contacts and information residents need for life living on a Lambeth council estate.
WERA has been featured on the front page of Clapham area news to share its growing success with members of the wider community and aims to continue to grow in 2010.
You can read the full newsletter including the wera.org.uk article featured on the front page by clicking here.
