Tag Archives: West Norwood

Nat West bank building

The Nat West building has been vacant for over 8 months since it closed in October 2012

It looks like it is going  to stay closed for some time as there are  substantial repairs needed before these premises will be put on the market .This area does have a lower footfall  than other Norwood Road locations closer to West Norwood and Tulse Hill rail stations and this again makes businesses less interested in leasing the ground floor at 270 Norwood Road.

There was a rumour that a betting shop was looking to lease the premises but there is no indication this is actually happening. Of course a betting shop would not need planning permission to go in to the Nat West building – as both banks and betting shops are in the same planning use class (A2). However any new betting shop would have to consult local people in order to get a gambling licence from the council.

Cllr Jackie Meldrum at 270 Norwood Road

Cllr Jackie Meldrum at 270 Norwood Road

Lambeth council would like to have more discretion to stop the plethora of betting shops in our high streets. Unfortunately the government recently rejected the argument that betting shops should have their own planning class as put forward by David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham. He has been campaigning for a change in the law as this would give councils much more control in their local area. The government’s new laws, which will apply for two years, allow businesses such as betting shops and money shops to open up in high street locations without the need for a public consultation. The Minister for Planning, Nick Boles MP, has dismissed residents’ concerns that this will drain the life from our high streets. Anyone feeling strongly  about this could contact the Minister at nick.boles@communities.gsi.gov.uk

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Filed under Jobs, Labour Councillors, Lambeth Council, Local Business, Shopping

GLA and Mayor elections 3rd May

Val and Mike on campaign trail

GLA member Val Shawcross with local councillor Mike Smith on the campaign trail.

Remember to vote for your local GLA member on the 3rd of May.

West Norwood’s existing member, Val Shawcross is standing again and she is also Ken Livingston’s deputy for Mayor.

For more information on the candidates and the election including how to vote check the information booklet that should have been delivered to every household or download it from here: http://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/information-booklet

 

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Your favourite business deadline

Favourite Business AwardThursday 12th January is the deadline for voting for your favourite West Norwood business . Look for the pink poster in your favourite business… To vote – text 60777 with Westnorwood & number of the business on the poster. The results will be announced on 31st January.

See for details: http://www.southlondonbusiness.co.uk/west_norwoods_favourite_business.php

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Filed under Lambeth Council, Local Business, West Norwood

Brightening up Norwood Road shopping centre

Norwood Road consultation in action

Cllr Jackie Meldrum at a consultation session

The council is now looking at improving the roads and pavements in West Norwood town centre between Tulse Hill station and West Norwood station. An early version of the plans will be on show at The Feast on Sunday 3rd July in St Lukes Gardens 10am to 4pm. Over the next few months there will be more chances for everyone to contribute to the improvement plans.

Norwood Road is eligible for funding by the London Mayor’s £50 million high street regeneration fund to strengthen the vibrancy and growth of London’s high streets and local areas.

Improving the environment of Norwood Road is an important part of the proposals in the West Norwood Masterplan and will help attract private sector investment into the area. Current public sector projects include the new primary school in Wolfington Road and the new leisure & health centre in Devane Way. The masterplan can be seen via Lambeth’s Future Norwood web. pages.

For more information contact Michael Hunte in Lambeth’s Regeneration team at futurelambeth@lambeth.gov.uk

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Filed under Environment, Lambeth Council, Local Business, Shopping, Traffic, Transport, West Norwood

Looking for work in Norwood?

norwood jobs fairDrop into Norwood Jobs Fair on  Tuesday 25th of January between 11am and 3pm at the Old Library on Knights Hill –(a minute walk from the Post Office) . Meet employers, apply for jobs or volunteer placements. Update your CV.

All welcome.

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Filed under Education, Employment, Jobs, Lambeth Council, Local Business

New housing planned for Tennis Club site

Cllr Jane Pickard looking at the existing outdoor tennis courts

Cllr Jane Pickard looking at the existing outdoor tennis courts

Developers latest plans for the  West Norwood Tennis Club are for 58 flats  in a six-storey block at 128 Knights Hill SE27 0SR on the corner with Cheviot Road.   Half the flats are to be for sale and half for rent as ‘social’ housing. A small gym, two squash courts and  two  tennis courts are included in the plans. Local residents are petitioning the council against the scheme.
Details  of the planning application (ref 10/01836) can be seen at  West Norwood Library or on the Lambeth web site

If you would like to comment on the planning application quote  ref 10/01836  and email tpac@lambeth.gov.uk or write to TPAC at Phoenix House SW8 2LL.

