Plans to redevelop the Mayflower Community Hall in Neptune Street were discussed at Southwark’s overview & scrutiny committee on Monday night.
Members of the Mayflower Estate Tenants’ & Residents’ Association are furious that they learned on Twitter of plans to knock down their hall as part of a new housing development.
Cllr Richard Livingstone, cabinet member for housing management, apologised to the TRA for the breakdown in communication.
Watch the full exchange on video:
Labour London Assembly member (and directly elected mayor of Tower Hamlets) John Biggs tabled a formal question to Mayor of London Boris Johnson seeking an update on the proposed ‘Brunel Bridge’ for pedestrians and cyclists which could be built to link Rotherhithe with Canary Wharf.
Boris Johnson’s reply was published on Monday evening:
TfL is providing financial and other support to the work being undertaken by Sustrans to develop plans for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe.
The work suggests that there is a positive case for better crossings in this area. It has found that a bridge would deliver benefits by encouraging walking and cycling trips, and provide an alternative to the busy Jubilee line between Canada Water and Canary Wharf.
There are some significant challenges that a bridge here would need to overcome, including meeting the needs of shipping and connecting into the existing walking and cycling networks on either side. Further work will be required to investigate these issues.
TfL expects to receive the outputs of this work shortly. Next steps will be considered with key stakeholders, including the opportunities that exist for funding, construction and ongoing maintenance.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has said that the recent increase in the return fare on the ferry between Nelson Dock and Canary Wharf from £5.94 to £7.80 – a hike of 31 per cent – is “not unduly high”.
Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon tabled this question to the Mayor:
Last month I asked about the Oyster pricing of the Hilton Ferry crossing. Your answer did not address the main point of the question – that the introduction of zoning has resulted in the price of a return on the ferry increasing by 31% and now stands at £7.80. Do you agree that this is a very high price for a short ferry crossing?
Boris Johnson replied:
The RB4 river crossing between Doubletree Docklands and Canary Wharf is operated on a commercial basis by MBNA Thames Clippers, on behalf of the Doubletree London Docklands Hotel.
The move to a zone-based fare structure by MBNA Thames Clippers has led to some fares increasing. The fares changes have standardised fares and made all trips compatible with the Oyster readers that are now available for use at all River Bus piers, a significant improvement for customers.
The return crossing between Doubletree Docklands and Canary Wharf has seen the biggest of these increases. The change brings the fare for this crossing into line with other River Bus crossings in the area, such as the short trip from Greenwich Pier to Masthouse Terrace Pier.
The return ticket has been removed for this trip; it was anomalous within the old fare structure and would be even more so under the new standardised zone system. The majority of passengers use this crossing not for a return journey, but for a one-way trip. A single fare has increased by only 12 pence under the new structure. For those passengers that do wish to make this trip regularly in both directions, season tickets are available that will reduce their average daily return fare to as little as £3.00.
Many fares have been reduced under the new system, particularly in the eastern zone, where some single fares have fallen by almost 40 per cent. Within this context, I do not feel that the specific fare increase you mention is unduly high, and I am confident that the overall fare structure changes will provide a net benefit to River Bus passengers.
Two men have been sentenced to a combined minimum of 58 years imprisonment for the murder of 18-year-old Ben Purdy in Mossington Gardens a year ago this week.
Andrew Bayne, 37, from SE8 was found guilty of the murder of Ben Purdy at the Old Bailey on Thursday 19 November.
The next day, at the same court, he was sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 30 years. He was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment for possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Michael Bagnall, 22, of SE13 was found guilty of the murder of Ben Purdy at the Old Bailey. He has now been sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 28 years. He was also sentenced to two years imprisonment for affray. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “I am very pleased with the sentences handed down today. Ben was hunted through the streets by Bayne and Bagnall, who were armed with deadly weapons and had deadly intentions.
“The trial has been a harrowing experience for Ben’s family and I commend them for their dignity and composure throughout. No degree of justice will bring Ben back to his family but I sincerely hope that the verdicts reached today will bring a measure of comfort to those who miss him most.”
Ben’s mother Joanne said in an impact statement presented to the court: “The trial has been long and stressful for my husband and I. The void that Ben’s death has left will never be filled. We will always have him missing in our lives. We will never be able to see him conquer his dreams or see him walk down the aisle or share any of the achievements that he would have worked towards. All we have are those brief 18 years to hold onto before he was taken away from us so cruelly.”
In an impact statement presented to the court Ben’s father, Stephen Lewis, said: “I have been unable to cope with the loss of my son. It’s such a tragedy for such a young life. Ben had been working hard to build a career as a plumber, his whole future was in front of him and I’m sure he would have had a great future. I have attended court every day during the trial and not once have any of the defendants shown me any remorse or dignity. They left Ben for dead in the street. Our son hasn’t got a life and our lives will never be the same again.”
Sentencing for three other men convicted of offences in connection with the murder will be scheduled in due course.
Police are appealing for information after a laptop was stolen from a charity during a burglary.
The burglary occurred at around 4.45am on Wednesday 18 November, at the premises of Homes 4 Heroes in the Surdoc Club, Cope Street, Rotherhithe.
The charity helps homeless ex military personnel.
A white Toshiba laptop Satellite C55 DA14 was stolen during the burglary and it contained templates used to make identity passes for the charity’s representatives.
The charity has now changed the passes for its staff and volunteers, but advises if anyone has any concerns about someone claiming to be from the charity they should contact UK Homes 4 Heroes on 020 7237 6363.
