Poetry in West Norwood

There’s a great new project in West Norwood kicking off called Poetry Slabs, who aim to create and install poetry throughout West Norwood. They want to work with local projects, community groups, businesses and artists to celebrate poetry and the local neighbourhood. 

Their first collaboration is in the pipeline, with an exciting new project with the Urban Bzz Garage, and we hope to see many more. Also watch out for a poetry-themed FEAST in the not too distant future.

In the meantime, keep checking poetryslabs.org for news!

^ proposed installation at the Bzz Garage

Quietways update – public consultation

Since last summer, there have been a number of workshops and public meetings regarding Quietway Route 7, which includes part of Rosendale Road.

While many of you are unhappy about the choice of route, this was decided a number of years ago before we were elected councillors. However, since this was raised with us, we have done all we can to give residents a say over what this section of Quietway looks like. We have raised your concerns right to the top – having met with Andrew Gilligan, who is responsible London-wide for the Quietways programme, plus regular contact with Lambeth, TfL, the cabinet member, the leader of the council, the MP and Sustrans.

The proposals for public consultation are being completed and this will begin later this month. We’ll post links here on how to feedback online, and you’ll also receive a letter informing you the consultation dates and how to get involved if you live near the route. The project has been handed back to Lambeth officers to deliver on behalf of TfL from Sustrans, who were hired by TfL to help with hosting workshops and public engagement events.

In the meantime, please do continue to contact us with your thoughts and questions.

Update: the consultation on a bus to Peabody Hill

Between June and September last year, there was a public consultation about a proposed extension to the 315 bus to Peabody Hill. 

We expected to be able to share feedback from the consultation in January. However, as over 500 responses were received, it is taking TfL longer than usual to compile their report – the responses were very detailed and they are drafting responses to the long list of questions raised. 

We met with officers recently and discussed timelines for feedback. We expect to have both a Consultation Report and “Response to Issues Raised” by the end of February and will share them both here as soon as we receive them.

Nominate your street!

Lambeth Council’s street improvements team is inviting each ward to nominate three roads and three pavements we would like to be resurfaced, as part of our manifesto pledge in 2014 to repave 130 miles of road and pavement.

So, we’d like to hear from you! Does your road need an upgrade? Let us know so that we can organise a walkabout to each road nominated. 

A number of streets have already been improved. Currently, Lovelace Road’s pavements are being repaved – we look forward to the work being completed!

Streetworks – codesign the gyratory

It’s that time again when we invite you to get involved in Streetworks. Tuesday evening is the next in the series of workshops to improve West Norwood and Tulse Hill and we hope that many of you will come and have your say.

  • When: Tuesday 9th February 6.30pm
  • Where: the HUB, 357 Norwood Road (near Tulse Hill Station, by the pedestrian crossing over the gyratory)

Streetworks grew out of a community petition to the Mayor of London to invest in improving streets in West Norwood and Tulse Hill. It has continued to be community-led and since the summer there have been monthly workshops to codesign changes to the neighbourhood. We have also helped to run and fund events and activities in the community – from a Wiggle and Rhyme picnic at the Old Library in West Norwood and a student-led project at Elmgreen School, to a Christmas party and discussion on the St Martins Estate and a tea party with the Norwood Pensioners’ Group. 

So far we have been focusing on Norwood Road and Station Rise. The next workshop will focus on the one-way system – please bring your ideas and aspirations! We have a real opportunity to transform our area and we need everyone’s input.

image

Here are local residents discussing parking at StreetWorks co-design workshop for Norwood Road and Tulse Hill. Streetworks is the £7million community led project to improve the street on Norwood Road funded by Transport for London. If you live, work, study, or travel in the area get involved. hello@streetworks.london www.streetworks.london

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Lottery grant for “magnificent” West Norwood Cemetery

West Norwood has been granted a fantastic £4.8m from the Lottery. Friends of West Norwood Cemetery said the £4.8m investment would be spent on improving the cemetery’s drainage, footpaths and entrance gates.The money will also be used for works on an area reserved for the Greek Orthodox community – known as the “necropolis” or “cemetery within a cemetery”.

For more information take a look here and at the article in the BBC.

Notable people buried at West Norwood Cemetery

  • Isabella Beeton (1836-1865) – Author of Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management
  • Sir Henry Bessemer (1813-1898) – Inventor of the Bessemer converter, which helped mass-produce steel
  • Sir Henry Doulton (1820-1897) – Businessman, inventor and pottery manufacturer
  • Sir Henry Tate (1819-1899) – Sugar merchant who founded the Tate gallery
  • Sir Hiram Maxim (1840-1916) – Inventor of the Maxim machine gun