Category Archives: Employment

March 2, 2019 · 10:10 am

Barclays Bank to close in June

west-norwood-barclays-e1551454032330Local Barclays bank customers received a letter today saying their branch will be closed on 21st June 2019. They are told to go to 136 Streatham High Road SW16 1BN instead.

Cllr Jane Pickard (pictured with the letter)  said:

“Barclays is the last bank in West Norwood and a vital part of the mix of services in our main shopping street providing banking for local businesses and residents. The Barclays ATMs are always busy giving us access to cash 24/7. We cannot afford to let it close.”

Local Labour councillors have started a campaign to stop the closure. Sign the petition here.

And write to Barclays – their business case for the closure is set out here.

Local people were furious when West Norwood’s Nat West branch closed in October 2012 – the building eventually re-opened as Pedders Estate Agents.

See our earlier posts  5/11/12  & 6/11/13

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Filed under Employment, Jobs, Labour Councillors, Local Business, Planning, Shopping, Uncategorized, West Norwood

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December 10, 2018 · 7:26 am

Uplift for Norwood High Street?

Norwood High Street is part of the West Norwood town centre for planning application decisions –  which means it should mainly  be retail ( A1 use) . Many of the shops on Norwood High Street north of Windsor Grove and Rothschild Street are not  prospering  and there are many closed up shop premises.

In the draft Local Plan the council is proposing to turn part of  Norwood High Street, south of the railway bridge to Windsor Grove and Rothschild Street, into a Creative Enterprise Zone – CEZ. This would encourage any new developments to have creative industries on the ground floor and maybe flats above.  The CEZ does not affect the shops around the Chapel Road – Gipsy Road junction.

There are a range of other proposed local changes to policies in the draft Local Plan eg policy PN7 West Norwood and ED3 Knollys Goods Yard

The council’s policies used to assess planning applications are all published in the Local Plan which contains a full range of policies covering the whole borough eg affordable housing, schools & open space.

The Local Plan is being updated and the latest draft is published for consultation See: https://love.lambeth.gov.uk/lambeth-local-plan-oct-2018/

Deadline is 17th December. Comments can be made to: localplan@lambeth.gov.uk

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Filed under Employment, Environment, Housing, Jobs, Lambeth Council, Local Business, Parking, Planning, Shopping, Traffic, Transport, West Norwood

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March 19, 2018 · 7:54 pm

Plans for new flats in our town centre

Site today at Waylett Place

Developers have submitted a formal planning application for 51 new homes and a new office block off Lansdowne Hill to replace the derelict ex-laundry building. The plans show the housing block as 6-7 storeys high and the office block as 4 storeys. There are 5 parking spaces. And two new stepped footpaths into York Hill estate. The new scheme includes 20% affordable housing: five 3-bedroom homes at social rent and four 1or2-bedroom homes at intermediate rent.

New flats seen from York Hill Estate

To comment on these plans use ref 18/00580 at  Lambeth Planning portal.

See our earlier post 26/10/17.

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Filed under Employment, Housing, Lambeth Council, Parking, Planning

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March 1, 2018 · 3:40 pm

KFC wins back West Norwood

Cllr. Jackie Meldrum in front of new KFC site

Kentucky Fried Chicken  have won planning permission to open a restaurant seating 30 people and a takeaway at 489-491 Norwood Road SE27 9DJ beside Ardarshi chemist. The Independent Planning Inspector has overruled Lambeth council and approved the planning application decision including opening hours to 3am on Fridays &  Saturday night.

KFC is one of the most popular fast food chains in the UK with about 900 stores. It was forced to close over half its branches this month due to problems with chicken distributor. See: Guardian article

KFC closed its smaller premises at 527 Norwood Road about  a year ago.

For details of the new premises  use ref 17/01574 and 18/00497 at Lambeth Planning Portal

West Norwood has had a KFC for some years at 527 Norwood Road SE27 9DL which closed at the beginning of February. These new premises will be much bigger allowing for up to 30 customers to eat in the restaurant at any one time as well as serving takeaway hot food.

See our earlier post

17/9/17 and 17/8/17 and 2/5/17

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Filed under Employment, Environment, Labour Councillors, Lambeth Council, Local Business, Planning, Shopping

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November 15, 2017 · 1:05 pm

Policy for planning application decisions

The Lambeth Local Plan  sets out the vision, strategic objectives and policies for development of  the built environment development in Lambeth. The Plan covers matters from telephone boxes to housing, work places, town centres, infrastructure (such as health facilities and schools), transport, environment and historic buildings. Together with the London Mayor’s it forms the statutory basis for deciding on planning applications.

The council is now starting  a 2 year process to update the 2015 plan. The first stage – ending on 4th December 2017 – is consulting on the issues to be reviewed.

To have your say see the online survey at: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/lambeth-local-plan-review-2017

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Filed under Community / voluntary, Employment, Environment, Health, Housing, Jobs, Lambeth Council, Leisure, Local Business, Parking, Parks, Planning, Schools, Shopping, Traffic, Transport, West Norwood

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September 17, 2017 · 10:10 am

KFC challenges Lambeth planning refusal

KFC has many loyal customers

Kentucky  Fried Chicken (KFC)  want to have a restaurant & take away in West Norwood at  489 -491 Norwood Road SE27 9DJ. However the council refused KFC planning permission and KFC have now appealed the council’s refusal.

Lambeth refuses planning permission for any new hot food takeaway within 400 metres or 10 minutes walking of a school. To date only one similar refusal has been over turned by the independent Planning Inspector – on condition the opening hours were from 5pm. KFC want to open 10.30am to 3am on Saturdays and 11am to 1am on Sundays. Weekday hours are not indicated but KFC say they will employ 35 staff so they would have extensive opening times.

Details of the appeal documents are on Lambeth planning portal if you use reference  17/01574  at https://planning.lambeth.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application

Many people have strong views about KFC either way.  If you want to  comment for or against the appeal ( make a representation)  quote ref 3178462 by 4th Oct 2017 at :  https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/myportal/

See our earlier posts 17/8/17 and 2/5/17

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July 11, 2017 · 7:23 pm

Lambeth Country Show

This weekend ( 15th & 16th July) is Lambeth Country Show weekend in Brockwell Park SE24 Free entry 12noon to 8pm.

Fantastic range of activities – something for everyone!

And of course the vegetable character competition – late entries accepted on Saturday morning [see pic below] .

For full details see: http://lambethcountryshow.co.uk/

There is no public car parking, except for blue badge holders, and most visitors walk or travel by bus to get there.

#LCS17

@LBLCountryShow

Vegetables competition

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Filed under Arts, Charity, Community / voluntary, Employment, Environment, Kids, Lambeth Council, Leisure, Parks

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