Month: November 2015

Vauxhall City Farm has been part of the local community since 1977.

The farm’s vision is a city where people from all communities are empowered to experience nature to enhance their health, wellbeing and life chances.

Vauxhall City Farm are asking local businesses to see whether they would consider becoming a Vauxhall City Farm Champion.

The scheme aims to raise funds to support 7 local young people learning in the agriculture, equestrian and catering industries.

Youth unemployment is a national and local issue with over 1,900 young people in Lambeth not in employment, education or training.

You can support a young person develop their future. Vauxhall City Farm support over 5,000 children, many with disabilities and host over 30,000 people every single year with our unique range of educational, recreational and therapeutic programmes.

Thier schemes have supported these children to develop mental health, understanding of healthy living and boost knowledge of the environment, horticulture and the natural world.

The farm is here to support our local community, with brand new facilities due to be completed in February 2016

No matter what package you choose the farm will keep in touch with you, so you know all their plans for the future and present!

Vauxhall City Farm have three packages available which you can sponsor them with. These are:

Bronze: £300 yearly sponsorship

• You’ll be awarded a partnership certificate which you can present at your business.
• They’ll display your company logo on the farm’s website

Silver: £600 yearly sponsorship

• You’ll be awarded a partnership certificate which you can present at your business.
• They’ll display your company logo on their website and spread the word on social media!

Gold: £1,000 yearly sponsorship

• You’ll be awarded a partnership certificate which you can present at your business.
• They’ll display your company logo on their website and spread the word on social media!
• They’ll arrange a time for you to visit the farm.
• You’ll get a short tour of the farm and will meet all the animals

We would very much like you to become a champion of Vauxhall City Farm.

If you are interested we’d be delighted to meet you and discuss the scheme with you in more detail.

You can contact Matthew Lock at matthew.lock@vauxhallcityfarm.org or on 07875634056

Kind Regards,

Vauxhall City Farm

165 Tyers St London

SE11 5HS

(020) 7582 4204

Registered Charity No. 281512

Awarded to individuals and organisations whose vision leads the way in creating innovative and dynamic landscapes. The Landscape Institute awards aim to; promote the art and science of landscape architecture, advance the knowledge and understanding of the discipline, celebrate professional expertise and finally, reward schemes that demonstrate a high level of commitment to sustainability.

In 2013 Vauxhall One, working with the RIBA and Landscape Institute, commissioned an urban design competition to improve the public realm in Vauxhall. The challenge was to propose ways of connecting the parks, gardens and walkways into a coherent and exciting green trail, from Vauxhall Park and the Pleasure Gardens, north to Lambeth Palace and beyond.

After reviewing over 200 entrees from 21 different countries the judging panel decided unanimously that Erect Architecture and J&L Gibbons’s ‘Promenade of Curiosities’ design was the stand out winner.

The winning plan demonstrated understanding of the site, offered exceptional innovation and excellent understanding of Green Infrastructure. In addition the design was quirky and fun with the aim of reconnecting the disjointed parts of the area, building a better visual perception of Vauxhall beyond its roundabouts and roads, creating an identifiable pathway and narrative through the area, linking the railway arches, green spaces and public art into one distinctive place.

Sandra Roebuck, Programme Director for Strategic and Neighbourhood Investment in Lambeth, said:

“It is great to have an award winning landscape design in Vauxhall and another testament to the high quality of work that is being achieved in the Borough. Vauxhall One’s Greening Vauxhall Walk project that Erect Architecture and J&L Gibbon’s lead on is playing a huge role in the transformation of Vauxhall’s public realm; bring innovative and sustainable green solutions, such as Rain Gardens, to our parks, pavements and roads.”

Depending on the size of your business and the number of people employed, TfL are running a ‘cycling workplaces’ scheme that could see your business receiving between £250 – £10,000.

The three most basic criteria a business must meet to be eligible are;

• Located within London
• Have a minimum of 5 employees on site
• Does not have an active planning requirement to provide cycle facilities or develop a travel plan

If you feel that your business meets these three criteria, there are just four simple steps to be on your way, follow the link below to find out more.

www.businessoffers.tfl.gov.uk

Improved crossings and public spaces would make it easier, safer and more welcoming for all those who live, work and travel through Vauxhall.

What are the main proposals?

• Removing the existing one-way road system around the transport interchange (Parry Street, Wandsworth Road, Kennington Lane, South Lambeth Road) and turning these into two way roads
• Providing more pedestrian crossings at the places where people want to cross to improve safety and connections throughout the area – to parks, open spaces, and the river
• Providing more segregated lanes, crossings and parking for cyclists
• Redesigning the public transport interchange, including a new central bus station
• Improving existing streets and pavements and providing better public open spaces

Why are TfL proposing these changes?

Vauxhall is dominated by traffic. The one way system can be difficult to navigate and the wide roads encourage high speeds, especially outside peak periods.

It is difficult and dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians, with some of the highest numbers of collisions involving injury to cyclists and pedestrians in London.Vauxhall is changing and new developments will bring around 8,000 new jobs and 3,000 new homes to the area.

The TfL proposals support our vision for Vauxhall as a thriving riverside town centre that the local community can enjoy with people moving into the area to live, work or visit. The Visioning Vauxhall document, developed with local people, brings these changes to life and helped shape the TfL proposals.

What about the bus stops and bus station?

Vauxhall bus station is used by 45,000 passengers daily and is an important transport interchange.Bus stop locations and the way buses travel through the bus station would need to change.

