Chuka Umunna MP

Philippe Castaing, Brixton Green from NewStartMag on Vimeo.

The Brixton Green development is a community project to sustainably develop a large site on Somerleyton Road in Brixton. Its vision is to combine work spaces for local small businesses with mixed-tenure housing, creating a hub for social and environmental enterprises. Chuka is a strong supporter of the project, which hopes to start building within two years.

In this video local restauranteur and Brixton Hill resident Phillipe Castaing, who initiated the project, discusses its aims.

The development will foster social cohesion by combining owner-occupied premises with social housing and providing communal spaces for residents to come together.

A large communal garden will be the centrepiece of the development, providing space for urban agriculture, including vegetable growing, bee keeping and greenhouses – producing 120 tonnes of produce a year.

To find out more, check out the Brixton Green development’s website.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, calls for urgent action to tackle global warming and welcomes the government’s low-carbon plan which will save Streatham residents hundreds of pounds a year.

The government has pledged that by 2020 40% of our electricity will come from low carbon sources. The government’s low-carbon plan outlines how Britain will lead the way in making the transition to a low-carbon future and how local people will reap the benefits in lower energy costs, new jobs and green technology.

Commenting on how the government’s plans will help local residents, Mr Umunna said:

“Tackling climate change is both the right thing to do and is in financial interests of local residents.

“Expanding wind power, home insulation and introducing ‘smart’ electricity meters will complement the grassroots efforts already being made by local groups like Transition Town Brixton, Sustainable Streatham and the Hyde Farm Climate Action Network to reduce our carbon footprint, whilst saving local people money.”

Smart electricity meters will be installed in every home, allowing consumers and energy suppliers to accurately monitor how much electricity is being used. This means that energy companies won’t need to manually check meters and it will bring an end to estimated bills, both which will cut costs and home energy bills. Smart meters also reduce energy consumption, as consumers can be more conscious of how much they are using.

Streatham residents can look forward to their bills being reduced by up to 10% a year as a result of smart meters, which could save more than £100 per household per year.

The government has also made grants available for insulation to cut homes’ energy use and spending. A quarter of homes are set to receive full eco-makeovers by 2020. Streatham households will benefit by reducing their energy waste and cutting heating bills. The average annual saving made by installing cavity wall insulation is £115.

Mr Umunna says savings from smart meters and insulation will help local residents worst hit by last year’s gas and electricity price hikes by suppliers and reduce fuel poverty:

“These proposals are not just good for the environment but will be of significant benefit to energy customers in Streatham, particularly after the massive and unacceptable price hikes made by the energy companies last year.”

Last month, Mr Umunna visited the Hyde Farm Climate Action Network, a grassroots organisation which puts into practice reducing the community’s carbon footprint. He is also a supporter of Sustainable Streatham, a local group launched recently to encourage sustainable projects and to campaign on green issues, and Transition Town Brixton, a community-led initiative that seeks to raise awareness locally of Climate Change.

1. Climate Change Act – We have made sure Britain leads the world in ambition on targets to reduce carbon emissions by introducing this Act.  It make us the first country in the world to put carbon reduction targets into law, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to 80% less than 1990 levels.

2. Renewable energy – This has doubled in five years and the Labour’s aim is to generate 15% of our energy from renewables by 2020.

3. The Great British Refurb – Labour has insulated 5 million homes since 2002 and, by regulating the energy companies, we are insulating a further 6 million homes between now and 2012, with every suitable loft and cavity being insulated by 2015.

4. Smart Meter - Our aim is that every home will have a smart meter by 2020. Smart meters mean the end of estimated billing and waiting for the meter man. Smart meters give people the power to cut their energy use, save money on their bills and cut their carbon emissions.

5. Transport – Labour has led in the EU by setting the toughest mandatory car emissions standards in the world, and accelerated the commercialisation of electric vehicles, many of which we now see around London’s streets. We have imposed the toughest emission standards for aviation in the world and we are introducing Crossrail which will increase rail capacity and give more local control of bus services.

As this weekend’s summer heat wave descended over London today, Chuka took some time out with Cllr Florence Nosegbe (far right), Labour’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Youth in Lambeth, to catch up with residents of Blenheim Gardens Estate at their fantastic Fun Day in Brixton Hill ward!  Here they are in the estate garden, overseen by Simon Ghartey (crouching).  Chuka finished up the day at the Abbeville Fete in Clapham, once again successfully organised by The Church of the Holy Spirit.

Lambeth Council is undertaking a programme of street improvement and tree planting as part of the borough’s £3.5m Better Neighbourhoods initiative. Pavements and roads will be resurfaced while outdated and uneccessary street furniture and signs will be removed to enhance streetscapes.

The programme includes major improvements for Streatham High Road, taking place this summer. Dozens of new trees will be planted along the road intersection while crossings and busy sections of the pavement will be widened.

Other neighbourhoods will benefit from more trees and better pavements, having been earmarked as being in most urgent need of environmental improvements. These include Streatham Vale, Brixton Hill and the Poynders Estate in Clapham.

Some of the initiative’s funds are targetted specifically for estates, bringing improved play areas and recycling facilities alongside tree planting. Across Lambeth, around 250 of the new trees will be planted on residential streets, helping to make our area greener and more attractive.

Recently, Chuka visited the community garden set up by Hyde Farm Climate Action Network on Radbourne Road, and was shown around the site by co-founder Adrian Audsley.

