The swimming pool at West Norwood Health & Leisure Centre (WNHLC) is due to reopen in July 2023. The men, women and families change areas are due to reopen by early April. Other services at WNHC such as the Knights Hill GP surgery and most leisure activities continue to operate as usual.
The WNHLC and surrounding park is funded via a private finance scheme with the NHS. The structure of the building, and so the repairs, are the responsibility of the private finance company . Last year unfortunately faults were identified in some parts of the building and the swimming pool and change areas had to be closed temporarily.
From 1st April 2023 Lambeth council is running its leisure services “in-house” as “Active Lambeth” and ending its contract with Better GLL. Existing Better memberships and direct debits will be transfered automatically but you should receive a notification email about the transfer. For more details see: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/active-lambeth
The developer, Ecoworld, is running three community workshops on their ambitious plans for new housing in the Knollys Yard triangle also known as site 19. Over the summer, during three walkabouts, local residents told Ecoworld about some of their initial concerns.
The community workshop sessions are
Saturday 10th Sept 10.30am to 1pm – design & new bridges into the site
Monday 19th Sept 6pm to 8pm –public space & new bridges into the site Cancelled due to Queen Elizabeeth II funeral.
Monday 3rd Oct 6pm to 7pm – employments & workspace to be held at Elmgreen School SE27 9BZ
Other sessions will be in the Scout Hut on High Trees road SW2 3PU between the High Trees Community Centre amd Fenstanton primary school
For more information on the proposed development off Knollys Road see our earlier posts on :
The playground in Norwood Park near Salters Hill needs new equipment and repairs. If your family use the park please have a look at the online consultation. Its your chance to help choose what should be the new play ground.
This summer’s holiday programme has over 50 fun physical activities to choose from – and food is included. Summer of Food & Fun is aimed at local families with children & young people aged 4 to 16 and eligible for free school meals.
On May 5th councillors were elected to represent the wards as newly defined by the Boundaries Commission. In West Norwood nine Labour councillors were elected to represent the 4 new wards – with number of the votes as follows:
Gipsy Hill:
Christine Banton 1,457
Rebecca Spencer 1,322
Knights Hill
Ibtisam Adem 2,317
Jackie Meldrum 2,314
Sonia Winifred 2,171
St Martins
Olga Fitzroy 1,261
Saleha Jaffer 1,217
West Dulwich
Judith Cavanagh 1,792
Fred Cowell 1,639
Lambeth now has 58 Labour councillors, 3 Lib Dem councillors and 2 Green councillors.
The 6 week public consultation on the policy to rebuild the heart of West Norwood town centre (Site 18) and of Knollys Goods Yard ( Site 19) ended on 22nd Feb.
In light of the potential ‘transformative impact’ nature of these site policies your local Labour councillors asked for these two sites to be withdrawn from the policy-making process. Councillors want a more detailed consultation with residents and businesses on the future of these two important sites to ensure the special character of West Norwood is respected.
Local people are not opposed to new buildings. But there was tremendous opposition to the proposal for a tall tower in the town centre and 3 tall towers on Knollys Rd. Many people are angry at the lack of public engagement while the plans were drawn up.
As the policies are part of a statutory process councillors submitted detailed queries and comments for Site 18 (pdf) and for Site 19 (pdf).
After the consultation ended the GLA agreed a large grant to help develop Site 19. It is published here.
The next step is for all the comments to be considered by the council and a revised policy published in winter 2022/23 for a further round of public consultation. The plans then go to the London Mayor to ensure a fit with the London wide plan. The council will formally adopt the site policies in winter 2023/24. For details see Lambeth’s 13/12/21 “Regulation 18 draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document” report.
A new small local grants scheme up to £5k for projects to improve community health and wellbeing has opened. Only a simple form is needed and the deadline is 9th February.
Projects must aim to benefit one or more of these priority groups:
People from Black, Asian and multi-ethnic groups
Parents and carers on low incomes (particularly lone parent families)
Young families
Unemployed
People experiencing poor mental health
Isolated men (mainly single isolated men)
Older people
LGBTQ+
People with disabilities/and or suffering with poor health.
For more details see attached notes on the application form [word document]
West Norwood’s centre for Betterstart activities for children under-five and their parents is at 18 Bentons Lane SE27 9UD. You will get a warm welcome and a mixed programme of drop-ins and courses. See latest timetable (pdf).
Due to covid, masks must be worn indoors and numbers are limited to up to 15 adults to allow for social distancing.
Telephone reception at 020 4542 3520 for friendly advice on sessions and to book a place.
The council is consulting on whether to make the Streatham Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) permanent. Have your say by completing this online survey. The deadline is midday Sunday 19th December.
You can request a paper copy of the survey, before Sunday 28th November, by phoning 07999 405 331.
Monitoring of the trial shows that traffic has reduced by 6,100 vehicles a day. Traffic has increased by 7% on Leigham Vale. Cycling has increased and air quality outside schools is within legal limits.
If the LTN is made permanent there will be improvements planned to boundary roads to improve cycling and walking, road layouts, signal timings, and green screens at schools