Author Archives: SE16.com

Six year old girl borrows one millionth item from ‘amazing’ Canada Water Library

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This weekend Canada Water Library celebrated its one millionth loan since the library opened in November 2011.

The library awarded a prize to the member taking out the millionth loan – six year old Chinedum Odunze, when she borrowed Heart Magazine: A dream come true by Cindy Jefferies on Friday 27 July– one of five books she borrowed that day. She was presented with a £100 boo

The winner Chinedum (centre) with her brother and sister
The winner Chinedum (centre) with her brother and sister

k token, free DVD and CD rentals for a year, two tickets for a Canada Water Culture Space event and lots more.

Chinedum Odunze  said: “I think Canada Water Library is an amazing place. When I’m there, I usually leave with 8-10 books. When I read, every page of a book makes me feel like I am floating away to the place in the story. Sometimes…I like to write my own stories. I just love reading books especially when there’s an adventure!”

Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, cabinet member for adult care, arts and culture, said: “Canada Water Library’s one millionth loan is another great milestone for us that shows how well the library is used by the community and has been supporting literacy since opening in 2011.

“I am delighted that the one millionth loan was by one of our youngest residents and I hope her obvious love of books and reading will continue to grow as she uses the service.”

Salter statues could be unveiled this year as appeal reaches £50k target

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Exciting news from the Salter Statues Campaign

This month we can announce  great news for all those who  have spent the last three years campaigning to restore the memory of Ada and Alfred.

The Salter Statues Campaign has at last achieved its target of £50,000. The statues of Ada, Alfred and their daughter, Joyce, can now go ahead and be installed.

There may even be an unveiling before the end of this year of the beautiful ensemble designed by artist, Diane Gorvin. Not only has justice been done to Alfred Salter, whose statue was stolen by metal-thieves in 2011, but the addition of Ada is historic for all of London, where currently there are only 14 public statues of women compared to hundreds of men.

Amazingly, Ada’s statue will be the first public statue of a woman environmentalist, the first of a woman peace campaigner, the first of a woman trade unionist, the first of a woman politician and the first of a Quaker woman.

Congratulations to all who campaigned, and all who donated.

Cycle superhighway along Jamaica Road delayed till 2016

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Changes to the road layout on Jamaica Road are still a couple of years away.

Cllr Hamish McCallum (Lib Dem, Riverside Ward) What discussions have been had between Southwark council and Transport for London relating to congestion issues on Jamaica Road and, in particular, relating to the provision of a ‘box junction’ at the junction with Bevington Street?

Cllr Mark Williams (Labour cabinet member for transport) We have been working closely with Transport for London (TfL) in order to identify and promote improvements to Jamaica Road. Cycle Superhighway Route 4 (CS4) will run along this route and presents an opportunity to address a number of concerns as well as to provide a safer environment for cyclists. CS4 will result in a complete redesign of the Bevington Street junction. Changes at the Rotherhithe roundabout are also covered by CS4 and this is key to reducing congestion on Jamaica Road and adjacent local streets. We are disappointed that TfL have recently deferred delivery of CS4 until 2016 and will continue to press for these improvements to be brought forwards as soon as possible.

Two-way traffic in Lower Road: consultation ‘later this year’

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This question and answer from last week’s Southwark council assembly may be of interest.

Cllr David Hubber (Lib Dem Surrey Docks ward councillor) In view of the fact that a reversion to two-way working in Lower Road, Rotherhithe, appears still to be a long way off, will the cabinet member consider removing the restriction on vehicles emerging from Plough Way and crossing Lower Road to enter the gyratory system?

Cllr Mark Williams (Labour cabinet member for transport) Feasibility work for the reintroduction of two-way working in the Surrey Quays area is well advanced and I expect proposals to be brought to public consultation later this year. Traffic analysis shows that removing much of the one-way system is possible and this will open up more direct routes to the peninsula as well as creating opportunities to improve the local environment. Removing the current restrictions on traffic exiting Plough Way will be part of these proposals. Analysis shows, however, that this can only work when introduced in conjunction with the wider traffic scheme.

