Positive postings...

[Manmasi]

I know most people who frequent this website love Brixton, but I feel depressed reading the posts on here, every other one is a reference to muggings, beggars and crime. I know we need to discuss this but let's balance it with some positive stuff about living here...
Brockwell Park
The Ritzy
get mentioned a lot, but what else makes Brixton a good place to live?
For me, it's dull but crucial, it's brilliant for buses! As a non-tube user (too pricey) I love the fact I can get anywhere on the bus from here... :)

[academia]

I like the fact it's at the end of the Victoria line so you can always get a seat (and a newspaper).

[RushcroftRoader]

The flower stall outside the Tube station is the best I have found in London.

[richtea]

Really easy to get to, and great for buses as Manmasi says
The markets
The photos of the Queen Mum pulling pints above the bar in the Trinity :cool:
Brixton Arts Coop
The best bike shop in London

[gaijingirl]

Sense of community...

I visit my former neighbours who are in their 80s every now and then. We went to visit them for New Year and they gave us a bottle of blue nun.. :D

Our local shop lets us pay the next day on the occasions we don't have enough money for our shopping.

The corner shop bloke always shouts hello to us when we pass.

The geese from the ponds in Brockwell Park waking me up in the morning with their honking.

The kids on our estate come round to borrow our bike tools and always shout hi to us as we pass.

The people at my badminton club made me feel instantly welcome.

The Ritzy cinema!!

Lambeth Country Fair!!!

The park.

[nipsla]

I know all my neighbours - and they are all fabulous.

The market is great and I only have to pop out of my front door to get lovely fruit and veg.

The Continental deli on Atlantic Road is amazing and does the best custard tarts ever.

The Ritzy.

The Albert.

Brockwell Park.

Lambeth Country Show - the best day of the year. Fact. :D

[brixtonvilla]

The Lido.

Brixton Wholefoods.

The Trinity.

The Gallery on Brixton Hill.

Olley's fish & chip shop.

The couple at my corner shop.

Bookmongers.

[ViolentPanda]

Well, there's Brockwell Park,

the Ritzy,

and Brockwell Park,

some very good independent shops,

and Brockwell Park.

In fact Brixton would be worthwhile for Brockwell Park alone!

[Minnie_the_Minx]

and Brixton Hill looks lovely in the Summer (trees all the way up on one side of the Hill). Looks almost posh ;)

[Brixton Hatter]

I know most people who frequent this website love Brixton, but I feel depressed reading the posts on here, every other one is a reference to muggings, beggars and crime. I know we need to discuss this but let's balance it with some positive stuff about living here...
I agree Manmasi, there's plenty of negativity on here - just like the media, people tend to concentrate on the negative. However, i think the reason this board focuses on a lot of negative things is precisely because the people who use it love the area so much - and are concerned about the way it's going.

We can all sit here and say how much we love the market, the boozers, the cinema, the community feel etc....but if we're not careful, all those things could be gone in a relatively short period of time. Look, for example, at all the lost boozers in the area (http://www.urban75.org/brixton/bars/lost-pubs.html), the problems with gentrification and the loss of social housing (http://www.urban75.org/brixton/features/yuppies.html).

I don't mean to be negative. If you want to see postive things, why not get involved in some of the local groups that can fight unwanted changes in the area? There's the local area forums (http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=147468) for the public to lobby the council about various issues (crime, environment, transport etc), there's the current Revitalise (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/Environment/Regeneration/Revitalise.htm) consultation that all Lambeth residents should respond to (a good place to tell the council all you like about Brixton and what should be retained) - helpfully, an urbanite has put a blog up here (http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=146148) to keep everyone's comments, there's another consultation on the central Brixton square/gardens proposals (http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=147468) etc etc. :)