Author Archives: SE16.com

Council to decide on Canada Water British Land deal before local elections

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Canada Water

Southwark Council is to make a formal decision on its development agreement with British Land at Canada Water before the local elections.

Giving formal notice that the decision will be rescheduled for Southwark’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday 13 March, the council says:

It is likely that it would not be appropriate for this decision to be taken during the pre-election period and would therefore need to be taken in May at the earliest.

It would however not be in the council’s commercial interest to delay the decision until then. The council’s potential partner is incurring significant cost in progressing the project.

Further delay will increase costs and project risk, which is likely to encourage them to renegotiate terms.

A decision is therefore sought at the earliest opportunity.

The decision relates to the council’s interest as landowner of some of the land at Canada Water to be redevelopment under the masterplan drawn up by British Land and is separate from the decision-making process on future planning applications.

Relish wireless broadband masts installed on council buildings in SE16

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Cllr Fiona Colley and Cllr Stephanie Cryan

The first of a number of new Relish wireless broadband masts have been installed on council-owned buildings in Rotherhithe as part of the ongoing efforts to tackle the poor speeds experienced by fixed-line broadband users in SE16.

The council has signed a number of lease agreements with broadband provider Relish, enabling them to install wireless aerials on residential council buildings, which will deliver up to 40Mb broadband speeds across 70 per cent of the borough.

Cllr Fiona Colley, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, said: “We are delighted that more people can now access superfast broadband, particularly in Rotherhithe where the issue has been so acute.

“The rollout of wireless aerials is just one step in the council’s commitment to improve connectivity for residents and make Southwark a truly digital borough.

“Our ultimate long-term goal is a full rollout of fibre optic broadband across the borough and we have already made a start by submitting a joint bid with TfL, the GLA and several other local authorities for funding from central government, as part of a national £200m challenge fund for broadband projects.

“If successful, the funding will be used in Southwark to improve digital connectivity in areas of the borough with poor broadband speeds, particularly in the Rotherhithe peninsula.”

In total, 23 new aerials and masts have been approved for installation across the borough, including four in Rotherhithe, with half already delivering Relish’s wireless broadband service.

Anyone can check if their home can be connected to Relish by using their online postcode checker at www.relish.net

Lower Road gas works paused for a week due to ‘The Big Half’ marathon

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The current long-term gas works in Lower Road will be suspended between Monday 26 February and Monday 5 March whilst the road is reinstated for ‘The Big Half’ marathon on Sunday 4 March.

“It is very difficult at this stage to say what phase of our work we will be at when we come to suspend, because we are currently experiencing a number of engineering difficulties that are causing some delays,” said Dan Edwards of Southern Gas Networks.

“We are doing all we can to overcome these as quickly and safely as possible, however as a result we are running slightly behind schedule.

“We will still be working extended hours to complete our work as safely and quickly as possible.

“We are mindful of those people who live in the area, and will try to keep noisy activity to a minimum where possible.”

Sadiq chooses Salmon Centre to launch Young Londoners fund

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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan launched a new £45 million Young Londoners Fund while visiting the Salmon Youth Centre in Bermondsey this week.

“Salmon has been reaching out to young people in inner city London for over a hundred years,” said Sam Adofo, Director of the Salmon Youth Centre.

“We believe every young person has potential and we work intensively to inspire young people to reach this potential by improving their Health & Wellbeing, involving them in positive Community Engagement, and preparing them for Education and Work. We very much welcome The Mayor’s Young Londoners Fund as it means youth centres like ours will be able to continue the work we do and impact many more young lives.”

19-year-old youth work apprentice Gabrielle Famobio said: “I’ve been coming to Salmon since I was 7 years old. Salmon is an amazing place. I’ve grown so much here, I’ve learnt so much, and most recently I’ve become an Apprentice here. I really don’t know where I would be without Salmon – I probably won’t have a job, income, or even a home! The staff here are like family to me and I love the young people and the work I do here as an apprentice.“

 

East London line night service to be extended to Highbury & Islington

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The Night Overground service on the East London line will be expanded next weekend as services extend north to Canonbury and Highbury & Islington stations from Friday 23 February.

The new service will link the Night Overground to the overnight service on Victoria line for the first time .

The Night Overground has run on Friday and Saturday nights between Dalston Junction and New Cross Gate since December last year.

