H&F Homes Invite

H&F Homes is currently reviewing its discretionary repairs policy and the ways they can best deliver repairs to vulnerable residents.

They are looking for potential vulnerable residents (e.g. an elderly person, a person with a physical disability or someone that may not necessarily fit into the vulnerable criteria but looks after or has a family member who is vulnerable), to come and join them to discuss and give H&F suggestions on how they can better provide the repairs services to this particular group of residents.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 15th December 2010 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Hammersmith Town Hall. In attendance will be Les Cliff ( Repairs & Performance Manager), Nivene Powell (Business Analyst - Equalities & Diversity specialist) and HAFFTRA.
Some transport may be available.

Please contact Cecilia Parker on 020 8753 4621 or cecilia.parker@hfhomes.org.uk

Saturday's Monthly Councillor Surgery

Cllr. Helen Binmore

LETRA attended the monthly councillor surgery with H&F Cabinet member Helen Binmore. Helen is the councillor who pushed for the installation of the three new entrance ramps for Pelham House. The ramps are due to be installed in the Spring and all the residents of Pelham House will be grateful for her efforts in getting the works approved.
 We discussed a number of issues, the future of Barons Courts Library being first. She informs me that discussions regarding Barons Court Library are ongoing, with ideas such as whether it could become a community hub, taking place. Although the final decision won't be taken until next year, Barons Court Library may be safe, with a number of new services added. This will be a great result for all the residents of West Kensington, so lets hope they follow through on this plan.

 Next up, was the upcoming building work at Olympia and possible major works at the West Kensington Estate. LETRA suggested that these projects should have a significant amount of local labour and include training programs for residents, given the high unemployment rates in the borough. Helen agreed and said she would talk to developers to try and have this included in the plans.

 We also talked about the possible opening of a Sainsbury's Local on the site of the now closed Crescent Nightclub, which she felt, would be a benefit for the neighbourhoods residents.

 Lastly, Helen accepted an invitation to speak at a TRA meeting early in the New Year.

 The three ward councillors for Avonmore & Brook Green take turns to hold a surgery every first Saturday of the month, for 1 hour from 10am at Barons Court Library.

• Cllr. Helen Binmore's Email 

Sainsbury's Local at the Fox ?

Click for larger view

An interesting notice has been placed on the outside of the former Fox pub, latterly the Crescent Nightclub/ Roots & Kulture. It seems the Sainsbury's supermarket chain is considering opening a branch on the site. Certainty an improvement over a lap dancing club and a great addition for local residents, but maybe not so for all shopkeepers in the area.

W14 In The Guardian

Good to see the local site W14 has made it into the Guardian.  The Save Sands End Action Group are also name-checked in the article about community websites and the impact they are making in the "new culture of  localism." This they report is leading to local empowerment, with groups able to influence decisions affecting them and their community with neighbourhood sites.

• Story in The Guardian

Pelham House to get new entrance ramps

Architects plan of a ramp

Great news for the residents of Pelham House. After a campaign by LETRA and the help of a local councilor Helen Binmore, the awkwardly stepped entranceway's are to be extensively modified. Three new entrance ramps are being installed, with handrails and canopy's over the doors. This will help all those entering and leaving the block do so safely.  A much needed improvement from the difficult steps, with overhanging doors, that residents have to negotiate at present. The new ramps are due to be installed early next year and will hopefully be completed by March.

Click for full view of architects plan

• For further information on the plans

Executive pay at H&F

A speaker at last nights LETRA open meeting (minutes to be posted soon) referred to an article some may have missed, from the Mail on Sunday, about town hall executive pay.

Makes for interesting reading in these times of service cuts, such as the threatened library closure.

• Mail on Sunday story

Earls Court Development Master Plan Drop In Visit

LETRA attended the Master Plan Concept drop session for the proposed development of Earls Court and West Kensington last week. It will effect the Lytton Estate as there is a long programme of works to be completed, this in addition to, the redevelopment of Olympia Exhibition Centre. The plans are still at a early stage and many details need to be added for a complete assessment. Though a number of concerns still hang over the project.

Several questions were put to the developers.

1/ Will local residents that need rehousing because of the proposed development, be offered accommodation in this area, if that is what they want ? The answer given was yes.

2/ What is the estimated time-scale for the projects full completion ?  25 years was the answer given !

3/ Is local labour to be employed and trained in building work, given the high unemployment rate in the area? The answer given was that they will work with local agencies to look into and help with this.

4/ Are there going to be facilities for recreation for all age groups, especially the younger people of the area ? They said it will be considered.

5/ Is the historic and vital North End Rd. market going to stay on its present pitch ? Yes, if they want to, was the answer.


All together, LETRA feel the plans are not clear enough and the promises given by H&F and the developers too loose for a verdict on the project. Considerably more consultation work needs to be done with local people, to assess the full impact of this huge scheme. 25 years of building work on our doorsteps will mean a massive amount of disruption to everyone's lives, for residents who are being rehoused by the works and for those who live nearby while they take place.

Developers website

Librarians Manhandled at Westfield

Shepherd's Bush Library at Westfield

Librarians clashed with security guards this Saturday outside the Westfield Library. They were holding a legitimate protest against the library closures and pay cuts being imposed by H&F Council. The security men insisted they were on private property, even though the library was given to H&F by the developers. They shoved the librarians onto the pavement and only backed down when the police arrived.

• The Shepherd's Bush Blog (full story & video)
•  The Cowan Report

Earls Court Development Master Plan

All those interested in the proposed future development plans for Earls Court should attend the drop in session this Wednesday at the Holiday Inn, North End Rd., 10th November, from 1pm to 8pm.
You need to register first on the MyEarlscourt website.
The site also shows the redevelopment plan for the Olympia Exhibition Centre.


The developers website Myearlscourt

0pen Meeting Thursday 18th November, 7.00pm Community Hall

Lytton Estate Tenants and Residents 

Association

(LETRA)

Open Meeting

Thursday 18^th November

7.00pm Lytton Community Hall

Come and have a say about your Estate

Joe Carlebach

HAFFTRA

           

Invited guests:-

• Joe Carlebach your Ward Councillor & Cabinet Member for Community Care
• Sgt. Peter Stewart-Maunder of the
• Avonmoore & Brook Green Safer Neighbourhood Team
• Gaye Rose from HAFFTRA the TRA support group

Your chance to meet them all

Your chance to speak on any issues

Your chance to have a say

DOORS OPEN AT 6.50 PM

• Joe Carlebach: 020 8753 1011 or joe.carlebach@lbhf.gov.uk
• Sgt. Peter Stewart-Maunder: 020 8246 2399 or
• SNTFH-.Avonmore&BrookGreen@met.police.uk
• HAFFTRA: 020 8748 4114 or mail@hafftra.fsnet.co.uk