A planning application (ref 07/00438) was refused in July 2007 for 60 flats in a 9-storey block, 4 houses and a 3-storey sports facility on the same site and the appeal refused in May 2008.

Enquiries about  membership of the Tennis Club can be made at the club house – entrance on Cheviot Road.

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Filed under Health, Labour Councillors, Lambeth Council, Leisure, Local Business, Parks, West Norwood

Leisure centre gets approval

Leisure centre gets approval

Leisure centre gets approval

On Wednesday 29th September planning permission was granted for the Norwood Hall project – for a health centre and leisure centre together with a customer contact point on site of Norwood Hall opposite the West Norwood station.

There has been enormous support for the project from residents across West Norwood over the last couple of years. At the meeting of the Planning Committee  on Wednesday the GP from Knight’s Hill surgery spoke in favour alongside Susan de Swarte, chair of Norwood Forum, Cllr Niranjan Francis from Gipsy Hill and Cllr Jane Pickard from Knight’s Hill. All emphasised the importance of the pool to regeneration, the benefits of having exercise opportunities on the same site as the health centre and the fact that West Norwood had so few leisure facilities.. A former Tory councillor for Gipsy Hill argued against the plans. After discussion a few minor changes were accepted and the plans agreed.

The next steps include getting planning permission from Boris Johnson Greater London Authority, confirming government approval for the project and appointing contractors. If all goes well  work should start on site in February 2011.

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Filed under Education, Health, Kids, Lambeth Council, Leisure, Parks, Swimming Pool, West Norwood

Update on West Norwood new primary school

Julian's school

Julian's school

The new West Norwood primary school will open as 2 forms of entry (60 children) from September 2011 and be run as part of Julian’s school. Negotiations to acquire the site will be completed soon. The architects Shepheard, Epstein & Hunter (who designed the rebuild of Kings Avenue school)  are already working on initial plans for the school.

Parents can now apply for a place for their child to start in September 2011 at the new school. Whilst the school is being built children attending the new school will use temporary  classrooms at the current Julian’s site. However the distance from home to school, as part of the admissions criteria for the new school, will be based on the new school site – the location should be made public by December 2010.

When the building work is complete in 2012 the children in the new school will move to it’s new site.

The Lambeth primary school booklet has just been published class in 2011/12 and is full of information about Lambeth primary schools. You can see a copy on the Lambeth web site.

Applications for children starting in reception class in September 2011 need to be in by 14th January 2011.

A general meeting for parents interested in information about admissions to any Lambeth primary school will be at 5.30pm on Thursday 18 November 2010 at Julian’s Primary School, 226 Leigham Court Road SW16 2RB

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Filed under Education, Kids, Lambeth Council, Schools, West Norwood

Tesco wins battle of Rose & Crown

Rose & Crown in 2004

Rose & Crown in 2004

Tesco  got permission for its plans to adapt the derelict Rose & Crown pub on Crown Lane into a Tesco Express on Wednesday 15/9/10. They intend to open the shop  in December 2010

After 2 hours of talking at  Lambeth’s Planning Committee local businesses  & residents, supported by Cllr Jane Pickard,  finally extracted a concession from Tesco. Tesco will now have to submit their  transport plans for the shop to the council for approval. Over 800 residents signed a petition opposing changing the pub into another Tesco.  A smaller number of local residents do support Tesco’s plans.

Unfortunately the planning laws mean any pub can become a shop without planning permission from the council & local community. The Closed Pubs web site says 25 pubs are closing every month  –  their web site keeps  a list of these lost pubs  http://www.closedpubs.co.uk

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Filed under Lambeth Council, Leisure, Local Business, Shopping, West Norwood

Norwood Community Projects Funding

Opening the Norwood Park new play ground

Opening the Norwood Park new play ground

Last year residents voted to spend money on projects which included the new water playground at Norwood Park.

This year the council has set aside £250,000 for 4 new projects. The council is looking for suggestions for projects needing £25,000, £50,000, £75,000 or £100,000 that would benefit the local community.

Suggested projects  will be shortlisted before being put to the public to vote on final projects. The closing date for submissions is 30 September 2010. For more information on how to submit a proposal please contact 020 7926 2583, email yourchoice@lambeth.gov.uk .
See www.lambeth.gov.uk/yourchoice for details

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Filed under Arts, Charity, Churches, Education, Health, Kids, Labour Councillors, Lambeth Council, Leisure, Parks, West Norwood