TfL says that already more than 35,000 journeys have been made on the route.

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Following our hugely successful launch of the Night Tube, I’m delighted that we will be able to extend the Night Overground service to help even more Londoners.

“This extension will connect the Night Overground to the Night Tube. These night-time services are providing a huge boost to our economy and a safe and reliable way for people to travel across the capital, helping all those working hard during the night or out enjoying everything the capital’s nightlife has to offer.”

Rotherhithe to Peckham cycle route to be developed

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Dr Will Norman

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, last month announced six new cycle routes including a new link from Rotherhithe to Peckham.

City Hall says design work will begin immediately but it could take up to five years for the plans to come to fruition.

One of the six proposals is a 4km route which would link Canada Water and Surrey Quays with Peckham and connect up other cycling routes such as Quietway 1 and the proposed Cycle Superhighway 4.

Dr Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “High-quality cycling infrastructure cannot simply be an option available to a minority of Londoners, and our new Strategic Cycling Analysis shows that there is huge potential for getting more people to cycle all across the city.

“Backed up by the Mayor’s record investment, we’re working in close collaboration with London boroughs to design six new cycle routes that would connect key town centres, join up existing cycle infrastructure, and start to create a genuinely pan-London network of cycle routes accessible to millions more Londoners.”

British Land buys Rotherhithe Police Station

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As part of the current round of consultation on the Canada Water Masterplan, developer British Land has revealed that it has exchanged contracts with the Mayor’s Office for Policing & Crime  (MOPAC) to buy the former Rotherhithe Police Station, which closed last year.

The site will be incorporated into the company’s broader plans for the area.

You can see the consultation materials here; the deadline for online feedback is Sunday 4 February. Mini-exhibitions will be held on Tuesday at Silverlock Hall and Wednesday at Mayflower Hall.

Emergency services hold exercise at the Printworks

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Last weekend the fire brigade held a major exercise at the Printworks (formerly Harmsworth Quays).

Southwark’s firefighters shared these images on Twitter:

Social enterprise estate agents launching at Greenland Dock

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A new estate agent business with a social enterprise twist is launching this month.

Urban Patchwork is an estate agent social enterprise for residential property sales and lettings. It will use the majority of its profits for homeless housing and support in London, and aims to provide a better deal for tenants.

Based by Greenland Dock on the border of SE16 and SE8, it will serve the surrounding areas.

The organisation is being founded by brother and sister team Toby and Tessa Gooding. Tessa said, “We are setting up Urban Patchwork with three key objectives:

  • to meet demand for professional estate agent services
  • to improve working practices and customer service standards within the industry
  • to provide a way for the profits made through the sale and letting of London’s property to contribute towards homeless housing and support in the city.”

They are seeking volunteers for their board of housing, homelessness, social enterprise, finance and management experts who will advise on the direction of the organisation and have voting rights on how grants are allocated to homelessness initiatives.

During Urban Patchwork’s first year the organisation is unlikely to accrue any profits while it’s being established. However, the team will support people who have become homeless from the start by backing local charity the 999 Club (based on Deptford Broadway) with their awareness raising and fundraising efforts.

The 999 Club provides advice and support for people who are homeless to equip them with the ability and confidence to learn new skills, gain employment and find sustainable housing solutions.

The vision is for Urban Patchwork to be a hybrid between a traditional agent and an online broker and the go-to organisation for those wanting to buy, sell, let or rent residential property in London and the South East, while making a meaningful difference to people through funding homelessness and housing projects.

Weekly drama classes for all ages at London Bubble Theatre

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Weekly drama classes for all ages at London Bubble Theatre
new term starts w/c 6th January 2018
Fun, friendly, creative sessions for children, teenagers and adults
These weekly classes give the opportunity for a wide range of people to make theatre together, assisted by experienced theatre practitioners who share the vision that people make theatre.

Classes held at 5 Elephant Lane, Rotherhithe, SE16 4JD
For 6-8yrs, 9-11yrs, 12-17yrs (youth theatre) and adults.
Fees: £60 (£30 concessions) for under 18s.  £80 (£40 concessions) for adults.  Taster classes available at start of term.

CLICK HERE to find out more
or contact 020 7237 4434 | [email protected]

www.londonbubble.org.uk