Chuka Umunna MP

This week, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Labour Party Deputy Leader Harriet Harman visited Streatham to launch Labour’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic manifesto.

David and Harriet, along with Keith Vaz, David Lammy and Diane Abbott, joined Chuka for a walkabout on Streatham High Road and a rally to launch the document. This was the first time a government party has launched a manifesto targeted at BAME communities.

Since 1997, among its other key achievements Labour has established the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Government Equalities Office, passed the Racial and Religious Hatred Act to protect people against discrimination on the grounds of race or religion and introduced tough new laws to protect employees from racial discrimination at work.

The BAME manifesto builds on this work, outlining how Labour plans to fight racial prejudice and help people from all backgrounds fulfill their potential. It includes provision for making parliament and workplaces more diverse.

If Chuka is elected, he would be one of the first ever Members of Parliament of Nigerian extraction, and the first black MP for one of the seats covering the Brixton area.

Chuka said: “On diversity and equality, we don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. I am proud to be standing to represent such a fantastically diverse community.

“The legislation we’ve passed has made a real difference to people’s lives. As an employment lawyer, in my professional life I have seen the impact of our new laws to stop discrimination at work.

Please visit Chuka’s Facebook page to see more pictures from the visit and launch.

In the AudioBoo below, Chuka shares his thoughts on the launch:

Last month, the Streatham Hub Redevelopment was given the go-ahead.

The project includes a brand new ice rink, swimming pool, leisure centre as well as affordable housing, and will bring up to 600 new jobs to our area.

Following pressure by the “Keep Streatham Skating!” campaign, Tesco have agreed to guarantee continuous ice rink provision and Lambeth Council has said the retailer will not be allowed to open it’s supermarket until the new rink and leisure centre are opened.  To read more about the history of the project and the campaign to maintain ice provision, follow this link.

Of course, we have been here before – agreements with Tesco to develop the project have been reached in the past. However, when I spoke with Tesco on behalf of local residents at the end of last month (and asked why we should believe the scheme will proceed this time round), I was told that on the last two occasions the scheme had gone to the Tesco Plc Board for approval and no approval had been forthcoming, whereas on this occasion the scheme was promoted by the Chief Executive himself and given Board approval.

Tesco has agreed to provide a temporary ice rink whilst the new rink is built.  Finding a site for this structure has been difficult, and I have concerns over placing a large structure on Streatham Common.  Doing so, in my view, should only be considered as a matter of last resort if no better alternative site can be found in Streatham.

If the Common is the only option, a full explanation should be given to the community with reasons and the structure should be there for as short a time and take up as little space as possible. The Common should also be restored to a better state once the temporary structure is gone. Consultation with interested parties, including skaters and users of Streatham Common, is currently underway.

So there are still issues which need to be ironed out but I believe that our area – including skaters, swimmers and users of the common – will benefit and Streatham High Road will be given a much needed boost from the Streatham Hub development.

Over the weekend, Chuka joined local residents to protest outside the Tesco supermarket on Streatham High Road.

The protest was held to put pressure on Tesco to keep Streatham Ice Rink open and to uphold its promises on the Streatham Hub project.

Tesco’s board is due to meet later this month to agree proposals for the Hub, and will present these to Lambeth council in advance of its cabinet meeting on March 22.

In 2007, Tesco promised that the existing ice rink would not close until a newly-built ice rink is opened, but refused to guarantee this at a public meeting held in October 2009.
 
Concerns have also been voiced over the current state of the ice rink and Tesco’s failure to invest in the building’s maintenance.

If you have not yet done so, sign Chuka’s petition to Keep Streatham Skating

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, joined local residents in a protest outside the Tesco supermarket on Streatham High Road on Saturday 27 February.

The protest was held to put pressure on Tesco to keep its promises for the Streatham Hub development, maintaining continuity of ice provision while a new ice rink is built.

There was cross-party support for the protest against Tesco, which is due to put forward proposals to Lambeth council later this month on the future of the Streatham Hub project following a board meeting.

Commenting, Mr Umunna said: “The numbers present at the protest and its positive reception demonstrate the depth of feeling of local people on this issue.

“We got the message across on Tesco’s doorstep that the supermarket cannot take the local community and its customers for granted.

