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Noteworthy buildings in Vassall Ward – a request

18 July 2010 by chrismorrison

Vassall Ward Councillor Steve Reed is looking for your suggestions for buildings to be added to Lambeth Council’s list of Buildings of Local Architectural or Historic Interest. His request relates to Vassall Ward only – see link for map of streets in the ward – note that ASSA is in Stockwell Ward – but perhaps you should contact your councillor if you have suggestions for other wards.  The list will be separate from the national register of Listed Buildings, which gives buildings a specific legal status/protection. Lambeth’s aim in pulling together an additional list of buildings of local interest is “to identify and designate those buildings of local interest so that the Council can consider their significance when determining any planning proposals affecting them”. Buildings on the list will not automatically receive any additional protection. Instead, being on the list will flag up to the council that their significance should be considered in any planning applications. The first draft of the list Lambeth has produced includes only three structures in Vassall ward so far

* Freemans Builing on Clapham Road – currently being developed by Galliard Homes
* Summerhouse in Myatts Fields Park
* Stone horse trough at the top of Vassall Road (near the Union Tavern)

Most other wards have a much larger number of buildings. Are there any other local buildings of interest that you think should be added? The criteria for inclusion includes :
1. Architecture
2. History
3. Close historical association (connections with people or events of borough or national importance)
4. Townscape
5. Age and rarity

If you’d like to suggest any buildings/structures for inclusion on this list, contact Steve at SBradley@lambeth.gov.uk and he will request they be added on your behalf. Let bathsheba99@gmail.com know too!

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ASSA backs Tate Library Art Show

3 July 2010 by chrismorrison

Our local Tate Library on South Lambeth Road is currently showing an exhibition of lively and vibrant painting and artwork by children from the Herbert Morrison Primary School.

The show has been put on by the Friends of Tate Library South, with support from ASSA. ASSA donated funds from our Summer Fair 2009 to the Friends to help with the costs of putting on this and similar shows in the library.

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ASSA AGM: Tuesday July 6th 8pm – Everyone welcome!

2 July 2010 by chrismorrison

Albert Square and St Stephen’s Association
Annual General Meeting
Everyone welcome!
The Annual General Meetings of the Albert Square and St Stephen’s Association, ASSA (covering all residents in Albert Square, St Stephen’s Terrace, Wilkinson Street and Aldebert Terrace) will be held on:

Tuesday 6 July 2009,  St Stephens Church, 8pm

Please do come along from 7.30pm, when refreshments will be available.
Agenda
1.      Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 16 June 2009
2.      Review of the year from Chair
3.      Kate Hoey MP
4.      QUESTION TIME: your chance to ask questions to ASSA Committee, Kate Hoey and ward councillors
5.      Policing report
6.      Summer fair
7.      Planning
8.      Treasurer’s report and presentation of accounts
9.      Election of Officers and Executive Committee for following  year (see below)
10.    Election of Honorary Auditor
11.     Any other business.
Copies of the accounts and the minutes of the last AGM will be available at the meeting.

The present Officers and members of the Executive Committee are:
Chair: Chris Morrison;   Secretary: Brenda Kirsch;   Treasurer: Sid Stiles;   Honorary Accounts Checker: Tony Andrews
Other Committee members: John Allinson, Jim Davies, Peter Edwards, Rosemary Ellis, Emma Francis, Andy Lindo, Neil Sanders, Alex Wajih, Victoria Wynn

YOUR CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED!

ASSA welcomes the involvement of residents – old and new – as members of the Committee. If you would like to get involved or have queries about this, or wish to nominate yourself or someone else for the Committee, please call Chris Morrison on 020 7582 7184 or Brenda Kirsch on 020 7735 6087.

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Come and View Plans For Oval Farmers Market this Saturday, July 3rd

1 July 2010 by chrismorrison

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Summer Fair Art Competition – Call for entries

6 June 2010 by chrismorrison

Albert Square  Summer Fair is welcoming  your budding artists to take part in the annual art competition.

This years theme is THE WORLD CUP!

