Chuka Umunna MP

A developer has made an application to Lambeth council to construct almost 300 new homes on Streatham High Road.

The proposals are to transform the land between Streatham Megabowl and Caesar’s nightclub into 286 housing units and a new retail area likely to include shops and restaurants. The current façade of the Megabowl will be preserved, but the rest of the existing buildings will be demolished.

The plans also include a community centre to be built on the site, and if the application is successful, it is likely Lambeth Council will request additional contributions are made towards developing public spaces and utilities.

This is a significant stage in the plans to regenerate Streatham High Road, thought to be the longest high street in Europe. It is important that local people have their views heard on this matter. You can do this by making a comment to Lambeth Council before the 12th January 2009.

The Megabowl redevelopment application and an online comments form can be found here.

To view the application offline, you can see copies of the proposals at Streatham Library or the Town Planning Advice Centre (Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Road).

For further information on the Megabowl development from Lambeth Council, you can contact Samantha Wells at swells {at} lambeth.gov(.)uk, on 020 7926 1138, or at Lambeth Planning, Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Rd, London SW8 2LL.

Carys Afoko

Last month saw the launch event of Transition Town Brixton, a grass roots project aimed at engaging our community with the challenges of climate change.

The Transition Town model encourages people to work together in their local communities to find sustainable solutions to rising energy prices and shortages. Transition Town Brixton was established 18 months ago making it the country’s first inner city model of a low carbon community.

Transition Town Brixton held an ‘unleashing’ event, in Lambeth Town Hall, which Chuka was pleased to attend. After hearing from the project’s organisers, attendees split into groups to discuss how improvements can be made to the way in which we use energy locally, alongside reducing waste.

A key focus is encouraging and supporting people who wish to grow their own food, for example residents of six Brixton estates are being assisted in farming vegetables. The organisation is also working with market traders and shops to cut down plastic bag use. It’s think global act local approach has gained widespread support and is generating many innovative local solutions to creating a more sustainable lifestyle. Chuka wholeheartedly supports the initiative, and is looking forward to see what new ideas it generates.

If you would like more information on Transition Town Brixton visit their website. All photos are courtesy of Amelia who attended the Unleashing and wrote a great blog on the event.

As of last week, everyone in Streatham (a parliamentary constituency overing Streatham, parts of Clapham, Balham, Tulse Hill and Brixton) will be eligible for at least 50% off loft and cavity wall insulation, with everyone on low incomes and all pensioners able to get these for free.  Cold weather payments for the most vulnerable will be increased from £8.50 to £25 a week.

Improving the insulation in your property could save you £350 a year on energy bills. Call 0800 512 012 to find out what help is available to you.

Chuka has been concerned about rising energy costs for some time, calling for the Government to help those hit hardest by recent price rises immediately and also invest more resources in schemes to reduce energy use in the long term.

On hearing about the new measures, Chuka said: “These measures will help local people to reduce the impact their energy use has on the environment – and on their wallets.”

Gareth Williams

I never fail to be impressed by the sheer resilience of the people of our wonderful community in the face of the dreadful British weather!  This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Streatham Vale Park Fun Day organised by the Friends of Streatham Vale Park.  Despite the grey and the rain, local people turned out to celebrate this communal local area profiled here: Streatham Vale Park. I am pictured talking to local residents at the Fun Day below.  Whatever the weather, Streatham Vale Park brings a ray of light to the local residents of Streatham South!