The SVPOA Environmental Committee have had another challenging year.
At the beginning of the year, we found ourselves in a period of consultation waiting for the implementation of Article 4 which, fortunately, came into effect on 11 August 2025. We were all relieved that Streatham Vale had finally received the protection of this Act. Article 4 will prevent developers from turning family homes into HMO’s without planning permission. Should developers apply for planning permission to change a family home into an HMO, the owners of the adjoining properties will be able to ask a Property Wall Specialist to obtain a Party Wall Agreement on their behalf.
The proposed development on the former NatWest Sports Ground, Turle Road, was granted outline planning permission by Merton Council on 26th September 2025. The SVPOA objected strongly to Merton Council asking Transport for London for approval to use Lacrosse Way as a second vehicle entrance/exit onto the site. Fortunately, Merton Council removed this from the plan. When the final plans were submitted for approval to Merton Council, we noted that the attenuation pond near Lacrosse Way had trebled in size and the pond close to Turle Road was a quarter of the original size. We are not happy with this proposal as the pond is far too close to our Secondary School. We are also concerned with the drainage from this development into our sewage system. We shall be raising this matter with Lambeth Council and the Mayor of London.
We have highlighted to our MP Steve Reed the plight Lime and Forest bikes are having on our neighbourhood. They are regularly left lying on pavements, outside gates and driveways. This is causing unnecessary difficulties for people with mobility problems.
Mike Morfey and I are still very concerned about Glenister Park Road, Sherwood Avenue and Woodmansterne Road being used as ratruns by HGV’s, courier vans etc. between Norbury and Streatham High Road. We have asked Lambeth Council to consider using part of the Section 106 Funding from the Homebase development to put in a one-way system for Woodmansterne Road and to install “No Idling Signs” near Woodmansterne School (Secondary department). Cars regularly block driveways with their engines running for up to an hour at a time.
Sarah Cole, our Councillor, joins Mike Morfey and I for our Monthly Walkabouts. We cover a different part of the Vale each month. The Walkabouts give us the opportunity to report blocked gullies, broken pavements/raised kerbstones, dumped rubbish, overflowing refuse bins in HMO’s and many other environmental issues.
Earlier this year Lambeth Council removed several waste bins in Streatham Vale. One, in particular, was outside the small parade of shops on the corner of Glenister Park Road (next to the bus stop for 45 and 60 – opposite two food take-away businesses). Thanks to Mike the bin was finally reinstated and the area is looking tidier. Mike does a great deal of work behind the scenes keeping the Vale clean and tidy. He carries out a weekly litter collection in Streatham Vale Park.
I would like to thank our Councillors for all their help and hard work in supporting the residents of Streatham Vale.
Eileen Barnes
Environmental Committee
Due to personal issues, I have not been able to devote as much time to my roles in 2025 as I would have liked.
I have, though, attended some Ward Panel meetings where residents put local issues to our local police officers and they usually take away three major promises in order to see what can be done – examples of these can be violence against women and girls, anti-social behaviour on the streets, burglaries, assaults on the person, and a more recent one has been shoplifting.
We have organised several Community Road Watches where with our local police. We monitor vehicles exceeding the speed limit and have successfully caught many by recording their speed on a speed gun and the police manually record their registration numbers. If they are caught again after a warning letter, they will be penalised with points on their licence or face a court appearance.
Eileen Barnes and I organise a monthly walkabout in the Vale with Cllr. Sarah Cole to establish any problems with our pavements and roads that need repairs etc. which Sarah records and hopefully the Council will follow up and complete any work needed. We also help residents with any particular problems that relate to Lambeth Council.
I would like to thank Eileen Barnes for all her hard work on the environment, particularly relating to planning issues.
If anyone would like to join us on these walkabouts which are normally held every second Friday of the month meeting at 10.30 outside the Village Card shop, corner Streatham Vale and Glenister Park Road, please confirm with me first.
Mike Morfey
Environmental Committee