26-storey Maydew House could sprout six more floors

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Maydew House
Maydew House

Up to six more floors could be added to Maydew House on the Abbeyfield Estate under plans published this week by Southwark Council.

The Labour council’s cabinet is expected to rubber-stamp proposals for a £24.2 million refurbishment and extension of the 1960s tower block which sits alongside Southwark Park.

The scheme will be partly financed by selling homes for sale in the tower, along with new homes on the site of the Bede Centre which will be provided with new premises inside the revamped tower block.

Work could start early next year on the scheme which will see the tower stripped back to its concrete frame and a new “state of the art cladding design” created for the building in what is described as  “an ‘eye-catching’ visual landmark project”.

The future of Maydew House was the subject of a big campaign back in 2010 when the council – faced with a big bill for asbestos removal – considered selling the whole building for private development

The council began the process of relocating residents from Maydew House in 2015 and the building is expected to be empty by January.

Euro ATMs at Bermondsey and Canada Water tube stations

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Cash machines which dispense euros as well as pounds have been installed at Bermondsey and Canada Water Undergound stations.

The two SE16 tube stations are among 70 across the capital where new Raphaels Bank dual-currency ATMs have been installed.

Euro withdrawals are commission free, with rates intended to be more favourable than the largest currency exchange providers.

“As part of our ongoing plans to improve the services on offer for our customers, we have worked with Raphaels Bank to install these cash points at stations across our network,” said Graeme Craig, director of commercial development at Transport for London.

“Millions of people use our network each year, including going to or from an airport, Eurostar and coach stations, and these machines have been installed to make it easier for people to access the currency they need.”

Transport for London commissioner Sir Peter Hendy recently revealed that since the first euro ATMs were installed at tube stations in November, €2.5 million has been dispensed across the network.

Telford Homes buys Rotherhithe New Road site for £19 million

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Appendix Image

A controversial high-rise development on Rotherhithe New Road including a new home for Southwark Free School and a sixth form centre for the City of London Academy could be completed in 2018.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson overruled Southwark Council to approve the 19-storey scheme just before Christmas.

“In the last few weeks we have exchanged contracts for the purchase of a development site on Rotherhithe New Road, Southwark, SE16 for £19 million,” said Jon Di-Stefano, chief executive of Telford Homes.

“The site has planning consent for 148 open market homes and 10 affordable homes in a building ranging from six to 19 storeys alongside the construction of a new primary school and sixth form academy within the lower levels.

“The development is expected to be completed in 2018 and has a gross development value of circa £75 million.”

Police investigate burglary at FA Albin funeral directors

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Police are investigating a burglary at FA Albin & Sons funeral directors in Culling Road.

It is believed that the burglary took place overnight between Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July.

Officers from Southwark CID are investigating and no arrests have yet been made.

 

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

IT firm’s £5,000 boost to Salter statues appeal thanks to local lad Michael Tobin

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From the website of the Salter Statues Campaign to restore the Alfred Salter statue on the Thames Path and add a representation of Ada Salter to the scene:

In June we were thrilled to receive a cheque for £5,000 from TelecityGroup, the leading telecommunications company. The donation was prompted by their Chief Executive Officer, Michael Tobin OBE, one of Britain’s top entrepreneurs.

Michael has 25 years experience in technology and telecommunications and was awarded an OBE in the 2014 New Year Honours list for his services to the Digital Economy. What connects such a high-flying businessman to the Salters? Michael wrote to us explaining:

“There are a number of reasons why this is important both to me personally and to TelecityGroup. Firstly Telecity is committed to supporting the welfare and education of children around the world. Ada and Alfred Salter were the epitome of this cause, working with extremely under-privileged children in some of London’s poorest areas. Secondly, TelecityGroup is one of the world’s largest data centre companies and its headquarters in the east of London makes it ideally suited to contribute to the upbringing and welfare of that part of the city. Personally I was born in Bermondsey growing up in a challenging environment between Long Lane and Rotherhithe, so the area is of particular interest to me.”

Michael Tobin recently moved to Rotherhithe and last year joined Theo Paphitis and Simon Hughes MP for the launch of a local Liberal Democrat campaign to improve Southwark’s high streets.