4 NEWS brixtonblog.com 2018 FEBRUARY
Much-delayed work on Network Rail’s arches Brixton Station Road and Atlantic Road is said to be due to begin soon. The need to address all the conditions for the work that are contained in the construction environmental management plan, approved by Lambeth council’s planning committee in June last year are being blamed for the six-month standstill. Such plans are normally signed off in a matter of weeks. Arches traders who plan to return still face months of delay before they can begin rebuilding their businesses. Two traders attended the last meeting of the Brixton Neighbourhood forum to appeal for further public objections to the work to be kept to a minimum so that it can proceed without further delay. Boc Kheddache, owner of Café Rio who is planning to return, said: “It’s great news that the work is finally starting – the wait has been extremely stressful for all the traders who are coming back. “We are so grateful to the community for supporting us this far, but we are worried that some people will continue to raise objections to the construction and cause further delays. “I really don’t know what they want to achieve by this now. The job is going to be done and we the traders need it to happen sooner, not later – we have waited long enough.” The delays have also affected Brixton as a whole by blighting a once thriving area and reducing the number of visitors to shops and markets in the area that have continue trading.
MAGNUS ANDERSSON
Traders in plea for progress on arches refurb
Refurbished town hall welcomes new citizens and dancers in style Brixton’s new year kicked off with the re-opening of Lambeth town hall after an 18-month refurbishment of the Grade 2 listed building. A tea dance and a citizenship ceremony were among the first events. The building now has improved accessibility, more community meeting space and start-up spaces for new businesses. The tea dance (above) in the wood-panelled assembly hall was a sell out with DJ Mr Wonderful keeping dancers on their toes. More than 50 people gathered in the council chamber for the group citizenship ceremony
presided over by Lambeth mayor Marcia Cameron. She said: “It’s an honour for me to welcome our newest citizens to Lambeth. I hope that you all now go on to achieve your hopes, dreams and aspirations in this proud country.” Among those becoming citizens was Laurencia Kwanga (left with Cllr Cameron) who said: “From the beginning to the end it was a great ceremony. To see the mayor of Lambeth was amazing for me too. Getting citizenship is really important to me, and comes at the end of a really long road. I now feel like the UK is my oyster.”
Council blames shortages for long-term ‘hostel’ housing Homeless families in Lambeth are being housed for long periods in council-owned properties in conditions that would be illegal if the properties were privately owned, an investigation by Inside Housing magazine has revealed. The law states that families should not be housed in
non-self-contained temporary accommodation for more than six weeks, but property owned or managed by councils is exempt. The magazine said this loophole meant families are being forced to share bathrooms and kitchens with strangers for long periods.
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Lambeth council had 104 families sharing facilities in hostel-style facilities for longer than six months. A council spokesperson said: “Sadly, as with every other London borough, we have a demand for temporary accommodation that exceeds supply. The available accommodation
is being used in the best way possible to ensure people have a roof over their heads.” Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Long periods of time in a B&B or hostel and having to share kitchens or bathrooms with strangers puts families under huge emotional and physical strain.”
Veganuary may be drawing to a close, but you still have time to take part – because Sunday 28 January is Brixton’s first Vegan Market of 2018 in Brixton Station Road alongside the usual Sunday Farmers Market.
BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES AIM TO RAISE £30m The Black Cultural Archives’ crowdfunding campaign We Are One has already raised more than £51k towards a target of £30 million over five years. It is asking everyone who believes in the importance of heritage and the legacy of Britain’s Black community to donate at least £10. Funds are needed to secure the building for the future and to enable the BCA to expand its collection, mount more exhibitions and digitise its collection. The initial grant for the capital phase has now come to an end and, although a national institution, BCA does not have long-term financial foundations of similar institutions. AA To donate or find out more go to www.bcadonate.org
New drive to find a home for refugees By Nick Jeyarajah Herne Hill Welcomes Refugees is launching a week-long campaign to promote its aim of finding a local property for a refugee family as part of the Home Office’s Community Sponsorship scheme. The group will have a stall at the Herne Hill market on Sunday 28 January where you can find out more about the campaign. In 2016 the Home Office pledged to work with community groups willing to sponsor a Syrian refugee family. Since then, community groups across the country have successfully got refugee families resettled in their area. Local MP Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) said she was proud of the initiative: “Our country has a great history of welcoming refugees fleeing violence and persecution. “I am proud to see residents in Herne Hill working to support a refugee family from Syria to settle here in our community. I encourage anyone that may be interested in housing a refugee family to get in touch with Herne Hill welcomes refugees.” AA For more information, contact hhwelcomesrefugees@ gmail.com or follow @HHWR_.