You can see all proposed the new routes and bus stop locations in the current consultation.Due to the new road layout, the existing location of the bus station would need to change and a new bus station will be designed.

The designs will also look at how pedestrians, cycles and motor vehicles move around the area.Consultations on the proposals for new bus station will begin in 2016.

How can I have my say?

You can share your views on the TfL website.

The consultation closes on 17 January 2016.

There will also be three drop in sessions where you will have the opportunity to talk to members of the project team to find out more about these proposals.

The sessions will take place at:

• Saturday 5 December 11am-4pm at Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre, SE11 5ES
• Tuesday 8 December 6-8pm at St. Peter’s Church, Vauxhall, SE11 4RZ
• Monday 14 December 11am-4pm at the Carmelita Centre, SE11 5JT

You can also send your views to:

Email: consultations@tfl.gov.uk (ref Vauxhall)

Post: FREEPOST TFL CONSULTATIONS (ref Vauxhall)

Tel: 0343 222 1155*

*Service and network charges may apply.

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They have also asked for improved access for pedestrians. This comes as TfL and Lambeth prepare to launch their formal consultation on the scheme.

Nearly 400 people responded to Vauxhall One’s recent survey, giving a clear picture of the priorities for local businesses.

Chrissy Baker of Macmillan won the prize draw, and will have free use of a corporate box at the Kia Oval for a match in 2016.

When asked ‘What two things would you like to see most in the new Vauxhall transport interchange?’ responses were as follows:

• 60% of respondents would like to see improved pathways for pedestrians
• 60% would like to see more shopping and leisure facilities
• 50% want to see more eateries and cafes
• 50% of participants are aware of the improvements proposed for the Vauxhall Transport Hub

In addition participants were asked ‘How can we make Vauxhall a better place?’

• 20% mentioned that the shopping areas in Vauxhall need improving/increasing
• 17% said that public and green space was a priory
• 17% mentioned pedestrian access/movement around the transport hub
• 14% said that the traffic situation around the Vauxhall area needs improving

Other key themes emerged:

Anti-Social Behaviour

Respondents mentioned that the area still needed tidying up and would like to see improvements made to the early morning club scene along Albert Embankment.

Access to Public

Transport Survey respondents also said that the access to the underground and the mainline station needs better integration also mentioning the connection to Vauxhall bus station.

What happens now?

As part of the wider improvements, TfL will next week consult on returning the Vauxhall gyratory to two-way traffic to further improve the area and create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists. Lambeth Council will also be publishing a ‘Vision Vauxhall’ document at the end of next week, detailing the results of their wider consultation on possible changes to the area.

The awards celebrate initiatives that develop a partnership approach to problem solving – in essence projects that are responsive to local needs and address the causes of crime, not just the consequences.

The nominated projects are conceived and put into practice in partnership by the police, local organisations such as Vauxhall One and the wider community.

Vauxhall’s entry, entitled ‘turning Vauxhall purple’, focused on the improvements made in Vauxhall, especially around the transport interchange, over the past year.

The award recognised the hard work and successful partnership of Vauxhall’s Safer Transport & Safer Neighbourhood Policing teams; the business funded Section 92 Police Officers, TfL, Vauxhall’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership, Lambeth Council’s Licencing team and Vauxhall One.

In an award ceremony held at New Scotland Yard ‘Turning Vauxhall Purple’ won bronze in the Safer Travel category, which rewards partnerships that have improved the safety and security of transport and travelling in London.

Cllr Lib Peck Leader of Lambeth Borough Council and London Councils’ executive member for crime and policing, said: “London Councils is pleased to once again support the London Problem Orientated Partnership Awards, which have been an important part of local policing for the last decade.

“These awards recognise the very best local policing solutions, which understand the needs of local people and work with them and a range of partners to make a tangible improvement in people’s lives.”

Chief Inspector, Roy Smith said: “Winning this POP Award is a great achievement for Vauxhall, as it truly celebrates the behind-the-scenes partnership work of a number of different organisations, not only the Safer Travel and Safer Neighbourhood Policing teams, but also the involvement of the local business community, fostered by Vauxhall One, as well as the efforts of TfL and Lambeth Council. Together we will continue to reduce crime and help to make Vauxhall a safer place.”

Vauxhall One have partnered with local organisation Get Set to help place long term unemployed people into back to work training.

By volunteering as Communities Wardens, those who have been out of work for over six months will get the chance to learn new skills and gain valuable experience carrying out meaningful work in Vauxhall.

The new Communities Wardens will work with Vauxhall One’s already existing team of dedicated Street Warden, to patrol Vauxhall One’s BID area, monitoring and reporting on anti-social behaviour. As well as working to help the Vauxhall One Street Wardens on their regular patrols, the new team of Community Wardens will also provide a welcoming face for visitors to the area, happy to help with directions and provide assistance where needed.

The volunteers will gain invaluable experience in customer service, security and report writing, as well as having the opportunity to attend further training sessions, hosted by Vauxhall One.

After they have gained real work experience and training as Vauxhall One Community Wardens the volunteers will then work closely with EmploySE1 to find regular full time employment again.

Chris Law, Director of Safety and Public Realm at Vauxhall One said:

“The ultimate aim of this new project is the help those furthest from the job market back into meaningful long term, full time employment. By partnering with Get Set will are able to provide training and experience to those who want it and with the involvement of EmployeSE1 we really have the chance to help these guys back into work.”