Attendance.
Jane Pickard. Chris Pointon. James Slattery- Kavanagh. Pat Fisher. Ann Ridley. Bernie Bullbrook , Rod Brown. Alan Smith, Richard Moore, Jeff Avis, Khadiru Mahdi, Town Centre Manager, Kim Leeds Gipsy Hill Surestart
Apologies for absence.
Clr.Robert McConnell, Clr.Jeremy Baker, Clr. Geraldine Evans. Ann Orange, Ann Ridley
Jane Pickard agreed to take the chair.
The minutes of the 8th March meeting were read and accepted
Kim Leeds was introduced and gave a detailed outline of the proposals and funding for the Surestart programme in Norwood Hal, for which planning Permission was being sought. An architects 1/16 scale model was used by her to show the proposed usage, which include a nursery, medical room and crèche. The nursery was scheduled to open in April 2006 and the whole project to be operational by April 2007.
Comments/questions included: *Had the Crime Prevention Officer been involved in 'Designing Out Crime? *Would there be parking restrictions? *What would the catchment area be? *Suggest the design incorporates some commemoration of the building's Jewish history. Kim said all children in the Knight's Hill area would be eligible for the nursery. There is already a separate IT centre attached. Designing out crime and parking was being looked at. She was enthusiastic about marking the building's origins.
Most surprising was the fact that the project had not been raised and discussed at the Area Committee, since planning application was made in January 2005. But Kim said all residents on the Hainthorpe Estate had been invited to a meeting about the project which had also been more widely promoted.
Matters Arising
Election of Treasurer
Chris Pointon was nominated and elected
Signage Project
Khadiru explained the town centre signs approved a few years ago and never properly implemented were being redesigned. He showed pictures of the type of sign being proposed and discussed where they were going. There was a strong feeling that the town centre welcome signs should say "West Norwood", not "Norwood". Norwood started at Tulse Hill railway station and Crown Point and included Upper Norwood. The town centre was known as West Norwood and it was important to consider this even though, for Lambeth Council, the town centre is simply known as Norwood
Tulse Hill Survey
There was discussion on how to progress including seeking the opinions of shopkeepers and businesses. Rod Brown, Alan Smith (Maley Avenue Residents Association), Jane Pickard, Chris Pointon and Richard Moore agreed to help in making contact with them. Chris is to convene the sub committee and businesses are to be contacted in May-June. The sub committee will report back to the next meeting.
Concern was expressed at the continuing problems of Beeches yard where soil was brought out onto the adjacent road surfaces and not swept or cleaned. This led to dust and discomfort for residents, particularly in dry weather. There was additional concern over any environmental risk through storage of hazardous materials. It was believed that the operators, who are sub contractors to London Borough of Lambeth, are bound by law to keep exits and the adjacent highway clean.
York Hill/ Norwood Road Pedestrian Crossings.
The installation of pedestrian crossing traffic lights will be going ahead and provision for the necessary cabling had been made in the resurfacing currently being carried out. It would appear that there has been some misunderstanding, and or confusion between Councillors, Council Officials and TFL since this project was first instigated. Some communications had now taken place involving Valerie Shawcross and Clare Whelan, who have been a keen supporters of the project and had been anxious about the delay, TFL, Jane Pickard and other residents. It was agreed to raise the issue at the Area Committee of confused information from Lambeth officers over the crossing.
Any Other Business
James Slattery-Kavanagh reported he had been re-elected chair of Crystal Palace Chamber of Commerce.
Clarification will be sought from the Council on the new proposals re traffic flow at Crytsal Palace, to which Norwood Action Group had objected.
It was reported that crime and disorder had escalated in the York Hill area, possibly through 'section 30' not being properly implemented.
Richard Moore said Transport Police were running an anti-graffiti campaign. The Group agreed that we should push for Network Rail to recruit more Transport Police Officers for this part of Lambeth, which RM said had the highest crime rate on the whole network. This is probably because of transport connections that exist here.
Graffiti, and its non removal, was also a huge problem in the area. The local Crime Prevention Officers are aware of the effect that this has on the local community.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 10th May 2005 at Lancasters Wine Bar basement, Norwood Road, commencing at 7.30pm
