Boris Johnson at the Brixton Academy 9 November

Boris Johnson will be coming to do a ‘people’s question time’ at the Brixton Academy on 9 November.

For more details see
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/events/index.jsp

What would make Loughborough Junction a better place to live or work?

Following a recent Lambeth mailing that fell through our door (and yours?), I thought I would add the letter to the blog to try and get an idea of what you think the priorities in Loughborough Junction are. Lambeth have been very supportive of the LJAG (Loughborough Junction Action Group) and are keen to work with residents and businesses on resolving issues in the area.

If you are interested in getting involved with the continued improvement of Loughborough Junction then why not join the Loughborough Junction Action Group. LJAG  (Residents / Businesses Only)

Click Here and then select Join this Group

The Goals of the Action Group.

(i) Independent of the Council.

(ii) An Action group rather than a residents association

(a) as it includes business

(b) Don’t want the constraints attached to a Residents Association.

(iii) Strive for positive action not just complaints

(iv) To put Loughborough Junction on the map (as distinct from Brixton and Herne Hill).

(v) Foster the community around Loughborough Junction and celebrating the area

(vi) Include social events.

We ran a similar poll in May 08, click here to see the poll results.

How can we cut knife crime in Camberwell?

Organised by the SE5 Forum for Camberwell www.se5forum.org :: 

Camberwell knife crime symposium

The Camberwell Knife Crime Symposium takes place at 6.30pm on Thursday 13th November 2008, arranged by SE5 Forum, at the Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park.  Download full details here.

Alternatively, download the flyer and distribute it to your neighbours, or put up theA3 poster with the kind permission of a local property owner or the local authority.

 

If you would like to attend please reply to

Barbara Pattinson at barbara@pattinson.org.uk

or 020 7274 8045

Murder – Northlands Street, E-fit released.

Following a community meeting regarding the tragic recent murder on Northlands Street, we are posting the letter below with details of the incident and observations on the area. If you have information regarding this case please contact the incident room 02087214906.

Police investigating the murder of Andrew Pratt have released an e-fit image of a man they wish to speak to in relation to the incident.

At 10.45pm on Saturday 2 August, 43 Year old Andrew Pratt was fatally stabbed on Northlands Street, having walked there from Coldharbour lane.

—————————————————
Thank you to those of you who attended this meeting last night (4th September) or sent apologies but asked to be kept informed.

The meeting was addressed by Detective Inspector John Oldham from the investigation team who described current police understanding of the circumstances of the murder of Andrew Pratt and answered questions. A team of 35 is working on this case: to date noone has been charged and police are still trying to identify the suspect. Research and behaviour suggest that he is a local drug addict.

A “photo fit” image has been released: http://cms.met.police.uk/news/appeals/murder/e_fit_released_in_camberwell_murder_inquiry )

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room at Lewisham on 020 8721 4906. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

I then gave a summary of crime figures in Southwell Road/Harbour Road/Vaughan Road/Northlands Street. Prior to and since the murder no street robberies nor violent crime have been reported in these streets for 12 months. This is in line with the rest of Lambeth where street crime has fallen dramatically since last year. House burglary is the most common crime reported with 11 during the last twelve months (Southwell Road accounting for seven). Most of these burglaries could have been prevented if windows had been locked shut or if the front door had been locked with a “Chubb” mortice lock instead of merely a “Yale”. Most burglaries occur during the daytime when houses are unoccupied.

The work of the local Herne Hill ward “safer neighbourhood” police team was then explained. I supervise a team of 5 patrol officers ( 2 PCs and 3 PCSOs) dedicated to dealing with longer term, non-emergency crime and disorder problems.

We can be contacted on our mobile phone via: 0208 721 2824 or HerneHill.SNT@met.police.uk
My team complements the existing 24 hours emergency “response” officers based at Brixton police station: tel 999 (emergency) or 0208 326 1212 (non-emergency).

We work in partnership with Lambeth Council who play a key role in reducing crime and fear of crime. Lambeth Council Community Safety coordinator Rachel Gailey (RGailey@lambeth.gov.uk) and local Councillor Kirsty McHugh (kmchugh@lambeth.gov.uk) were present and explained their roles.

It was suggested that the Loughborough Junction area would benefit from a cohesive residents’ group or forum to represent local opinion. Such a group, if established, could influence the safer neighbourhood police team’s local priorities through our 3 monthly community pane meetings.

Yours sincerely
Tom Cornish
Sergeant
Herne Hill ward “safer neighbourhood” police team
http://www.met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods/

Top Priority in Loughborough Junction

The last poll that I ran looked at the top priorities in Loughborough Junction, it gave you the opportunity to select the main issue in the area. I gave five options, and as at the 26th August 08 the results are as follows

Empty Shops & pubs 57%

Crime 0%

Litter 0%

Noise 0%

Bad Pavements 29%

Other 14%

I think that the results are fascinating and particularly interesting in that it may show how much the area has improved by looking at the options that were not selected. 0% thought crime, noise or litter was a priority, so for the person that searched “Loughborough Junction is it safe” can rest assured that, yes according to our poll, Loughborough Junction is a pretty safe place. I certainly do not feel threatened in the area, in general 99% of the time our neighbors are as quiet as mice although when we moved here 6 years ago noise was a major issue. Litter I think is not a huge issue as the council are very diligent but I hate the bins stacked down the pavements and bags of recycling piled up down the street.

The biggest issues were empty shops & pubs 57% and bad pavements 29%. I don’t know why the shops have taken so long to attract new business’s, the strip between the supermarket and the house clearance shop have been shut for years, every now and then I see a some signs of work but as yet they remain firmly shut. The Mucky duck has been sold and something appears to be happening. The Green Man and the Warrior are crucial to the regeneration of the cross roads area.

The second biggest issue is the bad pavements, I certainly know which strip of bad pavement most of you are thinking about. Any sensible business would have it sorted out, however the shops beside the train station seem determined to be sued by someone falling.

14% percent of you opted for the wild card “other”. I’m fascinated to know what you think the top priorities are.

May Poll – Is Loughborough Junction Improving?

When we moved here six years ago, friends thought we were crazy, Loughborough Junction was a place to pass through but not stop. It had a reputation which it probably deserved, regardless of this having walked around and seen the sites including the Green Man which was still open, and people smoking weed at the Ruskin park playground, we took the plunge. Why did we move here again?

It was quite a shock having moved from Pimlico. “Home James” was a notorious gambling and drug dealing taxi company who supplied the local area including groups of dealers who loitered around on Coldharbour lane, Local prostitutes worked the streets and would just use people’s gardens (including ours).

Something had to be done, the community demanded better, an increased police presence, the closure of Home James, the betting shop, a crack down on the street dealers, the closure of a brothel on Coldharbour Lane and the closure of the Warrior, the Green Man and the demolition of a pub on the Herne Hill Road (The Anchor?) all contributed to a sharp turn for the better.

Since then Loughborough Junction has in our view got significantly better, none of the above are now an issue. New shops and refurbished housing are replacing the old Loughborough Junction haunts. The area is improving quickly and needs recognising as a valuable location in the centre of Camberwell, Herne Hill and Brixton.

Without question Loughborough Junction has further to go but for the time being it is a safe and well serviced neighbourhood.

The May Poll recorded 20 Votes – 80% voted Yes and 20% voted No.
loughboroughjunction.com

Why not let us know your experience of Loughborough Junction.