Hyde Farm CAN was established in 2007 and includes over 150 households on the Hyde Farm estate in Balham. It is a grassroots organisation which puts into practice reducing the community’s carbon footprint. The Radbourne Road gardening project has recently been established to create capacity for local food growing, allowing local residents to grow their own vegetables. Alongside this, Hyde Farm CAN has helped residents insulate their homes for the winter to reduce fuel usage and energy bills.

The organisation is inspired by the transition towns movement, which involves urban areas finding ways to adapt to the challenges of climate change and rising oil prices. Hyde Farm CAN’s ‘think global, act local’ approach is to be applauded, and provides an excellent example of how, by working together, urban living can be made more sustainable.

For more information, check out Hyde Farm CAN’s website.

Chuka’s letter on the Third Runway at Heathrow published today in the Streatham Guardian is reproduced below.

Readers will note the legal challenge launched against the decision to approve the third runway at Heathrow by the 2M Group of London local authorities including Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Wandsworth Councils.

The Labour government has a good record on the environment. Our CO2 emissions fell by 10.8 million tonnes last year and our greenhouse gas emissions were 66 million tonnes lower than in 1997.

Last October we made sure Britain leads the world in ambition on targets to reduce carbon emissions by introducing the Climate Change Bill. The Bill will make us the first country in the world to put carbon reduction targets into law, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to 80 per cent less than 1990 levels.

Given these targets, I share the view of many Labour colleagues that a third runway would quickly be made redundant by our own policies – I cannot not see the logic in going through with the project given the targets we are introducing (the Mayor of London’s proposal of an airport in the Thames estuary is, likewise, equally unappealing). For this and a number of other reasons, I wholeheartedly support this cross party initiative by the 2M Group.

Chuka Umunna
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham

Last week the government announced a package of cash incentives to promote low-carbon road transport and make green vehicles more affordable.

Up to £5,000 of assistance will be available for motorists who buy electric or hybrid vehicles. This is part of a £250m plan to promote low carbon transport, including investment in the infrastructure needed to support electric vehicles such as local charging points. The announcement reflects the improvements we have seen in electric and hybrid car technology, with a new generation of vehicles coming onto the market soon with lower charging times and able to travel longer distances than their predecessors. The government has already committed over £150m to support the research and development of low-carbon vehicles.

Around 35% of our carbon emissions come from domestic transport, and over half of this amount is caused by motor cars. Reducing the environmental impact of roads is therefore crucial in tackling climate change and for the UK to meet its target of reducing emissions by 26% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Chuka welcomed the announcement:
“It is important to back up our bold commitments on climate change with action. Offering motorists financial assistance will give low-carbon transport a kick start and help us create a more sustainable society.”

Chuka has spoken in opposition to a 3rd runway at Heathrow as a supporter of the anti-expansion 2M group.

In a letter to the Streatham Guardian, Chuka argued that Labour’s commitment to the environment is not compatible with the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport:

“A third runway would quickly be made redundant by our own policies – I cannot not see the logic in going through with the project”.

The 2M Group is an alliance of local authorities concerned at the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion on their communities. Its membership comprises over 20 London Boroughs including Streatham’s local authotiy, Lambeth.

2M took its name from the 2 million residents of the areas originally represented by the campaign, but it now represents a combined population of 5 million people. It is not anti-Heathrow, but argues that the Government and the aviation industry overstate the economic benefits of aviation and fail to measure the full environmental costs.

You can find out more about the campaign and what it’s doing here.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, today backed Government plans to introduce compulsory licensing to deal with rogue wheel clamping companies in Lambeth.

Umunna welcomed the announcement by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that a consultation would be published shortly on proposals for a compulsory licensing scheme for wheel clamping companies.

This consultation will look at introducing compulsory licensing and industry-wide standards for:

• signage, including size and visibility;
• maximum penalties charged and payment methods;
• minimum time between immobilisation and removal;
• providing evidence that a parking infringement has taken place;
• security and location of pound where vehicles are impounded; and
• complaints and appeals policy.

The measures aim to tackle the limited number of wheel clamping companies whose dodgy practices include excessive penalties for releasing clamped cars, clamping emergency vehicles and those belonging to disabled drivers, impounding cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped, hidden or missing signs warning drivers that clamping takes place, and a lack of any appeals process for drivers.

The announcement comes in the wake of local resident and singer-songwriter Leo Ihenacho’s well publicized dispute with South East Clamping Ltd (SEC) which featured on the BBC’s Watchdog programme on 2 March 2009.

While Ihenacho had been away from his home, the management company of his block had started to use SEC to patrol the building’s car park. During his absence SEC had towed Ihenacho’s car away without him knowing anything about it, which resulted in legal action. Ihenacho said:
“for someone to be able to come and take it like that without information, prior knowledge, etc…its unbelievable”.

Commenting on the measures the government is taking, Umunna said:
“The licensing of individual wheel clampers has gone a long way to reducing malpractice and improving standards in the industry.
“But I know that local people want further action against the small minority of clamping companies who indulge in sharp practices, including unclear signage and excessive fees.
“The Government is looking at introducing a scheme for compulsory licensing of clamping companies, with clear industry standards that they have to meet.”
“Rogue wheel clampers shouldn’t be able to get away with unacceptable practices and I’ll be working with the Government to clamp down on dodgy clampers.”

Currently, any individual undertaking vehicle immobilising must hold a frontline licence from the Security Industry Authority, with supervisors or directors holding a non-frontline licence. The new proposals would also make it mandatory for the company itself to be licensed to help ensure they sign up to upholding standards of conduct, which will be enforced if they are not met.