Lib Dem Leader's Blog

Ashley Lumsden is Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group - the main opposition to Labour at the Town Hall. Ashley was first elected to the council in 1998 and has since been re-elected twice. Here he gives us his thoughts life in Lambeth - from the Town Hall and as a local resident.

Ashley Lumsden is Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition

Streatham Hub - No News is Bad News

Speech delivered on Fri 12th Feb 2010

Wednesday saw the follow up meeting in Streatham on what is happening to the Hub scheme. It should have been held in December but the council kept putting it back.

The Streatham Hub scheme was a deal done with Tesco to build a new Leisure centre with an ice rink. And once it opened Tesco could demolish the old ice rink and pool and build themselves a supermarket and some flats. It wasn't ideal but after they bought the ice rink site it was the best way to keep the ice rink open.

In December 2007 the Council Leader put out a message to say that deal was signed and sealed. But since then nothing has happened on the site. Last October Tesco said they wanted to change the phasing of the scheme which would mean they would demolish everything on site all at once.

Councillors from the Labour Administration have talking to Tesco behind closed doors. They've admitted that they set a deadline for Tesco to respond to the council's demands. But the deadline passed without Tesco's formal response. And time presses on.

Worse the council has admitted it has no "Plan B" to protect the ice rink if the Tesco deal collapses. No wonder Tesco are able to call the shots.

It really is time for the council to get a grip. But for now they tell us it is all up to Tesco at their board meeting in March. There will then be a council report on what to do next. We were told it will be either proceed with Tesco or abandon the deal.

But what is the betting it will actually turn out to be "carry on negotiating"? It has been for the last three years under Labour.

Read "Streatham Hub - No News is Bad News".

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Contact Ashley Lumsden:

alumsden@lambeth.gov.uk.