“It is crucial that there is a viable Plan B in place which must be implemented if Tesco come back with unacceptable proposals later this month.

“Equally, if Tesco do come forward with plans allowing for the continuity of ice provision, the council must ensure that they are legally bound into these commitments.”

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has called for Tesco to be given a firm deadline within which to come forward with revised proposals acceptable to Streatham residents to develop the Streatham Hub.

At a public meeting in Streatham held by community organization Streatham Action, Lambeth council cabinet members and officers gave local residents an update on the future of the Streatham Hub project.

The Streatham Hub Project is intended to provide a new ice rink complex, leisure facilities, a new supermarket and affordable housing for the Streatham area. Under proposals agreed with Lambeth Council in 2007, Tesco promised that the existing ice rink would not close until the new complex is opened, but refused to guarantee this at a public meeting held in October 2009.

Councillors revealed that negotiations with Tesco, which owns the Ice Rink site, are still ongoing. Councillors were not in a position to announce the results of the ongoing negotiation with Tesco, but did indicate that should it not be possible to reach agreement, alternative options would be considered.

Councillor Lib Peck, the Lambeth Council Cabinet member for housing and regeneration outlined the main principles underpinning the council’s approach to the ongoing negotiations with Tesco, including importantly continuity of ice provision until a new ice rink is built.

The board of Tesco PLC is due to meet in mid March when the chief executive, Sir Terry Leahy, will put forward proposals for the Streatham Hub for approval before the retailer reverts back to the cabinet of the council with its final position. In turn, the council officers will prepare a report either recommending that the Tesco proposals be approved or not by the meeting of the Lambeth council cabinet on March 22 2010.

Commenting on the current state of negotiations, Mr Umunna said: “If Tesco comes forward with proposals which are acceptable to the community and the council, it is crucial they are legally bound into their commitments. Any contract entered into with them must have teeth, and they should not be allowed to renege on any promises made.

“If Tesco do not come forward with proposals which are acceptable, the council should walk away from any deal and look to immediately progress the development of the Streatham Hub project on its own. We cannot keep waiting for the retailer to come good – The fact they did not even bother to send anyone to speak on their behalf at this important meeting is indicative of their poor attitude to local people.

“I am most concerned that the ice rink, which is already in a parlous state, will be left to rot by Tesco. As a sign that they are serious about moving forward from the present impasse, they should take all action they can as owners of the ice rink to invest in it so that it is viable and can be used while we wait for a new ice rink to be built.”

Local people are holding a demonstration to make their views heard by the retailer outside Tesco Express on Streatham High Road from 11am on Saturday 27 February 2010.

Support Chuka’s Keep Streatham Skating campaign by signing the petition and joining the Facebook group.

An investigation by structural engineers last November revealed widespread structural problems at Streatham Leisure Centre. Lambeth Council consequently decided to close the Centre on 25 November 2009 for the foreseeable future while further investigations took place to find out the extent of the work needed.

In the meantime alternative arrangements for users and all schools have been arranged during the period of the Leisure Centre’s closure at other locations including Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

Future of Streatham Leisure Centre

Many local residents have raised the issue of the future of the pool with me in person and in correspondence. I started using Streatham Swimming Pool as a child when my swimming club, Leander S.C., used to compete there against other local clubs such as Streatham S.C., Battersea Jacs S.C. and others. Until recently we used to hold Keith Hill MP’s constituency surgeries there too, where Keith and I dealt with hundreds of constituents problems. So, rest assured, I completely understand the strength of feeling on this issue – the current situation regarding leisure provision here is clearly unsatisfactory.

The closure of the pool has become somewhat of a local political football but all local residents want is for their pool to re-open – that is their priority.  The fact is that Council administrations of all different political persuasions have not invested enough in the pool for a long time and they should all be big enough to admit as much.

Streatham Hub Scheme

Why have Council administrations underinvested in the pool? Because they expected the Streatham Hub scheme – of which a brand new leisure centre and ice arena are a part – to be developed by Tesco in return for the retailer being allowed to build a big supermarket in the area. Both the current administration and the Lib Dem/Tory one before that spent much time negotiating with them and pinned their hopes on Tesco sticking to their promises.

Next week at a special public meeting organised by Streatham Action, the Council and Tesco will tell us the result of their negotiations on the future of the scheme. The meeting takes place at Hideaway at 7pm on Wednesday 10 February 2010.