(goals, football, Teams, South Africa, team strips, goalies, strikers, favourite players….anything to with The World Cup!)

Any medium, size or material.

Please come to the fair and bring your kids contribution where their work will be displayed and later judged by Frances Morris – Head of Collections at the TATE Modern

There will be prizes and 2 catogories under 9′s and over 9′s.

£50 gift certificate for each winner

Just put your name and contact details on the reverse.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!!!!

Any questions:

Rosemary: rosemary_ds@hotmail.com; 020 7793 9538

Roli: 07900 168 388

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Portugal Day in Kennington Park this Sunday June 13th

6 June 2010 by chrismorrison

This Saturday’s Albert Square Summer Fair still not enough for you? On Sunday there are TWO local events… the Kennington Association Summer Fete in Cleaver Square 12.30-4pm and Portugese Day in Kennington Park which runs from 11am until the evening – you could even do both! (there’s a good list of local events here from local blogger ‘Lurking about SE11′

[taken from Lambeth Life]

Every year the borough’s Portuguese community comes together and invites the rest of London to join them for a Portugal Day festival. The festival is a chance for the largest Portuguese community outside of Portugal to get together and celebrate together.

Lambeth is now home to a Portuguese community of around 27,000 people and that means each Portugal Day the borough is at the centre of celebrations in the UK. Rui Simoes is part of the team organising this year’s festival and he said the event will be a chance for Londoners to sample some genuine Portuguese culture. “We have a lot of cultural events on the day,” said Rui. “There will be music and dance with Portuguese bands and performers. There is also gastronomy from Portugal so people can try the typical food and drink.”

The day is not just for Lambeth’s Portuguese community and Rui is hoping to attract people from across London so they can get a taste of Portugal and its culture. However he admits that Lambeth’s Portugal Day celebrations will mean more to those who have a connection with the country. “One of the main things for the festival is that it is for people who are living a long way from their home,” said Rui. “It’s a real family event and a chance to celebrate Portugal Day. It is not just people from Portugal who celebrate – we get people from former colonies like Mozambique and Angola who also want to take part. “But of course for people who do not have a connection to Portugal it will still be an enjoyable day with lots to do.”

Portugal Day takes place at Kennington Park on Sunday 13 June from 11am with events going on into the early evening.

Posted in Local events and pictures | 1 Comment »

Albert Square Summer Fair: Saturday, June 12th

22 May 2010 by chrismorrison

The Albert Square Summer Fair will be upon us!

Its on Saturday 12 June 3pm-6pm

Last year’s fair was a real success, and we want to make this year’s just as enjoyable.  So please let us know if there is anyway you would like to help. We are always looking for fresh faces to provide new input so don’t be afraid to come forward!

We’re looking for help in the following areas.  If you can help with any of these – or want to propose further activities – and also nominate local good causes who we can support through our fundraising,  please contact:

Chris – assacan@assa.org.uk or 07971 198555

Rosemary rosemary_ds@hotmail.com; 0207 793 9538

  • Volunteers to run stalls – we urgently need someone for the BOOK stall and the TOY stall and PIMMs tent - please call Chris
  • Displaying publicity boards outside your house (they look like estate agents boards and are vital to our fund raising) – please call Rosemary
  • Designers to design our flyers and posters
  • Volunteers on the day – for the gate, setting up and clearing up
  • Helpers to organise the sports and games
  • Donations of cakes, bottles for the bottle stall, plants, books and toys (a notice will come round soon with collectors names)
  • Loan of gazebos and trestle tables for stalls

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL ON 12 JUNE

Posted in Local events and pictures | 1 Comment »

Enjoy the sounds of silence

18 April 2010 by chrismorrison

Spare a moment to open your window and listen. What do you hear?

If you have friends or family stuck overseas (or you are reading this from a hotel room in Frankfurt) then the chaos caused by the Ejafjallajoekull volcano will no doubt be causing you some anxiety. If not, and you are a resident of ASSA then enjoy this unique time in our lives when there is no constant stream of jet engines at all hours over our heads. It might never happen again.

