Archive for October, 2010
New housing, regeneration, and environment boss for Lambeth
Oct 25th
Lambeth Council has appointed a new executive director for the housing,regeneration and environment department. Sue Foster OBE, joins Lambeth on 1 November from Enfield Council where she was Director of Place Shaping and Enterprise.
She brings with her a wealth of experience having worked for the past twenty years in London in both the voluntary sector and local government, initially as a planner and subsequently in senior roles in regeneration and housing. Her focus has been to work alongside the community, businesses and development partners to create sustainable and healthy neighbourhoods.
While working as Director in Enfield, Sue had a particular role in shaping the housing agenda, bringing forward a new holistic estate regeneration programme for the borough, including the £90m regeneration and refurbishment programme to create 400 homes on the North Circular Rd, which will end more than 40 years of blight to the area.
Prior to her role in Enfield, Sue was at Hackney Council for 6 years where she was assistant director of regeneration and planning. She played an integral role in improving service delivery and bringing forward London’s Olympic planning applications – work which earned her an OBE for services to planning.
She says: “I feel really privileged to lead a department which impacts so obviously on everyone’s lives. I want to build on the excellent work that is already underway and to continue to make a real difference to the lives of Lambeth’s citizens and businesses.
“I recognise that this is a really challenging time to be starting a new role given the significant cuts in public sector spending, but I am looking forward to embracing Lambeth’s co-operative model – forging new partnership arrangements and doing things in new ways so we can keep the momentum of change progressing”.
Councillor Steve Reed, Lambeth Council Leader, said: “I look forward to working with Sue to build on the good work that is already taking place in the department. Her impressive track record and achievements will help us to give our residents the
services they need and deserve.”
London Fire Brigade strike – 1st November
Oct 21st
The Fire Brigade’s Union (FBU) have announced that they have plans to start taking strike action that will disrupt our fire-fighting and fire safety service from 23 October 2010.
The London Fire Brigade has a legal duty to provide a fire and rescue service at all times and has contingency arrangements in place to keep London safe.
The FBU initially intends to strike on the following days:
Saturday, 23 October from 10am to 6pm
Monday, 1 November from 10am to 6pm
During this time the London Fire Brigade has the following safety advice:
- if you have a fire, call 999
- take extra care – especially when you are cooking or smoking
- know what to do if you have a fire – get out, stay out, call 999.
They have also provided the following practical advice:
- make sure that you have a smoke alarm, check that it works and change the battery if you need to
- make sure you know how you would get out of your home if there is a fire - and that everyone in your home knows
- stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully
- put candles out, use a snuffer or a spoon, it’s safer than blowing them out when sparks can fly
- double check the cooker is off
- turn heaters off and put up fireguards
- turn off and unplug electrical appliances, unless they are designed to be left on - like your fridge
- close inside doors at night to stop a fire from spreading
- make sure exits are kept clear
- keep door and window keys where everyone can find them.
You can find further information and advice on the London Fire Brigade website.
‘WERA ended our leak nightmare’ says grateful Jewell House family
Oct 17th
Mr and Mrs Muhith in their new bathroom
A family living on Weir Estate have spoke of their gratitude to Weir Estate Residents Association for ending their year long leaking ceiling and subsequent damp conditions nightmare in their home. The family from Jewell House endured months of water penetrating through light fittings and ceilings from the faulty roof above their home.
Mr and Mrs Muhith along with their three sons experienced major water leaks and damp throughout the property, which had caused damage to plaster work and personal possessions, despite reporting the leak to Lambeth Living on numerous occasions. Unfortunately the family were left to live in appalling conditions as the works failed to get sorted out.
Their bathroom and seperate toilet was left practically unusable with water dripping on their heads from the water saturated ceiling and were left too frightened to use either the toilet or bathroom for fear of electrocuting themselves as water continuously filled the light casing and dripped from light fittings.
Mr Muhith explains “We fought hard to get this resolved, but they [Lambeth Living] didn’t appear to want to know, they kept saying we don’t have the money, we kept being told people would come but they never did.” More >
Lambeth’s drive for improved customer service
Oct 17th
Councillor Jackie Meldrum, Lambeth’s deputy leader, is leading a drive aimed at improving services for the borough’s residents.
She spent a whirlwind week, timed to coincide with National Customer Service Week, visiting a variety of services offered by Lambeth.
“It has been a hectic few days, and I was very impressed by the dedication and commitment shown by frontline staff I met,” she commented.
Lambeth is launching a new set of service standards for Lambeth. “These new standards detail the type of service the people of Lambeth can expect from the council,” Councillor Meldrum explained. “Our customers are very important to us and deserve the best possible service”. More >
SPECIAL FEATURE: Weir Link Unveils New Partnership ‘Weir 2 at St Stephens’ New Facilities and Services
Oct 15th
Members of the community and service users got their first glimpse at the new facilities and work to St Stephens Church this week which is now the home of Weir 2, part of the Weir Estate based ‘The Weir Link’ centre. Weir 2, marking the second year of services has been opened in partnership with the local church to accommodate the need for more space and to be able to offer new and existing services to the community.