Action

I have lobbied my Council colleagues to take a tough line with Tesco – I do not see why the community should put up with Tesco’s dithering and prevarication any longer. I have sought to put as much direct pressure on Tesco to live up to their promises in relation to the Streatham Hub scheme through the Keep Streatham Skating! campaign and in other ways.

In the short term, I think the Council should at least look into providing temporary arrangements for non-pool activities (e.g. Step classes, gym facilities) at other locations in Streatham area.  This is something I will be pressing the Council to do to the extent it is not already happening.  Please do not hesitate to contact my office for further information.

Chuka

Chuka Umunna has joined with local campaigners to turn up the pressure on Tesco.

The retailer has cast doubt on the future of Streatham Ice Rink citing the credit crunch – despite announcing huge national profits and extensive plans for expansion.

At a public meeting in Streatham, Tesco – the owner of Streatham Ice Rink – refused to maintain its guarantee that the ice rink would remain open without interruption whilst the Hub scheme is developed, under revised proposals of its original agreement two years ago.

Contrary to these claims, Tesco just two days before the public meeting released interim results showing pre tax gross profits of £1.4 billion, up 1.5 per cent on last year’s interim results. The company also announced that it had signed an agreement to open 18 new hypermarkets in China, in addition to an extensive UK expansion including hundreds of new stores.

Local resident Georgia Hinault commented:

“Streatham Ice Rink is important to us, we use it all the time – how dare Tesco put the future of ice skating in South London at the mercy of their so-called ‘economic downturn’, they have not been affected by the recession at all ,in fact they have benefitted. Shame on Tesco!”

Chuka said:

“Tesco’s claims about the credit crunch and its affect on its ability to deliver the Streatham Hub scheme do not stack up – its colossal profits could pay for a new ice rink many times over so there is no excuse for failing to guarantee it will stay open whilst a new one is built.”

So far over 1,600 people have signed Chuka’s petition on and off-line and over 1,300 people have joined his “Keep Streatham Skating!” Facebook Group.

I started using Streatham Swimming Pool as a child when my swimming club, Leander S.C., used to compete there against other local clubs such as Streatham S.C. and Battersea Jacs S.C. Until recently we used to hold Keith Hill MPÂ’s constituency surgeries there too, where we dealt with hundreds of constituents problems. So I was greatly alarmed when I heard the pool had to close because of health and safety concerns.

Others will seek to make political capital out of this closure and use it to knock the current Lambeth Council administration but local residents have no interest in that – all they want is for their pool to re-open.

The fact is that administrations of all different political persuasions have not greatly invested in the pool because they expected the Streatham Hub scheme – of which a brand new leisure centre is a part – to be developed by Tesco.

Tesco are currently negotiating with Lambeth Council about the future of the Hub scheme. It is therefore imperative that we keep up the pressure on the retailer, which recently announced interim pre tax profits of £1.4bn, to deliver what it promised to this community. I do not see how engaging in the usual political knock about will help us get our pool back.

Chuka Umunna
Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham

London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a major consultation on the future of London transport, which includes the potential scheme to bring the London Underground to Streatham.

Following the publication of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, Londoners are being asked to register their views.

This is an important opportunity to let the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) know what a difference a tube extension to Streatham, currently under consideration, would make.

The Mayor’s Transport Strategy recognised the lack of transport connections in South London, describing the “paucity of the Underground network” in the area and the need for “better public transport connectivity between inner north and inner south London”.

It also confirms that TfL is looking into a number of options to extend the Bakerloo line southwards with the route currently being under development. The report pledges that the Bakerloo extension will serve “areas with poor transport accessibility”.

Despite these positive developments, we need to keep up pressure if we want a Streatham tube extension to become a reality.

The decision on where to build the tube extension will take into account the views of residents and you can take part in the consultation at http://www.london.gov.uk/shaping-london/ before it closes on January 12th 2010.

Registering views online only takes around 5 minutes and could help determine whether the Tube comes to Streatham or elsewhere.

If you haven’t yet signed the petition to bring the tube to Streatham, do so here.

Hundreds of vintage vehicles passed through Streatham recently on their way to the south coast as part of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Check out this fantastic video of the day made by Councillor Mark Bennett