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Albert Square Garden Trust – Newsletter March 2010

9 April 2010 by chrismorrison

Please see below for an update from our friends in the Albert Square Gardens Trust

—————

Dear Residents

This is to let you know about changes in the management of the Garden.

Under a Deed of 1914, Trustees hold the legal title of the Garden to benefit residents of the Square.  A management committee is responsible for the Garden’s maintenance.  The Albert Square Garden Trust is different to the Albert Square and St Stephen’s Association (ASSA) which is the residents’ association covering a wider area.

New Trustees

Jim Nicolson, who was the Trustee of the Garden, and his wife Barbara, who joined Jim on the management committee, have recently retired after more than 40 years’ service in Albert Square. We wish them a restful retirement after so much hard work.

We are delighted to announce that our new trustees are Roli Okorodudu-Thomas of No 32 Albert Square and Charles Crawley of No 15.

New Management Committee

Rosemary Ellis, Martha Fiennes, Mark Williamson and Charles Glanville have joined the new trustees on the management committee. Stan Samuel of the London and Quadrant Housing Trust, Stephen Barlow and Tony Andrews were already on the committee and are happy to continue.

A New Constitution

The 1914 Deed is outdated but legally difficult to change. We will introduce a more modern constitution to sit alongside the Deed, providing for election of the management committee, residents’ meetings and generally for a more open and inclusive way of managing the Garden. The first meeting of Albert Square residents will be held when we have drafted the constitution.

Notice Boards

We have commissioned a local sculptor to make traditional notice boards, one at each gate, supported by proceeds from the ASSA Summer Fetes.

The Perimeter Path

It has never been clear who owns the path but we do know that it is not owned by the Garden Trust. Lambeth Council have accepted responsibility for its maintenance and have installed the new pathway, using the original kerb stones where possible.

Improvements and Maintenance Projects

We are considering the best use in the Garden of the surplus kerb stones and top soil and will let you know what we think are the best options.

We are also considering a larger project providing additional seats linked by a path around the inside of the garden to encourage more residents to use the Garden at all times of year. We will present more detailed proposals when we hold the residents’ meeting.

A tree surgeon is advising us of work needed to keep the trees in a good condition and we are exploring affordable ways to paint the railings.

Dogs

We will try a range of approaches to the problem of people who allow their dogs to foul the grass. Doubtless this will be an ongoing priority.

Funding

Freeholders of each house in the Square make an annual contribution towards maintenance costs. If you are a freeholder you will shortly receive a request from our Treasurer, Mark Williamson, for this year’s contribution of £80. This amount just covers basic insurance and routine gardening.

We can release money from our reserves to pay the balance for notice boards but we need to retain funds for contingencies that cannot be covered by our insurance. We will present some options for raising money towards the other improvements when we hold the residents, meeting.

We hope this information is helpful. You are very welcome to contribute ideas and practical assistance for the improvement of the Garden.

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ASSA Response to the VNEB OAPF

30 March 2010 by chrismorrison

That’s Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea Opportunity Area Planning Framework to you. A huge development plan that affects the area between Vauxhall, Battersea Power Station and the Wandsworth Road. The consultation response from ASSA is given below plus some background on the development.

==================================================================

ASSA is responding to the VNEB OAPF because we believe that the development of the area will

  • increase the burden on local services and infrastructure
  • impact the appearance of and views from our neighbourhood
  • has the potential to positively impact on the services and amenities available to our residents

