#Held on Tuesday 22nd January 2002, 7.30pm at 1 Helix Gardens, London SW2. Those present: Roger Blantern, John Yates (chair), Irene Osborn, Sue Ryder, Pat Rose, Elisabeth Owen, Philip Baicher, Nazmoon Persand, Belinda Cooper, Gary Turnbull, Anne Brown, Graham Lane, Pagan Bishop (Helix Road Residents Association) and Timothy Sutton (secretary)
Unfortunately Pat Rose will be leaving the Avenue and has decided to resign as Chair. We offer our thanks for all the work she has done for the street over the years.
1. Minutes from the last meeting were approved.
2. Home Zone Scheme Application rejected - It was reported that the local application by Melanie Shears (Flint) had been rejected due to, amongst other things, a lack of innovative ideas, not properly thought through and an absence of any monitoring scheme. It would appear as though other funds may be available (‘Streets for People’) but it was generally agreed that this would best be pursued in alliance with other local streets resident’s groups.
Melanie Shears would be asked to send a copy of the Home Zone local survey to JAG in the hope that it might prove useful when approaching the council regarding traffic problems. It was pointed out by one of the residents present at the meeting that his son had been knocked down by a car just the other week yet there was no way of recording such incidents. It is hoped that the survey will provide such information and if not a separate JAG survey may be drawn up in the future.
3. JAG Committee - To increase efficiency it was proposed that JAG become more structured in future with a central core of committed members with general meetings held once or twice a year. It was decided that on the next meeting’s leaflet residents should be asked if they wish to become a member of the committee.
4. Carter House - Following an email from Jackie Meldrum (local councillor) it was noted that the local police have now removed all criminal elements from Carter House and that Threshold Housing Trust will introduced a mixed tenancy of ‘single homeless’ and ‘general needs’ people in the future. Empty flats will remain boarded up until the block is thought to be safe.
5. Brockwell Park Lido - A meeting was held on the 19th January to discuss the future of the Lido. A copy of the consultation document will be placed on the JAG web site or can be obtained from the JAG secretary. The next meeting will be held on 31st January at the Town Hall.
6. Arlingford Road one-way system - Following a meeting of the Arlingford Road residents group with council members which JAG attended it was discovered that the council will not rescind the no left turn from Brixton Water Lane into Tulse Hill but may introduce a no left turn from Brixton Water Lane into Arlingford Road. This will certainly force traffic further along Brixton Water Lane and Josephine Avenue. JAG will send a letter of concern to the council with a suggestion of a pedestrian only (e.g. all junctions to red light) cycle to the traffic lights and allow left turns from Brixton Water Lane into Tulse Hill.
7. Jubilee Street Party - A street party (royal or not) was agreed to be a good thing for the street this year. The possibility of funding would be investigated.
8. Rush Common Meeting - After much discussion it was decided that such a meeting should be set up separate to JAG, however information about Rush Common was needed by the group and could be published on the web site and in a leaflet.
9. Late Night Drinking licences - The majority of residents at the meeting were not in favour of late night drinking licences, however some felt that this was not within the remit of JAG. One suggestion was that if a JAG survey was carried then these figures could be presented as a ‘those for’ and ‘those against’ argument.
10. Continuing Prostitution Problem - Despite the closure of a local crack house the girls are still using the avenue. It is hoped that the four new cameras due in April will help to deter their activities (residents are encouraged to telephone Ching Wha Wong (tel 0207 926 2738) at Lambeth Council to check progress). It was noted that many of the hedges are getting extremely high, providing cover for the girls activities, this could be pruned during the next street clean. To deter kerb crawlers it was decided to produce weather-proof lamp-post signs to read “Residents object to local soliciting, you are being watched and will be reported”.
11. Abandoned Cars - During the last street clean it was noted that their were many abandoned cars on private land. It was decided to approach tenants and landlords to ask their permission to remove offending vehicles.
12. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th February, 7.30pm at 1 Helix Gardens.
TO DO LIST:
Elizabeth Owen - Local history including a description of Rush Common for web site and leaflet.
Belinda Cooper - Investigate the possibility of funding for street party.
Approach residents regarding abandoned vehicles (with Tim).
Pat Rose - Lamp-post signs.
Gary Turnbull - Copy of Lido consultation document to Tim Sutton
Timothy Sutton - Approach residents regarding abandoned vehicles (with Belinda). Letter to Lambeth Council regarding Arlingford Road traffic scheme. Copy of Home Zone survey from Melanie Shears.
John Yates - Investigate the possibility of permanent anti-soliciting signage