The Weir Link which was opened on Weir Estate back in June 2008 by then MP, Keith Hill and began operating in September the same year, replacing the eyesore two storey derelict former laundry building. The centre has outgrown their current available space and has sought new room to continue to offer current services such as Stay and Play and Toddler Tunes as well as social groups on offer to the community. More >
UPDATE: Armed Police Presence on Weir Estate on Sunday 10th October 2010
Oct 14th
We have received a statement from Thornton SNT regarding the incident we reported on Sunday here
On Sunday 10th October 2010 at approximately 1800 hours police received a call from a Weir Estate resident stating that he believed there were youths outside his address in possession of a firearm. Immediately armed response officers attended the location to search for both the suspects, potential victims and evidence. Armed officers are always called to these reports for the safety of both residents and unarmed borough officers, this is standard procedure.
Officers searched areas around the estate and could not find any trace of any bullets or injured parties. I would like to re-iterate that although alarming, the presence of armed officers was only a precautionary measure.
Again it goes to show the commitment that Weir Estate residents have of working with Lambeth Police to make Weir Estate a safer place
ANNOUNCEMENT: Armed Police Presence on Weir Estate on Sunday 10th October 2010
Oct 10th
Weir Estate Residents Association would like to reassure residents regarding the presence of Armed Police Officers on Weir Estate at around 6:15pm on Sunday 10th October in which a number of police with their weapons visible were seen by residents to be patrolling the estate following reports of Youths with a firearm on or around 6pm.
Our Chair, Dave McEvoy spoke to one of the armed officers who informed him that they had received a call from a member of the public about youths with a firearm but after an extensive search of the whole area including Weir Estate, Weir Road and Atkins Road (inclusive of Agnes Riley Park) that there was NO sign of any activity of this kind as they had found no trace of a fire arm, youths or evidence of damage caused by a firearm, so were sure it was a hoax call and therefore left the estate shortly after 6.35pm. There are no known reports of anyone being shot in the area and we are awaiting further confirmation from officers at the Safer Neighbourhood team.
We would like to reassure residents and members of the public on Weir Estate that there is no evidence of risk to the safety of residents. We would also like to assure you that there has been no further repeats of such incidents and at this moment the police are satisfied there was no criminal incident on Weir Estate involving a firearm.
We will of course inform you of any developments in relation to this incident. Weir Estate continues to be the safest estate to live on in Lambeth and local safer neighbourhood officers continue to work with us in order to keep crime down. WERA will do all it can to ensure that there is no risk or danger to residents safety.
We hope this give you reassurance regarding this incident!
You can contact Thornton Safer Neighbourhood Team when they are on shift by telephoning 020 8721 2622, or 07920 233 840.
If there is no answer, leave a message and an officer will get back to you. You can also email the SNT at Thornton.SNT@met.police.uk
In the event of an emergency always dial 999, for all other calls to the Police please dial 0300 123 1212.
Latest WERA Bulletin
Oct 9th
WERA are proud to announce our latest WERA Bulletin has just been published, and can be found by clicking here
Petition to save Funding for Decent Homes
Oct 9th
Residents in Lambeth are being asked to sign an online petition for funding promised under the previous government for upgrades to Kitchens and Bathrooms in residents homes.
There are fears that Lib Dem/Tory Coalition Government may refuse to honour the previous commitment to providing social housing providers in Lambeth to the sum of £233 million to help improve stock for families often living in poor conditions.
Weir Estate Residents Association supports this epetition and asks our residents to sign the epetition which can be found here.
WERA Asks…Cllr Peter Robbins, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People
Oct 9th
How long have you been doing this role, and what does it involve?
I’ve been Cabinet member for Children and Young People since May, and have been a councillor since 2006. My responsibilities cover three incredibly important areas – schools, youth services, and child protection.
How do you think services can be improved for young people within Lambeth?
Labour doubled investment in youth services over the last four years because we know how important it is to local people that young people have lots of things to do. Unfortunately the massive attacks from the new government on public spending will make it hard for the council to protect everything that we value.
Should young people be given such bad press in society?
Absolutely not. The vast majority of the 67,000 young people in Lambeth are hard working, honest and ambitious for themselves – whatever their background. A small minority – less than one per cent – cause trouble.
What are the most important aspects to have within communities?
Strong communities need real community champions – individuals, families, or groups of people who make a stand when they see injustice, rather than worry only about themselves. People who selflessly give up their own time to improve the lives of people around them. In Lambeth we are lucky to have many people and groups like this – which is why we want to tap into that energy and commitment by making Lambeth a cooperative council.
More >