You can have your say on plans to close Clapham Fire Station at a public meeting in the Assembly Hall, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill on Thursday 16 May at 7pm.

Clapham Fire Station faces closure due to Government cuts to the funding available to London Fire Brigade. Chuka has written to the Fire Minister, Brandon Lewis, and Boris Johnson, opposing the closure because it would put public safety at risk.

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) is currently consulting on the Draft Fifth London Safety Plan. The consultation closes on June 17 and Chuka is campaigning to get as many people as possible to reply to the consultation to say that they want Clapham Fire Station to stay open.

Click here for more information on the consultation or click here to have your say.

Click here to read more details on Lambeth Council’s website.

Clapham Fire Station faces closure due to Government cuts to the funding available to London Fire Brigade. Chuka has written to the Fire Minister, Brandon Lewis, and Boris Johnson, opposing the closure because it would put public safety at risk.

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) is currently consulting on the Draft Fifth London Safety Plan. The consultation closes on June 17 and Chuka is campaigning to get as many people as possible to reply to the consultation to say that they want Clapham Fire Station to stay open.

Click here for more information or click here to have your say.

Commenting on the news of a yes vote in the ballot required for the creation of a Streatham Business Improvement District, which will be known as inStreatham, Chuka Umunna MP said:

“It is absolutely fantastic that local businesses have voted to create a Streatham Business Improvement District. We are hugely grateful to the many people who have worked incredibly hard to make this happen.  I backed this initiative from the very beginning because I passionately believe that inStreatham will be able to make a huge difference to our area and have a tremendously positive effect on the future of the High Road.

 “It has been an absolute pleasure having the opportunity to talk to so many hardworking local business owners over the last few weeks while campaigning for a ‘yes’ vote in the ballot. I am looking forward to working with inStreatham to secure the best future for local businesses in our wonderful area.”

Time is fast running out for local businesses to vote for the creation of a Streatham Business Improvement District (BID). A yes vote would mean the creation of a new, business-led, organisation called inStreatham working in the interests of local business owners in order to increase turnover and footfall, further work to promote the area, reduce crime, and save local businesses money on shared services.

BID ballot papers must be returned by this Thursday, the 21st February. You can find out more about the vote and the plans for inStreatham at instreatham.com. If you want to get in touch with the BID team about the vote or any other specific queery, see the contact page of the inStreatham website for how to get in touch.

Chuka (pictured filling out his own ballot paper above) is a big supporter of the BID and has been urging local business owners and Chief Executives of national companies to back the BID. You can find more details at Local MP: It’s Time to Come Together to Back the Streatham BID

As local residents will know, I have been trying to do everything I can to alleviate the awful situation that has been caused by Network Rail’s mishandling of the works to Streatham Common Station and the associated closure of Greyhound Lane Bridge.

Transport for London have responded and agreed to make the changes below to help the situation for those living locally, which I sincerely hope will help. Obviously there is still a huge way left to go for local businesses and residents affected, but I am absolutely determined to do everything I can to help the area through this difficult time.

Representations can be submitted in the following ways:

• By email – licensing {at} lambeth.gov(.)uk
• By letter – Licensing, 5th Floor, Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9SP
• By fax – 020 7926 6150

Please note that anonymous representations will not be considered and that your name and full address should therefore be included in any representation you submit. Please also note that applicants will have access to any representations that are made in respect of their application, so as to allow them the opportunity to respond to the points raised.

For representations to be considered relevant and to be taken into account, they must make reference to one or more of the following four conditions: Prevention of crime/disorder; Public safety; Prevention of public nuisance, including litter, noise, etc; Protecting children from harm. Applications which attract valid representations are referred to a hearing of the Licensing Sub-Committee. If an applications is referred to a hearing of the Licensing Sub-Committee, both the applicant and anyone who has made a valid representation will be invited to attend the hearing and present their case.

Further details on how to submit representations can be found at http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/Business/LicencesStreetTrading/AlcoholEntertainmentLateNightRefreshment/AdviceForResidentsAndLocalBusinesses.htm

To view the licensing application made by Sainsbury’s Supermarket Limited relating to the premises at 2 Tulse Hill please see http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F73376CA-1DF3-4A07-BF3D-6DB96E8E11FB/0/Application_Prem1638.pdf

Please note that the deadline for residents to make representations in relation to the licensing application made by Sainsbury’s Supermarket Limited relating to the premises at 2 Tulse Hill is the 18^th February.

There are now just ten days left for local businesses to vote for the creation of a Streatham Business Improvement District (BID) called inStreatham. A yes vote in the ballot would mean the creation of an organisation owned and run by local businesses that provides services that benefit local business in the area. You can find out more about the plans for inStreatham at instreatham.com.

Chuka has been urging Chief Executives of national companies, and local business owners such as Unikob owners the Nwaekes (pictured above), to back the BID. You can find more details at Local MP: It’s Time to Come Together to Back the Streatham BID or by checking Chuka’s twitter account for the latest news.

If you want to get involved with inStreatham, or have a specific query relating to your business and the BID, see the contact page of the inStreatham website for how to get in touch with the inStreatham team.

Chuka has received the below response from Boris Johnson,  the Mayor of London, to his letter of January 16 2013, asking the Mayor to provide support to local businesses in the Streatham Vale part of his constituency, which have been hard hit by ongoing works to Streatham Common Station and the associated closure of Greyhound Lane Bridge. Mr Umunna has also received a letter from Transport for London, further to his most recent letter to the organisation, relating again to the ongoing effect of the works in Streatham Common Station and the affect these works are having on local businesses and residents.

Commenting, Chuka Umunna MP said:

“Businesses in Streatham Vale are suffering hugely at the moment because of the disruption caused as a result of the ongoing works to Streatham Common Station and the associated closure of the Greyhound Lane Bridge. I am glad that Network Rail have at least started to make some progress to rectify their mishandling of the works but there is still a very long way to go for local businesses whose trade continues to be hit tremendously hard by the closure of Greyhound Lane Bridge.

“I had asked Boris Johnson to at least match the £50,000 that Network Rail agreed to provide to help local businesses and I think it is a huge shame for the area that he refused. Nevertheless, there are many other opportunities out there for the area to get support and I will continue to fight for that support and to get as many people using the excellent local shops, pubs, restaurants and other businesses in Streatham Vale. I hope the whole community will come together to support the area during the works to make sure it can bounce back stronger than ever before.” 

In the last few weeks I have had the wonderful opportunity to attend many of the excellent school fairs and other events that many hardworking teachers, PTA members and others have helped put on – I even got the chance to help turn on the Christmas lights in both Streatham and Brixton.

I know it has not been an easy time for most people living in our area in 2012.  I know that jobs are scarce, the cost of living is rising and things are becoming harder than they used to be. However, in the last few weeks I have been as proud as ever of our community and the wonderful spirit that makes our area so unique and such a pleasure  to represent as your MP.

This is a special time for a great many of us, Christians and non-Christians alike, so I hope that at this time of year all will have a chance, as much as possible, to put the difficulties to one side and enjoy a fantastic time with family, friends and loved ones.

My team and I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very happy Christmas to you and yours and the very best for 2013!

Best,

Chuka