Raven’s Ait

Slideshow 2/9

Kingston Council Commitment to House of Lords

In 1989 Kingston council commited before the House of Lords (as recorded in Hansard) to keep the Island for Education AND Recreation. Is the current sale of the Island for Private Development Legal.
Lord Pesten said
” My Lords, following yesterday’s disaster on the playing fields of Headingley, will the Government take seriously the need to keep playing fields in existence as playing fields? Am I not right that, given the new Education Reform Act, the Secretary of State cannot prevent the London boroughs getting rid of playing fields? Following 1422 that, and in the hope that the noble Viscount has some good news, can he tell us whether the water sports facilities at Raven’s Ait, which is an example of what I have in mind, will be preserved?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I am not sure whether that comes under the heading of “cricket” or “rowing”. The water sports centre at Raven’s Ait to which I think the noble Lord is referring will no longer be used by ILEA and it applied to my right honourable friend for consent to dispose of it. It was given consent and has sold it to the Royal Borough of Kingston, which I understand is committed to retaining the site for educational and recreational use.”

The Ravens Island Community Centre project was and is providing urgently needed Environmental Education.At this critical time for the Environment.We are contacting Lord Pesten to see if he can become the peoples Champion.
We are also emailing all of the Lords and MPs to see if they will do anything about the selling down the River of the “birthplace of British Parliamentary Democracy” ref. Treaty of Kingston 1217 (which helped to ratify the Magna Carta )
the Island should be saved for all ages of the community to enjoy.

New Slideshow!

Here is the latest version of our slideshow, updates with more photos and captions coming soon!

http://picasaweb.google.com/SaveRavensAit/Ravens#slideshow/5356544792186329362

Ravens Island Rising

We are re-organising the Ravens Island Community centre campaign.

The next steering committee and Friends of Ravens island meetings will be on the 14th and 28th July at 7 pm in Kingston University Penrhyn rd campus. Exact venue room to be confirmed. Someone will be in reception to redirect.

We need help with all sorts of skills so please get in touch.

Last meetings notes posted here soon.

The campaign is gaining momentum we are doing a stall to raise awareness of the campaign to save ravens island as a community centre and other environmental issues once a week by the church in Market square. If you would like to help, this is a great place to start as we need people who believe in the island to help collect signitures for the poll.

Ring for info.. Phone numbers can be found in the contact section of this site.

Office space is still needed for the campaign. All donations gratefully accepted, we need funds to keep this campaign running.

We need your action NOW. Within 2-3 months the deal may have been done to sell off this historic island, the birthplace of British Parliamentary Democracy (Treaty of Lambeth 1217), for a hotel, flats or another private property deal of this Public Common Land.

We were informed by a professor of Law at Surrey University that the Council should have declared this land as common land to the government in 1968.However this was not done and now they wish to sell it of to private development concerns.
The Borough of Kingston also committed in 1989 to ensure the Island was used for Education and recreation as recorded in Hansard from questions in the House of Lords.

What better form of education and recreation than a community centre.!

Transition towns Kingston

Transition Towns Kingston Short film night and open meeting tues 7th July 7pm at the Kingston Environment centre
Fairfield East Kingston Kt 1 2pt

Space makers Network

Space Makers Network
Creating collaborative spaces for work and play
Dougald Hine has invited you to the event ‘London Space Makers meetup at Whitechapel Gallery’ on Space Makers Network!
This Thursday, we’re meeting up in the Whitechapel Gallery, where we’ll be talking about slack space mapping and what to do next – following Saturday’s successful mapping afternoon in Tower Hamlets.
London Space Makers meetup at Whitechapel Gallery Time: July 9, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8pm
Location: Whitechapel Gallery
Organized By: Dougald Hine

Event Description:
Following a great meetup at NESTA in June, we’re meeting again at the Whitechapel Gallery on July 9th.
Come along and meet other people who are involved in creating collaborative spaces, reusing empty buildings and rethinking the spaces in which we spend our time.

See more details and RSVP on Space Makers Network:

http://spacemakers.ning.com/events/event/show?id=3180493%3AEvent%3A3246&xgi=6DmmAAu

About Space Makers Network
Reusing empty space and creating new environments for work and play.

Eco Village Occupied – Kew Bridge

On sat.June 6th there was an action to set up an eco village and community garden next to Kew Bridge (north side).
For more info http://ecocamp.info
or indymedia.org.uk
Gareth 07515166011

Revolution in Recycling Empties-Common Sense

Published
28 April 2009
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has today unveiled a series of measures to back a people’s revolution to recycle buildings by putting real power in the hands of locals to support communities during the downturn and beyond.
The tougher economic climate has led to renewed interest in communities maintaining local assets, from post offices to pubs.
As part of the Government’s empowerment agenda, Ms Blears has announced a new single advice line – 0845 345 4564 – and other Government support to make it easier for people to take control of community assets, from community centres to theatres.
Driving this revolution in the public sector, there are a range of options for local councils to give people real power including handing over buildings as a gift to a community group, selling at below market price, or keeping the building off the market while a local project develops their plans and secures the funding. Already, there are estimated to be over £1billion worth of buildings under community control – with some agreements dating back to the 1970s.
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Tyting Community Farm 100 acres squatted

Tyting community farm half penny lane -Guildford GU4 8pz has been occupied.The court case has now been adjourned twice.We have asserted our common law rights to have somewhere to live and grow food.
All this week 18-24th may is Dig in for Victory week,bring plants seeds,tools food and tents.This weekend 23-24th there is a discussion at the farm about saving it for community use.Ring 07769 791387 for more info.

Minutes for first meeting to Save Ravens Ait 8/5/09

Minutes of the first meeting of Save Raven’s Ait

In attendance:

Pete Phoenix
Nick Revolving
Around 20 Students from Kingston University
Several members of the public

Introduction to current situation by Phoenix. Action by
Made audience aware of the propaganda contained in newspaper
articles and the need to correct by writing to the press
i.e. the serious libel in regard to electricity quoted as being £15,000 and the
bad press in The Sun, who were not invited to the island but used existing media
coverage information for their story, consideration of taking them to court.
Discussion of offer of paying up to £1,000 – even this is high, a one bedroom
Flat uses approx £25.00 per month. Sunken boat was the rubbish boat owned/used
previous land owners, nothing to do with Save Raven’s Ait Team.
Attendees asked to contact local MP’s/papers etc to keep the island in the public’s
conscience. Use website to communicate these issues Phoenix/Nick/Charlie

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