In summary of the ASSA feedback on the VNEB OAPF

  • The overall density of the development area and the plans for a cluster of tall buildings around Vauxhall would place an excessive burden on the transport, leisure and social infrastructure in our area and the OAPF does not include sufficient mitigants to alleviate these impacts
  • The expected visual impact of the cluster of tall buildings is deeply regrettable both the direct impact on views from our conservation area and also views from the very pretty walks around our area, particularly in Vauxhall Park and surrounds.
  • The density of the development area also allows little room for green areas (the linear strip of land surrounded by high buildings cannot be considered a ‘park’), community gardens and allotments, sports facilities and other areas of public amenity.
  • The VNEB OAPF recognizes that existing business will be forced to relocate out of the area, many of which are SME local employers. They will be replaced by “20-25,000” retail and office jobs. There is no indication that these jobs will match the skills of local residents or whether there will be any training for local residents to work in this new employment zone.
  • Our concern is that the development plan creates little incentive for residents of the surrounding areas to enter the VNEB Opportunity Area. This will lead to a ‘ghetto’ of flats with little linkage to the surrounding area.
  • There is no clarity in the development plans on what the requirement for affordable housing will be in the area.
  • We are supportive of the plans for the New Covent Garden Market and the plans to open up the market to encourage local tourism, training and hospitality facilities to celebrate this unique London asset in our neighbourhood.
  • Apart from the district heating plans there is no vision to create an area that is more self-sufficient in its energy use and waste management.
  • ASSA would like to see
    • A clear commitment to invest in schools, healthcare and other social infrastructure facilities.
    • An investment in sports facilities, green spaces, allotments and other facilities that contribute to the social value of the opportunity area and the well being of all those living in it and near it.
    • A great reduction in the height and number of tall buildings around Vauxhall with great sensitivity in design and scale being given to any buildings built around our parks.
    • Lower density housing with a greater focus on the quality of design and surrounding environment and amenities. This has the potential to make the Opportunity Area and attractive asset for our community rather than ghettoized dormitory for commuters.
    • Greater emphasis on a diversified mix of businesses. There is a reason New Covent Garden must, by law, be situated at Nine Elms – because of its proximity to central London. The plan should include areas for business that can service the homes, shops and offices of central London. This would also create a greater diversity of jobs and skills for local residents.
    • Measures to encourage the maximum level of energy efficiency and decentralized, low carbon energy generation (ideally carbon neutral as will be required by 2016) for residential and commercial buildings.
    • Measures to minimize the amounts of waste being exported to landfill, maximizing the amount of waste recycled.

Ends

==================================================================

Background

The Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea (VNEB) Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF!) covers the triangular area from Vauxhall station to Battersea Power Station bounded at the bottom by Wandsworth Road. See map below.

All documents can be found here http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/mayor/publications/planning/vauxhall-nine-elms-battersea-opportunity-area-planning-framework

  • The VNEB area has been designated an opportunity area in the GLA’s London Plan. This means it will be treated as a single area and a planning framework will be developed for it. This is positive as it means considerations like social infrastructure (parks, schools, surgeries) will be included as part of the plan rather than the alternative which is putting strain on the existing infrastructure.
  • The aim of the OAPF is to increase land values in the area thereby increasing investment.
  • There are a small number of landlords: Treasury Holdings (Battersea Power Station), Covent Garden Market Authority, US Embassy and some others.
  • There will be two focal ‘growth poles’ Battersea Power Station and Vauxhall station which will be residential and office space plus retail.
  • A cluster of tall buildings at Vauxhall of 150m in height or less (the St Georges Tower already consented is 180m list of tall towers for comparison here: http://www.skyscrapernews.com/britains1.htm) Views from Albert Square and South Lamb eth Road are given below

  • 16,000 new homes mostly in 8-10 storey blocks or the towers. 40,000 people including up to 10,000 kids. No family houses to speak of – mostly 1-2 bed flats. Limited social housing.
  • 15-20 year development period
  • New Northern Line extension from Kennington to Nine Elms and Battersea at a cost of £600m privately funded (the reality of this number is questionable as is the likelihood of it being build in a timeframe consistent with the development or being built at all. There is very limited transport development planned apart from the tube extension.
  • Public space will consist of a Thames walkway, a ‘linear park’ (a 50m wide strip of land with 8-10 story blocks either side) and three walkways from Wandsworth Road to the river.
  • District Heating Network planned for the area.
  • Up to £405m of S106 funds.
  • New Covent Garden Market to be completely redeveloped. Funded by selling the flower market plot plus another plot near cringle street Work commencing 2013. This actually looks pretty good. Redevelopment will modernise the existing market area. It will also increase public access and have cafes and restaurants showing off the great food of our land Downside is flower market will be sold as a high rise hotel to fund it all

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