If anyone has any information regarding either the burglary, or the whereabouts of the laptop, they should call Southwark Police’s CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting crime reference 3033697/15.
A 28-year-old man was arrested in connection with the burglary on Thursday 19 November. He has been charged with burglary and will appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court on Friday 20 November.
A proposal to install a floating swimming pool in Greenland Dock has been turned down by Southwark Council planning officers.
We first reported the scheme back in May.
The proposal was put forward by South Dock-based architect Adrian Priestman.
At a recent overview & scrutiny committee Cllr Mark Williams (cabinet member for regeneration and new homes) revealed that Mr Priestman’s proposal did not have the support of the council administration.
The planning application attracted more than 50 objections and 20 letters in support.
This week officers used delegated powers to refuse the planning application, citing the lack of an ecological impact assessment, adding that “the council are not therefore in the position to fully assess the impact of the proposal on the Site of Importance of Nature Conservation that is Greenland Dock”.
On Tuesday Southwark’s cabinet agreed the basis of an agreement with British Land for the redevelopment of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and Harmsworth Quays.
In his foreword to the cabinet report, Cllr Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration and new homes, wrote: “Canada Water represents an enormous opportunity for the local community and Southwark as a whole. This report sets out the approach we will take to achieve the requirements we set out last year. These include a mechanism to achieve 35% affordable homes irrespective of viability under the statutory planning system. We will also secure a new leisure centre to replace the sub standard facility at Seven Islands.
“The council is also committed to retaining a long term interest in the town centre and the key to this will be retaining the freehold interest and maximising returns from the development for the benefit of Southwark’s residents. It is important to recognise that this will be a truly mixed use scheme with significant jobs generated for local people not only during the construction phase but also in the long term. As part of the mix of uses we welcome the opportunity to bring a world class higher education offer and the opportunities this will bring in relation to business development, training and economic activity.
“The scheme provides an opportunity to be at the vanguard of our plans for sustainable transport including cycling and pedestrian links to the rest of Southwark and beyond and a reduction in a reliance on cars. The highest quality architecture, urban realm and energy efficiency will be at the heart of the scheme creating a world class town centre to meet the needs of our residents. We will also explore how to set up a London Living Wage Zone at Canada Water; where everyone working in the masterplan area is paid at least the LLW. Details for how this might be achieved will be included in the final agreement.”
Emma Cariaga, British Land’s project director for the Canada Water Masterplan, said: “We have an exceptional opportunity at Canada Water to create an exciting new town centre which will bring jobs to the area, alongside new homes, restaurants and accessible open space.
“We remain committed to working with both Southwark Council and the local community throughout the development of the masterplan, and beyond”
Listen to the full audio of the cabinet agenda item on Canada Water:
Greg Rusedski this week visited Southwark Park to unveil two new tennis courts.
The new courts were funded with £80,000 through Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council’s Cleaner Greener Safer grants fund, with the London Marathon Charitable Trust also contributing £50,000 to the project.
Cllr Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member of public health, parks and leisure said, “The demand for tennis facilities in the borough has been increasing amongst local people of all ages, especially with the recent success of some of the UK’s top players.
“With almost 10,000 people visiting the park’s existing courts last year, these two new courts will provide accessible and quality facilities, and mean greater availability for everyone – especially children and young people in the borough keen to take up the sport.”
Former British number one Greg Rusedski said: “It is fantastic to see councils like Southwark investing in grassroots sport in this way.
“Accessible facilities are so important to getting young people especially involved in tennis, and who knows they could be playing at Wimbledon one day too.”
The man who has overseen the 67-acre redevelopment of King’s Cross has joined British Land to lead its 46-acre Canada Water project encompassing Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, the former print works and leisure park.
British Land says its sites at Canda Water have potential for around 5.5 million sq ft of office, retail, residential, leisure, educational and community space.
Chris Grigg, chief executive of British Land, said: “Development is a core part of our business: we are very focused on areas of London which will benefit from growth and regeneration. Canada Water provides an exceptional and exciting opportunity to create a mixed-use scheme with office, retail, residential, leisure and community space.
“Roger Madelin is a highly experienced developer and brings enormous experience of delivering major mixed-use developments. Placemaking lies at the heart of what we do and I look forward to working with Roger to create a vibrant new destination for London that caters for a wide range of modern needs.”
Roger Madelin said “The combination of the physical opportunity at Canada Water, working with British Land and with the thoughtful and ambitious London Borough of Southwark was an opportunity too exciting to turn down.
I have had an amazing 29 years at Argent and thank all my colleagues for the trust and support they have given me.
“The completion of the last phases of King’s Cross are in talented and safe hands. For new projects Argent and its new partner Related has an exciting future and I wish them all well.”
Neil Coyle MP has told Parliament that Southwark Police were “unable or under-resourced” to tackle a problem with drug dealing and heroin use on an estate in Rotherhithe.
Speaking in a Commons debate on policing on Wednesday evening, he said that his constituents are “very concerned about the prospect of a 25 to 40 per cent further cut to resources”.
He went on to describe “the rise of the visible use and sale of class A drugs” in central London.
“In Rotherhithe in particular – at Tissington Court – residents felt that the police were either unable or under-resourced to be able to tackle regular heroin use and sale within a block,” said Mr Coyle.
“Families felt unable to send their children up and down the stairwell because of the use of heroin in that stairwell and the impact of use – including the avoiding of barrels on the stairs during the day.
“It took an incredible amount of time get that issue resolved, and a concerted effort on my part with the Rotherhithe councillors who took the issue to the police with the local tenants’ association.”